The Office (BBC TV)
Saturday, October 30th, 2004 - 9:53pm
I just finished watching the 12 episodes in the series. What a brilliant show.
I couldn't believe some the episodes and how absolutely uncomfortable David Brent made me feel everytime he was on camera. It was like a train accident you couldn't look away from because you had to see how it would all end!
I heard someone mention there was going to be a special soon. I can't seem to find the thread.
For anyone that has yet to see this series, pick it up and watch it. There is only 2 season totaling 12 episodes. Fantastic!
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Spoiler Fanatic!
Yeah, this show has an almost unique ability to keep you watching, all the time while you feel emotional anguish at what you are watching.
It''s a very odd feeling, because it is not set up as some sort of deep drama or such (it is clearly set up to cause the anguish and awkwardness that is elicited from the audience).
In a strange way, I think it resonates a lot with gamers/comic book geeks/D&D players/etc. because it covers the guy who looks relatively normal, tries to be funny and fit in an office environment, but fails. We get to watch this failure.
It''s a pretty amazing show in my mind for that reason.
It''s a fantastic series, really made me appreciate British Television. There was a 2 part Christmas special after the series ended, and wrapped things up nicely.
Other gems in British TV include Black Books, in which Dylan Moran plays a bitter, drunk
irishman running a used book store. Has such lines as ""I''m going to stop playing the game of who I""ll kill first and just go with what comes naturally, I think I''ll start with me.""
Martin Freeman and Lucy Davis from the Office also show up in this series.
Spaced is another Favorite. It''s Co-written and Co-stars Simon Pegg, who wrote and
starred in Sean Of The Dead. Think Friends, except they don''t live in a huge apartment on
barista pay, they''re actually charectors you can care about, and it''s actually really funny.
I see stuff like this and wonder why we can''t approach this quality in the States. (Scrubs is the exception)
P.S. apparently they were making a US version of The Office, I don''t think it made it past the pilot.
The best office quote ever was in the X-Mas Special.
*David Brent, waiting outside for his blind date, looks horrified as a lady of ample carriage approaches*
<Lady> Is everyone else inside?
<Brent> Oh thank god! I''m waiting for a blind date and I was worried you were it!
I really need to check this series out one of these days. I''ve heard so many good things about it and generally like British comedies far more than anything that''s on TV here in the US.
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Here''s the other thread
The Christmas Special already aired on BBC America, but it will be out on DVD in mid-November or if you get BBC America they are showing an encore Nov 25th.
Mr T broke the speed of light in the A-Team van because he wanted to prove that quantum physics was a bunch of Jibba Jabba.
From what I can gather, the recurrent question among those who have watched the whole series is
[lite SPOILER ALERT, sort of.]
""But do you feel sympathy for David at the end?""
Generic cryptic but funny quip.
Cheers!
I believe it is coming out on NBC in the new year.
no particular interest, no particular talent
Ahhh Black Books, the best thing to come from an Irish comic writer since the unspeakably brilliant Father Ted. Which if you''ve never seen is right up there with Blackadder as the funniest sitcom in history, highly recommended.
Really glad our C4 took a risk and funded BB and FT.
The best thing about Black Books for me is the hilarious Bill Bailey (plays Manny aka ""The Klingon"" as he seems to be known as on Nevermind the Buzzc*cks these days). He can do the best confused/surreal look I''ve yet seen.
As I said in the last thread about this, I hugely recommend the fantastic and totally disturbing League of Gentlemen DVDs. But I expect that might be a little ""out there"" for some of you... highly influential though.
P.S. If you want to see the comic roots of The Office, the main influence was Steve Coogan''s ""Alan Patridge"". If its possible, thats even more painful, stomach churning and hilarious to watch.
"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." - Churchill
Bailey''s a phenom. I didn''t realize how funny way until seeing him on Buzzc*cks. His
take on Extreme Wine Tasting during the Shakira (sp?) video had me in stitches.
Dylan Moran''s range really impressed me as well after seeing ""How do you want me""
Still really funny in a sardonic way, but much more serious.
I''ll have to take look at League of Gentleman, sounds quite good.