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The UK Office is brilliantly funny, but it does demonstrate how we do humour differently to USA. You say it almost mimics the monotony and depression of working life... of course it does, that's the idea. We just also like to be able to relate to the characters, and that means they have human flaws and human emotions. It's not just comedy. Gervais gets the balance between comedy and drama absolutely perfect.
I find American comedy difficult to watch, with obvious exceptions. It's not subtle, there's no real depth, it's not anything like real life, it's like the characters have only one personality trait - funny. Like I'm just watching the "Fire Drill" sketch in the USA office. "Everybody don't panic. DON'T FUCKING PANIC." I could write that line, jeez. And who actually sets a fire in the office and cuts the phones? In the UK office, pranks are like hiding staplers in jelly and gluing the phone down. That's real office culture.
Comedy is much, much better when it's based on real life situations rather than make believe.
Of course, cartoons like Rick & Morty and South Park don't have to be realistic, or sic-fi. It's not essential. But if it's supposed to be a commentary of office culture, then it does need to be real.
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