Gervais may open branch of 'The Office' in China

[August 16, 2010]  BEIJING (AP) -- "The Office" is up for a transfer to China.

Co-creator Ricky Gervais blogged recently that he will develop a Chinese version of the award-winning television comedy. In addition to the original British "mockumentary," there are versions in the U.S., France, Germany, Chile, Israel and the Canadian province of Quebec.

The show that mines office politics and corporate ineptitude for its laughs might face new challenges in China, where government censors tightly control media content.

Gervais joked on his blog that the show might not air if Beijing sees his latest project, "An Idiot Abroad," where he sends a culturally clueless friend on a trip around the world.

Gervais did not give any clues about the timing of the Chinese show.

[Associated Press]

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