The Michael in the American Office is more womanly, and is a more typical American metrosexual. Gay jokes ensue.

It's just localization.

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To adress your second point, I think that may be because of what I said earlier. "If I wanted to look at real people I'd go outside, not watch a show."

That's what the people who cast the actors think we want, I suppose. Except I see prettier people in real life every day. It's all variable.