Good Television
posted on january 26, 2004, tag: entertainment
Millions of Americans watching the Golden Globes must have been really confused when Ricky Gervais, co-creator and lead of The Office, a BBC comedy, stepped on stage not once but twice to win both the Best Comedy and Best Comedy Actor awards at an American awards show that has never had a UK winner in those categories before.
I, however, am not surprised. The Office is truly unique and definitely one of the funniest new shows in the past few years. Gervais is especially hilarious to watch, but only because he plays his character—David Brent, "the seedy boss"—almost too well. The show is completely written by Gervais and co-creator Stephen Merchant, but feels mostly ad-libbed, which has a surprising effect on you as a viewer: you feel like you're watching a real documentary. That feeling makes you cringe even harder when David Brent tells a bad joke and stands there giggling while other characters stare at him, and makes you laugh even harder when Gareth Keenan (Mackenzie Crook) says something utterly ridiculous about being in the army.
If you haven't yet done so, consider purchasing The Office - The Complete First Series on DVD. It's only $20 for six episodes of quality television (and behind-the-scenes stuff too). You won't regret it. Now if they would just finally release the second series on DVD here in the US...
Comments
There are 2 comments, comments are closed
Reid on 01/27/2004:
Believe it or not the second series is even better than the first.
I remember watching the first episode and thinking it was a work of genius. I never imagined it would be a popular as it's become though.
snowman on 01/29/2004:
I find it bizarre that 'The Office' has done so well over there. Very few of our comedy gems seem to reach the US. But of course, most successful English TV shows or films that show signs of doing well in America get remade for an American audience.. which I find quite insulting to be honest.
We don't feel the need to remake Frasier, Seinfeld or any of the other US exports which seem to do so well over here, but yet over and over again english shows are remade for American audiences usually to disastrous effect.
By remaking or not showing our shows, you're missing out on some seriously great comedy such as Spaced, Phoenix Nights & Alan Partridge.
Get that DVD chipped/modded/hacked or whatever and get busy with Amazon UK :)