NBC to make US version of The Office
Funnyman Ricky Gervais is hoping that his sitcom The Office will prove a hit in America, after the NBC network said today it was producing a remake of the show.
The BAFTA-winning antics of nightmare boss David Brent – played by Gervais - have left British audiences in stitches.
The second series, which is currently airing in the US on BBC America, has won a cult following and rave reviews from the critics.
NBC said the spoof documentary, created by Gervais and Stephen Merchant, would be remade with an American cast if a pilot episode proves a success.
The network’s prime time development president Kevin Reilly said: “Workplace comedies are a staple of TV. Unfortunately, most office comedies have all the reality leeched out of them.
“In The Office, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have created a show that perfectly captures the universal experience of the daily grind.”
He told the Hollywood Reporter: “I have no doubt that we will be able to translate this series for an American audience.”
But unlike the American remake of British sitcom Coupling – which has been savaged by critics – The Office would get a substantial re-scripting by Ben Silverman’s Universal-based production company Reveille.
“These are distinct British stereotypes, and we’re going to find our American stereotypes of office life to translate, but we’re going to work very closely with Ricky and Stephen,” Mr Silverman said.
Gervais would not star in the US version of the show.
The Office won best comedy series at the BAFTAs in 2002 and 2003.
The New York Post described The Office as possibly “the most-respected sitcom in a generation“.
It was called “hilarious” by Entertainment Weekly magazine, and the USA Today newspaper gave it four stars.
The American version of Coupling, on the other hand, recently lost its prime time NBC spot after disappointing viewer numbers.
Newsweek wrote that Coupling “gives sex, comedy and television a bad name“.
Daily Variety said “the cast has no likeable characters, motivation for every act is sexual, and the theme of moronic men versus wily women has been played out“.
