Break from routine at ‘The Office’
NBC’s new Americanization of a British series is a Triumph. Like that classy vintage sports car, it’s almost always in need of repairs.
Created by writer/star Ricky Gervais, the BBC series “The Office” presented a documentary-style look at white-collar life in a dreary office in the nondescript city of Slough, England.
Gervais’ character, manager David Brent, is the center of that show. He thinks he’s a comedian and his employees’ best friend, but he’s really an incompetent who can’t help saying the wrong thing all of the time.
In the American version of “The Office” (9:30 p.m., NBC), the action moves to Scranton, Pa., where Steve Carell of “The Daily Show” plays Michael Scott, the inept boss. Although not without laughs, the new “Office” loses much in translation. And that’s hard to do, given that tonight’s episode is a word-for-word reenactment of the pilot of the British series. Subsequent episodes will follow original, American scripts.
While consistently thoughtless and self-deluded, Gervais’ Brent was never hateful. There was a wounded, needy quality at the core of his odd behavior.
In contrast, Carell’s Scott is shriller, louder and more insistent, and he often comes off as an obtuse jerk, not unlike the obtuse jerk he played in the Julia Louis Dreyfus sitcom “Watching Ellie.” This grows painfully apparent in next week’s episode, when Scott puts his own twist on an office “Diversity Day” and ends up screeching ethnic insults at an Asian employee.
The best parts of “The Office” involve Jim (John Krasinksi), a nice-guy sales rep who knows he’s too good for his job but doesn’t have a clue as to what else he should do. He spends most of his day playing mind games with Dwight (Rainn Wilson), the office sycophant.
Jim also harbors a fairly transparent crush on Pam (Jenna Fischer), the pretty receptionist who is engaged to a loutish delivery guy.
Of the three episodes made available for review, the third is by far the best. Scott’s lovelorn status becomes apparent when he allows a pretty purse saleswoman to set up shop in the conference room, simply because he wants to ask her out on a date. The awkward Dwight also makes a move on the new “hottie” that is too painful to describe. ‘
Comedy fans who have tired of the three-camera, laugh-track-driven sitcom approach should definitely check out “The Office.” For all of its flaws it’s a vast improvement over recent comedies, from “Committed” to “Life on a Stick.”
“Joseph: the Silent Saint” (8 p.m., History) explores the biblical mystery of Joseph, the carpenter husband of Mary.
Joseph’s royal lineage and his many actions, including the return to Bethlehem for the Roman census and his decision to take flight into Egypt, are central to the story of Jesus Christ. Yet not one word of Joseph’s is recorded in the New Testament. Interviews with theologians and scholars and dramatic reenactments expand upon the overlooked role of Joseph in the “greatest story ever told.”
Other highlights
The NCAA Basketball Tournament (4 p.m., CBS) continues.
A visitor from Chino on “The O.C.” (8 p.m., Fox).
Home improvement on “The Apprentice” (8:30 p.m., NBC).
New homeowners consult host Kenneth Brown for ways to construct a stylish kitchen on a tight budget on “reDesign” (8:30 p.m., HGTV).
Things heat up on “Point Pleasant” (9 p.m., Fox).
The war in Iraq comes home on “ER” (10 p.m., NBC).
Scheduled on “Primetime” (10 p.m., ABC: life in a maximum-security prison for women.
Cult choice
Fans who only know Michael Caine from “Austin Powers” should see him play the cool British spy Harry Palmer in the 1965 thriller “The Ipcress File” (7:15 p.m., TCM.
Series notes
Madchen Amick guest-stars on “Joey” (8 p.m., NBC) … On four episodes of “Jake in Progress” ( ABC), a special someone (8 p.m.), double-duty (8:30 p.m.), a hot date (9 p.m.), and playing Cupid (9:30 p.m.) … Guest-starring on back-to-back episodes of “Blue Collar TV” (WB), Mike Waltrip (8 p.m.), and LeAnn Rimes (8:30 p.m.) … Wrestling on “WWE SmackDown!” (8 p.m., UPN).