Steve Carrel's leaving The Office

[indy4 152]

We had an Office Thread but I think it may have been deleted with the MB update.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/28/steve-carell-leaving-office-_n_628190.html

While the new Office is a pale reflection of the old, I can't help but feel a little saddened by this news.

[Datameister 1,394]

Good for him. I already knew this was probably happening, so the confirmation doesn't really change much of anything for me. To say that the show is a pale reflection of itself is an understatement, and I'm glad Carrell is getting out while there's still some shred of dignity in all this. I hope the show won't continue past this upcoming season - despite his modesty, Carrell's character is still the Jack Bauer of The Office, especially now that he's (ironically) one of the few that hasn't become downright annoying. And everyone knows that the departure of a major character is usually a late symptom of terminal jumpthesharkitis.

No offense to the considerably talented cast and crew of the show, but...what happened?!

[Quintus 5,391]

This is why the original British Office will always be superior - it knew when to quit. From what I saw of the earlier American episodes though, it was pretty good.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,476]

I can't help but feel

That's what she said.

[Datameister 1,394]

This is why the original British Office will always be superior - it knew when to quit. From what I saw of the earlier American episodes though, it was pretty good.

They certainly did know when to quit, yes. I'll always have a stronger attachment to the American version, but it would have been better if they'd ended it after season 3, at the moment that roughly corresponded to the end of the British version's Christmas special. The only large-scale story arc that ever really mattered was Jim and Pam (or Tim and Dawn), and that moment ended up marking the end of everything that made that story special. It only made matters worse that the show also stopped being funny within another season or so. As far as I'm concerned, those were the two things that made the show work: that poignant relationship, and the intelligent humor. With both of those in a severely deteriorated state, the show doesn't have much reason to keep going - except for all the fools like me who keep watching anyway. :cool:

[indy4 152]

This is why the original British Office will always be superior - it knew when to quit. From what I saw of the earlier American episodes though, it was pretty good.

Hey, at least the American version was funny at one point. That's more than the British version can claim. :cool:

This is why the original British Office will always be superior - it knew when to quit. From what I saw of the earlier American episodes though, it was pretty good.

They certainly did know when to quit, yes. I'll always have a stronger attachment to the American version, but it would have been better if they'd ended it after season 3, at the moment that roughly corresponded to the end of the British version's Christmas special. The only large-scale story arc that ever really mattered was Jim and Pam (or Tim and Dawn), and that moment ended up marking the end of everything that made that story special. It only made matters worse that the show also stopped being funny within another season or so. As far as I'm concerned, those were the two things that made the show work: that poignant relationship, and the intelligent humor. With both of those in a severely deteriorated state, the show doesn't have much reason to keep going - except for all the fools like me who keep watching anyway.

For me the decline happened after the writers' strike. I think first two thirds of season 4 were as good as the best of seasons 2 and 3.

[Datameister 1,394]

Those episodes were good, IMO, but not that good. I still watch them - they're still funny, but once Pam and Jim were actually together, their arc got less and less compelling. Ironically, that was when all the chemistry started to fade away, despite their claims that the relationship was going great.

[King Mark 2,924]

Great ,we can look forward to seeing Carell in more crappy film comedies like Date Night

[Koray Savas 2,095]

It's not really that the original series new when to quit, it's that Ricky Gervais knows when to quit. His shows are always 2 seasons long. And if you've got it right, each and every episode is hilarious and essential. See Extras, and other shows like Flight Of The Conchords.

I stopped watching The Office after Season 3.

[Docteur Qui 1,248]

This is why the original British Office will always be superior - it knew when to quit. From what I saw of the earlier American episodes though, it was pretty good.

Hey, at least the American version was funny at one point. That's more than the British version can claim. :cool:

I'm sure several million Gervais/UK Office fans would disagree, myself included.

