The Office

"The Office" is the title of multiple television situation comedy shows.

The first and original was the UK version, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, starring Gervais as the main character. Initially broadcast on BBC Two on 9 July 2001, it ran for two series plus a two-part Christmas special.

International versions

A French adaptation of the series, titled "Le Bureau", began in May 2004 on Canal+ [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4697386.stm The Office remade for French TV] ] .

Germany followed with their own version in October 2004. The German series "Stromberg" used "The Office" as a basis, but did not secure official rights. The German creators listed Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant in the credits as having "inspired" the series. (Ricky Gervais additionally said that he "can't go into details but, yes, there was an agreement reached and we are very happy with it".) [ [http://www.rickygervais.com/notwqanda.php Ricky Gervais Answers Your Questions] ] .

In November 2004 a Brazilian show on the Globo channel, "Os Aspones", was also heavily modelled on the series' format.

In the US, NBC created a US version, which premiered on 24 March 2005. Other than the Pilot episode, the scripts for the US version are original, and not adaptations from the UK, although some scenes, general story ideas, and characters are based on the original.

The fifth adaptation, the French-Canadian/Quebec's "La Job", had its TV debut on January 11 2007. The lead character in this version is called David Gervais, a cross of Ricky Gervais, and his character, David Brent. It is produced by Anne-Marie Losique.

In July 2006, it was reported in the "Hollywood Reporter" that BBC Films was considering a feature-length version of "The Office" for cinematic release [ [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2006/0706/theoffice.html "The Office heading for big screen?"] , Radio Telefís Éireann, July 6 06, retrieved September 11, 2006.] .

In 2007, the office format was licenced to MumboJumbo [http://mumbojumbo.com/game/game/83] a computer game company. In October 2007, they released a game based on the characters from the US version of the TV series.

In January 2008, "Variety" reported [Citation | last=Whiteman | first=Bobbie | title='Office' relocates to Latin America | newspaper=Variety | year=2008 | date=January 14, 2008 | url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978996.html | accessdate=2008-01-15] that the BBC had licensed a remake of "The Office" for Chilean television with a premiere in May.

In July 2008, "ABC News" reported [Citation | title= The Office gets Russian makeover | newspaper=ABC | year=2008 | date=July 28, 2008 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/28/2316091.htm | accessdate=2008-07-28] a version of the British television show will be created in Russia.

Cast and character counterparts

Key awards won

"Selected major awards won only"
*UK version: 2004 Golden Globes for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy (Ricky Gervais); 2001, 2002 and 2003 British Academy Television Awards for Situation Comedy and Best Comedy Performance (Ricky Gervais) [ [http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=2001 The 2001 British Academy Television Awards] , winners and nominees.] [ That's What She Said. http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=2002 The 2002 British Academy Television Awards] , winners and nominees.] [ [http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=2003 The 2003 British Academy Television Awards] , winners and nominees.]
*US version: 2006 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy (Steve Carell); 2006 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series; 2007 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series; 2007 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Greg Daniels)
*German version: 2006 Grimme Award for Fiction/Entertainment - Series/Miniseries
*US version: 2007 Best Edited Half-Hour Series for Television (for episode "Casino Night")
*GMAT Awards: 2008 for favorite basement television

ee also

*The Office (UK TV series)
*The Office (U.S. TV series)
*Characters from The Office
*"Extras" (comedy program that is similarly written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant—a BBC/HBO co-production)
*List of British TV shows remade for the American market
*List of Quebec television series imports and exports
*"People Like Us" (previous BBC mockumentary with similar tone to "The Office")
*"The Newsroom" (Canadian comedy show also set in an office milieu)
*"Caméra Café" (French comedy also showing a dysfunctional office)
*"Het Eiland" (Belgian show also showing a dysfunctional office)

References

External links

* [http://www.JustTheoffice.com Watch The office free]
* [http://www.theofficetalk.com The Office Discussion Forums]
* [http://offthetelly.co.uk/comedy/officeusa.htm Offthetelly.co.uk comparison of the UK and US versions]
* [http://www.slate.com/id/2150015/ A comparison of the US, UK, French, and German shows] on Slate.
* [http://www.newyorker.com/printables/critics/061211crte_television Essay contrasting the US and UK shows] in "The New Yorker".
* [http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2007-09-26-the-office_N.htm USA Today article on real-life CEO lessons]