The Office

The Office is a British television comedy series, created, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, and first aired in the UK on BBC Two on July 9, 2001. After the show's critical success an American version was launched, premiering on NBC on March 24, 2005.

Widely acclaimed as the most successful BBC comedy in this decade, two six-episode series have been made, along with a pair of 45-minute Christmas specials. The show has been sold in over 60 countries worldwide.

Summary

The show is set in Slough, a satellite town of London which the DVD blurb describes as "dreary", in a small branch of the fictitious paper company Wernham Hogg (where "life is stationery"). The show has no laugh track and is in the mockumentary style, devised at a time when documentaries such as Airport and A Life of Grime (which follow people performing their jobs) were popular.

The office is managed by David Brent (Gervais) along with his assistant, Gareth Keenan (Mackenzie Crook), a lieutenant in the Territorial Army. Much of the series' comedic success stems from David, who frequently makes attempts to win favour with his employees and peers with embarrassing or disastrous results. David's character flaws are used to comic effect, including numerous verbal gaffes, unconscious racism, sexism and other social faux-pas.

Other characters include the unassuming Tim Canterbury, whose relationship with bored receptionist Dawn Tinsley is a major arc in the series. Their flirtation soon builds to a mutual romantic attraction, despite her engagement to the dour and laddish warehouse worker, Lee.

Awards

In January 2004, The Office won two Golden Globe Awards for Outstanding Production - Comedy Series and Actor In A Leading Role - Comedy Series in 2003, beating nominees Arrested Development, Monk, Sex and the City and Will & Grace. It was the only British comedy to be nominated for a Golden Globe in 25 years, and the first to ever win one. Other awards: 6 BAFTAs (2001, 2002, 2003), 3 British Comedy Awards (2001, 2002, 2003), 3 Royal Television Society Awards, South Bank Show Award 2001, GQ Comedian Of The Year 2002, Variety Club Of Great Britain (Individual Comedy Award), TV and Radio Industry Award, Broadcast Award 2003, Peabody Award 2003 and Banff Television Festival Award 2003.

In 2005, the series' concluding two-part special was nominated for two Emmys in the categories of "Outstanding Made for Television Movie" and "Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special" [1]. In February 2006, Gervais and Merchant announced that they would be returning to the series to write an episode for the third season of the American version.[2]

External links

• Ricky Gervais' Website
• Official BBC Website
• British Sitcom Guide
• The World of The Office Unofficial fan site including an active forum.