The Office Trivia #1

I never got into it. It seems like the kind of show I would like, and parts of it were really good (I particularly remember an episode involving Dwight trying to hire a stripper but getting a Ben Franklin impersonator instead that I found hilarious). But it always felt a little cold to me. Not totally mean-spirited, but it was definitely laughing at these people more than with them. I prefer Parks & Rec, which has the same basic premise, but the characters and the show itself treat each other with a lot more warmth. My impression of The Office is my impression of Ricky Gervais generally: as pure comedy, he is tough to beat, but if you need to dig any deeper than that, he is not the guy. That's fine for standup (his Golden Globe speeches are top-notch), but I found it tough to invest in a whole TV show like that. And yes I know about Jim & Pam.

I watched both. I liked both. The chief differences that I saw, other than the obviously longer time span that the US version had, was that in the US version of the show every character was sympathetic, likable, and relatable in some way. Even the crazy, stupid, and obnoxious ones. It made you actually want to spend time with them each week. And, even though at times they seem almost like cartoons, it simultaneously made them seem more human.

In the UK version of the show, virtually none of the characters are likable, even the protagonists that you are supposed to be relating to or rooting for. And I know, that this is part of British humour that part of the point is just to make everyone feel awkward and uncomfortable, and kudos to Gervais for accomplishing that, but it's also at the same time a much less enjoyable experience for the audience. And while, yeah, you'll get some nervous and uncomfortable chuckles from the UK show it's not the full on belly laughs of the US one.

Uh, yes they did. The captain married them.

In response to requests based on that scene, Maid of the Mist stated that you can get married on their vessels, but not by the captain, since he or she is busy running the ship. It's strictly BYOM (Bring Your Own Minister).