quote of the day (October 14, 2008)

While most of the QOTD audience is either familiar with or a big fan of the US version of The Office, not many have seen the original UK version. The original was probably funnier, but definitely tougher to watch. Unlike Steve Carell's gentler, good-natured Michael Scott, the British Office was led by Ricky Gervais' insincere, aggressively stupid David Brent.

During one scene in the series' second episode, Brent (Gervais) and the Assistant to the Regional Manager, bug-eyed Gareth Keenan (Mackenzie Crook) have a brilliant conversation about sexual harassment, brought about by doing "research" on XXX websites:

David: "Look at this - Dutch girls must be punished for having big boobs. Now you do not punish someone, Dutch or otherwise for having big boobs.

Gareth: "If anything they should be rewarded."

David: "They should be equal."

Gareth: "Women are equal."

David: "I've always said that."

David Brent and Gareth Keenan, fighting every day to make the workplace safe for women everywhere!

And, in another great aside, receptionist Dawn (Lucy Davis) talks about her engagement to warehouse worker Lee (Joel Beckett):

"He proposed on a Valentine's day, although he didn't do it face to face, he did it in one of the little Valentine bits in the paper. I think he had to pay for it by the word, because it just said 'Lee love Dawn, marriage?' which you know, I like, because it's not often you get to something that's both romantic and thrifty."

During a training workshop at the office, David Brent sings his hit song "Free Love Freeway"