I love, love, love the UK version of the TV comedy show ‘The Office’. Actually, it’s no longer on the air so I guess I should say I “loved, loved, loved it”, but anyway. And I never really saw it on TV either. I rented the discs from Netflix, which was AWESOME because I was able to get all of them at once and just like, get in bed under my covers and stay there for an entire weekend without moving except to pee and get Haagen Daz from the freezer. And that’s what I did. Because when you start watching the UK ‘Office’ you cannot stop. It’s addictive and sooooooooo hilarious. A little too racy for my tastes in some parts but otherwise absolutely brazilliant comedy. I have never been able to get into the American version although I adore Steve Carrell and think he’s brazilliant, too. I don’t know–the American version just doesn’t do it for me. Anyhoo, Ricky Gervais–the creator of the original ‘Office’–introduced a hilarious little skit for Saturday Night Live in which he claimed to have gotten his inspiration for ‘The Office’ from a Japanese show of the same name. Then, the cast of the American ‘Office’ preceeds to act out the skit of the Japanese version…in very, very poor Japanese…and it’s just a hoot. Enjoy the clip here.
P.S.
Some of the things in the skit play into obvious stereotypes–like yes, Japan is the forerunner of the creation of robot-pets but that does not mean every Japanese office has one. Nor does every Japanese person drink sake every time there’s a party. But other things are spot on…like the receptionist who giggles into her hand and the junior staff saying “I’m sorry” multiple times and bowing.
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