Could The Office’s creator and original star Ricky Gervais possibly make an appearance on the U.S. version of the show sometime soon?
Here are some various tidbits:
From The Sun:
BUNGLING boss David Brent is to return, Ricky Gervais has confirmed.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Ricky said his Brent will clash egos with his US equivalent in the American version of hit BBC comedy The Office.
Revealing his plans for the episode, Ricky, 48, said: “I think it would be funny for David Brent to walk into the US Office and hear them go, ‘Oh my god, there’s two of them!’
“We don’t need to know about Brent’s back story – the English Office exists in a cocoon and in the DVD.
“Michael Scott could just bump into Brent, who is a bloke from England.
“I don’t think we’ll take any of the other UK characters over – we’ll probably leave it with just me because it’s just too complicated.”
From Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello:
I heard an unconfirmed rumor earlier today that Ricky Gervais was seriously considering reprising his role as original Office manager David Brent on the U.S. version later this season. Too good to be true, right? That’s what I thought. Well, about an hour ago, Ricky Gervais took the stage at press tour (he’s here promoting his new self-titled animated HBO comedy) and hinted that he might do something with the U.S. Office next season.
From the L.A. Times:
As for future plans, Gervais offered: “We might do something with the American ‘Office’ next season. But that’s in our heads at the moment.”
From USA Today:
Gervais, who wrote an episode of the American Office with Merchant, would like to write and direct another one. He doesn’t rule out an appearance on the show, either as the British Office’s David Brent or Extras’ Andy Millman.
“I think that’s not out of the question now. I think the time would be right there,” he says.
He has thought of one scenario in which The Office’s Jim and Pam are watching Extras and Michael Scott — the American version of Gervais’ Brent — comes along. “And (he) goes: ‘I don’t like that English guy in it. If they ever did an American remake, I reckon I could do that.’ That would be a lovely in-joke.”
What do you think of the idea? What could some possible storylines be?
I would love to see that as long as it’s just a small one shot thing, nothing on going. Also I think they should put Stephen Merchant in the background somewhere random as Oggy.
Make it happen!!!! Well, I just got the hang of watching the UK Office over the summer (thank you comedy network) and I would love to see David Brent visit Dunder Mifflin!!
I think it would be a delicate situation, but if anyone is capable of handling it with finesse, it’s the people behind this show. I would really love to see it happen in a Gervais/Merchant-penned episode. The idea definitely has the potential for epic awesomeness!
David Brent AND Michael Scott in the same room…endless possibilities.
Oh Rickey Gervais, that WOULD be a lovely in-joke.
Haha, Rjmoons, I forgot about Oggy! Genius.
Can’t express the AWESOMENESS that this would be if it happens. *keeps fingers crossed*
How cool would it be if Dunder Mifflin was bought by Wernham Hogg? Make it happen, Cap’n!
The show needs to get meta. The documentary NBC is producing has fledgling ratings, so the producers bring in Brent, recorded in the British version that NBC bought the rights to, as a sort of business consultant. David Brent is clueless and pompous enough to reveal all of this information himself, thus eliminating the need to incorporate any behind the scenes characters. There’s no other possible way it would work, I don’t think.
What if Andy Millman got hold of Michael’s script Threat-Level Midnight and wants to develop it into an action movie?
OH
MY
GOD
I actually just choked while reading this it’s THAT exciting…… I don’t even have words. I tear up when I think about it. This would be EPIC….
David Brent would totally hit on Meredith don’t you think?
I have mixed feelings about this- I love Ricky Gervais, but I feel like if the show uses his appearance as an inside joke like Ricky suggested, it will take away from the reality of the show. I’m not a fan of inside jokes on TV- for example, in Arrested Development’s final season, the constant inside jokes regarding the show’s cancellation struck me as kind of self-indulgent and lazy. On the other hand, if Ricky appeared as a novel character with no pointed nudges to the audience about the British Office, I think it could be great!
This would be soooo awesome! I really hope this happens, I like both shows and Ricky is crazy funny!
I hate Ricky Gervais, it would be a travesty if he would be on The Office. He’s rude and insulting to Steve Carell.
I think any in-joke (be it Brent or Extras), while funny, wouldn’t help the show like Ricky playing a new character. That said, more Ricky Gervais is always a good thing so here’s hoping this (finally!) works out.