The BEST episodes directed by Stephen Merchant
#1 - Episode 2
Life's Too Short - Season 1 - Episode 2
Warwick makes a humiliating guest appearance at a Star Wars wedding, but his fortune rises when Johnny Depp hires him to research a new movie role.
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#2 - Robert Lindsay & Jonathan Ross
Extras - Season 2 - Episode 6
Andy has a new celebrity pal, chat show host Jonathan Ross. His friendship with Maggie is under strain and he's just about had enough of his useless agent. When Andy is pressed into visiting a sick child in hospital by a pushy mum, Andy meets Robert Lindsay who is less than impressed when the child and mum fail to recall his 70's sitcom. Andy is ready to fire his agent, however is offered a chance to meet his idol, Robert De Niro. Will Andy abandon his real friends to meet his hero?
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#3 - David Bowie
Extras - Season 2 - Episode 2
Andy is realising that fame is not all it is cracked up to be when his sitcom receives terrible reviews. The public provide him with encouragement when he's recognised by a homeless man and his "biggest fan" in a pub. However, when Andy and his friends head to a classy bar, he discovers that even David Bowie wants to mock him, in the form of a song "the little fat man who sold his soul".
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#4 - Kate Winslet
Extras - Season 1 - Episode 3
Kate Winslet hopes her role as a nun in a film about the Second World War will guarantee her an Oscar. However, her meeting with Andy and Maggie leads her into a very embarrassing situation. Andy also finds himself in an embarrassing situation when a date with a fellow extra doesn't quite turn out as expected.
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#5 - Training
The Office - Season 1 - Episode 4
Wernham Hogg, Slough branch are having a training day. Rowan, an outside consultant tries his best. Dawn has other things on her mind...
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#6 - Episode 7
Life's Too Short - Season 1 - Episode 7
Warwick attends a charity event in the hope of hanging out with celebrities. However, in trying to impress Sting he ends up spending more than he can afford. Consequently he has to look for a new home and hopes Amy will see him again.
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#7 - Les Dennis
Extras - Season 1 - Episode 4
Andy gets a break when he lands the part of the Genie in Aladdin alongside Les Dennis. Andy soon finds himself in a dilemma when he sees Les' young fiancé in a compromising position with a stage hand. Andy decides to tell (a naked) Les what he has seen.
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#8 - Interview
The Office - Season 2 - Episode 6
Although slightly peeved that the staff seem to be taking his redundancy in their stride, David's spirits remain high as he plans his future while also being interviewed for an article in 'Inside Paper'. Tim takes drastic action when he learns that Dawn has resigned in order to move to the USA with boyfriend Lee. However, when David is told that his services as a motivational speaker are also no longer required he sinks to his lowest ebb and begs Neil to reconsider the dismissal. But is it too late?
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#9 - Charity
The Office - Season 2 - Episode 5
It's Comic Relief Day and the staff of Werhnam Hogg all do their bit to raise money including Dawn, whose 'kisses for 1' stand finally provides Tim with the opportunity he's been waiting for. But when David can only produce a draft of his new gameshow concept in place of an important company report, Neil and Jennifer draw the line and inform him that he is being made redundant.
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#10 - Orlando Bloom
Extras - Season 2 - Episode 1
Andy Millman is very excited at the prospect of his sitcom 'When the Whistle Blows', being made by the BBC. He wants it to be realistic and something the audience can relate to. However, the BBC have other ideas making Andy's character wear a wig and silly glasses. It's not long before the comedy is totally different to Andy's original idea. Meanwhile, Maggie is an extra on Orlando Blooms latest movie. Orlando is obsessed with himself and with Maggie. But she doesn't fancy him at all.
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#11 - Sir Ian McKellen
Extras - Season 2 - Episode 5
While searching for credibility Andy gets a part in a play directed by Sir Ian McKellen. He soon discovers the play 'A Month of Summers', is the tale of love between two men and becomes uncomfortable with the part. Andy finds himself in a personally difficult situation when some old school friends come to see his performance.
