| The Office | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | |
| Written by | |
| Directed by | |
| Starring | |
| Opening theme | "Handbags and Gladrags" performed byBig 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 (2001-07-09) – 27 December 2003 (2003-12-27) |
| Related | |
The Office is a Britishmockumentary televisionsitcom first broadcast in the United Kingdom onBBC Two on 9 July 2001. Created, written and directed byRicky Gervais andStephen Merchant, it follows the day-to-day lives of office employees in theSlough branch of the fictional Wernham Hogg paper company. Gervais also starred in the series as the central character,David Brent.
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 onBBC Worldwide and channels such asBBC Prime,BBC America, andBBC Canada, it has been sold to broadcasters in over 80 countries, includingABC1 in Australia,The Comedy Network in Canada,TVNZ in New Zealand, and the pan-Asiansatellite channelStar World, based in Hong Kong. It was shown in the United States on BBC America from 2001 to 2016, and later onCartoon Network's late night programming blockAdult Swim from 2009 to 2011.[1]
Two six-episode series were made, followed by atwo-part Christmas special. The show centres on themes of social clumsiness, the trivialities of human behaviour, self-importance and conceit, frustration, desperation and fame.The Office is considered to be one of the best shows of the 21st century[2] andof all time.[3]
The show is amockumentary based in a branch of fictional British paper company Wernham Hogg (where "life is stationery") located in theSlough Trading Estate. The branch is headed by general manager David Brent (Ricky Gervais), aided by his team leader and Assistant to the Regional ManagerGareth 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, inadvertentracism andsexism, and other social faux pas. The other main plot line of the series concerns the unassumingTim Canterbury (Martin Freeman) and his relationship with bored receptionistDawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis). Their flirtation soon builds to a mutual romantic attraction, despite herengagement to dour and controlling warehouse worker Lee (Joel Beckett).
| Series | Episodes | Originally released | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | |||
| 1 | 6 | 9 July 2001 (2001-07-09) | 20 August 2001 (2001-08-20) | BBC Two | |
| 2 | 6 | 30 September 2002 (2002-09-30) | 4 November 2002 (2002-11-04) | ||
| Christmas | 2 | 26 December 2003 (2003-12-26) | 27 December 2003 (2003-12-27) | BBC One | |
| Revisited | 15 March 2013 (2013-03-15) | ||||
In June 1998, Merchant and Gervais madeSeedy Boss, a 20-minute film starring Gervais, as part of Merchant's TV producer training for the BBC.[4] The pair met when Merchant was hired as Gervais' assistant at radio stationXfm; neither had any previous TV experience. Gervais's character was based on one he performed to amuse staff at the radio station.[5]
Ash Atalla showed the tape to BBC Two headJane Root, who commissioned a series based on it.[6] Filming took place in an office atTeddington Studios.[7]
Unlike most British sitcoms,The Office used asingle-camera setup (where multiple-camera setups were traditional) and nolaughter track.[8] The style influenced subsequent comedies such asPeep Show,Twenty Twelve,Fleabag, andMotherland.
The show's theme song is "Handbags and Gladrags", performed byBig George, based on theRod Stewart arrangement, and originally written in the 1960s byMike d'Abo, former vocalist for the rock groupManfred Mann.[9][10] Gervais and Merchant also considered "Sitting" byCat Stevens for the theme.[11][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.[12] Series one currently holds aMetacritic score of 98 out of 100, based on 12 reviews.[13] Series two received similar acclaim, holding a Metacritic score of 93 out of 100, based on 16 reviews.[14]The Office Christmas specials were also well received, and hold a Metacritic score of 98 out of 100, based on 19 reviews.[15] The Office, overall, scores 97 out of 100 on Metacritic based on 47 critic reviews and is labelled a "Metacritic-Must Watch".[16]
At the2001 British Comedy Awards,The Office won for Best New TV Comedy. In2002, it won the Best TV Comedy Award, and Gervais was named the Best TV Comedy Actor.[17][18]
In2003, the series won aPeabody Award.[19] In2004, the series won theGolden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy, the firstBritish comedy in 25 years to be nominated for aGolden Globe, and the first ever to win one. Gervais also received theGolden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy.[20]
The Office's success led to a number of localised adaptations (based on its basic story and themes) produced for the television markets of other nations, creatingan internationalOffice franchise, including the successful andPrimetime Emmy Award-winningAmerican remake onNBC starringSteve Carell as David Brent's counterpart,Michael Scott, and on which Gervais and Merchant acted as executive producers.[21] Several direct follow-ups to the original British series were also released, including the 2016 filmDavid Brent: Life on the Road.
The Telegraph names it one of the ten best TV sitcoms of all time.[22] In 2013, theWriters Guild of America rankedThe Office as the 51st best written show of all time, 16 slots higher than the American remake.[23] In 2019,The Guardian ranked it #6 on its list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century.[24] In their all time greatest shows list,The Rolling Stone placed the show at #53.[25] Similarly, in a 2021 poll conducted byBBC Culture, the show was ranked as the 9th greatest of all time.[26]
| Title | Release date | Episodes | BBFC rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Office: The Complete Series One | 14 October 2002 (BBCV 7299) | "Downsize", "Work Experience", "The Quiz", "Training", "New Girl", and "Judgement" | 15 |
| The Office: The Complete Series Two | 27 October 2003 (BBCV 7437) | "Merger", "Appraisals", "Party", Motivation", "Charity", and "Interview" | 15 |
| The Office: The Christmas Specials | 25 October 2004 (BBCV 7555) | Christmas Special: Part 1 andPart 2 | 15 |
| 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 featuretteHow 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 2025 | 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 theHow I Made The Office documentary, a documentary on the making of the specials titledThe 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 theHow I Made The Office documentary, a documentary on the making of the specials titledThe 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 (includingHugh Jackman,Matthew Perry,Richard Curtis andBen Stiller). |
A Comic Relief charity short was made in 2013 entitledThe Return of Brent[27] (also known asThe 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.[28]
The Brent character also featured in the 2016 filmDavid 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 certainpeer-to-peer networks. Microsoft was unhappy with the leak, stating that the videos "were never intended to be viewed by the public".[29] During the first video, Brent plays the guitar, the lyrics advocating his ideas in opposition to Microsoft and technology. David Brent has also appeared inThe Office US in the Season 7 episodesThe Seminar' andSearch Committee. In The Seminar, David meetsMichael and asks if he has any open jobs at the moment, and in Search Committee, David sends in an online application as regional manager of Dunder-Mifflin.
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