Why did the British version of The Office only run for two seasons?!
Question: Why did the British version of The Office only run for two seasons!?
I have the DVDs of the first season and absolutely LOVE the version here in the US!. Why so short lived in the UK!?Www@Enter-QA@Com
Answers:
British/BBC shows have very short runs compared to US shows!. Always have!. It does work to keep the quality up!. A typical American show has 22 episodes per year/season!. A British show tends to have about 6-8!.
It comes down to finance really!. The revenue model is different!. In the US basic TV (non cable) is dependent on ad revenue to generate money and cover production costs!. In the UK one buys a licence - there is a fee for basic TV, (somewhat like what one pays for cable) without which - no TV!. So they don't need to make as many episodes as they are getting money from ads and revenue from license fees!. This covers their production costs!. As a result their TV has more financial breathing room, which leads to creative risk taking - much like HBO in America!. The Sopranos (HBO) only had 13 episodes per season, and the quality was very high!.
The writer/creators of the original Office didn't want to continue as they thought that the concept would get a little thin!. I would rather want more of something and miss it than see it become a sad shell of itself when it stays too long!. We can always watch the DVDs :)
I like both versions myself!. Extras is also good, jointly produced by the BBC and HBOWww@Enter-QA@Com
It comes down to finance really!. The revenue model is different!. In the US basic TV (non cable) is dependent on ad revenue to generate money and cover production costs!. In the UK one buys a licence - there is a fee for basic TV, (somewhat like what one pays for cable) without which - no TV!. So they don't need to make as many episodes as they are getting money from ads and revenue from license fees!. This covers their production costs!. As a result their TV has more financial breathing room, which leads to creative risk taking - much like HBO in America!. The Sopranos (HBO) only had 13 episodes per season, and the quality was very high!.
The writer/creators of the original Office didn't want to continue as they thought that the concept would get a little thin!. I would rather want more of something and miss it than see it become a sad shell of itself when it stays too long!. We can always watch the DVDs :)
I like both versions myself!. Extras is also good, jointly produced by the BBC and HBOWww@Enter-QA@Com
One of the worse things about American entertainment is that if it's successful they flog it to death!. So your initial love becomes loathing!. Any goodwill you felt evaporates!.
In Britain they still tend to plan a series by year in writing then film it!. If it's a success then they do another!. Rarely will they take it any further!. Though they are changing this slowly to a more American style!.
Things like Cracker (British Version), or James Bond are written well in advance then chosen by story with large time gaps to keep it popular!.
This works; Rocky 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.uugghh!.
Bond 1, 2, 3, 4, !.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.hey there's another one this year!.
Either take a little money now or a lot more later!? Slowly, slowly catchee monkey as they say!.
Ricky Gervais understood this and took the goodwill he accumulated into other projects!.
(edit)
(sorry slipstream I thought your answer was very good, but accidently pressed the wrong thumb)Www@Enter-QA@Com
In Britain they still tend to plan a series by year in writing then film it!. If it's a success then they do another!. Rarely will they take it any further!. Though they are changing this slowly to a more American style!.
Things like Cracker (British Version), or James Bond are written well in advance then chosen by story with large time gaps to keep it popular!.
This works; Rocky 1, 2, 3, 4, 5!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.uugghh!.
Bond 1, 2, 3, 4, !.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.hey there's another one this year!.
Either take a little money now or a lot more later!? Slowly, slowly catchee monkey as they say!.
Ricky Gervais understood this and took the goodwill he accumulated into other projects!.
(edit)
(sorry slipstream I thought your answer was very good, but accidently pressed the wrong thumb)Www@Enter-QA@Com
It wasnt about making money (thanks to the BBC!), it was about entertainment!. The same can be said about Fawlty Towers - which is still as fresh and funny as it was 30 odd years ago, even though there are only a dozen or so episodes!.
Gervais and Merchant (writers of the Office) thought they wouldnt be able to sustain the quality for longer than two series and didnt want to push the quality - hence their next comedy series "Extras", which you should check out if you havent already!. Part of the second series actually examines the problems that programme makers go through when coming into success - worthwhile, check it out!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Gervais and Merchant (writers of the Office) thought they wouldnt be able to sustain the quality for longer than two series and didnt want to push the quality - hence their next comedy series "Extras", which you should check out if you havent already!. Part of the second series actually examines the problems that programme makers go through when coming into success - worthwhile, check it out!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
There comes a point when the jokes just stop being funny, and the series just dies a slow agonising death!. There are only so many jokes you can pump out about a situation before you start rehashing the same stuff or relying on implausible situations (the "jumping the shark" episode in "Happy days" is seen as the beginning of the end for the series!.)
It can also stop the cast being too typecast (and ruining their future career)!.
As the old showbiz adage goes- "Always leave them wanting more, Dahling!"Www@Enter-QA@Com
It can also stop the cast being too typecast (and ruining their future career)!.
As the old showbiz adage goes- "Always leave them wanting more, Dahling!"Www@Enter-QA@Com
I believe that Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant thought that the format had run its course and dragging it on any further would leave it far weaker!. They then went on to write the series "Extras" which recieved the same amount of attention as "The Office" and won a great many awards!.
I am a videotape operator and had a chance to see the American version of "The Office" before it was broadcast!. My opinion was that it shouldn't reach the airwaves!. Like the old line says "It was just like a joke, but without the funny bit"Www@Enter-QA@Com
I am a videotape operator and had a chance to see the American version of "The Office" before it was broadcast!. My opinion was that it shouldn't reach the airwaves!. Like the old line says "It was just like a joke, but without the funny bit"Www@Enter-QA@Com
Yeah he said he wanted to end it while it was popular, stops everyone getting bored of it!. The way it ran for such a short period of time, it's often compared to Fawlty Towers!. Another UK comendy that ran years before starring John Cleese!.
They only made so many episodes of that too!. And yet it's considered one of the best sit-coms ever!
=)Www@Enter-QA@Com
They only made so many episodes of that too!. And yet it's considered one of the best sit-coms ever!
=)Www@Enter-QA@Com
Because it wasn't funny, all it is, is Ricky Gervase as Himself who says something orqaurd, followed by the rest of the cast in silence!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Because we KNOW WHEN NOT TO bleed something DRY!! You yanks MILK IT until is dead!. You bleed it until it is no longer FUNNY hahahaah1Www@Enter-QA@Com
because the sequals are never as good as the originals, and us brits judge things harshly!.Www@Enter-QA@Com
Best to stop on a high and not keep going till everyone is fed up of it!. They did a christmas special though!.Www@Enter-QA@Com