Ricky Gervais

No, this is not a tribute. He's not dead or sumthin'.

Amazon.com today, I find out, recommended me "1 Pregnancy Test Strip" because I bought BBC's "The Office" DVD a while back.

This sitcom mock-umentary master stroke from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, packed with laughs, couldn't offer any more pleasing commentary of the powers-that-be, like that within my Silicon Valley cubicle life ("the office," get it?), than it could in its sweet and perfect two-season run. Then, some power-at-be at Amazon.com had somehow managed to rally up some holiday cheer with an out-of-this world correlation that 'I may be pregnant, check it with these strips' because I bought the DVD.

Or perhaps they may be on to something?

Isn't it not conceivable that watching David Brent (Ricky's "watch me, I'm funny" head-of-The-Office persona) mislead a cast of honest-living, working class paper-salesmen through the ups and downs of corporate life, have an effect on the viewers' living habits? May viewers cap the day with extra-curricular activities before bedtime, after having watched episodes of the show?

It is a comedy. Just a comedy. It's set-up like a documentary through an office space of very nice people, less the dysfunctional middle-management topped by Brent. It is rather extremely funny:

David Brent, during one philosophical exchange: "If you want the rainbow, you've gotta put up with the rain - do you know which philosopher said that? Dolly Parton. And people say she's just a big pair of t***.

It had a very **spoiler alert** tear-jerking conclusion (The Office Special). Perhaps that'll do it.

OK. OK. Enough of this. If I go on, you might think I'm trying to sell my DVDs for the best bid.

But, remember this: Nine months after one big New York City blackout, there was a baby boom. I may have heard the same story regarding the San Francisco Bay Area after the Loma Prieta quake. Not sure about 9/11.

But, really, I was paid to advertise "The Office." Not from NBC, but from the BBC. I look forward to Rick and Stephen when I finally get DVDs of their next effort, "Extras." Cameos of your celebs, like Ben Stiller, questioned about his conquests:

Ben: I've kissed Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore! I've slapped Jennifer Aniston's a**!
Interviewer: Yeah, in films.
Ben: It still counts! It still counts...


- Mic.

Disclaimer: My choice of quotes does not always include bleep-ed out words.