By Jo Best, 23 January 2004 12:45
NEWS David Brent. Steve Ballmer. Two men at the peak of their razor-sharp business acumen. Two men that get more than their fair share of laughs whenever anyone mentions the word Office. And, it appears, two men that have been taking lessons at the same school of contemporary dance.
Just like Brent, Ballmer is a man who knows how to bust some moves and, one would assume, impress the laydeez. It looks like Microsoft's CEO knows there's nothing better to get the crazy kids at Microsoft in the mood for some hardcore conference action than aping Brent's disco antics.
Compare and contrast the two heavyweights of industry ripping up the dancefloor here:
Comments
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1. Darrall Pullen
WOW, teach me those moves. My vote is for Ballmer after all he's not an actor and he was the only one who looked like he was going to have a heart attack at the end. Talk about giving it up for the company, just don't invite him as an after dinner speaker!
2. Phil
Ballmer is just plain scary - he looks like he is about to start a figtht! He gets my vote as the worst anyday.
3. Charles Boyle
Post a link to the ipod mock up featuring Ballmer instead, top comedy.
http://www.macboy.com/cartoons/ballmer/
4. anonymous
I had never heard of Ballmer before but what a complete tosser. When he ended up at the lecturn at the end of his moronic medley you would have expected tumultuous applause from the dedicated audience called employees. Did you get the deafening silence.
The nearest I have come to this was seeing Chris Gent doing a similar strut around Sainsbury's in Newbury (Not really Chris)
5. Mike Tree
Steve is acting like an idiot, whereas Ricky is just acting!!
6. Martin Taylor
Ricky is obviously only doing the videos because Microsoft UK is based in Reading. Surely, he couldn't be that money-grabbing, could he?
7. Jon Wood
Ballmer gets my vote, he gets paid a lot to act the fool and I guess he gets good health cover, scary stuff - what can he be thinking?
8. anonymous
Brent gets my vote - he is in time with the music and not exhausted at the end of it. Also he's just acting. Steve is out of time and obviously on some kind of power based adrenaline high... And my son thinks he dances like a gorilla.
9. Adam
It seems Steve Balmer's attended the Howard Dean School of Modern Dance & Primal Scream Therapy in Vermont. By comparison, David Brent is Fred Astaire (re)incarnate.
10. Kevan Chippindall-Higgin
Having watched Ballmer's effort, I am deeply relieved that I do not suffer the embarrassment of working for Microsoft. Indeed, if I did, that would be the best possible reason for resigning as fast as possible.
The terrifying thing is that doubtless there are plenty of Brits who find such inanity inspiring and motivational.
Clearly, air turbulence bags are an essential pre-requisite.
11. Andrew Weiss
My vote: Brent
Balmer was doing this in real-life.... not to mention his ape-like stance was a lot less attractive than the robot/russian-dancer high kick thing Brent was doing.
He needs to take his own advice and "Give it up."
12. Lash
I think old Brent has got away with a bit of a coup, spawned from a series which blatantly takes the piss out of 'The Management' then only to be approached by the very same 'Managers' who are the subject of such 'Piss Taking' offering ooodles of cash to train their staff. Ballmer is the very hideous reality of the inspiration of 'The Office'. (Secretly I just don't think the Americans get it!)
I bet Ricky is laughing his noodles off sitting in a nice posh house all paid for by old Billy Gates. It shows what you can get by dancing really badly.... there is hope for us all.
So this Friday night strut your stuff with pride and you never know... you may end up the Choreographer for the latest 'Fame Acadamy'.
13. Paul
Is Ballmer for real.
he gets my vote, cannee believe it's for real. No-one gets that happy about work, unless you're on something, several bags of cash would do it for me though
14. anonymous
Full marks to Steve for the vocals! He also wins my vote - at least Brent shows some understanding of rhythm.
15. Peter Gallant
I vote for Steve Ballmer as the worst. Just for the sheer hyped-up nonsense (both dance, gestures and speech or should that be shout?).
David Brent is amusing but Ballmer is scary!
16. Nelson Indiri-Mabobo
It is plainly obvious that Steve Ballmer is totally pumped up about Microsoft. Its a shame that most of you out there can't get excited about your job, perhaps you are just plain jealous.
I don't think that that lame blonde haired Linux kid has got half the moves of Microsoft which is why you will all be crushed.
They are coming and you had better get ready!!!