Have you seen this show The Office? I know it’s been around a while. I’ve been watching it a while; we get it on BBC America. During the first season the laughs came in fits and starts; it was like they were still working out the bugs. But man, the other night, I watched episode four of the second season, and I was literally crying. David Brent is such a good asshole it’s scary. BBC America reruns “The Office” two more times on Sunday evenings, and as a result I watched episode four, three times on Sunday – without regret. All day yesterday I had Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” going through my head, with that image of Brent trotting out of the room at the end of his “motivational” speech, hat on backwards. I chuckled a few times during the day, just thinking about it (and that is what good comedy is all about).

For some reason, I’ve also grown fond of the show’s opening & credit theme song. Turns out “Handbags and Gladrags” was written by Mike d’Abo, former lead singer of Manfred Mann. I’m not making this shit up. True to form, Google led me to Mike’s website as well as a place where you can download an MP3 of the song for your listening pleasure. It’s playing in my headphones right now, as I type this, on my lunch break. Pathetic, yes? Yes.

Anyway, the cast of this show is really starting to click. Give the show a chance. Get to know the characters, and then enjoy the improvisational ride they take you on. And then check out Gareth Keenan’s home page.