Ricky Gervais watched as NBC executives forced the writers of the American adaptation of The Office to shamelessly plagiarize the original British pilot script rather than risk an original thought.

A closer look

Ricky Gervais watched as NBC executives forced the writers of the American adaptation of The Office to shamelessly plagiarize the original British pilot script rather than risk an original thought. The network was so absolutely terrified of adapting the dry, cynical British humor for a mainstream audience that the premiere episode is virtually a shot-for-shot, word-for-word identical carbon copy of the original. It wasn't until the second season that the American writers were finally allowed to pivot Michael Scott away from being a purely hateful boss into a tragic, lovable idiot, which saved the show from certain cancellation. It beautifully illustrates the cowardice of television networks, preferring guaranteed mediocrity over trusting their own immensely talented creative staff to write original jokes