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British mockumentary television sitcom (2001–2003) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Office is a British mockumentary television sitcom first broadcast in the UK on BBC Two on 9 July 2001. Created, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, it follows the day-to-day lives of office employees in the Slough branch of the fictional Wernham Hogg paper company. Gervais also starred in the series as the central character, David Brent.
| The Office | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | |
| Created by | |
| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring | |
| Opening theme | "Handbags and Gladrags" performed by Big George |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 14 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | |
| Producer | Ash Atalla |
| Cinematography | Andy Hollis |
| Editor | Nigel Williams |
| Running time | approx. 30 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | 9 July 2001 – 27 December 2003 |
| Related | |
Two six-episode series were made, followed by a two-part Christmas special. When it was first shown on BBC Two, ratings were relatively low, but it has since become one of the most successful of all British comedy exports. As well as being shown internationally on BBC Worldwide and channels such as BBC Prime, BBC America, and BBC Canada, it has been sold to broadcasters in over 80 countries, including ABC1 in Australia, The Comedy Network in Canada, TVNZ in New Zealand, and the pan-Asian satellite channel Star World, based in Hong Kong. It was shown in the United States on BBC America from 2001 to 2016, and later on Cartoon Network's late night programming block Adult Swim from 2009 to 2011.[1]
The show centres on themes of social clumsiness, the trivialities of human behaviour, self-importance and conceit, frustration, desperation and fame. Its success led to a number of localised adaptations (based on its basic story and themes) produced for the television markets of other nations, creating an international Office franchise, including the successful and Primetime Emmy Award-winning American remake on NBC starring Steve Carell as David Brent's counterpart, Michael Scott, and on which Gervais and Merchant acted as executive producers.[2] Several direct follow-ups to the original British series were also released, including the 2016 film David Brent: Life on the Road.
The show is a mockumentary based in a branch of fictional British paper company Wernham Hogg (where "life is stationery") located in the Slough Trading Estate. The branch is headed by general manager David Brent (Ricky Gervais), aided by his team leader and Assistant to the Regional Manager Gareth Keenan (Mackenzie Crook). Much of the series's comedic success stems from Brent, who frequently makes attempts to win favour with his employees and peers with embarrassing or disastrous results. Brent's character flaws are used to comic effect, including numerous verbal gaffes, inadvertent racism and sexism, and other social faux pas. The other main plot line of the series concerns the unassuming Tim Canterbury (Martin Freeman) and his relationship with bored receptionist Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis). Their flirtation soon builds to a mutual romantic attraction, despite her engagement to dour and controlling warehouse worker Lee (Joel Beckett).
In June 1998, Merchant and Gervais made Seedy Boss, a 20-minute film starring Gervais, as part of Merchant's TV producer training for the BBC.[3] The pair met when Merchant was hired as Gervais' assistant at radio station Xfm; neither had any previous TV experience. Gervais's character was based on one he performed to amuse staff at the radio station.[4]
Ash Atalla showed the tape to BBC Two head Jane Root, who commissioned a series based on it.[5] Filming took place in an office at Teddington Studios.[6]
Unlike most British sitcoms, The Office used a single-camera setup (where multiple-camera setups were traditional) and no laughter track.[7] The style influenced subsequent comedies such as Peep Show, Twenty Twelve, Fleabag, and Motherland.
The show's theme song is "Handbags and Gladrags", performed by Big George, based on the Rod Stewart arrangement, and originally written in the 1960s by Mike d'Abo, former vocalist for the rock group Manfred Mann.[8][9] Gervais and Merchant also considered "Sitting" by Cat Stevens for the theme.[10] [better source needed]
In Series 1, episode 4, a version of the theme performed by Gervais (in character as Brent) was featured over the end credits. The first series also features Gervais performing "Free Love Freeway", and the Christmas Special includes him performing "If You Don't Know Me By Now".
