"The Office" Episode #2.5 (2002)

Directors:

Ricky Gervais
Stephen Merchant

Writers:

Ricky Gervais (written by)
Stephen Merchant (written by)

TV Series:

"The Office" (2001)

Original Air Date:

28 October 2002 (Season 2, Episode 5)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

It's Comic Relief Day and the office is awash with wackiness. All 19 stone of Keith is squeezed into a bright yellow Ali G costume...

Plot Keywords:

Office | Mockumentary | Boss | Workplace | Cult TV

Cast

Ricky Gervais	...	David Brent
Martin Freeman	...	Tim Canterbury
Mackenzie Crook	...	Gareth Keenan
Lucy Davis	...	Dawn Tinsley
Patrick Baladi	...	Neil Godwin
Stacey Roca	...	Rachel
Ralph Ineson	...	Chris 'Finchy' Finch
Stirling Gallacher	...	Jennifer Taylor-Clark
Joel Beckett	...	Lee
Ewen MacIntosh	...	Keith (as Ewen Macintosh)
Hugh Parker	...	Photographer
Bruce Mackinnon	...	Jimmy the Perv
Stephen Merchant	...	Nathan 'Oggy' aka The Oggmonster
Ben Bradshaw	...	Ben
Jamie Deeks	...	Jamie

Runtime:

29 min (12 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Goofs:

Continuity: David Brent is introduced to the Ogg Monster as if they had never met. However in the first episode in season one Gareth informs Tim that David had drinks with him and the Ogg Monster.

Quotes:

David Brent: You've seen me entertain, and raise money, but maybe I'd like to do that in the future for a living you know. Use my humour and my profile to both help and amuse people, you know. And if it's ideas for TV shows, game shows or whatever you want, I'm your man...

Movie Connections:

References "Da Ali G Show" (2000)

Soundtrack:

More Than a Woman

Saturday Night Madness...

Generally, when one thinks of Comic Relief, special charity episodes of Britain's top shows come to mind, often not considered part of the series' official continuity (the Rowam Atkinson-starring Doctor Who spoof from 1999 is one of the best - and funniest - examples). When it came to The Office, the event was seamlessly incorporated into the running plot of the second season, with shockingly amusing and amusingly shocking results.

As the characters explain, they have a Comic Relief day every year, and on that occasion all kinds of games and other fun stuff are organized to raise money. It also gives people the opportunity to indulge some of their sillier (though harmless) fantasies, such as the huge Keith showing up at work dressed as Ali G. The presence of the BBC cameras doesn't really change the situation, save for the fact that Tim, among others, uses his free moments to express his frustrations. Meanwhile, David's fall from "greatness" reaches absurd levels.

Just how absurd it can get is well known to any fan of the show, as this penultimate regular episode features the now infamous "David Brent dance" which, alongside "Freelove Freeway", has become one of Ricky Gervais' most popular skits whenever he appears on talk shows or similar programs. The scene is painful to watch, but at the same time it's also funny, even if in a very wrong way, and it sets the tone perfectly for what will happen in the season finale. Oh, and for once the best line comes from Martin Freeman, referring to the appalling dance: "We don't have to make a donation for that, do we?" How right he is...