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#12 - Samuel L. Jackson
Extras - Season 1 - Episode 5
Andy is trying to avoid a fellow extra who is 'dull'. When the extra helps to get Andy a line of dialogue, Andy mentions he 'owes him one'. The extra suggests that they should go out for a meal to return the favour. Meanwhile, Maggie is going out of her way to show she isn't racist, whilst on a date with a black actor.
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#13 - Ben Stiller
Extras - Season 1 - Episode 1
Andy and Maggie are playing extras in the film Ben Stiller is directing, which is based on the life of Goran, an Eastern European man whose wife and son were killed in the Balkans War. Andy attempts to get a speaking part by befriending Goran, who eventually gets Andy a spoken line. However, Andy gets in an argument with Stiller just before shooting his scene and is kicked off the set. Maggie, meanwhile, takes an interest in one of the crew but it goes wrong after Andy points out that her would-be beau has one leg shorter than the other.
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#14 - Customer Survey
The Office (US) - Season 5 - Episode 6
Dwight and Jim are shocked when they get the results of the annual customer survey report. Pam and Jim decide they want to spend every minute together using their bluetooth phones. Meanwhile, Angela and Andy pick an unusual location for their wedding.
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#15 - New Girl
The Office - Season 1 - Episode 5
Brent decides to take on a new secretary despite the spectre of redundancies in the Slough branch. He can choose between some bloke that's turned up for interview and a pretty young blonde. The day is rounded off with a trip to Chasers nightclub...
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#16 - Merger
The Office - Season 2 - Episode 1
As a result of the Swindon merger, a group of new staff arrive at Slough branch and David wastes no time in familiarising them with his unique style of management. Meanwhile, Tim seems to be taking his promotion very seriously.
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#17 - Episode 5
Life's Too Short - Season 1 - Episode 5
Warwick seeks spiritual guidance, and following a visit to the dating agency where he met his wife, he embarks on a quest to find a new partner.
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#18 - Party
The Office - Season 2 - Episode 3
A colleague's birthday provides a welcome distraction for the employees of Wernham Hogg and leads to a series of practical jokes at the expense of David and Gareth. Meanwhile, David's growing frustrations with new boss Neil constantly looking over his shoulder are somewhat alleviated by the arrival of two representatives from a public speaking company who seem keen to recruit him.
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#19 - Episode 6
Life's Too Short - Season 1 - Episode 6
Warwick throws a party in his new apartment to show it to his ex-wife and his new date Amy. But when Cat Deeley shows up, he can't resist being a player, and no one is impressed.
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#20 - Work Experience
The Office - Season 1 - Episode 2
A new girl arrives on work experience. The day is brightened up even more by a doctored picture of David Brent that's been e-mailed around the office. Cue Gareth Keenan Special Investigator...
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#21 - Motivation
The Office - Season 2 - Episode 4
David's preparations for his first motivational training seminar that evening don't get off to the perfect start when he first discovers the staff's new nicknames for him that are doing the rounds and then receives another reprimand from Neil for neglecting his duties. Meanwhile, Tim and Rachel finally go public with their relationship, much to the dismay of Gareth.
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#22 - Patrick Stewart
Extras - Season 1 - Episode 6
Andy has written a script for a sitcom. While working on a production with Patrick Stewart, he gives him the script and asks if he can help by passing it on to people in the business. Stewart is able to "make it so". The BBC shows interest and Andy is asked to write a pilot. While working on the script with an editor from the BBC, who Andy finds difficult to tolerate because he is "too gay", Andy makes the mistake of mentioning this to Maggie.
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#23 - The Dinner
Hello Ladies - Season 1 - Episode 4
Stuart and Jessica are invited to a dinner party and Stuart ditches Wade to go. Since he's on his own, Wade convinces Kives to party at Stuart's house with him.
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#24 - Daniel Radcliffe
Extras - Season 2 - Episode 3
First comes success, then the backlash and the British press aren't about to change the rules. Andy has incurred their wrath and searches for ways to lift his profile. Meanwhile, on the set of his new film, Daniel Radcliffe is trying his staggeringly poor chat-up lines on anyone female.
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#25 - Episode 3
Life's Too Short - Season 1 - Episode 3
After complaints that he takes all the best roles for himself, Warwick launches a website and creates showreels for his clients. But he still takes on a role opposite Helena Bonham Carter.
