"The Office" (2001) TV series 2001-2003

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

23 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

The story of an office that faces closure when the company decides to downsize its branches. A documentary film crew follow staff and the manager Brent as they continue their daily lives.

Plot Keywords:

Office | Mockumentary | Boss | Workplace | Cult TV

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 21 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Ricky Gervais	...	David Brent (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Martin Freeman	...	Tim Canterbury (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Mackenzie Crook	...	Gareth Keenan (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Lucy Davis	...	Dawn Tinsley (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Ewen MacIntosh	...	Keith (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Ben Bradshaw	...	Ben (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Jamie Deeks	...	Jamie (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Jane Lucas	...	Sheila (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Emma Louise Manton	...	Emma (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Alexander Perkins	...	Ralph (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Philip Pickard	...	Phillip / ... (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Joel Beckett	...	Lee (13 episodes, 2001-2003)
Patrick Baladi	...	Neil Godwin (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Julie Fernandez	...	Brenda (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Rachel Isaac	...	Trudy (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Howard Saddler	...	Oliver (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Stirling Gallacher	...	Jennifer Taylor-Clark (7 episodes, 2001-2003)
Ralph Ineson	...	Chris 'Finchy' Finch / ... (7 episodes, 2001-2003)
Oliver Chris	...	Ricky Howard / ... (6 episodes, 2001)
Stacey Roca	...	Rachel (6 episodes, 2002)
Robin Hooper	...	Malcolm (6 episodes, 2001)
Angela Clerkin	...	Jackie (6 episodes, 2001)
Patrick Driver	...	Patrick (6 episodes, 2002)
Tony MacMurray	...	Tony (6 episodes, 2002)

Runtime:

29 min (12 episodes) | 40 min (1 episode) | 50 min (1 episode)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 (uncut) | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA (some episodes) | Germany:16 | USA:TV-MA | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Slough Trading Estate, Slough, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The cleaner who always stands motionless and looks directly at the camera is creator/director Stephen Merchant's father.

Quotes:

Gareth: I'm not homophobic, all right? Come around, look at my C.D collection. You'll find Queen, George Michael, Pet Shop Boys. They're all bummers.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "De wereld draait door: (#4.33)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Handbags and Gladrags

Absolutely brilliant

Had this been a 'Britcom-proper' it probably wouldn't have been as funny as it is now.

The tragic elements woven into it make it so much greater. Admittedly, there are a lot (and I mean A LOT) of cringeworthy moments in The Office. Moments that make you put your hand over your eyes and look through your fingers, moments that make you gasp and look away, and moments that will make you go "Aaaargh! Noooo!".

Everybody (who is not David or Gareth) who has ever worked in an office setting (especially those who worked in several ..) will feel that The Office is a condensed and compressed series of events, but very true to life. Everybody knows David and Gareth, everybody wants to slap them and shut them up forever. Everybody feels for (and feels like) Tim and Dawn. And everybody knows that an office would be a downright suicidal place were it not for common foes like 'the boss' and 'the wannabe boss' to loathe.

Don't watch The Office if all you want is a quick laugh .. you would feel way too uncomfortable for that. The Office is a true slice of (office) life, a bit larger, a bit darker, a bit more painful, but ultimately more humorous than anything I've ever seen. Make sure you catch the Christmas special(s) as well, as that puts the icing on the cake and makes life slightly more bearable.