“The Office” is a British sitcom that premiered on BBC Two in the UK on July 9, 2001. The series was conceived, penned, and helmed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. It humorously explores the everyday experiences of employees at the Slough branch of the fictional Wernham Hogg Paper Company. Ricky Gervais also takes on the lead role of David Brent. Although the show is scripted, it is presented in a documentary style, with characters often interacting with the camera.

The series consists of two seasons, each with six episodes, and includes two 45-minute Christmas specials. Initially, the show struggled with low viewership on BBC Two and was almost canceled, but it eventually became one of the most successful British comedies internationally. It has been broadcast worldwide through BBC Worldwide and on channels like BBC Prime, BBC America, and BBC Canada. The series has been sold to over 80 countries, including ABC1 in Australia, The Comedy Network in Canada, TVNZ in New Zealand, and the pan-Asian satellite channel STAR World, based in Hong Kong. In the United States, it aired on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim late-night programming block from September 18, 2009, until 2012.