Ricky Gervais Compares The American And British "The Office" | Letterman 

Such a humble down-to-earth interview... and who would have thought 15 years later, he's become the most legendary host of any awards show in the history of award shows.

Letterman is genuinely listening and responding to Gervais. Doesn't feel fake like so many shows today

This is the smoothest interview I've ever seen, and effortlessly funny. You have to appreciate this is still relatively new for Ricky, on the biggest nighttime show in the US, if not the world. He's calm, delivers real life humour and interestingly shares his experiences. He does stand up whilst sitting down (and makes a pun of it), works with Dave, works the crowd, incorporates current affairs and does a bit, talks about working culture. The bloke's a genius, he knows what he wants, has confidence in his views, and knows exactly where he's going.

The way he throws one joke after the other with his poker face is genius.

Dave seemed to actually appreciate Ricky & the Office. Genuine ppreciation.

The office in UK when it came out many people thought it was a real documentary haha

Pure genius. The office is a masterpiece of comedy. He laid down the blueprint in 12 episodes.

If I have a bad day, I just watch a video of Ricky. He is brilliant, my favourite.

I remember that my English teacher in (my country's equivalent of) high school was such a big fan of British comedy, that he made us watch The Office in class once per week. Not everyone in class got the humor, but I loved it. We also read The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. He was one of the school's favorite teachers. He would always carry a mug of coffee and once in a while I asked him whether he would bring me one - mostly as a joke - but when he returned from the teachers lounge, he would have a cup for me as well. I also brought him coffee sometimes. When I entered the teachers lounge the other teachers would say "You cannot be here" and I'd respond with "I'm just bringing Michael a cup of coffee" and they'd immediately understand. XD He was fun and down-to-earth and he did a great job of teaching English (I'm a non-native speaker).

It’s odd to see him so quiet and humble.

The difference on a structural level is that the British one leans a lot more into verisimilitude -- it's essentially a workplace mockumentary. The US Office, which is brilliant by the way, largely abandoned that except in the superficial way it was shot. It's MUCH more sitcom-y, it bases more of it's scenarios around joke and payoff where the original was simply content to let the humour come out of the situations and wasn't afraid to have genuinely uncomfortable moments too. The British Office is a work of art, full of real moments, some funny, some tragic. The American Office is more of a sitcom. A darn good one, but a sitcom nonetheless.

I still watch the British office regularly and it never ever gets old. Just complete genius like everything Ricky does. What a man he is , the office, extras, Derek, life's to short , After Life. Unbelievably funny and what a standard of work.

The bits of paper reference made me laugh. When I was doing my apprenticeship I was told to take some paper and a pen with me if i wanted to go and have a chat with someone in another building. It works. Nobody ever stops you.

Ricky Gervais is undoubtedly one of the funniest people around 😂

Ricky’s reaction when lettermen says it’s gonna be hard to find someone as good as him for that role Is heartwarming

He grew up in a normal, down-to-earth environment and worked in an office for 10 years. Famous people who had to pay their dues and grow up normally are often among the most level-headed and humble of them, mostly.

I think Ricky is wonderful in this interview, really enjoyed it.

I love this man! He is exceptionally humorous in a unique way.

"The Office" US became such a huge global success that it brought people to the original. What an achievement! One of the best sitcoms in the history of comedy on TV.

It was nice when the talk show host and the guest didn't pretend to be best friends.

Ricky is just genuinely funny.

I remember flicking between channels here in New Zealand when the BBC The Office was on and watched for 20 seconds then changed the channel. I think I was just confused and maybe underwhelmed but now I must've seen the two seasons and Xmas specials a dozen times. It's some of the funniest yet cringeworthy TV ever created and pure genius.