The show is considered one of the greatest British sitcoms of all time.[11] Series one currently holds a Metacritic score of 98 out of 100, based on 12 reviews.[12] Series two received similar acclaim, holding a Metacritic score of 93 out of 100, based on 16 reviews.[13] The Office Christmas specials were also well received, and hold a Metacritic score of 98 out of 100, based on 19 reviews.[14] The Office, overall, scores 97 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 47 critic reviews and is labeled a "Metacritic-Must Watch".[15] The Telegraph names it one of the ten best TV sitcoms of all time.[16] In 2019, The Guardian ranked it #6 on its list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century.[17]
At the British Comedy Awards in 2001, The Office won the Best New TV Comedy award. In 2002, it won the Best TV Comedy award, and Gervais the Best TV Comedy Actor award.[18][19]
In 2004, the series won the Golden Globe Award for Best Television series: Musical or Comedy, the first British comedy in 25 years to be nominated for a Golden Globe, and the first ever to win one. Gervais also received the Golden Globe For Best Actor in a Television series: Comedy or Musical.[20] The same year, the series also won a Peabody Award.[21]
The Office's success led to a number of localised adaptations produced for the television markets of other nations, creating an international Office franchise. They included the successful and Emmy-winning American remake starring Steve Carell as David Brent's counterpart, Michael Scott.[2]
| DVD Name | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Ep # | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series One | 7 October 2003 | 14 October 2002 | 1 July 2004 | 6 | This double disc DVD set includes all six episodes from the first series.
Bonus features include the featurette How I Made The Office, deleted scenes, Wernham Hogg News, Slough slang glossary, and Wernham Hogg personnel file. |
| Series Two | 20 April 2004 | 20 October 2003 | 1 July 2004 | 6 | This one disc DVD set includes all six episodes from the second series.
Bonus features include a video diary, deleted scenes, out-takes, and a Slough slang glossary. |
| Christmas Special | 16 November 2004 | 25 October 2004 | 7 October 2004 | 2 | This one disc DVD set includes both hours of the Christmas Special.
Bonus features include a documentary on the making of the specials, the full uncut music video of David Brent's cover of "If You Don't Know Me by Now", a featurette on the making of "Freelove Freeway", and a Golden Globes featurette. |
| Complete Collection | 16 November 2004 | 22 November 2005 | TBA | 14 | This four disc DVD set includes all 12 episodes from the first and second series, and both parts of the Christmas special.
Bonus features include the How I Made The Office documentary, a documentary on the making of the specials titled The Office: Closed for Business, a commentary on the second part of the Christmas special, deleted scenes, out-takes, a video diary, the full uncut music video of David Brent's cover of "If You Don't Know Me by Now", a featurette on the making of "Freelove Freeway", and a Golden Globes featurette. |
| 10th Anniversary Special Edition | 22 November 2011 | 24 October 2011 | 14 November 2012 | 14 | This four disc DVD set includes all 12 episodes from the first and second series, and both parts of the Christmas special.
Bonus features include the How I Made The Office documentary, a documentary on the making of the specials titled The Office: Closed for Business, a commentary on the second part of the Christmas special, deleted scenes, out-takes, a video diary, the full uncut music video of David Brent's cover of "If You Don't Know Me by Now", a featurette on the making of "Freelove Freeway", and a Golden Globes featurette. Exclusive to this box set is the never-seen-before 20-minute pre-pilot, Comedy Connections featurette, broadcast wraparounds and celebrity interviews (including Hugh Jackman, Matthew Perry, Richard Curtis and Ben Stiller). |
A Comic Relief charity short was made in 2013 entitled The Return of Brent[22] (also known as The Office Revisited).
In 2013, Gervais developed a series of videos, and released them on his YouTube channel entitled "Learn Guitar with David Brent". Within three months, the series had collected over 2 million views.[23]
The Brent character also featured in the 2016 film David Brent: Life on the Road, this time with the contributions of Gervais but not Merchant.
In 2004, Microsoft UK commissioned two 20-minute corporate videos, entitled "The Office Values" and "Realising Potential", featuring David Brent being interviewed by Jeff (played by Stephen Merchant), a Microsoft employee who becomes increasingly exasperated by Brent's antics. Brent is obviously resentful of the company's success. He believes he has what it takes to become the next managing director of Microsoft and continually drops hints to that effect. While not on general release, the videos emerged on the Internet in 2006. The clips also appeared on certain peer-to-peer networks. Microsoft was unhappy with the leak, stating that the videos "were never intended to be viewed by the public".[24] During the first video, Brent plays the guitar, the lyrics advocating his ideas in opposition to Microsoft and technology.
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