david brent vs. michael scott

it seems to me that michael scott is a much better boss than david brent. my concern, however, is the thought that this is a cultural thing, as opposed to a straight logic thing. it seems to me that scott is a much more sympathetic boss, perhaps due to his lack of overtly sexual innuendo and behavior. he seems much more innocent than brent.

now to a certain extent that helps the american office. it means that the show, and the office, can stay under the management of scott longer (because already they have been on for 13 more episodes than the uk show already) without the audience thinking he should be fired. i remember at about episode 2 of the second season i was saying to myself, and others, "why has david not been fired yet?"

i mean, david brent gains redemption during the christmas special, but michael scott gains his redemption one small step at a time. throughout the show, michael proves that he is not a douchebag by small steps--not ditching his company, making a great sale, or by kissing oscar full on the lips...i'm not sure that last one counts.

that being said, i think david brent being the worse boss makes him a better character. while michael scott is redeemable, david brent pushes, and in fact rips, the envelope with his edgy awfulness. while michael steps back to perserve legitmacy, and therefore staying power, david walks on through unknowingly, destroying the boundaries of what is good and right almost too easily.

as well as michael scott being a better boss, there is another aspect of the american office that lets it go on much longer than it's english counterpart. that is the depth of the supporting actors. while donna and ricky were a quick sideshow, and rachel made things awkward for dawn for a bit during the second season, none really had a life of their own...except perhaps keith. in the us version, you have oscar, toby, stanley, phyllis, and of course angela. each has their own idiosyncracies and ways of dealing with michael. i think it was important to broaden these characters to make the show viable for anything longer than 14 episodes.

still, i worry about the show going on too long, and ruining the legacy that to this point it has honored. please...know when to stop.