Why is there a US-version of "The Office"?

I think part of the problem with the original Office is that like the first few Christopher Guest movies, it's getting ripped off by a lot of marginally talented people who mimic the tone and speech patterns but do not have much wit, so it devalues the currency of the originals retroactively. The American version gets better the further it gets from the tone of Gervais et al.

I like the other little peripheral touches too: Dwight and Angela, the redhead and her drinking and her hookup with Micheal. The characters are more fleshed out than the UK version (but that's only because there have been more episodes I suppose).

Episodes to check out:

"Office Olympics"
"Halloween"
"The Fight"
"Christmas Party"
"The Injury"

Matthew P has not convinced me in the least, by his descriptions here. S1ocki, please update if you delve forward and find anything remotely worthy.

(Then again, the original Office [minus Xmas Special] is almost certainly my favour telelvision thing of all time.)

Because of their voices, or what they say?

For me the finest thing about the original was the truth to how it was performed, the way I could totally buy into the interrelationships in spite of it being a comedy - in other words, the drama aspect of it. And it's like the US pilot didn't understand that aspect at all, casting for looks and "antics" instead of chemistry.

Matthew - Can I just start watching the second season? Or do I have to dredge through the whole first 12 episodes or whatever. Name the best EP for me to see and maybe I will download it. If it sucks i will MAKE IT KNOWN, however.

Mr Jones - s1ocki and I are Canadian. What does that say about us?

I mostly can't understand what is actually being said. I mean after a while I get the hang of it but there are moements of " Ah wellalovalivckle wanka an shezallompie." Slurred acented britshspeak. But I like British comedy allot. Especially Fawlty Towers - I love seeing Cleese go berserk with rage

the episode where michael burnt his foot on his foreman grill was hysterical, especially when he tried to stick his foot into Dwights cat scan.

buster keaton never loosened up and cracked a smile!

my new favorite is creed. Also, oscar with his iceskating boyfriend and meredith who seems almost proud to be an alcoholic.

Also that scene where dwight crashed his car, got out and suddenly vomited was beautiful.

are australians getting this show yet? i heard earl started down there.

Yeah, we here in Oz are getting Earl - I saw a few episodes while I was in the US, that shit is one of the funniest things I've seen on TV in years.

yeah that was a great scene - I like this show a lot, started out weak but I think as its demise grows immanent it'll get better & better

i also found it incredibly funny when Michael had his jeans dry cleaned and danced around the office.

Hahaha -- "In five years, I'd like to see myself five years sober . . . well, four and a half years."

it already got renewed for next season though, so I'm hoping that it will simmer around on nbc for a while.

then when jim was using the spray bottle on michael and dwight in meredith's minivan!

"You can't fire me! I don't work in this van!"