Yet Another Funniest Man Alive Thread

[Guru of Nothing]

I accidently stumbled across Steve Carell in the sitcom The Office. He's got a comedic sense of timing that is second to none.

And the writers are pretty damn funny too.

"I'm 2/15ths American Indian."

and ... "can I call you something a little less offensive than 'Mexican."

[Kori Ellis]

We accidentally watch about the first 10 minutes of that show. And I have to say, IMO it was one of the worst shows I've ever seen in my life. To me it wasn't funny at all.

I'm sure a lot of people will like it, but I hated it.

[TheWriter]

This is the funniest man on TV:

http://www.douchechill.com/images/prof/gob.jpg

Will Arnett aka G.O.B Bluth.

On the funniest show on TV:

Arrested Development.

[Guru of Nothing]

We accidentally watch about the first 10 minutes of that show. And I have to say, IMO it was one of the worst shows I've ever seen in my life. To me it wasn't funny at all.

I'm sure a lot of people will like it, but I hated it.

It definitely picked up steam in the second half.

The humor is probably more easily absorbed by people who work in corporate office environments.

[timvp]

I was hoping it was going to be like Office Space but I gave up on it after ten minutes. I might give it one more chance.

[Kori Ellis]

It definitely picked up steam in the second half.

The humor is probably more easily absorbed by people who work in corporate office environments.

Well at least it got better. We turned it off after the beginning.

BTW, I worked in a corporate environment for a long time. I have my MBA.

[TheWriter]

The Office on NBC is a almost word for word Americanized verison of the UK show "The Office" which was a huge hit on BBC.

Everything is pretty much word for word.

British humor is very different from American humor.

[Mark in Austin]

All-time, I would have a hard time voting for anybody other than George Carlin.

Perhaps John Stewart right now, but his staff is so good it's hard to know when he ends and they begin.

I recently saw the Eddie Izzard HBO special Dress To Kill, and thought it was just about the funniest thing I've seen in the past five years.

[TheWriter]

All-time, I would have a hard time voting for anybody other than George Carlin.

Perhaps John Stewart right now, but his staff is so good it's hard to know when he ends and they begin.

I recently saw the Eddie Izzard HBO special Dress To Kill, and thought it was just about the funniest thing I've seen in the past five years.

Dressed to Kill was awesome but Glorious was better.

[Guru of Nothing]

I was hoping it was going to be like Office Space but I gave up on it after ten minutes. I might give it one more chance.

Likewise I should probably temper my appreciation. Still, Steve Carrell is one of my favorites. His work on The Daily Show was often excellent.

[desflood]

Wasn't that Steve Carrell in Anchorman also?

[AlamoSpursFan]

I watched that show hoping it would get funny, but it did nothing for me.

I hadn't watched Scrubs in a while, though...I forgot how funny that show is.

[TastesLikeChicken]

I haven't watched the Office yet but Carell is a funny mofo dating back to the short lived Dana Carvey Show in the mid 90's

[Guru of Nothing]

I watched that show hoping it would get funny, but it did nothing for me.

Most people don't get Bill Hicks.

Recognize [/timvp]

[AlamoSpursFan]

So since I get Hicks, I should have found The Office funny?

I peddled office products for over ten years. You'd think some of it would have resonated, but it did nothing for me.

[Spurminator]

Steve Carell is awesome, but I'm not sure the show has any legs.

Here are my problems with it:

A.) I watched the European version on BBC America this weekend, and every funny gag from the American version was completely ripped off from the European version (for example, the Jello). I expected the shows to be similar, but the American one should at least have its own angle.

B.) Most successful sitcoms involve a straight-man lead surrounded by funny characters. This show is the opposite... its main character is the goofy and he is surrounded by (basically) normal people. It's like if Seinfeld was about Cosmo Kramer and his friends were all like Jerry.

C.) Carell's shtick is that he's a boss who tries to be funny but isn't. And how long can someone who isn't funny... be funny?


Of course, I could be wrong, and The Office could go on to be a monumental success like Napolean Dynamite and I will be stuck wondering when I lost my sense of humor.

[TheWriter]

A.) I watched the European version on BBC America this weekend, and every funny gag from the American version was completely ripped off from the European version (for example, the Jello). I expected the shows to be similar, but the American one should at least have its own angle.


The Office on NBC is a almost word for word Americanized verison of the UK show "The Office" which was a huge hit on BBC.

Everything is pretty much word for word.

British humor is very different from American humor.

[Guru of Nothing]

Wasn't that Steve Carrell in Anchorman also?

I've not seen Anchorman, but he did play the role of anchorman in the movie Bruce Almighty.

[Spurminator]

Very good. I didn't claim to be the only one to notice it.

[Spurminator]

I think Carell would be a top-notch supporting player, a la David Cross from Arrested Development.

[TheWriter]

Very good. I didn't claim to be the only one to notice it.

Didn't say that, just pointing out that I mentioned it already. Because the American version is such a bad version.

[Spurminator]

I didn't really like the British version either, to be honest. And I typically like British humor. It was like the American version except with Steve Carell replaced by someone who's not funny.

[TheWriter]

I think Carell would be a top-notch supporting player, a la David Cross from Arrested Development.

Mentioned that as well. j/k

Did you know that the creators of AD wanted him to play G.O.B but instead asked for the role of Tobias because it was something different in terms of acting.

Also, Tobias and George Sr. were supposed to only be used in the pilot and that's it. However, they were recieved so well that they brought them back as regulars.

[TheWriter]

I didn't really like the British version either, to be honest. And I typically like British humor. It was like the American version except with Steve Carell replaced by someone who's not funny.

The UK version was 10x better than the American version, imo.

Unlike you, I don't like british humor but it grew on me. Not by much, but it was the only sitcom I watched on BBC America. Probably last as well.

[Spurminator]

Did not know that. Those two characters MAKE that show. Good choice to keep them on.

I'm completely addicted to AD... I watched Season One on DVD in about 4 days, and I've been downloading and watching two or three episodes a night of Season Two this week trying to catch up.

[Guru of Nothing]

I think Carell would be a top-notch supporting player, a la David Cross from Arrested Development.

David Cross was the first person to ... cross ... , my mind when invoking the FMA card.

[goliath]

The Office on NBC is a almost word for word Americanized verison of the UK show "The Office" which was a huge hit on BBC

Actually only the pilot was. The rest of the episodes are all original.

[Spurminator]

Well, I only watched the pilot of both versions... so I probably couldn't have a very educated opinion of either. Just first impressions.

[TheWriter]

Did not know that. Those two characters MAKE that show. Good choice to keep them on.

I'm completely addicted to AD... I watched Season One on DVD in about 4 days, and I've been downloading and watching two or three episodes a night of Season Two this week trying to catch up.

Wow!

Like me.

Watched the entire box set of season 1 in 2 days.

I watched most of season 2 during its original airing but have all season two on LimeWire.

Hope to god they bring it back. I think they will.

[TheWriter]

Actually only the pilot was. The rest of the episodes are all original.

Really. Might watch the second esp. then.

[AlamoSpursFan]

I thought the one tonight was the pilot? They intro'ed it as "Premiering next"...