5. They Comment On Society
There's a reason why David Brent was so relevant, and why he's still perfect to star in YouTube videos. He's an epitome of 21st Century British culture, in that he's obsessed with fame and being famous. It's the same with Andy Millman. But a lot of Ricky Gervais's work is relevant to society in other ways; there's usually a conflict in his shows about the differing opinions people have about religion, and 'Derek' is an analysis on how we view old and disabled people. There are scenes in 'Extras' where the pair tell us that the grass isn't greener when you're famous, and 'The Office' probes the topic of offence, when Brent tells a racist joke or nicknames start spreading around the office. It's one thing to produce a television programme that makes people laugh, but 'The Office' and 'Extras' are products of a culture and a way of thinking. These shows are commentaries about the boom of celebrity culture and the internet, and when people look back on them for years to come, they'll see not just what made us laugh back then but what was going on in society, just like 'Dad's Army' or 'Blackadder'.