THE GREATEST TELEVISION SERIES EVER.

BBC The Office (DVD) 2001-2003 / a Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant production; starring Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook and Lucy Davis

David Brent likes to think of himself as a friend first and boss second ("probably an entertainer third"). As regional manager of the Slough branch of the Wernham-Hogg paper merchants where the BBC are currently shooting a documentary, David lets it be known that he likes a workplace where people can "have a laugh at work whilst getting the job done" because of course "you can't put a price on comedy". But though he believes everyone thinks he's hilarious and great fun to be around, it's obvious office employees find him utterly unfunny, rude and frequently offensive--opinions to which he remains largely oblivious in spite of his generally attention-grabbing habits. Observed regularly is Brent's consistent need to be recognized as a worldly renaissance man skilled in many areas, most particularly humor where he believes himself to be a remarkably funny comedian even though his material is invariably unoriginal, usually consisting of poor impressions and worn-out routines borrowed from old TV shows. Also ever-conscious of the cameras throughout the documentary, Brent rarely misses an opportunity to promote himself, seeming especially keen to be depicted as a progressive-minded, politically correct individual despite the fact he often directs derogatory comments at minorities, the disabled and the third world poor. His frequent faux-pas, always awkward and cringe-inducing, are rarely ill-intended however; rather they're derived from extreme ignorance and a tendency to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, incidents usually exascerbated by inept attempts at a follow-up apology.

Brent's high need for affirmation and bad practical joking (in front of a new employee he pretends to fire his secretary for supposedly stealing post-it notes bringing her to tears) is only eclipsed by the sycophantic, slightly neurotic habits of Gareth Keenan. A sales clerk and assistant (to the) regional manager who seems to have an unhealthy obsession with workplace rules, Gareth never fails to volunteer his services for generally thankless duties. Also a former soldier, Gareth believes (falsely) that his military background and self-assumed titles like being "team leader" give him authority over his coworkers, most notably Tim Canterbury his deskmate, who simply refuses to acknowledge any percieved authority Gareth claims to have. Disillusioned with life and bored at work, Tim, a sales rep, gets a kick out of poking fun at Gareth's eccentricities and juvenile hang-ups through equally juvenile hijinks like putting a stapler inside jello, prank-calling his gun-holstered cellphone and building a dividing wall out of cardboard boxes. One person who can't help laughing at Tim's little jokes and his all-around fun-loving nature is receptionist Dawn Tinsley who's only working a Wernham Hogg because her fiance Lee works in the warehouse. The other employees simply take things day by day, awkwardly enduring David Brent's incorrigible antics and hoping things get better.

There are several reasons why this is THE GREATEST TELEVISION SERIES EVER. The main one is Ricky Gervais, whose late 1990's vision to create a new type of anti-convention sitcom comedy was and remains something of an extraordinary triumph. Together with associate producer and writing partner Stephen Merchant, the pair held firmly to their goal of creating a TV series unlike any other--a show devoted to the wholly inconspicuous humor of the pathetic. The funniest jokes as well as the most poignant bits in "The Office" are never recognized as such on camera; not even so much as a hint of this-is-the-joke-we're-doing-now is ever conveyed for viewer enlightenment. Nor do the supporting scenes attempt to supply any context. The almost cinema verité approach to observing the monotonous drone of everyday life in the most accurate type of fly-on-the-wall, unobtrusive manner is sublimely one of the most rewarding aspects of the show (and something you would never see on American television). Another very crucial reason for the show's sustained notoriety is the talent. "The Office" would not have succeeded the way it did without the supporting cast--specifically and exclusively Martin Freeman and McKenzie Crook. Both virtual unknowns at the time of filming, they're no longer a secret--Freeman especially whose portrayal of Tim, the proverbial 'everyman', is one of the precious few gems of television acting done right. Providing an almost alter-ego to Gervais' David Brent, the character of Tim is masterfully illuminated as the piece's rational center, ultimately balancing the show's edgy humor with enough sincerity to realize every aspect of the series' intentions. The show's run, done entirely within 14 concise episodes, is truly a masterpiece (and if you have to ask why it didn't run longer, you've missed the point entirely). Never can it be duplicated; nor should it have been replicated or imitated with such watered-down, tasteless knock-offs. (DVD OFFICE)

"The Pickwick Papers" (DVD) 1985 / a TV-miniseries directed by Jack Davies & Brian Lighthill

From London's narrow alleyways to the pastoral serenity of the countryside and spilling over into quaint village inns and taverns, The Pickwick Papers is the resplendent work of a young Dickens at his best. Enamored with all the trademark elements which set him among history's greatest writers, the novel follows the inimitable Samuel Pickwick, a gentleman among gentlemen, and his charming group of friends--The Pickwick Club--along on their wistful travels; the group's indelible spirit, though beset by deceitful charlatans, dubious lawmen and misadventures of the sporting kind, remaining forever optimistic.
 
Masterfully applied to the small screen is the BBC's extraordinary rendering of this classic tale starring Nigel Stock, Patrick Malahide and Phil Daniels. This is how Dickens (and all established literature) should be done: true to the author's original vision yet diversified and segmented just enough to allow the actors time to effectually "become" the characters. It could well be said that Stock, a career supporting actor, was born to play the portly Pickwick. No small task was the role either, Samuel Pickwick is one of Dickens' truly special people. Sustained by the affection of loyal friends and constancy of his dutiful servant Sam, Mr. Pickwick is a man with a heart as big as his paunch and an unwavering certainty in the inherent 'good' of every man--convictions upheld despite numerous instances of affrontery, tribulation, betrayal and disappointment.

While central to the drama is Stock's marvelous portrayal of Pickwick, it's Daniels and Malahide, servant Sam and swindler Alfred Jingle respectively, who almost steal the show in their supporting roles. Though each's on-screen time is marginal, it's effective enough to earn awestruck approval of viewers. Daniels' inhabitation of the charismatic Sam, with his cockney charm and neverending supply of clever witticisms, could effectively stand alone as an independent story while the dexterous Malahide's embodiment of the garish, artful and fast-talking Jingle is a near-majestic performance. Still as breathtaking nearly 25 years since the original broadcast, "Pickwick Papers" is a lasting indication that you scarcely need lofty production values and 'names' to create a masterpiece. (DVD PICKWICK)