Big Keith's Appraisal | The Office | BBC Studios 

Taken too young. Made me laugh so much. RIP

Respect to you, Ewen

And he’ll continue to bring that laughter to generations may he RIP

@Phil well said!

Hi Keith, David here. Yep, bad news - we're gonna have to let you go, mate. R.I.P

You have really just depressed me... And I'm suffering from insomnia at the moment. I guess that doesn't help state of mind.😕

Indeed dude, I won’t be remembered but I know for a fact he’ll be remembered for the laughs he gives my kids and hopefully their kids too, he’s truly a legend that’ll live on for many many years

True ❤

@@paradisekohchangstyle2150 You didn't know we died? Oh we're remembered by our children and friends, by some of them for their whole lives, and perhaps by their children as shadows fora little longer... But after that, unless you're Napoleon or Tesla or Da Vinci... you're gone forever.

@@frankfisher99 Yeah...I think you took my response a bit too literally. It's depressing to be reminded of our mortality. As in: What's it all about etc.

A minor role that made a huge impression.

How did he die?

@@MrIlleism It doesn't seem to have ever been released how Ewen died which might mean it wasn't just natural causes.

Ha ha.....very good.

😂😂😂😂exactly tell them NOTHING,cos they just want your data info to pass it on to third parties to sell without your permission.

You could tell Ricky Gervais parked David Brent somewhere else to do that scene, to let Keith be the clown.

What are the options again?@@mummyd1990

Too much for a paper firm in Slough

The soft "No, no, no, you fill that in..." is fucking genius

You've described the scene perfectly.

And we all have either done that ourselves or had someone do the same to us. Its absolutely genius

No, disagree. Keith wouldn't know he had to fill that in. If he did know, he'd have simply ticked all the "Don't Know" boxes and be done with it in 5 seconds. It was only simple multiple choice questions, not written answers. Keith is actually a very honest person - too honest. He says whatever he thinks. He wouldn't be afraid to say he couldn't be bothered filling something out.

@@terri6854I disagree, respectfully of course, I believe his careless attitude throughout the show tells me that he just brushed it aside and hope management wouldn’t pick up on it, I guess the scene is up for interpretation though and that’s the beauty of Keith, RIP

+Jonathan Reite (Jonrei) It's funny because most bosses in real life don't respect job performance reviews lol

Yes, I know what you mean. Wonderful scene :D

Tom 22 Youve just had horrible bosses

He's certainly trying but Keith is making it awfully difficult for him. I'm going to try Big Keith's strategy next time I'm up for a review. Just stonewall 'em!

I was about to say the same thing, this is one of the few times you see David behaving in the manner that an actual boss might.

That is one of the funniest lines ever! Nah.

+s Humphrey timing is awesome

@@ihaveabignobful lol and he doesn't even stop chewing his gum as he says it

Any companies still putting out work appraisals, please watch this... and FUCKING STOP DOING IT!

The delivery of "nah" was absolutely spot on

he seems like a smart bloke. just doesnt care about anything

That was a glorious summation

Hammer Of Justice . Cares nothing for that farrago .

I think he is simply in an easy job which holds little interest for him. He knows he is unlikely to get into trouble for not taking this review process seriously so why would he waste his energy on it?

William Foy 95% of office-based work is the same

Don't know again...

Haha yep if management os gonna treat u like a numpty anyway might as well take advantage of it. I'm always dodging tasks but I'll have one of these excuses up my sleeve so worst case they'll just think I'm a bit slow but in reality I'm taking the piss. Most management is scum devoid of empathy who will shaft you just so they are comfortable and reap a bonus. Fuck the hierarchy in the job place and Fuck the system that makes it possible. (And breath....)

@@rodavids1210 I've had a fair few wankers as bosses who I've given the runaround and I'll act like Keith here in this scene, and other bosses who have treated me with mutual respect and I'll work ten times as hard for them. Swings and roundabouts!

@@yatesy117 funny enough I had a interview a few days ago for bar job. The wanker who interview seemed a twat and he had a really strong polish accent and I honestly could not understand him. So I turned to Keith mode lol. ..he ended interview quick with" we will let you know" we both know tho I will never hear from him again lol and

Hugh Mungus papa bless!

MrJaynash fawlty towers is funnier.

it is perfection; so good, you can even play it by radio and not view it and it still cracks you up

If you mean this scene in particular, it's worth noting that Ricky Gervais suffered serious laughing fits whilst doing it. But you wouldn't know it from the end product. It was in an outtakes reel i saw years ago.

@@medinabello19 Annoying slapstick althouh I love Prunella Scales

don't get me wrong, the office was very good, but i don't think it deserves the bumming and praise it gets. yes it's funny, but isn't a patch on one foot in the grave, fawlty towers, only fools and horses, the think blue line etc for actual writing. all imo obviously

I agree with you. Thank God I am not alone! Why would any sane person tell his employers his weaknesses?!!! The whole point of the process is surely to undermine and demean and humiliate?! It's like trusting Human Resources (HR). The very name gives the game away?! Anybody who thinks appraisals are useful is stupid or a liar. There are no other possibilities. And yet the whole country (UK) is run on this lie. If you protest, the response is: can't you play the game? Answer: NO.

