The Office

If you're a die-hard fan of the BBC classic The Office, then NBC's Americanized version will be as welcome as having your Sidekick hijacked by a coworker, posted on the Internet, then encased in Jello. But if you happen to be one of the millions of Americans who didn't get that joke, this new version will be a serviceable introduction to the satirical observations of cubicle life that made the original Britcom a cult hit on both sides of the pond. In the vein of Best in Show and Arrested Development, The Office is a fly-on-the-wall docu-parody of the modern American workplace starring Steve Carell (Daily Show, Anchorman) as Michael Scott, a suit-wearing stiff who's oblivious to his offensive jokes and inappropriate behavior. Thankfully, we're not, and we found ourselves cackling right up until we had to go back to our own office. But while this emulative series can hold its own against its domestic competition, be warned that the only part of this version that exceeds the British original is the teeth.