Seems like yesterday we were all bellyaching about the American version of The Office and how it would never live up to the original BBC version. Well, what a difference a-show-turning-out-not-to-suck makes: Now the BBC castmembers are clamoring to get in on the Yankee action.
Yes, it looks like some of the original castmembers may be trading stylish Slough for even more stylish Scranton next year. (Not Ricky Gervais himself, of course — the producers are smart enough to resist such clumsy couch-jumping.) But how to pull this off? It would be easy enough to arrange an exchange: In the global paper economy, any little merger or buyout would be enough to throw the parallel Office universes together. But what happens when Jim meets Dawn? Or when Pam meets Tim? Well, nothing — I think it’s fair to say that their chemistries are entirely incompatible. When Gareth meets Dwight, that’s another story: Both are alpha wankers, competing to be sycophant-in-chief, and the Wanker Exclusion principle comes into play. We’re talking about a collision of Flintstones meets Jetsons proportions, here. And who’s to say Angela, in a moment of weakness, might not fall for Gareth’s Bond-like British charm?
The big question, of course, is how Michael will react to such rampant Britishness in his midst. With an affected accent, mehopes.
How would you do it, Office fans? Do Gareth and Dwight go hunting? Do Keith and Kevin hit it off? Post your pitch below and I’ll make sure it goes straight to the 156th floor* of the NBC Skytower.**
*There is no 156th floor.
**This building does not exist.
Oooh…this is a toughie. I liked the British version but the US version has superseded it in its brilliance. I don’t think the British characters would be “accessible” enough to the general US viewing population (to put it in perspective- I get it but I know my mom wouldn’t and she loves the US version) and it might slowdown the big push NBC is finally giving this show (and deservedly so)if a new audience gets isolated because of the British cast invasion. I say let the British office rest in peace and give us some new characters when that inevitable office merger happens this season and let us go on our merry US-version-loving way then!
I love, love, love the UK “The Office,” but I’m not sure bringing the characters across the pond would be a good thing for the US “The Office” (which I also love). Maybe the minor characters, like Keith, or the woman in the wheelchair from series 2. But the main characters (David, Tim, Dawn and Gareth)? I would really prefer not to see that. Of course if it happens, I will watch …
the Brits CANNOT come back as their characters – they musn’t. i always had thought that Gervais could come back as “Frank Dunder” of Dunder-Mifflin and be some Eurotrash-type, 21st Century corporate raider. as for the others, i think only Gareth has crossover appeal. i wouldn’t even mind seeing Neil. i hope they do something creative with Martin Freeman & Lucy Davis, if it’s them that’s going to be on, and not be Tim/Dawn.
I haven’t seen the British version, but I’m sure anything the writers of “The Office” put together would be brilliant. It’s without a doubt my favorite comedy on TV.
I haven’t seen the UK version, but I love the US version. And I agree that the writers on The Office are so good that they could make it work. I’ll watch every episode anyway. Though I do worry that it might seem a bit like they are “jumping the shark” as it were.
I miss the UK Office so much. So I would never say no to the opportunity to see those characters again, but most would probably see it as gimmicky. They are already sort of crossing over by having Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant write a Season 3 episode. Ooh, maybe someone could just do a spot of voice-over with some business on the phone. Imagine the inept greeting Micheal would think up for his associates across the pond. Awkward cultural differences are funny.
Not only is this a bad idea, it also seems counter to what Gervais himself has said was great about the UK “Office” series: that it had a limited run and it would last as what it was. To bring back the old characters (even one) would ruin the idea of having a ‘limited run’ series…
it would be nice to see the actors from the show playng new roles, but playing the same characters from their version? NOT! Unless they do some type of sister-city foriegn exchange plot device, they need to keep the Brits across the pond.
I think it’d be great for Tim and Dawn to make a non-speaking background cameo at Chilis with their kids and showing how happy they are.
Gareth comes to the Office and falls for Angela. Dwight gets all nuts and his relationship with Angela is revealed.
Gareth climbing the corporate ladder as seen in the Christmas special should visit the office as a company exec. Michael can’t understand a thing he says even though he clearly speaking English. Dwight follows him around like a puppy, making Michael jealous. Jim “winds him up” playing pranks on him during his visit.
I don’t have any suggestions per se, but I would LOVE to see the original BBC cast mix it up with the NBC version. I am a fan of both, and just seeing “Tim,” “Gareth,” “Dawn,” and any one else from the brilliant Ricky Gervais/Stephen Merchant original reprise their roles would be a hoot.
I think having the British cast on as a permanent fixture would be a bad move. But I love the idea of a “very special episode” where some of the Brits come across the pond…maybe a Dunder-Mifflin summer outing/field day – Brits v. Americans?
While I love the original, I’m ambivalent toward having the English characters mixing it up with the US characters. Having two office weirdos both think they are the “Assistant (to the) Regional Manager?” Hmmm. Also, David Brent and Dawn don’t work for Wernham Hogg anymore, and hopefully Tim has moved on because he’s with Dawn!
They could give Lucy Davis a cameo as Pam’s art/graphic design instructor (not as Dawn though), assuming that Pam actually went thru with the class alluded to in the “Boys & Girls” ep.
Gareth visiting the US is the most logical choice…assuming he’s the manager of Wernham-Hogg, he could visit with his assistant manager the Oggmonster.
It might also be fun to have Finchy visit and hang out with Todd Packer…
Loved the Brits, wouldn’t mind seeing them again! If they come to the show as their characters, Gareth and Dwight should get into some sort of competition with each other, Tim should tell Jim to “never give up” and how that eventually worked for him, and Dawn should tell Pam about how she was in a long term engagement with a loser and how she finally woke up and dumped him for Tim, her true soul mate, and how happy she is now.
But of course, since I don’t know how they’re going to resolve the Jim/Pam cliffhanger from “Casino Night”, it will be interesting to see how useful the Tim/Dawn info will be by the time the Brits come on the show. Will it help convince Pam to take action if she hasn’t already, or will it just reassure her if she has? I’m hoping for the latter option!