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#26 - Episode 4
Life's Too Short - Season 1 - Episode 4
During messy divorce negotiations, Warwick asks Ricky and Stephen for personal advice. Meanwhile, he moves into a new apartment and seeks election as chairman of the Society of People of Small Stature.
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#27 - Episode 2
The Outlaws - Season 1 - Episode 2
A washed-up solicitor and an insta-celebutante with anger issues discover what they could possibly have in common.
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#28 - Judgement
The Office - Season 1 - Episode 6
Jennifer arrives to give the final decision. The Slough branch is to be merged with Swindon and some people will lose their jobs, and Dave has been offered Jennifer's job, which he accepts.
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#29 - Episode 1
Life's Too Short - Season 1 - Episode 1
With his career on the slide, a massive tax bill, and his wife divorcing him, showbiz dwarf Warwick Davis is forced to open his doors to a film crew 24/7. He seeks advice from old pals Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, but Liam Neeson has beaten him to it.
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#30 - Appraisals
The Office - Season 2 - Episode 2
As David conducts the annual staff appraisals he discovers that the group from Swindon are less than impressed with their new boss and a lunchtime trip to the pub does little to improve the situation. The same cannot be said for Tim however, who is getting on particularly well with new girl Rachel.
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#31 - Chris Martin
Extras - Season 2 - Episode 4
Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, suggests he can appear and sing in Andy's sitcom, much to Andy's reluctance. Bad reviews continue to flood in, but things start to look up when Andy gets a surprise nomination for a BAFTA award for Best Comedy Performance. At the ceremony Andy is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time with Ronnie Corbett. Maggie tells Andy's former girlfriend an embarrassing secret which she uses to get her own back at Andy for calling her, "the most boring woman in the world".
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#32 - The Quiz
The Office - Season 1 - Episode 3
Tim is 30 today and receives some special gifts. Dawn wants to organize after-work drinks for him but it's also the annual quiz night. Brent & Finchy see it as a point of honour that they win. The only real competition comes from Tim & Ricky...
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#33 - The Drive
Hello Ladies - Season 1 - Episode 8
Stuart brags to anyone and everyone about his pending night out with Kimberly. Later, he drives Wade, Jessica and Kives around to some parties, including Amelia's birthday, where Jessica relishes that the tables have turned with Amelia.
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#34 - Ross Kemp and Vinnie Jones
Extras - Season 1 - Episode 2
Andy is working on a television period drama starring Ross Kemp. Andy's rival, Greg, is working on a film with Kemp's rival, footballer Vinnie Jones, in the adjacent studio building. Kemp claims he has had SAS training and tells Andy that he is more of a "hard man" than Jones. Millman then relays this information to Greg, his rival, who himself tells Jones. Angered by this, Jones later confronts Kemp, who denies having said anything, and cowers at Jones's threats. After this embarrassment, Kemp admits to a disillusioned Andy that none of his prior claims were true and that wherever he works, he's bullied, contradicting his reputation as a hard man.
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#35 - Episode 3
The Outlaws - Season 1 - Episode 3
Campaigner Myrna is rejected by the organisation she dedicated her life to. As Christian’s enemies engage in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, a decision is made about the mysterious bag of cash.
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#36 - Downsize
The Office - Season 1 - Episode 1
David Brent, manager of the Slough branch of Wernham Hogg paper merchants, is told that it might be closed down. He makes the rash promise of No Redundancies...
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#37 - Episode 1
The Outlaws - Season 1 - Episode 1
Seven very different strangers begin their community payback sentences, renovating a derelict building in Bristol. But can any of these ‘outlaws’ really reform?
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#38 - The Date
Hello Ladies - Season 1 - Episode 3
Stuart asks out a yoga-studio employee, Glenn gets Jessica an audition, and Wade institutes an emergency-alert system.
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#39 - The Limo
Hello Ladies - Season 1 - Episode 2
Stuart looks to win over Jessica's friends by commandeering a limo Wade hired to impress his estranged wife Marion.
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#40 - Pilot
Hello Ladies - Season 1 - Episode 1
British web designer Stuart Pritchard tries to create a social life for himself. The first step is getting on a guest list for the opening of a night club.
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