What other TV shows do you watch?

[Artemis]

I just finished The Office (US).  Liked it a lot, sad it's over.  Took me forever to give it a shot, because I caught a few random episodes on TV here and there over the years and just didn't get the humor.  Also didn't realize they were being filmed for a documentary.  Makes a lot more sense with that piece of information, lol.

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Yup, sure would!  You must have wondered why people kept talking right into the camera.

 

Have you seen the original (UK) Office with Martin Freeman?

[Artemis]

Talking to the camera didn't confuse me as much (I figured they were being interviewed about their jobs, but I didn't know by who).  It was the subtler stuff, like the weird self-conscious looks right into the camera, or when Michael put on a show in front of the camera and behaved in ways where he was obviously trying to impress the audience.  I didn't understand why everyone was constantly breaking the 4th wall, lol.  I thought the interviewing part was supposed to have stopped when they weren't speaking directly about themselves to the camera.

 

I haven't seen the UK original yet, but I will soon, that's next on my list. 

 

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

I didn't realize it was for documentary as well. Thought it's just some kind of new genre 'Mockumentary' comedy.

Thought they were taking big risk by filming it that way without the classic laugh tracks and full of awkwardness, but it works.

 

There were some scenes when the cameraman wasn't allowed, like it was shot through window blind, or we only hear whispers behind close doors. So initially I thought it was part of DM documentation only, some kind of office practice and policy exclusive to DM weirdness. However when we see other branch's stories, they seem 'proper', so maybe it's more to reality TV of Scranton DM. Why anyone think it's a good idea on that fictional universe, I don't know. XD But I like the show.

 

Haven't tried the British version too, except half of first episode and tbh, didn't really pull me in. But back then I dislike almost all British shows.

[Carol the Dabbler]

As you may know by now, "mockumentary" is short for "mock documentary."

 

I think the key to getting into the British "Office" is NOT to think of it as a show about the boss. He's a very off-putting jerk, so if you think of the show as being about him, it's a very off-putting show. I think the show is actually more about everybody else in the office trying to cope with the jerk (and with his would-be second in command, Gareth).

 

As I recall, the first episode focuses mostly on the boss, so even though you do need to watch that one (because it explains who everybody is), you also need to watch another episode or two in order to get a proper feel for the show.

[Pseudonym]

Is the British version more acerbic in general? I imagine it would be. I've only seen a few episodes of The Office, so never actually watched it properly. I liked Extras (Ricky Gervais' next show after The Office), anyone seen that? A lot of that was cringy comedy too. The Ricky Gervais Show (the animated one) is pretty funny too, though I do feel a bit sorry for Karl Pilkington being quite so picked on. 

 

Took me ages to type that, my fingers are half frozen and kept hitting the wrong keys. 

[T.o.b.y]

BBC's The Office is among my second favorite shows after Sherlock. Yes, it is pretty acerbic and David Brent is utterly cringeworthy. But the show isn't completely heartless. Also, make sure to watch it all the way to the end, meaning part 2 of the Christmas special.

[Carol the Dabbler]

It's cold in your office again? You could get one of those little heater panels that fastens inside the modesty panel on your desk. Or a foot warmer -- I have one of those under my desk at home, and it's great -- if my feet are warm enough, it seems to spread to the rest of me.

 

As for comparing the two Offices -- well, they're different. I've only seen a season or two of the American one, but it's my impression that the American boss is far less abnormal than the British one, and is therefore less of a catalyst -- which means in turn that the American show is more mildly zany.

 

As one example of the difference -- the first half dozen or so of the American show are simply "translations" of the British one. At one point in each, the boss has played the same sadistic "joke" on the receptionist. When she finds out it was "only" a joke, the British receptionist says "You wanker! You're such a sad little man." The American says "You jerk!" and that's it. In the commentary the Americans said they felt the other line was too strong (whereas it was my favorite part of the British scene).

 

This is irrelevant, but I noticed that the subtitles for the American show we're written in British. For example, when someone tries to make a phone call but gets a busy signal, the subtitles says "engaged tone."

[Pseudonym]

Ha, the British line definitely sounds apt to me. :D

 

I'm sat between two portable radiators, I'm wearing a vest, three jumpers, a hat, a scarf, and gloves and I'm still cold. It's only now starting to warm up a teensy bit. 

[Artemis]

When she finds out it was "only" a joke, the British receptionist says "You wanker! You're such a sad little man." The American says "You jerk!" and that's it. In the commentary the Americans said they felt the other line was too strong (whereas it was my favorite part of the British scene).

