Collector's Edition: Spend some time at home with The Office

With the TV-on-DVD craze in full effect, one series that should be on each and everyone's shelf is The Office - The Complete Collection (around $45 dollars in most stores). Quite frankly, it is one of the most unique and original dramedies to come on television within the past few years. And no, it was not on American TV. The Office debuted across the water on the BBC. Shot in a documentary-based style, The Office follows the work lives of office manager David Brent (co-writer and co-director Ricky Gervais) and his coworkers, namely Tim, Gareth, and Dawn (Martin Freeman, Mackenzie Crook, and Lucy Favis, respectively). At its surface, it appears to be a show "about nothing," ala Seinfeld, but as each passing episode goes by, the relationships between the characters develop and grow, and the audience is treated to a hilarious, sometimes touching, and sometimes even sad, glimpse of the experience of working in an office with one's coworkers. Though the British wit may initially put some people off, it eventually grows on you and I guarantee that you'll love every minute of each episode. Unlike most sitcoms, there is no laugh track provided. Much of the humor comes from the show's ability to wink at the audience and acknowledge the presence of the camera, as Brent does effectively throughout the show. Guaranteed to become a television classic, The Office is sharply written, and above all, contains heart. The choice to limit the show to only 12 episodes and a special is a smart move, as it allows the show to go out on top. Regardless, you will most likely be watching these episodes over and over again, as they get better with each viewing. Time will tell if the new American remake, starring Steve Carell, will be able to effectively portray the British humor. It is scheduled to air on NBC sometime this year. This four-disc set from Warner Brothers contains every episode from seasons one and two, as well as the two-part Christmas special. The discs are packed with extras to complement the episodes, including two making-of documentaries, a truckload of deleted scenes and outtakes, a Golden Globes featurette, a music video, and a director's commentary on the Christmas special.