David Brent is a fictional white-collar office middle-manager and one of the principal characters from BBC television comedy The Office, played by co-writer and director Ricky Gervais. He is the general manager of the Slough branch of the Wernham-Hogg paper merchants, and the boss to most of the other characters present in the series. Much of the comedy and pathos of the series centres around Brent's many idiosyncrasies, hypocrisies, self-delusions and shameless self-promoting (including, but not limited to, playing up to the 'documentary' cameras present in his workplace). Ricky Dene Gervais (IPA: or ) (born June 25, 1961) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning English comic writer and performer from Reading, Berkshire. ... Ricky Dene Gervais (IPA: or ) (born June 25, 1961) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning English comic writer and performer from Reading, Berkshire. ... Stephen Merchant (born 24 November 1974 in Bristol, England, United Kingdom) is an English Emmy, British Comedy Award, and three-time BAFTA-winning writer, director, and comedic actor. ... Alice, a fictional character based on a real character from the work of Lewis Carroll. ... White-collar workers perform tasks which are less laborious yet often more highly paid than blue-collar workers, who do manual work. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion. ... The Office is a British television comedy series, created, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, and first aired in the UK on BBC Two on July 9, 2001. ... Ricky Dene Gervais (IPA: or ) (born June 25, 1961) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning English comic writer and performer from Reading, Berkshire. ... Slough (pronounced ) is a town and unitary authority (Borough of Slough) in Berkshire, England. ... A typical compact effects pedal. ...

Brent was adapted for the USA version of the show, and became Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell. He was later adapted to become Gilles Triquet in the French version; Bernd Stromberg in the German version, and David Gervais (an obvious amalgamation of the names David Brent and Ricky Gervais) in the French-Canadian version. Michael Gary Scott (born March 15, 1964) is a fictional character on NBCs The Office portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version of The Office. ... Steven John Carell (born August 16, 1962)[1] is a Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated American comedian, actor and writer, who rose to fame as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, from 1999 to 2004. ... Stromberg is a German television series which is produced by Brainpool and broadcast on the commercial television channel ProSieben. ...

Character

David Brent is the type of boss who wants to be everyone's friend and mentor. He imagines that everyone finds him very funny and loves being around him, yet still respects him and looks up to him as a boss and even a father figure. He is, of course, spectacularly wrong — his employees find him tolerable at best and often irritating. It has been suggested that Maître à penser be merged into this article or section. ...

One of the key aspects of Brent's personality is his complete obliviousness to how other people actually see him, and he lashes out strongly whenever his carefully built veil of ignorance is pierced. For example, Brent often asks people how old they think he is, only to react offended and dismayed when the age they guess is older than he'd like it to be. He also has a need to be seen as a renaissance man who is exceptionally good at everything, including playing music, drawing, writing poetry and songs, being a rock star, managing a team, dancing, and even dating and marriage. He especially believes himself to be a remarkably talented stand-up comedian, and rarely misses an opportunity to play up to the cameras; his 'material', however, is largely tedious and hackneyed, and mostly consists of impressions and second-hand comedy routines taken from British comedy shows such as Fawlty Towers and The Two Ronnies. He also revealed that he was in a rock band called Foregone Conclusion, and has claimed that they were once supported by Texas. For other uses, see Renaissance Man (disambiguation). ... Drawing is a visual art which makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. ... The Chinese poem Quatrain on Heavenly Mountain by Emperor Gaozong (Song Dynasty) Poetry (from the Greek , poiesis, a making or creating) is a form of art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its ostensible meaning. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Management (from Old French ménagement the art of conducting, directing, from Latin manu agere to lead by the hand) characterises the process of leading and directing all or part of an organization, often a business, through the deployment and manipulation of resources (human, financial, material, intellectual or intangible). ... A contemporary dancer rehearsing in a dance studio Dance generally refers to human movement either used as a form of expression or presented in a social, spiritual or performance setting. ... The term date can refer to: A day according to a calendar; see calendar date. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Richard Pryor hits the money line A stand-up comedian or stand-up comic is someone that performs in comedy clubs, usually reciting a fast paced succession of amusing stories, short jokes and one-liners, typically called a monologue. ... Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom made by the BBC and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. ... The Two Ronnies was a British sketch show that aired on BBC One from 1971 to 1987. ... Texas are a pop music band from Glasgow, Scotland. ...

Brent has a tendency to promote himself as a politically-correct modern man, but often demonstrates an unwittingly offensive attitude towards ethnic minorities, disabled people and women. However, his various attitudes and faux-pas, cringeworthy and insulting though they may be, are largely not maliciously intended; they are more frequently the unfortunate result of remarkable ignorance and self-delusion combined with an unfortunate tendency to say the wrong thing at the wrong time, and then to make matters worse for himself when trying to backpedal.

