sparked a couple chortles, but it is just like watching a broadway adaptation of the real, beautiful thing.

did the new season start tonight? dammit.

oh, is this the new season? didn't know that.

I think it's a repeat.

It was a repeat. new season starts next week, I believe..

i like the US version.. the BBC version is great, but this is very solid.

I think the new season starts the 20th.

I agree with TK....I enjoy the NBC version. It's not the classic that the UK version is ( for one thing the characters aren't nearly as deep ) , but it's funny.

I Agree!

Which episode did you see? Because if it's the first, don't judge the rest on that. That first episode was pretty rough, and the show really picked up after that when it started relying on its own scripts rather than one adapted from the British show.

I thought it was great. The basketball episode had me in tears (edit: from laughter) at times.

The basketball episode was the best one of the short first season.

Agreed - "WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME TODAY?!?!?!?!?" lol.

I think the one that was on last nite was "Hot Girl" - with the purse selling visitor.

I loved the one where Dwight tried to form an alliance with Jim. And where he hid in the cardboard box, cutting breathe-holes in the box and eventually tipping over - awesome.

how deep were the characters on the UK version? I feel like there isn't a huge discrepancy there. other than Gareth's TA thing and Chris Finch, I feel like it's about the same. And this is almost made up for by Dwight's search for a large breasted (Shrutes make thirsty babies) women with big hips. I dunno I missed a lot of the first season.

i finally caught an episode (last night)....i enjoyed it, and i am looking forward to the new season as well.

it's ok - not laugh out loud funny like the british version, but decent, nothing more.

I thought it the NBC version (the 3 or 4 episodes that I saw) were great. I have not seen the Brit version.

As far as the "depth" of the characters go, I shoulda been more specific. Mainly I was referring to the "boss" - there's a real kind of pathetic-ness to David Brent that's lacking in the US version. Michael Scott is just a braying jackass. I find the Gervais performance to be much more layered, subtle & interesting.

Having said that - I actually LOL more at the US version. The humor's more obvious & easier to react to. When I watch the UK version I'm blown away by the performances & writing more, but I'm not guffawing thru the whole thing.

The alliance episode is the best ("Their bread is VERY good."). And Jenna Fischer is a ten-years-ago Maura Tierney.

The receptionist in the US version is delicious.

Steve Carell owns the show though. With his performances in The Office and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, he is by far one of the most talented comedic actors around at the moment.

I love when the boss told the mexican guy that he'd call on him when it came time for softball season or boxing, instead of basketball.