"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 | England | Cult Favorite

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 21 wins & 16 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)

Series Directed by
Ricky Gervais		(14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Stephen Merchant		(14 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Writing credits
Ricky Gervais		(14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Stephen Merchant		(14 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Produced by
Ash Atalla	....	producer (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Anil Gupta	....	executive producer (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Jon Plowman	....	executive producer (14 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Cinematography by
Andy Hollis		(14 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Film Editing by
Nigel Williams		(14 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Casting by
Rachel Freck		(14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Tracey Gillham		(8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jo Buckingham		(2 episodes, 2003)

Series Production Design by
Julie Harris		(12 episodes, 2001-2002)

Series Art Direction by
Alexandra Merchant		(8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jane Fredericks		(6 episodes, 2001)

Series Costume Design by
Sarah Higbid		(14 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Makeup Department
Lucy Cain	....	makeup designer (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Kate Roberts	....	makeup artist (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Val Akrill	....	makeup artist (6 episodes, 2001)

Series Production Management
Gail Evans	....	production manager (6 episodes, 2001)
Jane Sprague	....	production manager (6 episodes, 2002)
Ian Locker	....	assistant production manager (3 episodes, 2002-2003)
Paul Williams	....	production manager (3 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rob Smith	....	second assistant director (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Steve Roberts	....	first assistant director (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jo Randall	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 2001)
Zac Thraves	....	third assistant director (6 episodes, 2001)
Kieran Baine	....	third assistant director (2 episodes, 2003)

Series Art Department
Bryan Corbett	....	construction foreman (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Douglas Abrahamson	....	assistant property master (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Matt Wyles	....	property master (6 episodes, 2001)
Simon Blackmore	....	property master (6 episodes, 2002)
Charlie Sammons	....	production buyer (2 episodes, 2003)
Jo Vinton	....	property master (2 episodes, 2003)

Series Sound Department
Mark Found	....	sound recordist (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
James Judge	....	boom operator (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Glenn Calder	....	dubbing mixer (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Katie Harris	....	sound assistant / boom operator (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Andrew Sears	....	dubbing mixer (6 episodes, 2001)
Julian Bale	....	sound assistant (4 episodes, 2002)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ben Robinson	....	assistant camera (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Drew Seymour	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Paul Barlow	....	gaffer (6 episodes, 2001)
Rupert Burton	....	assistant camera (6 episodes, 2001)
Richard Farish	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 2001)
Conor Connolly	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 2001)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rose Goodheart	....	wardrobe supervisor (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Tabitha Doyle	....	wardrobe supervisor / wardrobe assistant (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Emily Wilson	....	dresser (2 episodes, 2003)

Series Editorial Department
Trevor Brown	....	colorist (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Big George	....	music arranger: title music (14 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Other crew
Sarah Hitchcock	....	production executive (14 episodes, 2001-2003)
Emma John	....	script supervisor (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Caroline Gardener	....	script supervisor (6 episodes, 2001)
Linda Hearn	....	location coordinator / production coordinator (6 episodes, 2001)
Tracyjane Read	....	location manager (6 episodes, 2001)
Debbie Somerville	....	production finance associate / programme finance associate (6 episodes, 2001)
Jackie Byrne	....	production finance associate (6 episodes, 2002)
Lucy Fewell	....	runner (6 episodes, 2002)
Sarah Rose	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 2002)
Tony Boucher	....	location manager (5 episodes, 2002)
Grace Boylan	....	production coordinator (2 episodes, 2003)
Kelley James	....	finance associate (2 episodes, 2003)
Alison Marlow	....	runner (2 episodes, 2003)
Scott Sidey	....	location manager (2 episodes, 2003)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (as BBC Comedy-North)

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2001-2002) (UK) (TV) (BBC1) (seasons 1 and 2)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2003) (UK) (TV) (BBC1) (Christmas special)
• 2 Entertain Video (2002) (UK) (DVD) (season 1)
• 2 Entertain Video (2003) (UK) (DVD) (season 2)
• 2 Entertain Video (2004) (UK) (DVD) (Christmas special)
• 2 Entertain Video (2005) (UK) (DVD) (complete series)
• 2 Entertain Video (2011) (UK) (DVD) (complete series) (10th anniversary edition)
• Adult Swim (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (200?) (Australia) (TV) (ABC1)
• BBC America (200?) (USA) (TV)
• BBC Canada (200?) (Canada) (TV)
• BBC Video (2003) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• BBC Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (Christmas special)
• BBC Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• BBC Video (2004) (USA) (DVD) (season 2)
• Canvas (2004-2005) (Belgium) (TV)
• Comedy Central (2008) (Hungary) (TV) (season 2)
• Comedy Central (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (re-release)
• Duna Televízió (2006) (Hungary) (TV) (season 1)
• Eesti Televisioon (ETV) (2003) (Estonia) (TV)
• Magyar Televízió (2011) (Hungary) (TV) (M1) (re-release)
• Nederlandse Programma Stichting (NPS) (2004) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Polyband (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Star World (200?) (Hong Kong) (TV)
• Television New Zealand (TVNZ) (200?) (New Zealand) (TV)
• The Comedy Network (200?) (Canada) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Christmas special)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 1)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (season 2)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (complete series)
• Warner Vision France (2006) (France) (DVD)
• WoWow (2005) (Japan) (TV)

Other Companies

• Casting Collective  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies

Also Known As:

Runtime:

29 min (12 episodes) | 44 min (1 episode) | 52 min (1 episode)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 (uncut) | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA (some episodes) | Germany:16 | USA:TV-MA | Netherlands:12 | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Slough Trading Estate, Slough, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

In every episode, there is a shot, from the exact same angle, of the photocopier making multiple copies of a document.

Quotes:

David Brent:Is this why you're around all the time? Keeping tabs on me? I don't need a babysitter, you know, so...
Neil Godwin:Well, with respect David, I think you do.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: Come Home (#5.12)" (2005)

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.