The US Office is a pale shadow of not only itself but also the groundbreaking original series. The UK and early US (circa season 2-3) series had characters based on people we've all met and had to work with before. The episode situations themselves were completely mundane, and once the characters started to interact in their own unique ways then the comedy was born. Now the characters are more cartoonish than anything and they seem to be being placed in increasingly bizarre scenarios which are, quite frankly, over the top and unfunny.

[Naïve Old Fart 6,637]

Steve who?

[Datameister 1,394]

The UK and early US (circa season 2-3) series had characters based on people we've all met and had to work with before. The episode situations themselves were completely mundane, and once the characters started to interact in their own unique ways then the comedy was born. Now the characters are more cartoonish than anything and they seem to be being placed in increasingly bizarre scenarios which are, quite frankly, over the top and unfunny.

Yep. It feels more like a parody of itself now. The things that made it work in seasons 2 and 3 (and sometimes 4) were the intelligent and even subtle humor, the poignant sexual tension between Jim and Pam, and the fact that the show as a whole never strayed too far from what you actually see happening in real-world offices. It's moved WAY far from all three of those by now.

EDIT: Also, regarding the British version...I do find it funny, but I can understand why many of the other Americans I've talked to disagree. British humor really is quite different from American humor, and it doesn't help that some parts can even be a little bit difficult to understand if you're not British.

[Charlie Brigden 5]

I don't really like the english one. Never saw the american one, but steve carell is pretty funny, despite all the crap he normally stars in.

[Richard Penna 2,082]

It's had some utterly boring storylines but I'm still enjoying it.

One problem I do have is that since they're taking the characters waaaaaay further than the UK version did, they're becoming less realistic, and the weird quirks each character has are really showing in the writing. I don't think there's a single character in the English one that you couldn't find a real life counterpart for.

IOW, our was a documentary at heart, the US one is a comedy, and I think they're out of places to go.

[Quintus 5,391]

Also, regarding the British version...I do find it funny, but I can understand why many of the other Americans I've talked to disagree. British humor really is quite different from American humor, and it doesn't help that some parts can even be a little bit difficult to understand if you're not British.

Tell that to the legions of American Python fans

Us Brits do think we've got the best comedy in the world though, so it's sorta understandable when we look down our snooty noses at foreign versions of British originals. Having said that, we must be one of the worlds biggest importers of original Stateside stuff - I personally love a lot of what comes here from the US - shows like Taxi, Mash, Cheers, Rosanne, Friends, Frasier and Will and Grace were and still are adored over here. Perhaps ironically, the one show which didn't quite catch on was Seinfeld.

Other recommended quirky British shows which you may or may not have heard of are The IT Crowd, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace and Spaced.

[Wojo 2,442]

I never watched either version of The Office so this really doesn't upset me. If people say that the American show has jumped the shark or is about to, then it's time to leave, Steve, leave.

I really like Monty Python, even though there's a lot of niche humor I don't get. I don't have the pristine knowledge of British vernacular, history, and the political climate of the time that the (mostly) Oxford-trained troupe shared.

[Jay 27,216]

We had an Office Thread but I think it may have been deleted with the MB update.

No threads were deleted in the MB update; The search engine is just broken currently. Not sure if anyone is working on fixing it

Anyway, here is a link to The Office thread, hopefully a mod can move all these posts there:

http://jwfan.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15084

[Quintus 5,391]

True, but even a German would find this funny:

[Red 73]

When Carrell goes, I go. I still enjoy the show sporadically, but it's a shell of its former self and once Michael Scott, the principal character, is removed it won't survive. They should end it with his departure.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

IOW, our was a documentary at heart, the US one is a comedy, and I think they're out of places to go.

You'd think whoever is filming all these people would have enough footage by now.

[Jay 27,216]

Yea, I'm surprised after 6 seasons they haven't done an episode where the footage the documentary crew is filming gets seen by the public, and the gang becomes minor celebrities or something. It would be funny if in the world of the show, the documentary footage airs on NBC Thursday nights in their comedy block

[Wycket 36]

Yea, I'm surprised after 6 seasons they haven't done an episode where the footage the documentary crew is filming gets seen by the public, and the gang becomes minor celebrities or something. It would be funny if in the world of the show, the documentary footage airs on NBC Thursday nights in their comedy block

I will be shocked if that's not the finale. As others have said, its about time and honestly, they should just go the British route and end with a Christmas special. Ever since Jim and Pam got together the show has been getting increasingly cringe-worthy, with Season 6 barely watchable at times (hell, they even had a clip show at one point 8O).

