Mockumentary
Though the term was coined in reference to the groundbreaking 'This is Spinal Tap', Rob Reiner cannot claim ownership of the fake documentary genre. Woody Allen's debut as director 'Take the Money and Run' is an early example, but undoubtedly the number of these satirical slices of life has risen of late, reflecting the popularity (and banality) of reality television. Christopher Guest took the format and ran with it ('Best in Show', 'A MIghty Wind', 'Waiting for Guffman'), and classics include serial killer profile 'Man Bites Dog', Lars von Trier oddity 'The Idiots' and of course the cringingly accurate 'The Office'. Check out Alice's collection below.
The Office (US): Season 2 (2006)
Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, BJ Novak
Breaking free from its formidable BBC parent and finding its own comedy feet, the second season of 'the American Office' has a full compliment of 22 e... Read more
The Office (US): Season 3, Part 1 (2006)
Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, BJ Novak
Steve Carell is back in his Golden Globe-winning role as the endlessly (and hilariously) ignorant Michael Scott. Pam and Jim are still the star-crosse... Read more
The Office (US): Season 3, Part 2 (2007)
Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, BJ Novak, Melora Hard...
The second half of season three includes Michael and Jan's first official date as a Dunder Mifflin couple; Andy gets back from anger management traini... Read more
The Office (US): Season 4, Part 1 (2007)
Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, BJ Novak, Melora Hard...
Steve Carell returns as 'The World's Greatest Boss' although he does run over Meredith in the carpark; Jim and Pam bring a little romance to the workp... Read more
The Office - The Christmas Specials (2003)
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis
The only British sitcom ever to win a Golden Globe returns for two final extended episodes. Much has happened since our last visit to Wernham Hogg. Da... Read more
The Office: Series 1 (2001)
8.5/10
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis
BAFTA-winning comedy about the Slough paper-merchant where life is stationery... David Brent (Ricky Gervais) is a petty, pompous boss who thinks he's... Read more
The Office: Series 2 (2002)
8.8/10
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Starring: Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis, Martin Freeman, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
David Brent returns to work in the office that took Britain by storm and grabbed middle-managers by their balls. His 'unique' management style in this... Read more
The Pretender: Series 1, Episodes 1-5 (2005)
7.5/10
Director: Michael Bennett, Patrick Gillies
'The Pretender' is a smart, satirical and biting examination of our nation's leaders; the people behind them; and the jealousy, megalomania, fear, con... Read more
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978)
7.4/10
Director: Eric Idle, Gary Weis
Starring: Eric Idle, John Halsey, Rikki Fatar, Neil Innes
The Rutles, a living legend that will live long after other living legends have died. The Rutles are a non-existent band that look like the Beatles, b... Read more
The Waimate Conspiracy (2006)
2.7/10
Director: Stefen Lewis
Starring: David McPhail, Mark Hadlow, Jim Moriarty, Helen Pearse-Otene, Janice Gray
Based on the director's comedic 1999 novel, 'The Waikikimukau Conspiracy', this grass-roots mockumentary focuses on a group of South Island Maori who... Read more