The Top 5 Workplace Sitcoms

As soon as I began work on Rage Against the Vending Machine, I knew I'd have to do some research. It was all very well drawing upon my own workplace experience, more specifically my tenure as a copywriter, but what if that proved too niche? What if I found myself rehashing old ideas and characters?

As prep I turned to classic workplace sitcoms. (Apologies to international readers: I'm not familiar with other countries' shows, so this will be a Brit-centric list). The more I watched, the more I noted the universality of certain themes: the bumbling boss, the dreamer stuck in a dead end role, rivalries and romances. These tropes appear continually because we've all witnessed this, we can all relate. Though probably no manager would admit to being one of these grotesques!

5) The Office (UK version)

Readers may quibble at its ranking, but it hasn't aged as well as the other entries on this list. Even at the time it was very much a Marmite piece; either you appreciate its particular brand of cringe comedy or you don't.

The show was massively influential and groundbreaking for its mockumentary style. Many first time viewers assumed they were watching fact, not fiction; when its true nature was explained, they'd frown and say, "It's not that funny, is it?" - despite raving about it moments before.

Although it's best known for making a star of Ricky Gervais, the heart of the show was the will they, won't they between Tim and Dawn. The scene where he switches off his microphone and goes to ask her out away from the cameras is gut wrenching.

Dave Dances: In one of the show's most notorious scenes, David Brent (Gervais) tries to outdo his suave rival. He fails. Horribly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Eaz...

4) Drop the Dead Donkey

Who hasn't wanted to work in a newsroom? Drop the Dead Donkey takes this fantasy and deflates it. The anchors hate each other, the editor's a workaholic doormat and their field reporter is a sociopath. Out lesbian Helen is the only nice, normal person in the office!

However much they bicker among themselves, they're united in loathing for their common enemy: Gus, their astoundingly charmless, obtuse boss. His game show smirk and management speak make you wince in recognition even now!

Damien's Highlights: Ruthless reporter Damien will sacrifice anything for a scoop, starting with the truth ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLZ1L...

3) Cabin Pressure

Unique in this list for being a radio series, it is nonetheless one of the funniest sitcoms of recent times. It marries excellent writing to a top notch voice cast; Roger Allam and Benedict Cumberbatch are the leads.

The premise is simple. Formidable CEO Carolyn (Stephanie Cole) runs a charter airline on the tightest budget known to man. Captain Martin (Cumberbatch) is wet and neurotic, convinced he was born to fly; co-pilot Douglas (Allam) has a voice like molten chocolate and the morals of a skunk. Carolyn's incurably cheerful, chronically dense son Arthur rounds out this strange milieu.

Bored: There's no such thing as an ordinary inflight announcement when Douglas is around. Despite his delusions of authority, Martin is just as bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHgee...

2) The IT Crowd

A third offering from the pen of Graham Linehan, and arguably better than its predecessors. It begins when ambitious career woman Jen blags her way into a job as Head of IT, despite knowing nothing about computers. Since the company is Reynholm Industries, where everyone is batshit insane, it passes muster.

Of course an IT department has to have a generous helping of nerds. There's Roy, bone idle and perpetually angry; ditzy genius Moss, who manages the rare feat of being cliched yet adorable - and Richmond, whatever the hell he is. An emo vampire? In accordance with sitcom law, a wacky organisation must have a nutter at the helm. This role is first filled by comedy legend Chris Morris as barking, impetuous Denholm - then, after his shock departure, his hammy, libidinous son Douglas. May I point out that his actor, Matt Berry, has the most fabulous voice. It has to be heard to be believed.

Moss Lends a Hand: Douglas has a pair of malfunctioning electric pants (don't ask). Moss is the only employee with the knowhow to fix them. How could this possibly go wrong?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUaSQ...

1) Fawlty Towers

It may be forty years old but damn it, this remains the finest twelve episodes of comedy you will see.

Hotelier and terrible human being Basil Fawlty (John Cleese) is trying desperately to boost his business's profile. It's doomed to failure: not only is the hotel a seedy dump and the staff incompetent, it's the battleground for the most hellish marriage in fiction, that of Basil and his shrewish social climber of a wife, Sybil (Prunella Scales). It depends on your viewpoint: while both are undeniably ghastly, Sybil is saner, and therefore more culpable.

Fawlty Towers supplies that key ingredient you almost never see in workplace sitcoms: customers. To its credit, it doesn't take the easy route and make them whiter than white. Having worked in customer service myself, I nod sympathetically when Basil clashes with the scabbier guests. This could well be the secret to the show's success.

Room with a View?: Basil crosses sabres with Mrs Richards, the most difficult guest in the entire series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcliR...