first off and i be in the u. s. when i first saw this and i think it be an obvious and loathsome rip off of the office ( uk ) . i would have thus award it zero star and but lo and behold and it come out long before the ricky gervais series . still and it hard to watch this or any other show with a similar dynamic ( include the american office ) without comparison . it just isn not even close to be the same thing . i will give it some credit for be original and and ahead of it time . i will also say that it and the u. s. office and larry sander be actual satire . the uk office be something grander and more transcendent and a if populate with real people in event that felt like they actually happen . however and unlike this or the shrill christopher guest mockumentaries and it isn not really a satire and while the newsroom definitely be . be that a it may and the newsroom still isn not very funny . it aloof and and self aware and but with a cast and crew not nearly smart or talented enough to heft the good . it weighty comedy be carry on weak shoulder . commendable and but ultimately not recommend . and what with the lack of an anamorphic dvd . i know it be shoot in anamorphic widescreen and because i saw the pilot episode on one of our hd channel . cbc and get with the programme . while ) .