I’m an American who has just recently started watching the original BBC version of The Office. Every now an again I notice something that seems a little out of place to me, but I just chalk it up to cultural differences. However, in the episode where the office raises money for charity something totally bizarre happens:
A group of 10 or so men in the office grab one of their older coworkers and forcibly strip his pants and underpants off and laugh at the sight of his genitals. Now in the US we have a practice known as “pantsing” where a person’s pants are pulled down unexpectedly, but this was a little more extreme. They literally held him down as he struggled, undid his belt, and held him there naked. Maybe it’s the prudish American in me, but I was a little shocked.
Is this just over the top TV antics, or does that kind of thing really happen in the UK?
David Brent makes a habit of showing visiters a monkey on a coat rack. He points to it and dramatically says, “Monkey!”. Even though I have no idea what this is referencing, I still find it hilarious. However, I’d love to know what the hell he’s doing.
It’s about the character David Brent - someone who gets things wrong but is oblivious. It was such a long time ago but I imagine Brent would think that to be positive because it was the guys acting together and having a laugh.
Thus the scene is a device by which to explore the character, and not a literal exposition on UK office practices: David Bnent: Character
That’s kind of why I found it especially odd. Usually, it’s Brent who’s acting totally outlandishly while his horrified staff watches his train wrecks. But, in this case most of the office was involved and Brent was the spectator.
Plus in the States people would go to jail for that sort of thing. I can’t imagine it happening on an episode of the US version of the show, which is pretty absurdist itself.
I don’t know about office environments, but IME British men are always eager to remove their clothes (or, short of that, another guy’s). I was living in London and had a friend in. We watched a Villa marathon and I swear every single episode had the guys removing their clothes, drunkenly, before streaking about house or jumping in the pool. I know reality TV isn’t reality, but it did support several ‘And then we got Gazza’s trousers off…’-style anecdotes from male British friends.
Well you’d certainly be in trouble in most UK offices for this sort of behaviour too (although a jail sentence sounds a bit extreme, it could certainly result in dismissal).
I think the whole point of the show is that it’s so cringeworthy, and taking an office ‘prank’ too far is an example of that. It feels so true to life and then throws in something like this that makes you whince. Just MHO obviously.
And the writers might also be making a reference to the old-fashioned genre of British comedy shows where sexual jokes were de rigeur.
David Brent thinks he’s the office joker and congratulates himself on creating a casual ‘fun’ atmosphere (even if his colleagues don’t see the joke). Having this random stuffed toy hanging around is his way of saying ‘Look, I’m a funny guy! We have fun here! We’ve got a Flat Eric in the office!’
To everyone else it’s cringeworthy, which of course is what makes it hilarious for the viewer.
And I think part of the joke is that ‘Monkey’ (and Flat Eric) are both regarded as funny and loveable by the general populous, and David Brent is trying to pick up on that popularity by association
‘Look! Monkey! He’s funny and popular! I’ve brought him in so that makes my funny too and on the pulse of popular culture!’