Ricky Gervais, the co-creator of the original UK version of The Office, has provided audiences with his final answer on which version of the show is better. The Office UK is widely regarded as one of the best British sitcoms of all time, with its accurate (and often cringe-inducing) depiction of early 2000’s life and culture, and stand-out performances from its cast, which included Gervais, Martin Freeman, and Lucy Davis. Likewise, the US version of The Office received almost universal praise and has been ranked by many as one of the 100 best TV shows of all time.
The original The Office UK was initially conceived by Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The series aired in the UK in July 2001, while Gervais was still a relatively unknown figure in comedy. Despite its popularity, the series swiftly ended after The Office season 2, as Gervais and Merchant agreed that the story had reached its natural conclusion. After the success of the UK series, a US The Office adaption was commissioned. Gervais and Merchant served as executive producers, with Steve Carrell taking on the equivalent of Gervais' David Brent in Michael Scott. The Office US began as a direct adaption of the original version in season 1, however, it was quickly decided that the show needed to gain its own identity. Going into season 2, the tone and aesthetic of the show changed, and its characters were made more likable and optimistic. These changes meant that, by the time it had finished its nine-season run, The Office US was markedly different to the original UK series.
Now, in an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Gervais has given his definitive thoughts on the two shows. Gervais was asked by Fallon which version of The Office was better, a topic long-debated between fans of the two. The actor and comedian's reply was ultimately unsurprising. Gervais said that, in his opinion, the UK version of the series was “the best,” but playfully admitted that The Office US makes more money. Check out his full quote below:
"Well, I thought the British office was the best. But my accountant assures me that it’s the American version."
Given that Gervais co-wrote, directed, and starred in the leading role in the The Office UK, his opinion won't come as a huge shock to most fans. However, the comedian’s admission that his "accountant" prefers the US version is an acknowledgement of the fact the longer-running US Office was more commercially successful. Broadly, both UK and US viewers prefer their own series, which is a reflection of subtly different styles of humor that appeal to the respective audiences. However, the debate about the strength of the exact details of the shows (for example, David Brent vs Michael Scott, or Tim and Dawn vs Pam and Jim) is still going on, with fans from both sides strongly disagreeing.
Both versions of The Office standout as some of the best sitcoms that have ever been made, and fans of both will agree that the success of the shows is largely down to the talents of Gervais and Merchant, whose incredibly comedic talents are evident in both versions. Since working on The Office, the pair continued to work together for a time before splitting to develop their own projects. Gervais’ recently released the final After Life season 3, which received a more negative reception than much of his previous work. Merchant has made a return to British TV after a successful period of appearing in Hollywood movies such as Logan and Jojo Rabbit. Meanwhile, reports circulate that a reboot of the US version of The Office could be in the making, but whether or not it could ever be as celebrated as either of its predecessors is open to debate.