 

In the American version, wasn't there another episode where a different employee said something to that effect?  It might have been "ignorant and small man" or something like that, but I thought it seemed as strong as "sad little man".  He did apologize for saying it afterwards though, so maybe there's the difference, lol.

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Could be -- I've seen only a fraction of the American episodes.

[Pseudonym]

Very much not a fandom, but TV. 

 

I watch a lot of true crime shows, but a lot of them are hyped and glossed, even the ones showing real suspect interviews tend to have reenactments elsewhere or too much of a presenter who distances the reality from the viewer, but there's a crime and punishment season running on ITV, and it's very untouched and raw, very well made. There is one that has a first 48 hours feel to it, but a lot of it is just shown though body cams and interview tapes. The DI is being filmed, but she's mostly just going about her business. The other one is primarily (though not wholly) suspect interview tapes. 

 

For anyone interested in true crime and how murders really get solved, I'd recommend them, both available on Youtube. Obviously they do deal with disturbing material. 

 

An Hour to Catch a Killer

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGsRz03a3L8

 

The Murder of Becky Watts - Police Tapes

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX0lynpFoIM

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Very much not a fandom, but TV.

 

 

I've been thinking of changing the title of this thread anyhow, and you've just convinced me.  I was thinking that the focus had changed, but just checked back to page 1, and it never really has been about fandoms anyhow.

 

(For those who don't recall the original title, it was "Recommend a Fandom...or What Other TV Shows Do You Watch")

[Hikari]

BBC's The Office is among my second favorite shows after Sherlock. Yes, it is pretty acerbic and David Brent is utterly cringeworthy. But the show isn't completely heartless. Also, make sure to watch it all the way to the end, meaning part 2 of the Christmas special.

 

I've only seen a few snippets of the British 'Office', but I've had hefty helpings of Ricky Gervais elsewhere so I get the drift of the character he plays.

 

The main (and crucial) difference between the two shows is that the American boss, Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, is utterly cringeworthy, too--but not out of a malicious or autocratic place.  He is just completely *clueless* as to how he is perceived by his employees.  His personality never developed much beyond what it was as a child, but inside he is still that friendless, off-putting little boy he was.  Michael wants, above all, to be liked, and thought a great guy.  He has a deep and profound lack of self-esteem that he covers over with bluster and the rank of his position, but it's all an act.  On the inside he feels incompetent and like a fraud.  Which is apt because he *is* incompetent.  How he got to his current position is a mystery, because he's terrible at it.  He's got no people skills or natural leadership ability at all, and would have floundered even as a rank-and-file salesman.  He's got no skills at all, really.  But it's hard to hate him even as we groan at his highhandedness or ineptitude, because he is at heart just that wounded and vulnerable little boy who desperately wants friends, but was always such a dweeb he never had any.  A pattern that continues into adulthood.

 

2 of the most telling episodes are the one where, during an office Christmas party he gives away his new and very expensive bicycle to a Asian girl who came as somebody's guest (it's intimated that she may be a prostitute) because he thinks it will make her like him.  On another episode, the 'Bring Your Kids to Work Day', we get a spotlight into the adult Michael's mind when he shares a videotape of his childhood appearance on a local kids' show ala Romper Room.  His naked need for acceptance amid his pitiful isolation even at the age of 8 makes the whole room very uncomfortable.

 

I get the sense that David Brent revels in his position over his underlings and the abuse it entitles him to shower upon them, am I wrong?  Not clueless so much as a despot who likes being a jerk because he can get away with it.  Michael Scott is a jerk but there's no malice in his behavior.  He does not have enough self-awareness to be nasty on purpose.

[Pseudonym]

Ah yes, definitely better, Carol! When I wanted to talk about TV I was always torn between whether it should live here or in the film thread because neither seemed right. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

I'm not sure it's ever made explicit, but I really think that David Brent's bluster is just a cover for his massive insecurity. Consider, for example, how he

 

 

breaks into desperate tears when he's going to be laid off, plus how genuinely he reacts when his Christmas party date treats him like a real human being.

 

 

I don't think either reaction was carefully calculated to fool anybody -- we're seeing the real David Brent there -- and he's not a half-bad guy.

[T.o.b.y]

 

 

BBC's The Office is among my second favorite shows after Sherlock. Yes, it is pretty acerbic and David Brent is utterly cringeworthy. But the show isn't completely heartless. Also, make sure to watch it all the way to the end, meaning part 2 of the Christmas special.

I've only seen a few snippets of the British 'Office', but I've had hefty helpings of Ricky Gervais elsewhere so I get the drift of the character he plays.