Barry Allen I think you have been a victim of an employer who did not invest time and money in you, which is a shame really. Somewhere in your career you were probably under some authoritarian management, causing you to view work as some sort of exploitation scheme and making you an 'X' employee (McGregor's X and Y theory). Trust me, if you are part of an organisation where you are seen as a valuable asset, you perception on these kind of Human Resource practices will change.

What do u right down for weaknesses so u dont end up getting the sack?? I bite my nails??

+Barry Allen I'm glad managers and bosses don't see the point in them either. I've forgotten what I've written down on them the moment they're passed on, and I'm meant to review my progress in these areas 6 months later? Completely pointless

+Tom 22 Completety agree my friend. About as useless as that other complete waste of time - 'Employee Opinion Surveys'. Another 15+ minutes stolen from people's precious time; whereby management are simply looking for 70% of the lemmings employed to tick 'fairly satisfied' or above - in order to convince the company everything is just tickerty-boo; whilst various layers of management cop a 'work-related' bonus. I worked my way up to senior management from sod all in a very well-known UK utility company. It was worth it if only to consistently give my (honest) feedback on both of these ideas.......namely "this is complete bollocks and an utter waste of people's time and company money". I was always deemed 'a maverick'. I just considered it being completely truthful. :-)

+Sonny Layton Don't know.

Yeah, that extra layer of performing for a camera crew really adds to the depth of the comedy :D

Why would Ricky be losing his temper? It’s fuckin scripted lol

ChiefChimp david is losing his temper, ricky is acting it out. i’m guessing that’s what they meant

I completely misread OPs comment. My bad!

🙏🕯️

Very sad. Life is tough.

None of them actually give a shit to be fair mate. Internet pile on. Nothing more. The bloke was skint when he died.

"Eczema"😂

Don't cry mate it's not a sad scene. I think it's funny.

“Always the same!”

@@Leo-qe3gl ....they had to cut that scene every time after he said Eczema as they were in tears of laughter and couldn't carry on....after a break they continued.

@@blaze1148 😂

Awful sad about Ewen... this scene is possibly the best of the office. And there were numerous classic scenes. This type of comedy won't be made again

@@alanlawlor3134 Ewen's portrayal of Big Keith, a minor character in the series was memorable. He didn't have many scenes but everyone remembers them. In a similar vein, Genial Harry Grout, a character in Porridge played by Peter Vaughan appeared in just three episodes but he was always looming in the background.

Sitcom? It’s a documentary.

"Always the same."

Don't know.

You're right, Ricky is a natural actor.

@@mannixflinn6227 i think he was talking about Keith

@@jackseaton7486 I know. I was being whatever that word is.

@@mannixflinn6227 Do you want the options again?

@@TonyEnglandUK I thought they were always the same?

Oh, Englis is my second language, I thought it was the same word, but yeah, oops, it's just a neutral word for evaluation

Did she ask for time off in loo?

@@BossySwan She would have done. Here's another... She once got a new car. She was quite pleased with, who wouldn't be. However, she told us that "it has two speedos". I tried to put her right, and said that the other 'speedo' was actually a rev counter, and when she didn't know what that was, I went on to explain that it told her how fast the engine was going. "You must think I'm stupid" she said, "the engine's going the same speed as the car!"

@@CaptSlog she sounds like a right hoot 😆

@@CaptSlog 🤣🤣

Yes. Reminds me of the two Ronnies " four candles" sketch a little bit.

And that's why comedy is so important... it gives others such joy they incorporate it into their OWN LIVES... I laughed just thinking of you and your wife using that line in any given scenario. 😂

So true. It's the only time he plays the role as manager, it seems, in the entire series. :)

you;'ll like Extras then

Actually, Keith is the straight man eliciting funnier and funnier responses from the exasperated David.

@@elbinkogrande Good point-you could definitely argue that as well.

Never thought about it like that, good point!

Kevin got dumber as the series progressed, so dumb it didn't seem believable in the end that the could be an accountant for so long before Dwight eventually fired him.

@@KomickleptoHe was a poker genius though... 😉

Totally agree. Kevin became a cartoonish character, beyond believable.

​@@YourLocalGP same with dwight and everyone thinks he's the greatest character ever. It makes me sick

​@@McGeezleIt's because Yanks are idiots and think everything they do is better than everyone else

That's what happens when you just stay in and watch Peak Practice with your life.

Storm Hawk thats his personality

Not totally devoid. He likes scotch eggs IIRC.

The actor who played as Keith was in Little Britain. Appeared in a couple of episodes. Pretty underrated guy.

Budding singer and DJ

DATS WAT MAID UZ GRATE

@@MrDaiseymay WE WUZ KANGZ

And your username is fuckeverything...right

Apart from choosing your username, good job!

