Damek.

…just… disinterested. Happens to me a lot, which is why I don’t make a great blogger. Good thing I’m not trying to be one, then.

Since thirdofthemonth is often writing up good stuff about evolution, I thought I’d point to this DailyKos diary about Scientific American’s most recent editorial on the subject. Good stuff from one of my favorite magazines.

In unrelated news, the US remake of the genius, hit UK comedy “The Office” premiered last night. Why they started it on a Thursday when it’s otherwise going to be on Tuesdays all the time, I have no idea. Anyway, it wasn’t nearly as good, in my opinion, but then I’m a big fan of the original, and this first episode was practically a copy of the original first episode. I can’t judge a whole series from just one episode, and the buzz is they’re departing from the original from now on, so I can’t even begin to extrapolate… but judging just the first episode purely as a remake, the characters were a bit too cartoonish in comparison. They have the “awkward pauses,” but it seems like the US version sees those as a mechanical aspect of the show that’s just supposed to be funny in itself, rather than openings in which we see the humanity beneath the office facades of the characters.

The beauty of the original was the humanity underneath and the subtlety with which that was revealed. NBC may have a new hit sitcom on its hands, especially for people who never saw the original, but it may end up being just because it’s a funny sitcom done in a way Americans aren’t used to, and not because it translates the genius of the UK’s portrayal of office apathy, petty peer resentment, and unfulfilled personal hopes & dreams. Maybe US office culture is just fundamentally different from UK office culture. Or maybe I’m wrong and it’ll turn out just as good as the original, given time.

One thing making me think it just won’t be as good, ever, is that US television schedules traditionally demand 10-20 episodes per season, at least. The UK original was only 2 seasons of six episodes, and an extended “holiday special” that “finished” the story. All of that amounts to little more than a short miniseries, or extra long movie, for what US audiences usually expect. For that sort of time, your expectations as to the kind of story or stories you’ll see is different. I mean, with your standard US sitcom, there’s just very little opportunity for or expectation of character growth and development over time. If there is, it’s much slower, and much more drawn out. Usually it happens because someone wants to leave the show or ratings or flagging.

Anyway, I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but not too tightly.