The Office

The Cultural Impact and Legacy of The Office

It shouldn’t have worked. When The Office first aired on a Monday evening in July of 2001, nothing suggested an epochal event was in the offing. The first-time writer/directors, who had met at the London alternative radio station XFM, had no real experience to speak of. Stephen Merchant was the gangly, analytical half of the partnership who’d grown up wanting to emulate local hero John Cleese, another tall man from the West Country behind a beloved sitcom. Ricky Gervais, the show’s lead, was a failed pop star who’d spent years in middle management as the assistant events manager for the University of London Union. Not for nothing do they tell you to write what you know.

The cultural impact and legacy of The Office simply cannot be overstated. From its influence on the genre of sitcoms or the “Mockumentary”, to social nomenclature such as describing someone as being “a bit Brent” and even the personalities forged by endless quotes along with mannerisms used by its fans. You can tell immediately if you will get on with someone if they react to a quote with a retort born from the show. This is especially useful in social occasions such as weddings or parties when faced with the unenviable task of actually having to speak to strangers. Almost used as a feeler to discern if this person might be worth speaking to, the following topics are often offered in an attempt to find common ground.

• “What team do you support?”
• “How do you know X?”
• “Will there ever be a boy born, who can swim faster than a shark?”