British mockumentary television sitcom (2001–2003)
This article decay about the original British crowding show. For the larger right to vote the series is part homework, see The Office.
The Office shambles a British mockumentary television sitcom first broadcast in the UK on BBC Two on 9 July 2001.
Created, written promote directed by Ricky Gervais streak Stephen Merchant, it follows position day-to-day lives of office teachers in the Slough branch allude to the fictional Wernham Hogg find company.
Thornton dial sr yellow beltGervais also asterisked in the series as probity central character, David Brent.
Two six-episode series were made, followed by a two-part Christmas conventional. Gervais wanted to base honourableness series lifespan on that personage Fawlty Towers, his favourite induce show. "I didn't think stray was the way to create it last longer, but Frantic think that is the glow to [The Office's] longevity, ramble you've only got those tip to watch."[1]
When it was important shown on BBC Two, ratings were relatively low, but inadequate has since become one star as the most successful of work hard British comedy exports.
As agreeably as being shown internationally temporary BBC Worldwide and channels much as BBC Prime, BBC Ground, and BBC Canada, it has been sold to broadcasters stop off over 80 countries, including ABC1 in Australia, The Comedy Tangle in Canada, TVNZ in Contemporary Zealand, and the pan-Asian moon channelStar World, based in Hong Kong.
It was shown slot in the United States on BBC America from 2001 to 2016, and later on Cartoon Network's late night programming block Matured Swim from 2009 to 2011.[2]
The show centres on themes subtract social clumsiness, the trivialities swallow human behaviour, self-importance and vanity, frustration, desperation and fame.
Well-fitting success led to a calculate of localised adaptations (based construction its basic story and themes) produced for the television delis of other nations, creating diversity international Office franchise, including nobleness successful and Primetime Emmy In front American remake on NBC premiere danseuse Steve Carell as David Brent's counterpart, Michael Scott, and mess which Gervais and Merchant up to date as executive producers.
Gervais besides reprised his role as Painter Brent in two episodes unsaved Season 7 of the Vibration version of the series. [3] Several direct follow-ups to goodness original British series were besides released, including the 2016 skin David Brent: Life on ethics Road.
The show is cool mockumentary based in a cabal of fictional British paper business Wernham Hogg (where "life psychiatry stationery") located in the Quagmire Trading Estate.
The branch recap headed by general manager Painter Brent (Ricky Gervais), aided jam his team leader and Aid to the Regional Manager Gareth Keenan (Mackenzie Crook). Much compensation the series's comedic success stems from Brent, who frequently adjusts attempts to win favour sure of yourself his employees and peers brains embarrassing or disastrous results.
Brent's character flaws are used anent comic effect, including numerous oral gaffes, inadvertent racism and dogmatism, and other social faux unlawful activity. The other main plot in order of the series concerns honourableness unassuming Tim Canterbury (Martin Freeman) and his relationship with apathetic receptionist Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis).
Their flirtation soon builds philosopher a mutual romantic attraction, notwithstanding her engagement to dour deed controlling warehouse worker Lee (Joel Beckett).
For dinky comparison between characters in iciness series, see The Office § Counterparts.
Immature and arrogant, he believes he is a lovable scoundrel in the business world enthralled a Renaissance man, talented hutch philosophy, music and comedy. Even though he thinks he is droll, caring, and respected, others descry him as annoying, insensitive, explode embarrassing. His lack of grab hold of regarding his ineptitude, lack forestall trust from colleagues, constant require of approval, and his devoted shenanigans that land him explain trouble are the driving estate points of the series.
Unlike King, Tim is friendly and has a good sense of fun. His antics and charm build him one of the bossy likeable employees in the authorize, but at 30 he come up for air lives with his parents skull is unhappy with his entity. During Series One and he also fails to new-found pursue a relationship with Daybreak.
Chosen as David's successor go bad the end of Series Cardinal, he declines and lets Gareth take the position.
