OT: A little late (Razor will appreciate this)

[Marco]

A few weeks ago, when I left my old job, i was given a fabulous going away present. Seeing on how I am a big DVD collector, my co-workers opted to pick me up "The Office" seasons 1 & 2 on DVD....and I have not been dissapointed.

Without a doubt, the greatest program to EVER hit the airwaves. The Office Christmas Special is set to hit Canadian territory the 16th of November. My copy is already booked.

[Razor]

Better late than never! Another convert!

Glad you enjoyed it brother- the Christmas special is equally cringe-worthy.

How'd the future-future-Mrs. Marco respond to it?

[Marco]

Better late than never! Another convert!

Glad you enjoyed it brother- the Christmas special is equally cringe-worthy.

How'd the future-future-Mrs. Marco respond to it?

respond to what? The Office? She hasn't seen it yet!

Whats your fave episode? Im caught between two, the training episode is the bomb...but so is the flashdance segment......I can watch this shit all day!

[Razor]

respond to what? The Office? She hasn't seen it yet!

Whats your fave episode? Im caught between two, the training episode is the bomb...but so is the flashdance segment......I can watch this shit all day!

No contest - "Training Day" is the best IMO. His sociopathy is at an all-time high (i.e. - never letting the consultant HE hired to train get a word in edgewise). It's just brilliant.

"Get the guitar..."

On second thought, "Gareth Keenan Investigates" is a close second...

Glad you're enjoying it!

[Humbird]

could you describe this series a little bit more? What's it about?

[Tinto]

I watched the whole series for the third time just recently. My favourite series ever, including The Sopranos, which is saying a lot. I had downloaded the whole thing, including the Christmas specials, but recently got the first two seasons in the store for a really good price of $29.00. It comes with the Wernham Hog newsletter, a seating plan for the office, a glossary for Yanks who don't understand the British slang, and lots of extra deleted scenes.

It's impossible to pigeon hole this series. It's funny of course, but it's positively painful to watch David Brent in action.

Marco, if you don't want to wait for the Christmas specials, pm me your address and I'll mail you the two shows + the bonus BBC documentary on the series which is an extended interview with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Marchant.

[FOGO]

Try Kaza gents, a friend has grabbed an episode or two of the web.

[Tinto]

Yes they're all on Kazaa, but better quality copies can be found through bittorrent.

[Razor]

could you describe this series a little bit more? What's it about?

Basically it's a story about the manager (David Brent, played by Ricky Gervais)of a paper company in depressing/industrial Slough, England who is a raving egotistical sociopath. He thinks he's part Voltaire, Van Morrison, Hugh Grant and Ghandi; in reality, he's a 30-something insecure, overweight, powermad freak who thinks he's the greatest leader since Churchill but is painfully starved for attention and is guaranteed to say the absolute most inapproprate thing in any given situation. Meanwhile, every employee thinks he's an ass, while he's convinced that everyone thinks he's brilliant. There are assorted subplots involving various staff members (2nd-in charge, powermad sycophant Gareth, "why am I here?" everyman Tim, and the object of his unrequited affection, Dawn) - but the whole show is watching the awkwardly painful situations that David finds himself/puts other in.

It's filmed in documentary format (a la "Best In Show" or "Waiting For Guffman"), and as the producers indicate in the interview Tinto talks about, "life isn't filled with obvious comebacks or witty one-liners with a laugh track; instead it's filled with awkard silence and long breaks in conversation". That sums up the pace and tone - it's absolutely brilliant. It's also frighteningly accurate in terms of the atmosphere working in one of those industrial parks in the UK (we have a couple that I visit a few times a year). In a word - depressing!

It's british humor all the way (DRY!), but the funniest show I've ever seen. They have it at blockbuster for a rental, but I urge you to spend $15 on Season One to start. Episode Four ("Training Day") is worth the price alone.

"I'm a boss first, friend second...probably an entertainer third. People ask me, 'would you rather be thought of as a funny man or a great boss?'. My answer to them is the same: to me, they're not mutually exclusive.".

[Humbird]

Thanks Razor. I'll take a look at it. It sounds like a good Christmas gift for all of us trapped in offices.

[Marco]

Razor it seems that you have only seen season 1?? In none of your posts do I ever see a reference of season 2??? If you haven't, what are you waiting for man???? The flashdance segment in episode 5 is GOLDEN!

Hummy...this is the gretest TV show in the shistory of television. Don't wait until Christmas, go NOW!

[Tinto]

You will really like the Christmas specials.

[Humbird]

I can't find it for rental anywhere. Strange.

so if I buy it, do I have the Marco/Tinto/Razor guarantee of enjoyability?

[Tinto]

Guaranteed. Some people may not appreciate this series, but you ain't one of em.