 

The main (and crucial) difference between the two shows is that the American boss, Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, is utterly cringeworthy, too--but not out of a malicious or autocratic place. He is just completely *clueless* as to how he is perceived by his employees. His personality never developed much beyond what it was as a child, but inside he is still that friendless, off-putting little boy he was. Michael wants, above all, to be liked, and thought a great guy. He has a deep and profound lack of self-esteem that he covers over with bluster and the rank of his position, but it's all an act. On the inside he feels incompetent and like a fraud. Which is apt because he *is* incompetent. How he got to his current position is a mystery, because he's terrible at it. He's got no people skills or natural leadership ability at all, and would have floundered even as a rank-and-file salesman. He's got no skills at all, really. But it's hard to hate him even as we groan at his highhandedness or ineptitude, because he is at heart just that wounded and vulnerable little boy who desperately wants friends, but was always such a dweeb he never had any. A pattern that continues into adulthood.

 

2 of the most telling episodes are the one where, during an office Christmas party he gives away his new and very expensive bicycle to a Asian girl who came as somebody's guest (it's intimated that she may be a prostitute) because he thinks it will make her like him. On another episode, the 'Bring Your Kids to Work Day', we get a spotlight into the adult Michael's mind when he shares a videotape of his childhood appearance on a local kids' show ala Romper Room. His naked need for acceptance amid his pitiful isolation even at the age of 8 makes the whole room very uncomfortable.

 

I get the sense that David Brent revels in his position over his underlings and the abuse it entitles him to shower upon them, am I wrong? Not clueless so much as a despot who likes being a jerk because he can get away with it. Michael Scott is a jerk but there's no malice in his behavior. He does not have enough self-awareness to be nasty on purpose.

I wouldn't say that, no. I think Brent is just pathetic, a "sad little man" as Dawn puts it once. Actually pretty similar to the American character you describe except we never learn much about his background.

 

He isn't a good person by any means but neither malicious nor sadistic. I don't like him (at all) but I wouldn't wish him any ill.

[Hikari]

Re. David Brent

 

Ah.  Then he's not a typically caustic Gervais character, then.  I can't wash Ricky's Golden Globe hosting duties from my mind-palace.

 

I used to watch reruns of 'the Office' (Scranton-based edition) in syndication, but it was never appointment TV for me.  Some of it is very funny, and instantly recognizable to anyone who's ever labored in an office setting.  (when Jim put all of Dwight's office supplies in the vending machine/a Jello mold comes to mind).  Some of it made me tense, though because it was *too* true-to-life.  I work in a supremely dysfunctional Office-type environment . . a bit different in the day-to-day demands because it's a library, not a private company . . but all of the petty squabbling, supervisor shenanigans, gossiping/sniping, and obfuscation from the top was oh, so very familiar.  At the time I was watching, I was also suffering under a Big Boss who was a snobbier and more academic version of Michael Scott.  So watching it didn't feel like an escapist comedy but a recap of my work day.  I need something totally different from my normal routine to qualify as escapist entertainment.

[Carol the Dabbler]

The recurring Jell-O mold is straight from the British original.

[Artemis]

Some of it made me tense, though because it was *too* true-to-life. I work in a supremely dysfunctional Office-type environment . . a bit different in the day-to-day demands because it's a library, not a private company . . but all of the petty squabbling, supervisor shenanigans, gossiping/sniping, and obfuscation from the top was oh, so very familiar. At the time I was watching, I was also suffering under a Big Boss who was a snobbier and more academic version of Michael Scott. So watching it didn't feel like an escapist comedy but a recap of my work day. I need something totally different from my normal routine to qualify as escapist entertainment.

I know exactly what you're talking about. I've also worked in a library like that, and other environments that were similarly dysfunctional, so some of the show hit a little too close to home. Especially at the beginning.

[Pseudonym]

Boton, is this the one you watch?

 

[Arcadia]

Cool.

[T.o.b.y]

I have recently gotten into watching The Big Bang Theory. I boycotted it for years because I was annoyed by all the hype and I assumed it was trash. But now I needed something that has very short episodes and is easily available online, to be watched on my phone.

 

And I must say, I am pleasantly surprised! The acting is very good imo and that always goes a long way. Also, I am finding myself falling slowly but surely for Sheldon - clearly I have a type! :-P

[Artemis]

I liked it up until somewhere around the middle/end of season 5, and then I thought it started to go downhill. It's not the worst thing out there, it's just not what it used to be. I still watch new episodes, though I'm not all that into it anymore. Sheldon is my fave. ^_^

[T.o.b.y]

I also really like Amy. I see a lot of myself in her. And it's rare for that kind of female character to have a larger purpose on a show beyond "the ugly blind date" or "the frumpy friend of the hot female lead".