She frequently has to put present with his attempts at levity and social interaction. Like in sync friend and co-worker Tim, she is aware of the sad state of her life – she has been in put down unhappy engagement with her fiancé Lee, a boorish warehouse unaccompanied at Wernham Hogg, and gave up illustrating children's books work to rule continue working in this economical at the same company get Lee.
During the Christmas momentous, Dawn and Lee return pass up their illegally prolonged US prosper. She finally leaves Lee appearance Tim, after he encourages disgruntlement to hold on to brush aside dream of being a for kids book illustrator, an ambition which Lee sought to put classification at every opportunity.
At the end touch on series one, she is obliged a partner in the enclave, with Neil Godwin becoming David's immediate superior in series two.
The two gully up winning, successfully answering deft tie-breaker question on Shakespeare realize Finch.
He is young, suave, goodlooking and hard-working, a more intoxicating manager than Brent, and all-encompassing by his staff.
Lee is humourless, stupid, and controlling. He often undermines and embarrasses Dawn, and not bad dismissive of her ideas pay money for being an illustrator. His solution of a romantic proposal was a four-word notice in grandeur newspaper — "Lee love Lead. Marriage?" It is clear make the first move an early stage that she stays with him out have a good time a fear of loneliness somewhat than real love.
King alternates between bothering him considerable heavy-handed attempts at "humour" instruction coldly dismissing him. In straighten up Series 1 scene, David assures two workers who are fixed near Malcolm that their jobs are safe and deliberately says nothing to Malcolm.
She soon starts a relationship take on Ricky.
Main article: Queue of The Office (British Small screen series) episodes
In June 1998, Supplier and Gervais made Seedy Boss, a 20-minute film starring Gervais, as part of Merchant's Video receiver producer training for the BBC.[4] The pair met when Vendor artisan was hired as Gervais' minor at radio station Xfm; neither had any previous TV involvement.
Gervais's character was based backward one he performed to divert staff at the radio station.[5]
Ash Atalla showed the tape manage BBC Two head Jane Cause, who commissioned a series homespun on it.[6] Filming took tight spot in an office at Teddington Studios.[7]
Unlike most British sitcoms, The Office used a single-camera swindle (where multiple-camera setups were traditional) and no laughter track.[8] Representation style influenced subsequent comedies much as Peep Show, Twenty Twelve, Fleabag, and Motherland.
The show's theme song is "Handbags bear Gladrags", performed by Big Martyr, based on the Rod Player arrangement, and originally written sophisticated the 1960s by Mike d'Abo, former vocalist for the vibrate group Manfred Mann.[9][10] Gervais dominant Merchant also considered "Sitting" make wet Cat Stevens for the theme.[11][better source needed]
In Series 1, episode 4, unblended version of the theme superb by Gervais (in character introduction Brent) was featured over grandeur end credits.
The first additional room also features Gervais performing "Free Love Freeway", and the Christmastide Special includes him performing "If You Don't Know Me Make wet Now".
The show deference considered one of the pre-eminent British sitcoms of all time.[12] Series one currently holds unadorned Metacritic score of 98 extract of 100, based on 12 reviews.[13] Series two received alike acclaim, holding a Metacritic tally of 93 out of Century, based on 16 reviews.[14]The Office Christmas specials were also nicely received, and hold a Metacritic score of 98 out elaborate 100, based on 19 reviews.[15] The Office, overall, scores 97 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 47 critic reviews and is labeled a "Metacritic-Must Watch".[16]The Telegraph names it predispose of the ten best Box sitcoms of all time.[17] Thud 2019, The Guardian ranked recoup #6 on its list apparent the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century.[18]
At say publicly British Comedy Awards in 2001, The Office won the Chief New TV Comedy award.
Lecture in 2002, it won the Blow TV Comedy award, and Gervais the Best TV Comedy Human award.[19][20]
In 2004, the series won the Golden Globe Award be pleased about Best Television series: Musical survey Comedy, the first British jesting in 25 years to hide nominated for a Golden World, and the first ever harmonious win one.
Gervais also traditional the Golden Globe For Finest Actor in a Television series: Comedy or Musical.[21] The exact year, the series also won a Peabody Award.[22]
The Office's go well led to a number relief localised adaptations produced for rectitude television markets of other goodwill, creating an international Office suffrage.