I don't think the X-mas specials are available for purchase yet. If you want both seasons and the specials, I can send them to you, it's just that the specials are downloaded files and not quite dvd quality. Razor, if you haven't seen the specials and would like to, I can send them to you as well.

Btw, the creators are apparently making an American version of this series for HBO.

[Humbird]

Guaranteed. Some people may not appreciate this series, but you ain't one of em.

I don't think the X-mas specials are available for purchase yet. If you want both seasons and the specials, I can send them to you, it's just that the specials are downloaded files and not quite dvd quality. Razor, if you haven't seen the specials and would like to, I can send them to you as well.

Btw, the creators are apparently making an American version of this series for HBO.

thanks for the offer, Tintie, but my home computer is still in a 56k modum! I'll look to buy them.

Why would HBO do that? Americans can't do British humor.

[Tinto]

but my home computer is still in a 56k modum! I'll look to buy them.

I meant by snail mail like I'm doing for Marco. You can use your biz address if you're scared of Canadian commies showing up at your door in flannel shirts. ;)

[Humbird]

Ah. International copyright infringement!

[Tinto]

yeah baby.

[Marco]

I meant by snail mail like I'm doing for Marco. You can use your biz address if you're scared of Canadian commies showing up at your door in flannel shirts. ;)

Hey now hey now Tinto....life in Canada is not an episode of the red-green show!

[Humbird]

You can use your biz address if you're scared of Canadian commies showing up at your door in flannel shirts. ;)

This time of year, Mr. H would mistake you for his deer hunting buddies, probably invite you in for a beer prior to the long truck drive to Wisconsin for a week of blasting Bambi in the forest.

[Razor]

Razor it seems that you have only seen season 1?? In none of your posts do I ever see a reference of season 2??? If you haven't, what are you waiting for man???? The flashdance segment in episode 5 is GOLDEN!

Hummy...this is the gretest TV show in the shistory of television. Don't wait until Christmas, go NOW!

I have both 1 and 2, but I'm partial to Season 1.

Season 2 highlights for me include...

- Gareth's horrifying recommendation that there be a "Fire!" test for handicapped people to receive federal benefits
- The fire drill with the handicapped girl in the stairwell
- "The Dance"
- David trying to explain the concept of "Upstairs, Downstairs" to Neil and Jennifer

The Christmas special? (a colleague of mine from the UK burned it and mailed it to me earlier this year, Tinto -but thanks much for the offer :)) The David Brent video of "If You Don't Know Me By Now" cannot be described.

Speaking of the dance, here's a football example of life imitating art:

http://www.thisisbuckinghamshire.co.uk/sport/wanderers/bluesnews/display.var.258760.0.happy_new_year_wycombe_21_bristol_city.php

[Razor]

I can't find it for rental anywhere. Strange.

so if I buy it, do I have the Marco/Tinto/Razor guarantee of enjoyability?

Raxor-approved.

[Tinto]

Gareth's horrifying recommendation that there be a "Fire!" test for handicapped people to receive federal benefits
- The fire drill with the handicapped girl in the stairwell
- "The Dance"
- David trying to explain the concept of "Upstairs, Downstairs" to Neil and Jennifer


All golden moments. I'd have to add David's scintillating debut as a motivational speaker. I love when he comes back chide the woman for turning off his theme music after he's run out of the room.

[Marco]

All golden moments. I'd have to add David's scintillating debut as a motivational speaker. I love when he comes back chide the woman for turning off his theme music after he's run out of the room.


"Get out. Go on, get out. You're not gonna make it. You can't cut ittt"


HAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHHAA :blues:

[Penguin]

Hands down, the funniest show ever. If anyone is looking to rent the 2nd season through NetFlix, then let me apologize. I've been holding on to my copy for a few weeks now!

As for highlights of the 2nd season, I'd like to add: Gareth's explanation of why he's more sophisticated than his dad ("He calls them 'poofers', instead of 'gays' ) and the planting of the dildo in David's office.

Is the Christmas special out in the States yet? If not, then Tinto, I might take you up on your offer.

[Tinto]

No prob Penguin.

I burned the first special for Marco last night, and it worked well on my dvd player, but when I tried viewing the second one this morning it would only work on the computer. I don't know why. If you guys don't mind watching the show on your monitors, I can fit both specials and the documentary on one disk.

Just pm me your mailing address, and I'll send 'em out to you this week if you like.

[Pila]

Thanks for the offer, T - PM on the way.

[Tinto]

Marco and Pila,

mailed your disks today. they aren't in dvd format, but if you hook up to your tv with an s video cable you can watch them on the bigger screen. Quality is acceptable.

[Penguin]

Programming Note:

BBC America is going to be airing the Office Christmas specials tonight at 9:00 p.m.

[Humbird]

Got it today.

[Humbird]

I have an uncontrollable urge to put my stapler in jello.