The Office U.K

The Office U.S VERSUS

What will be looked at in this presentation

• The Office is an award winning television show produced in the United Kingdom that first aired in 2001 on BBC.

• In 2005, NBC came out with its own version of the Office in the United States.

• Both versions have become great successes in their native countries and have become critically acclaimed.

• This presentation will compare the two shows in various ways.• The cast of each show will be compared , mostly the main

characters.• Similar plot events between the two shows will be looked at

and compared.• The average ratings, reviews and number of viewers between

the two shows will be briefly looked at and compared.• The number of awards each version has achieved will also be

compared

The U.S BossThe U.K Boss

David BrentMichael Scott-Goofy and awkward personality

-Very unprofessional-Doesn’t like to do work in the office.

-Believes himself to be a great entertainer.-Frequently makes rude, offensive comments.

-Seems fairly uneducated-Lacks common sense.

-very immature.-tries to come across as politically correct but

always fails.

-Goofy and awkward personality.-Very unprofessional

-Doesn’t like to do work in the office.-Believes himself to be a great entertainer – even

takes improv classes.-Frequently makes rude and offensive comments.

-Seems very uneducated.-Lacks common sense.

- very immature.-Tries to come across as politically correct but

always fails miserably.

Which Boss is Preferred?Although it is tough to get fair results for this question with the restrictions and biases present, ten individuals that are

familiar with both versions of the show were asked to choose a favourite between the two bosses. It was not surprising to

find that 70% of the individuals asked preferred the American version to the British since the version since the actor playing the American boss is more familiar to those

being asked.

Similar Scenarios and EventsBesides having similar names, the situations that the characters get themselves into are very similar.In both shows, the character playing the role of the assistant to the regional manager, Dwight Schrute and Garreth Keenan, are frequently kissing up to their boss and trying to cause trouble for their co-workers.Jim Halpert from the U.S version and Tim Canterbury from the U.K version both frequently play pranks on this particular character. In both shows the receptionist is involved in a love affair with the main character seen as the “good guy”. In the U.S version the receptionist is Pam Beesley and she is having a love affair with Jim Halpert, and in the U.K version the receptionist is Dawn Timsely and she is having a love affair with Tim Canterbury. These are just a few general situations that the two shows have in common among tons of smaller scenarios.

Average Ratings, Reviews and Viewers

Average Rating

The Office U.K. The Office U.S.

Reviews

Average Number of Viewers on

native channel.

Out of 31,778 votes on

IMDB.com:

9.4/10

Out of 9,891 votes on IMDB.com:

9.4/10

Mostly very positive reviews

“Yeah, it’s hilarious.”-Ben Stephens from culturevulture.com

Mostly very positive reviews

“...it's TV's best show at the moment”

-David Bezanson from filmcritic.com

11,000,000 +viewersOn NBC (US)

for season 1 in 2005

9,500,00+ viewersOn BBC (UK)

for season 1 in 2001

Total Awards Won To DateThe Office U.K.2005- TCA Award2004 – TCA Award2004- BAFTA TV Award (x2)2004-Golden Globe USA (x2)2004- Peabody Award2004- RTS Television Award2003-TRIC Award2003- RTS Television Award2003- Silver Rose Award UK2003- BAFTA TV Award (x2)2003-Broadcasting Press Guild Award2002-BAFTA TV Award (x2)2002- RTS Television Award2002- Banff Rockie Award2002-Broadcasting Press Guild (x2)2002- British Comedy Award (x2)2001 -British Comedy Award

The Office U.S.2008- Image Award2008- WGA Award(TV)2008- Teen Choice Award2008- Future Classic Award (TV Land)2008- Screen Actors Guild Award2007- Screen Actors Guild Award2007- WGA Award(x2)2007- Teen Choice Award2007- Image Award2007- TCA Award2007- Eddie2007- PGA Award2007- Emmy (x2)2006- TCA Award (x2)2006- Emmy2006- Golden Globe

23 Awards over 5 different years

19 Awards over 3 different years

Average 6.3 Awards per year

Average 4.6 Awards per year

Although the Office U.K. has more awards than the Office U.S, it does not particularly mean that it is more popular

show. The Office U.K accumulated 23 awards over a period of 5 annual awards periods and the Office U.S accumulated 19 awards over a period of 3 annual awards periods. In the end, the Office U.S appears to be earning more awards per

year than the Office U.S.

ReferencesWebsites consulted for pictures• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/TheOfficeuk1.jpg• http://www.lazyenvironmentalist.com/The%20Office.jpg• http://splinteredsunrise.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/trouble-at-the-top-the-swps-palace-coup/• http://geekinreview.wordpress.com/• http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/the_office/• http://www.sitcom.co.uk/the_office/history.shtml• http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

Websites consulted for data• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386676/• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290978/• http://www.culturevulture.net/Television/Office.htm• http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/The-Office-Season-Four• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290978/awards• http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386676/awards