10. The Office
While The Office changed sitcom land forever, it wasn't the most immediate show on the planet. There are those that watched the first few episodes scratching their heads, wondering where the punchlines were; some took a while to realise it was even a sitcom at all, thanks in part to the fly-on-the-wall format that the show adopted. David Brent, however, was a fully-formed character right from the very first scene. His opening speech encapsulated what the character would become, from the ridiculous manager speak "If a good man comes to me, and says thank you David, for the opportunity and continued support in the work-related arena..." to the assumption that him and Sammy are good friends. Topping the scene off, Brent blunders, "How is Elaine, has she left you yet?" before his jovial mood is replaced by bumbling "Yeah, see you later then," as he hangs up, forgetting that Elaine has actually left Sammy. It's a fantastic introduction to a character that was to typify the decade, but perhaps the greatest thing about it is that Brent soon makes Alex the forklift truck driver redundant; all the bravado about how he can further a man's career is undone in embarrassing fashion, and watching this opening scene back we're just reminded further about how much of an idiot David Brent really is.