[pixie_twinkle 44]

His next project is going to be a show called "Extras".

[BurgaFlippinMan 7]

Can't say I've seen much of the American version. I've seen a few of the later episodes and I always get the vibe that they are attempting dry humor but never having the real guts to really go for it and always succumbing to over the top gags.

[Datameister 1,394]

Don't judge the show by the later episodes. Many of them are just flat-out bad. As we've discussed, check out seasons 2 and 3. Season 1 was too short, and they were just kinda getting the hang of it. But seasons 2 and 3 are very funny, and not because of over-the-top gags. It's intelligent humor, and there's some great character stuff, too, mostly with the American equivalents of Tim and Dawn. Season 4 ain't bad either.

[Jay 27,216]

Season 2 of the American Office is one of the best seasons of any television shows ever. Don't know why they haven't been able to recapture that level of quality again.

Though, Season 2 of Parks and Recreation was way up there as well - equally as much better than Season 1 than The Office's Season 2 was compared to it's Season 1. Too bad no one's watching

[Datameister 1,394]

Season 2 of the American Office is one of the best seasons of any television shows ever. Don't know why they haven't been able to recapture that level of quality again.

I can definitely agree with that statement wholeheartedly. And the very end of that season finale...ohhhh man. I mean, I love my LOST season finales, but that moment alone gives them all a run for their money, albeit in a very different way.

[Jay 27,216]

What was the season 2 finale final scene again? When he kissed her in the office after the casino night?

My favorite season finale final scene is the end of season 3, when pam is interviewing how her and jim will just be friends, and he busts in and asks her on a dinner date and she just beams..... amazing, amazing moment.

[indy4 152]

What was the season 2 finale final scene again? When he kissed her in the office after the casino night?

My favorite season finale final scene is the end of season 3, when pam is interviewing how her and jim will just be friends, and he busts in and asks her on a dinner date and she just beams..... amazing, amazing moment.

That was a great moment.

[Jay 27,216]

It was the apex of the Jim/Pam storyline for sure. Once they actually got together, it pretty much lost all its charm, despite a few moments here and their. Their wedding was spectacular.

[Datameister 1,394]

Yeah, the end of season 3 was awesome, too. The show could have ended right there. (I disagree about their wedding, BTW...I loved the idea of them getting married, but in practice, that episode just annoyed me. And their relationship lost what little charm it had left once they were married, too.)

[Jay 27,216]

The problem was that after that brilliant scene of him asking her out, we had maybe one episode where they were dating in secret.... then it just become "well pam and jim are together now" and that was it. And we didn't get to see any courting, and any funny early dates, or anything - since they do all that in their free time, and teh show always focuses on their lives in the office, I guess.

So yea, the charm is gone, and I agree, the charm is even less post-wedding than it was before. But I still love the wedding episode - maybe not the entire episode, but the wedding itself, with the dancing down the aisle, and the cutaway to their real wedding on the niagra boat... was brilliant.

[Red 73]

Though, Season 2 of Parks and Recreation was way up there as well - equally as much better than Season 1 than The Office's Season 2 was compared to it's Season 1. Too bad no one's watching

That is unfortunate, especially with NBC postponing the show to mid-season, screwing up their fantastic Thursday night comedy block. It's become one of my favorite shows.

[Jay 27,216]

I know right? The number of times I laughed out loud heartily this season is probably on par with Season 2 of The Office. Its really great, they really found their groove.

I hope season 3 is as good. I know Mark Brandanowitz is leaving the show, but that young guy who worked for the gov't and appeared in the last couple episodes is becoming a series regular.