It looks like a historical moment, after watching both series several times

Ricky is just too funny. A natural talent 😂

Proof that when you make the host of the talk show, in this case David Letterman, have a deep, genuine belly laugh, then the comic/audience knows that person is really funny. Gervais is absolutely a unique comic voice. Carson was the same, if you made Carson let out a side splitting laugh like Carson and Robin Williams, you knew that they were funny and everyone else recognized it too.

I love moments and segments like this, and that I get to see it all so easily, and of such good quality. What a treat. Big fan of both

I like that Gervais kid. I hope things turn out for him.

Interesting. You can tell he's a bit nervous because he's not laughing out loud like he often does.

I actually remember the incident of the New Yorker who had a tiger in his apt.🤣It was discovered when the neighbor below began complaining about the massive amounts of pee that was coming down into her apt. The police had a feeling about what they were dealing with and used one of those tiny wired cams to look in the apt window...and there was the tiger, just chillin'. lol

"Religion began when the first scoundrel met the first fool." Voltaire

His comedy is so intelligent

Derek and After life are 2 of Mt favourite TV shows ever, they have you laughing one minute, cringing the next, then crying your eyes out

It sure worked out well for Ricky, he’s 190 million richer after the American version of Office!

Could listen to Ricky for hours for some reason...nobody else has that effect that I can think of

Iconic interview!

Proof that a normal, nice guy can make it

Ricky Gervais always cheers me up and David Letterman is the perfect host.

That was a really nice interview. Ricky looks so young lol Lettermen's style seems to me to be so laid back but professional too. He seems to genuinely admire the Office. Interesting to see their meeting for the 1st time. As a Brit, I love Ricky. I was first aware of him on the 11o'clock show which was aired before the Office

How young and reserved he is. Salute Ricky you make me proud to be British 😊

It is amazing how one can come (very) late to someone like Ricky Gervais. I am now in my '80's and originate from the Slough he features in his show. It was a place I loathed then, and have no reason to change my opinion. The place was a shithole, but my memories are not so antipathetic towards the people. The place was seemingly designed to despoil some of the most attractive scenery in the UK, so much s that the Poet Laureate (how about that for an antiquated title?) could write about 'Oh friendly bombs fall on Slough' and get away with it, as most thought the same. Eighty years ago, Ricky wouldn't have stood a chance of stating the obvious. More power to his writing elbow!

I think this is the only time I haven’t seen him shrieking with laughter.

Ricky’s first appearance on the show!! Brilliant!

his timing on "lunch": Impeccable

Ricky Gervais is one of the best exports Britain has ever had.. legend in the making!!!

Misleading title

"...it was a pleasure and I hope you come back." And that was the last time anybody ever heard from Ricky Gervais ever again.

Is this the most together bloke you've ever heard? He's on a different level. The James bond without the gun skills. He still said spiritual & who is.?

"...the term standup scares me." He's a master of standup now.

David is a superb communicator. Shows here. He speaks so clearly and distinctly - is exceptional.

That "journalist" who asked him about what would he save in a housefire was Ellen 😂😂 And he roasted her hard on her own show 😆😆

Aw this makes me nostalgic remembering these years watching Letterman late at night when tv was infomercials all night a few hours after this finished

It's funny to see him hear he's so much nicer in his earlier days.

Personally I prefer the British version. Im not british but the humour in it seems to be coming from a more honest observation of human character. I believe them as real people. It makes me laugh yet at the same time reflect on the human condition.

Came from nowhere and had a normal job 😂. I have seen him on loads of things years before the office. Always funny and destined for great things. Nothing betters Afterlife.

It's so magical seeing Ricky Gervais being interviewed without the general public being aware just how funny he actually is.

Wow I'm from UK and know a lot about Gervais but only now I learn that he was literally an office manager like David Brent!

"One of the twins" he's operating so far out of the mindset of the average person!

It’s amazing how this doesn’t seem that long ago but it’s almost been 20 years.

When all is said and done, Ricky is my hero.

How humble he was.

I worked in an office in the UK Civil Service for 15 years, and I know exactly what he means. Very funny man!

