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David Brent shows Microsoft how it’s done [We’re going to repost this item from a few weeks ago, in light of Microsoft’s lawyers getting in touch with us. See comments section. For now, the videos remain up at Google Video.] Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant apparently filmed two videos in 2004 for Microsoft as training materials for its U.K. employees. Check them out here and here. They’re long (20 minutes and 17 minutes) but often hilarious, with Gervais reprising his David Brent role from The Office. They beat the crap out of the soul-crushing piece of film that TCBY made me sit through in 1987. Via Coolz0r. UPDATE: Microsoft is unhappy that these videos have made it into the public domain and is now pressuring bloggers to remove them from their sites. —Posted by Tim Nudd

August 30, 2006 | Permalink

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» Unseen Office from YesButNoButYes
I haven't had time to watch these yet, but via Tim Nudd at Adfreak comes two Microsoft training videos (for a whopping 37 minutes in total running time) in which Ricky Gervais reprises his David Brent character, alongside writing... [Read More]

Tracked on Aug 17, 2006 5:38:57 PM

» adfreak: David Brent shows Microsoft how it’s done from g-WH!Z
adfreak: These guys are a laugh frickin riot. Warning Long videos ahead c. 20 min. each. OK, pretend youre a management consultant, HR consultant to Microsoft. Plant your tongue firmly in cheek, develop a UKish accent and roll that film. ... [Read More]

Tracked on Aug 19, 2006 9:30:40 AM

» Nieuwe baan: avontuur in de USA from Peter Horsmans blog
Ik heb nu alweer een paar weken een nieuwe rol als Worldwide Engagement Manager bij het Microsoft.com strategy team [Read More]

Tracked on Aug 24, 2006 2:50:16 PM

» micro$oft training - the office way from RAWDEADFISH
gotta go see the videos listed in this article. m$ actually hired the creator of "the office" to do training videos for their uk office. but the videos got leaked... click here [Read More]

Tracked on Aug 30, 2006 11:39:40 AM

Comments

it's good to see an old friend...welcome back david brent. Thanks for posting.

Posted by: editorADOTAS | Aug 17, 2006 3:49:16 PM

Awesome! Even us softies did not know about this. Well at least the US one's anyway.

Posted by: Christian Cadeo | Aug 18, 2006 9:26:34 PM

Gervais is brilliant and this shit is still funnier than the US version of The Office.

Posted by: makethelogobigger | Aug 20, 2006 2:01:07 PM

That came out wrong. ‘Shit’ as in good, not bad.

Posted by: makethelogobigger | Aug 20, 2006 2:37:34 PM

Come on Christian. I'm a Brit and I loved the original Office. I had to watch a few episodes to get into it but I think the US version has really pushed the envelope. Can't wait for series 3. BTW I couldn't stand David Brent when I first saw him too and so I nearly missed out on the original show. Don't make the same mistake with the Office US.

Posted by: yellowwizard | Aug 25, 2006 11:23:09 AM

Sorry Christian, not you, the other guy under you: makethelogobigger. I'm sure you adore the antics at Dunder Mifflin.

Posted by: yellowwizard | Aug 25, 2006 11:25:23 AM

URGENT ATTENTION – Re breach of copyright on 2 films on ADFREAK .COM linked to SPILL

Please remove immediately the following:

2 FILMS THAT YOU HAVEON THE WEBSITE of Ricky Gervais Microsoft Office - Office Values Pt.1 and pt.2
under your title on site of'DAVID BRENT SHOWS MICROSOFT HOW IT'S DONE' posted by Tim Nudd.

These 2 films are protected under strict Microsoft copyright and not allowable in the public domain.

Legal proceedings can be avoided if these are removed from your site and any other associated sites plus links and comments regarding these films immediately.

Please note. Your site will be continually monitored.

TO AVOID LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THIS URGENT COPYRIGHT BREACH.

on Behalf of Microsoft

Posted by: P MASON | Aug 30, 2006 6:23:16 AM

Very nice, Tim. So even though YouTube caved and took them down, Google Video is going to thumb their noses at the threat.

I like the potential of a great big Google vs. Gates battle, but Microsfot should just shut up and let this rare positive PR do some good.

Posted by: Jetpacks | Aug 30, 2006 8:30:33 AM

Good to see they have TV's greatest attorney on their side. So you're going to be prosecuted by, who, Matlock?

Posted by: CorruptedJournalist | Aug 30, 2006 2:47:45 PM

thnx man, very funny heh

Posted by: daz | Aug 10, 2008 6:49:15 AM

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