Similarly, while wanting to be regarded by his staff as "A friend first, and a boss second", he displays a chronic lack of regard for others' feelings. At the end of series 1, his boss offers him a dilemma, whereby he is offered a promotion to a corporate job, but in doing so, the Slough branch would close, and some staff lose their jobs as others transfer to the Swindon branch. Brent fails to see the dilemma, immediately accepts the job, and even expects those staff who will be made redundant to be pleased for him. However, he later fails the medical, and the plan for the branch merger is reworked, with Brent's Swindon counterpart moving to Slough as David's superior.

In series two, Brent thus has to deal with the arrival of Neil Godwin in a role immediately above his own. Neil is everything that Brent isn't: funny, respected, capable, and secure in himself. Brent, recognising this in Neil, quickly grows to despise him, and spends most of series two trying to one-up his nemesis at every point, most memorably with his jaw-droppingly bad dance routine in episode five (which he describes with typical false modesty as "...a fusion of Flashdance and MC Hammer shit"). Neil Godwin is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom, The Office, played by Patrick Baladi. ... Flashdance is a musical and romance film released in April 1983. ... MC Hammer (born Stanley Kirk Burrell on March 30, 1962) is an American MC who was popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s, known for his dramatic rise to and fall from fame and fortune, his trademark Hammer pants, and for leaving a lasting influence on hip hop culture...

However, Brent is not 'the boss from Hell', as he is often labelled. Although Brent is depicted on-screen as incompetent, it is suggested that he has been successful in the past. In the first episode he lists achievements (e.g. raising profitability without losing staff), and in the second series, he is both interviewed for a trade magazine, and invited to be a motivational speaker, suggesting that his reputation is not as bad viewers are led to expect. This is presumably done to counteract criticism that such an ineffective man would never be promoted to the role Brent has. In the Christmas specials, he is heard complaining that the “documentary” (which The Office supposedly is) made him look stupid. Also, in one episode he gets hold of a magazine where he is on the front cover, however it is from 18 months ago.

For all his many unlikeable and contemptible characteristics, he is not without redeeming merit, and is largely depicted as a tragic figure, and this is increasingly so as the show progresses: a lonely and sad man who places more value in his unrewarding job than he probably should. At several points, the audience is actually prompted to feel sympathetic towards Brent. This is especially true in the final episode of the second series, as he faces redundancy, and in parts of the Christmas special where he is struggling with life after losing his job and his fifteen minutes of fame (thus acknowledging that the supposed "documentary" filmed at Wernham-Hogg has been shown on television). These are the few times when we see David Brent actually face the bleak reality of his situation and try desperately to hold on. But things start to look up for David at the end of the Christmas special when he meets a woman who enjoys his company. In the final scene, Brent also succeeds in achieving what he has tried and failed for the whole series to do; he makes the staff laugh.

It has been acknowledged that Brent's character was deliberately made more sympathetic as the show progressed. In the DVD commentary in the pilot US episode of The Office, writer B.J. Novak recalls Gervais and Merchant saying that they deliberately altered Brent to become more of a "buffoon" in the second series, and thus more likable. It is said that the duo advised that Brent's US equivalent, Michael Scott be the same from the beginning. Scott's character loses much of the Brent's nastier, and concentrates on his failed and often desperate attempts at humour, along with placing more obvious emphasis on his loneliness. Also, while Brent is never shown to possess any business skills whatsoever, Scott is portrayed as someone who was a great salesman who was unwisely promoted to become a hopeless manager. The Office is an Emmy Award and Peabody Award-winning[1] American television comedy that debuted on NBC as a midseason replacement on March 24, 2005. ... Benjamin Joseph Manaly Novak (born July 31, 1979 in Newton, Massachusetts), better known as B.J. Novak, is a stand-up comedian, actor, and writer who can be seen as Ryan Howard on the NBC sitcom The Office. ... Michael Gary Scott (born March 15, 1964) is a fictional character on NBCs The Office portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version of The Office. ...

Due to the popularity of the show, Brent's persona has entered British office-life culture as the epitome of the bad boss. He is frequently ranked alongside many of the classic characters of British comedy, including Basil Fawlty, Captain George Mainwaring and Alan Partridge. Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese Basil Fawlty is the major character in the British sitcom Fawlty Towers, played by John Cleese. ... Captain George Mainwaring (pronounced Mannering) is a fictional bank manager and Home Guard platoon commander portrayed by Arthur Lowe on the BBC television sitcom Dads Army, set in the fictional seaside town of Walmington-on-Sea during World War II. He has become widely accepted and regarded as a... Alan Gordon Partridge is a fictional television and radio presenter portrayed by English comedian Steve Coogan. ...