Ricky is such a brilliant writer and comedian, so talented but most of all I love his love of animals and all he does to bring awareness against their abuse. He donates a lot of money for them. I really wish he’d go after Sea World because his celebrity would do more than any other organization possibly could.

oh that seems like a million years ago :O

Being neither Brit nor American I can recognize and appreciate the differences and similarities in both series. Each series was tailor made to suit the general local ambience, era and prevailing sense and style of humour to suit the local audience. A key difference was that The American Office carried on a lot lot longer, perhaps too long, which possibly is part of the reason it had a more soapy feel. I do like to go back and watch episodes from either series when I am in the need of reminiscing and escape.

One of the twins.... hahaha.... I still laughed at that .... guy's so funny

"Sort of eyes, sticking out and touching his glasses.....Steve." - K. Pilkington

Brilliant!!! I love anything Gervais does, really funny.

The original Office is still comic gold and always will be

Ricky is very humble and pre-"I've realised what I'm capable of" here - Dave does a very good job too, as usual. I'm not really a fan of Ricky, but he's good in this.

A strong interview. Lightning in a bottle. I just bought DVDs of BBC The Office. 😝

Great looking back. Ricky great as always in what was a great interview

Didn't know the original version existed. Watched the US version for a few minutes and that was it.

"What do you think of American the office" "Well .. it's gonna make me a whoooole lotta money"

The office was great. But so was the follow up, Extras. All about struggling actors existing on the fringes of the British version of Hollywood. It has amazing guest stars and the episode with David Bowie is hilarious. David finds inspiration in Ricky's character's sad life and suddenly is compelled to improvise an impromptu song about him at a crowded nightrclub, much to Rickys embarrassment. Everyone joins in and sings along the chorus. And it's played so realistically, like Bowie was just struck with sudden inspiration and had to work out the song right there. The way he turns to the piano and starts working out the slightly condescending lyrics is one of the funniest moments I've seen.

Both are legends, nice to see this video

Gervais was also hilarious when he appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

What a great talent we were lucky to get with Ricky 😎

Gotta love Letterman. If you are funny he will laugh because he has a sense of humor. Genuine. If you come on with some blown up ego he will deflate that quickly. Honesty.

Back when Ricky Gervais was just a chilled out entertainer.

“You see, in England, we don’t keep tigers as pets.” British understatement. 😂😂😂

This is a hilarious interview

He seems an amiable and humorous sort. I had no idea the US "The Office" was from a British show. "Sanford and Son" was from "Steptoe and Son." "America's got Talent" from "Britain's got Talent". I wonder how many others we have no idea about.

He is great really and genuinely laughed at his lines.

I hope you come back. Brilliant !!!

"Cats treat you like a mom or dad." He must have never had cats. Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.

thats not an interview... thats just a couple of mates having a laugh

"He confuses popularity with respect" - best ever description for David Brent and Michael Scott

Ricky has such class on all levels, such a talent, so sharp and quick, he just can't be matched

I like Ricky. The guy is just telling the truth. 😄

both series' of the office are completely different and yet equally hilarious in their own right.

Ricky is a LEGEND ⭐️❤️🥰

I'm in NZ, there are any number of streaming services that show the US office, not one with the UK version.

The Office is a masterpiece!! 😄

According 2 Ricky's mum i used to be a popstar😂. Look up Siona Dancing on here and you will see Ricky performing hes very Bowie influenced.

I remember the first BBC TV trailer's for the 'New' show, which was shown at 10.30 pm, on a Monday I think. I was hooked right away.

wow this is a special interview.. never thought id see this:)

Love Ricky, it’s hard to compare the two Offices, British version, American version. Love them both, but the British version is pretty funny. And the best part is seeing the actors from the British Office in other movies and series.

I miss this Ricky

Since the Globes, I love this guy.

Didn’t see this one yet. Thanks!