Co-creator/writer/director and star Ricky Gervais makes this fake horrifyingly real, drawing on his seven years in an office working as the entertainment manager for the University of London Union. Gervais actually didn’t mind going to his job, and he quite likes his character, boss David Brent, the cringe-worthiest of them all. “He’s sad as opposed to dangerous,” says Gervais. “His worst crime is he’s confused being popular with being respected and so he’s not either.” There are now plans for an American version of the show, which Gervais will executive produce, though he fears the addition of a laugh track. As for the British “Office,” Gervais will close its doors after one more season. He says he’d like to move on to new projects.“Maybe I’ll do the same thing, but a working-class version called ‘The Factory’.”
