The Office

The Office is the title of several mockumentary sitcoms based on a British series originally created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant as The Office in 2001. The original series also starred Gervais as manager and primary character David Brent. The two series were broadcast on BBC Two in 2001 and 2002, totalling 12 episodes, with two special episodes concluding the series in 2003. A follow up movie (David Brent: Life on the Road) starring Gervais and featuring his David Brent character was released in 2016.

Versions of the original were subsequently made in Germany, the United States, and many other countries. The longest-running version of the series, the American adaptation, ran for nine seasons on the NBC Television Network from 2005 to 2013, with a total of 201 episodes. According to Nielsen Ratings as of April 2019, the American version of The Office was the No. 1 streamed show on Netflix in the United States. A follow-up to the American version was announced in 2024 for release on Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video also debuted an Australian version of The Office, featuring the franchise's first female lead character, that same year.

Versions

On the Swedish series, Kontoret, it can be particularly noted that it was made as a combined remake as well as a spin-off, since the part as head of the office was given to the obnoxious character Ove Sundberg from the established Swedish TV series Solsidan. Actor Henrik Dorsin, who plays the character, stated in an interview, "it feels good to contribute with something of my own, Ove that is, when you're supposed to work with a well established material such as The office. So that it doesn't just become repetition. Furthermore, it's fun to take part in the first combined remake and spin-off ever in Sweden, or maybe even in the world? A spin-make. Or a re-off."

Spin-offs

Unproduced versions

Additional versions of the show have been planned but never released. A Russian language version for Channel One with an initial run of 24 episodes was announced in 2008, but had not begun production by 2018. Additionally, Ricky Gervais announced plans to create a Chinese language version of the show in 2010, but the show also had not begun production as of 2018.

Timeline

Counterparts

Roles are recorded as of each character's first appearance.

Selected major awards

• British version: 2005 Golden Globes for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy (Ricky Gervais); 2001, 2002 and 2003 British Academy Television Awards for Situation Comedy and Best Comedy Performance (Ricky Gervais)
• American version: 2006 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy (Steve Carell); 2006 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series; 2007 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series; 2007 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Greg Daniels); 2009 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Jeffrey Blitz). For other awards and honors see List of awards and nominations received by The Office (American TV series)[citation needed]
• German version: 2006 Grimme Award for Fiction/Entertainment – Series/Miniseries; 2007 Deutscher Fernsehpreis for Best Sitcom and Best Book; 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2012 Deutscher Comedypreis for Best Actor in a Comedy Series (Christoph Maria Herbst).[citation needed]

Notes

External links

• on Slate
• 1 October 2020 at theWayback Machine