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The Office Is Funny Because It's Real

Ricky Gervais reflects 10 years after show's debut

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 19, 2011 3:39 PM CDT

(Newser) – It's been 10 years since his signature show debuted in Britain, and Ricky Gervais takes a moment to reflect on what made The Office, well, The Office. It was all about real people and the “dysfunctional” families we all have, Gervais writes in the Wall Street Journal. “My English teacher told me, ‘Always write about what you know.’” Boss David Brent (changed to Michael Scott in the US version) was an amalgam of people Gervais has known—the first scene of the show, for example, comes directly from a job interview Gervais had at age 17.

At the show’s core was humiliation, “the greatest English fear of them all.” We all get into awkward situations, but “add a film crew that captures every faux pas and you’ve got 10 times the embarrassment”—and thus 10 times the funny. “The fake documentary element was absolutely essential,” Gervais writes. “Brent being embarrassed is one thing, but as soon as he looked down the lens he brought us all into it. We felt his pain. And we liked it. Sort of.”

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Ricky Gervais is shown during the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 16. (AP Photo/NBC, Paul Drinkwater)

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A scene from the show's UK version. (hulu.com)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 6 comments

danton3

Jul 27, 2011 2:51 PM CDT

The picture of Steve Carrell inside the recent GQ magazine is pretty cute. The Newer film released in New York, starring both Chris O donnell and Miss Fischer seems to have been deemed unacceptable down here in Orlando, since JT and Mila Kunis have their new film released.

NxBigmouthery

Jul 19, 2011 11:22 PM CDT

If this article were about the watery, past-expiration-date US version, the comments here would make sense.

vjh

Jul 19, 2011 10:13 PM CDT

I hate to disagree with Ricky Gervais (his version of the Office is brilliant), but what I loved about the show was the lack of embarrassment that the characters exhibited, especially David Brent and Michael Scott. The show made me feel uncomfortable..but I loved it.. (If that makes any sense)

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The Office Is Funny Because It's Real

Ricky Gervais reflects 10 years after show's debut

[Images (1)]

[Videos (1)]

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television • reality TV • The Office • Ricky Gervais

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