The Monday Night Staple (Office, The)

Member Name: utero

Product:	Office, The
Date:	11/10/02 (235 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very Funny , Characters, Loads of memorable moments

Disadvantages: None

Some dismiss The Office as not being funny at all. That's their loss, just because it doesn't have a canned laughter soundtrack and completely farcical situations it shouldn't be dismissed. The programme adopts observational humour with a bunch of characters that you just known are based on people in real life. That's because those of us that have worked in a office or group enviroment have come across these kinds of people before.

Ricky Gervais stars as David Brent, the office manager who is always putting his foot in it. He's one of the most cringeworthy characters on television. A man who always makes jokes which turn out to horribly wrong and incur complaints of racism in the workplace. His work ethic mantra is to have fun but ultimately it leads to no one taking him seriously. The you have Gareth who has a assistant managerial role which somes with no authority whatsoever. Gareth isn't subtle in his attempts to come on the female members of staff. In the new series he tries to comes on to the new girl from Swindon with some routine questions but forewarning her that is she has sex with another office member first then she must make sure he wears a condom as he doesn't do "sloppy seconds". The other office member in question is Tim, a man who ultimately wants to get out of the office and go to university but it's not looking likely as he's approachin thirty. Instead he remains content with winding Garath up by setting his stapler in jelly and crazy stuff like that.

The office works because it takes on different levels. In a way it takes the mick out of reality TV shows by adopting a documentary style and applying to the incredibly dull world of office supplies. But it also works because you laugh at the situations and cringe at the way David Brent conducts himself in the workplace. He makes your flesh crawl purely because he's just overbeatingly nice.

Every week bring more comedy gold
but the sad thing is that you know this is the kind of show that will run for about three series only. That's because it's the kind of material that can't really be stretched a great deal. I've read that this will be the case and the show will go out on top like Fawlty Towers. However for now I'll be there every Monday night @ 10PM on BBC 2. If you've not had chance to watch any of it then the first season is out on DVD from Monday 14th. Also check out the website @ bbc.co.uk/theoffice. It has a great deal of humour and interactivity.

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