Tell me about it!

How much of the Xanax did Big Keith take? All of it. All of the Xanax. :P

Genius stuff! 🤣

Blank look and continues chewing his gum

@@josephwilles29 How much of the Xanax did Big Keith take? What are the options ?

well done misquoting

No he won't be missed. it is all on video. His real life nobody gave a damn about actually.

What are the options?

​@@calvin3005Always the same..

Less is more 😂

Him and Finchy took the show next to Gareth and David.

Fanny Pack!

@@CrueLoaf Not yer minge!🤣

He'd have been ideal for political satire where he as a politician gets asked questions about important things.. 🤣

Magnificent.

I'dve said 'Don't know'.

EXCELLENT!!!

did you have any options to choose from?

Looking at the camera is what Oliver Hardy used to do when faced with Stan Laurel's stupidity. So Ricky Gervais has studied the greats, the pioneers of modern on screen comedy.

+Paul Grant Yeah, on my feet

Well I bought that, at Halfords...

its the fella that nicked me job!

eczema*

Weaknesses

"always the same" 😂😂😂

I love the outtake when he's stood doing his dry jumping of Dawn.

Hilarious him trying to keep his cool. Keith is outstanding too.

Drollery at it's finest. Keith is actually the straight man in this scene. His responses trigger funnier and funnier reactions from the exasperated David Brent. In short, both actors doing what each does best.

@@elbinkogrande I'm going to say both yes and no to what you said. Yes, ostensibly you are correct in the technical/traditional sense but no because Keith is just tooooo deadpan funny in this and throughout the series to be considered a true straight man. This was indeed a case of Ricky Gervais doing a John Cleese though (my paraphrasing of your words, there).

@@bodsnvimto Keith is, indeed, wonderfully funny, but that doesn't preclude him assuming the role of "straight man" in this particular bit. His deadpan responses (ironically) create the comic propulsion in the scene (that is, Brent's increasingly agitated responses). And part of Gervais' great talent, is perfectly underplaying the building exasperation. Also, Keith's lunchroom scenes with Tim and with Dawn, were perhaps the funniest bits in the show. He was masterful. BTW ~ I think Fawlty Towers was genius. 12 gems. And everyone played "straight man" to Basil … even the very funny, Manuel.

@@elbinkogrande Yes, I'll go with that. All of it. Nice to have an online "chat" that doesn't descend into the feeling that you are replying to (and later giving up on) an angry 9yr-old who is in reality middle-aged.

Do you mean with a bloke like David Brent? or with a bloke like Keith?

I worked in a garage where a bloke very similar to Keith, kept on getting promoted and eventually made manager. A couple of years after I left, they went bust.

@@denishoulan1491 That's a scenario that unfortunately gets played out all every day the world over. The world is full of "Keiths". Nowt you can do but step away lol

And it’s still a waste of time.

And now we know why he never does it again.

Do you have any employees? They must feel so cared for and invested in.

​@@edwardmunchkin👌

@@edwardmunchkin Don't know.

baby kitten I actually thought it was funny. What did you find sad about it?

Don't know

Robert Johnson if don't know wasn't there... what would you put?

What are the options ?

NOT AT ALL.....to SOME EXTENT....very much so....don't know

Yes that's when he realises that Keith is going to say " don't know " every time!! L

@@donnn-sg4mk In the outtakes, that's where Ricky breaks up laughing

That's borrowed from Oliver Hardy.

@@deanandthebeans857 Well that’s interesting because the office is a ‘documentary’ so it is not abnormal to look at the camera because it is expected to be there. However in an L and H film it would be quite radical to look at the camera. I will have to look out for it when I next watch one of their films.

True. I think he twitches his tie a few too many times though - just slightly overdoes the nuance there.

And people will be watching clips like this one.

Brent desperately trying not to get annoyed and remain professional. Love that bit

Don’t work at a level you’re not paid to.

Not really. He likely does what he's asked to, but hates these STUPID reviews. I am with a company that says it's probably going to fire me in 3 weeks. REGARDLESS they've done a verification of competency on a bunch of machines, one they done TWICE, verified it and I'm STILL crap on it for lack of time actually using it. I had to do 4 TIMES the normal amount of induction crap to get the job 2 months ago. Now they've UPDATED it and expect me to do it ALL AGAIN, REGARDLESS of the fact I'm fired in 3 weeks. This time instead of online, it's like 70 pages OF PAPER, they dump it on us all on Friday and HAVE TO finish it by Monday. I had WEEKEND PLANS and now I've got 70 pages of crap to go thru to STILL be fired in 3 weeks. Feel like just quitting.

​​@@OffGridInvestorsounds like someone there is pissed with you and being a little spiteful. I wouldn't bother with it. Enjoy your plans then focus on yourself and what you want to do instead of working at this place. Don't quit just yet though, get your pathway sorted first if you can.

It’s the best attitude to have at work

@@OffGridInvestorsorry for my late reply. I hope it all went well!