Appearances outside of The Office

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Microsoft UK and Ricky Gervais put together two videos entitled 'the office values' where David Brent is brought in as a motivational speaker. These were leaked online during August 2006. Reportedly, those at Microsoft were unhappy about the leak, and Gervais hadn't wanted them publicly released because it would suggest he was bringing back the character on a longer-term basis. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Microsoft Corporation, (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is a multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44. ...

In Capcom's video game Resident Evil 4, a character listed in the game's credits as "Manic Brent" appears in two scenes driving a truck. Ricky Gervais's laugh was recorded to be used in these scenes. For the original NASA meaning, see capsule communicator. ... Resident Evil 4 (バイオハザード4, biohazard 4) is a third-person shooter in the style of survival horror published and developed by Capcom. ...

On Wednesday, May 28, 2006, David Cameron described British Prime Minister Tony Blair as "the David Brent of Downing Street". May 28 is the 148th day of the year (149th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966) is the Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition in the United Kingdom, positions he has occupied since December 2005. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Downing Street Downing Street gates Downing Street is the street in London which contains the buildings that have been, for over two hundred years, the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers, the First Lord of the Treasury, an office held by the Prime Minister of...

Unconfirmed Internet rumors have mentioned a possible cameo for David Brent on the American version of The Office where he will meet his counterpart, Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell. The Office is an Emmy Award and Peabody Award-winning[1] American television comedy that debuted on NBC as a midseason replacement on March 24, 2005. ... Michael Gary Scott (born March 15, 1964) is a fictional character on NBCs The Office portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version of The Office. ... Steven John Carell (born August 16, 1962)[1] is a Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated American comedian, actor and writer, who rose to fame as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, from 1999 to 2004. ...

In Ricky Gervais' cameo appearance in the sitcom Spaced, it is speculated that the character he plays is in fact David Brent in his younger, office junior days before he has become employed by Wernham Hogg and made manager. Obvious signs include him working in an office, his name "Dave" being spoken by his colleague and the way he bites his bottom lip. His cocky swagger also indicates foreshadowing of the future David Brent. Ricky Gervais and Spaced creators Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright and Jessica Stevenson have never commented on the cameo. Ricky Dene Gervais (IPA: or ) (born June 25, 1961) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning English comic writer and performer from Reading, Berkshire. ... Martin Scorsese appears briefly in an uncredited role in this scene from his feature film Taxi Driver. ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... Spaced is a British television situation comedy written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. ... Ricky Gervais as David Brent in The Office The Office is the title of a British television comedy series and its American remake. ... Management (from Old French ménagement the art of conducting, directing, from Latin manu agere to lead by the hand) characterises the process of leading and directing all or part of an organization, often a business, through the deployment and manipulation of resources (human, financial, material, intellectual or intangible). ... An office is a room or other area in which people work, but may also denote a position within an organisation with specific duties attached to it (see officer, office-holder, official); the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one... Collegiality is the relationship between colleagues. ... Foreshadowing is a literary device in which an author drops subtle hints about plot developments to come later in the story. ... Look up Future in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Ricky Dene Gervais (IPA: or ) (born June 25, 1961) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning English comic writer and performer from Reading, Berkshire. ... Spaced is a British television situation comedy written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, and directed by Edgar Wright. ... Simon John Pegg (born 14 February 1970 in Gloucester) is an English stand-up comedian, writer and film and television actor. ... Edgar Wright (born 18 April 1974 in Poole, Dorset) is an English film and television director. ... Jessica Stevenson is an English actress and writer, most renowned as one of the creators of the sitcom Spaced. ...

At Wembley Stadium on the 1st July 2007 Ricky Gervais performed as David Brent at the Concert for Diana. Alongside Mackenzie Crook as Gareth, Gervais performed a rendition of the song "Freelove Freeway" from The Office. Wembley Stadium is a football stadium in Wembley, London, England. ... Ricky Dene Gervais (IPA: or ) (born June 25, 1961) is an Emmy, Golden Globe and BAFTA award-winning English comic writer and performer from Reading, Berkshire. ... Concert for Diana (The Peoples Princess) was a concert held at the new Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom in honour of the late Diana, Princess of Wales on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday; 2007 is also the 10th anniversary of her death. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Office is the title of multiple television situation comedy shows created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. ...

References

External links

• david brent: renaissance man clips (requires RealPlayer)