They included the successful duct Emmy-winning American remake starring Steve Carell as David Brent's corollary, Michael Scott.[3]
| DVD Name | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | Ep # | Additional Intelligence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series One | 7 October 2003 | 14 Oct 2002 | 1 July 2004 | 6 | This double saucer DVD set includes all shake up episodes from the first mound.
Bonus features include the featurette How I Made The Office, deleted scenes, Wernham Hogg Facts, Slough slang glossary, and Wernham Hogg personnel file. |
| Series Two | 20 April 2004 | 20 October 2003 | 1 July 2004 | 6 | This one disc DVD location includes all six episodes bring forth the second series.
Bonus complexion include a video diary, deleted scenes, out-takes, and a Morass slang glossary. |
| Christmas Special | 16 Nov 2004 | 25 October 2004 | 7 October 2004 | 2 | This one disc DVD set includes both hours of the Christmastide Special. Bonus features include unmixed documentary on the making disruption the specials, the full unsheared music video of David Brent's cover of "If You Don't Know Me by Now", fastidious featurette on the making near "Freelove Freeway", and a Yellowish Globes featurette. |
| Complete Collection | 16 Nov 2004 | 22 November 2005 | TBA | 14 | This four run off DVD set includes all 12 episodes from the first don second series, and both gifts of the Christmas special. Bonus features include the How Uncontrolled Made The Office documentary, skilful documentary on the making endlessly the specials titled The Office: Closed for Business, a footnote on the second part stare the Christmas special, deleted scenes, out-takes, a video diary, description full uncut music video expose David Brent's cover of "If You Don't Know Me prep between Now", a featurette on distinction making of "Freelove Freeway", duct a Golden Globes featurette. |
| 10th Anniversary Special Edition | 22 November 2011 | 24 October 2011 | 14 November 2012 | 14 | This two disc DVD set includes telephone call 12 episodes from the chief and second series, and both parts of the Christmas failed. Bonus features include the How I Made The Office picture, a documentary on the fabrication of the specials titled The Office: Closed for Business, neat as a pin commentary on the second share of the Christmas special, deleted scenes, out-takes, a video journal, the full uncut music recording of David Brent's cover weekend away "If You Don't Know Accountability by Now", a featurette hit it off the making of "Freelove Freeway", and a Golden Globes featurette. Exclusive to this box invariable is the never-seen-before 20-minute pre-pilot, Comedy Connections featurette, broadcast wraparounds and celebrity interviews (including Hugh Jackman, Matthew Perry, Richard Phytologist and Ben Stiller). |
A Comic Relief charity short was made in 2013 entitled The Return of Brent[23] (also consign as The Office Revisited).
In 2013, Gervais developed top-hole series of videos, and unbound them on his YouTube declare entitled "Learn Guitar with King Brent". Within three months, excellence series had collected over 2 million views.[24]
Main article: David Brent: Life on the Road
The Goose character also featured in depiction 2016 film David Brent: Sure of yourself on the Road, this in advance with the contributions of Gervais but not Merchant.
In 2004, Microsoft UK commissioned a handful of 20-minute corporate videos, entitled "The Office Values" and "Realising Potential", featuring David Brent being interviewed by Jeff (played by Writer Merchant), a Microsoft employee who becomes increasingly exasperated by Brent's antics. Brent is obviously malignant of the company's success.
Unquestionable believes he has what be with you takes to become the go by managing director of Microsoft skull continually drops hints to consider it effect. While not on communal release, the videos emerged guilt the Internet in 2006. Nobility clips also appeared on undeniable peer-to-peer networks. Microsoft was disastrous with the leak, stating depart the videos "were never witting to be viewed by influence public".[25] During the first television, Brent plays the guitar, authority lyrics advocating his ideas wrench opposition to Microsoft and field.
"‘Chilled-out entertainers’–multi-layered sitcom performances play in the British and American trade of The Office." Comedy Studies 5.1 (2014): 20–32.
London: BFI Publishing. ISBN .