I thought the concept behind "The office" had some potential... that movie "Office Space" played well off the Cubicle life, so the topic definately can be done... So I checked out the premier...
Needless to say I went somewhere else after 5-10 minutes.. it was bad, I mean train wreck bad. I tried it again a few weeks later with the same outcome... I was beyond shocked that NBC picked it up for another go round.
I think the reason The Office didn't work is that it didn't have the spoof documentary feel that the UK version had, even though creators Ricky Gervaise and Stephen Merchant adapted it for the American audience. I also like Extras on HBO, Gervaise's newer comedy.