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Derek - Ricky Gervais - Channel 4 - 10 pm tonight



Uncle Spielberg

Well-known member
Jul 6, 2003
43,093
Lancing
Just got round to watching this. I am a big fan of Gervais, though was expected to be disappointed here. I was surprised just how good it was. Some of his best work in my opinion, though in a very different way to his previous stuff.

I think he did Derek to show he can do other things, and he nailed it. Brilliant half an hour of television.

I have to agree with you there Tim.
 




Biscuit

Native Creative
Jul 8, 2003
22,319
Brighton
I didn't laugh once. Some of the more tender moments were for me ruined by the fact he was acting like a retard, which made me hugely uncomfortable.
 


Bry Nylon

Test your smoke alarm
Helpful Moderator
Jul 21, 2003
20,573
Playing snooker
Some of his best work in my opinion, though in a very different way to his previous stuff.

Derek, especially in the first 5 minutes or so, was simply a reprise of David Brent, albeit a retarded David Brent. His self-conscious pieces to camera and his failed efforts to urge others to acknowledge the camera were almost identical in structure to series 1 of The Office.

And am I the only one who thought that the monologues for the nurse, in both dialogue and delivery, could have been Dawn the receptionist at Wernham Hogg?

I have always loved Ricky Gervais' TV stuff (although admittedly a bit cooler with regard to LTS); but I didn't like Derek.

Didn't care about the Derek. Didn't care when the old lady died. Didn't care when the nurse cocked up her chance with the handsome grandson; didn't care when they got it together; didn't care that KP's character is unfulfilled in life.

The Office Christmas Special was, in my view, one of the best bits of TV ever made. Fantastically funny, loaded with pathos and beautifully crafted.

It is hard for Ricky Gervais to go anywhere after that as he set the bar so high right at the start of his career.
 


pottert

New member
Aug 12, 2009
3,020
Peacehaven
Nothing like I was expecting.
I started expecting it to be a laugh a minute & ended with a feeling of warmth.I think it's catch 22,the reason so many people watched it & it got a decent time slot is because of RG & to a lesser extent CP.Even knowing that Derek is being played by RG it's hard not to feel real affection for him.
If the same programme was written & played by lesser known acters then it would not have been given a prime time viewing slot & would not have had the same expectations.
 


Stat Brother

Well-known member
NSC Patron
Jul 11, 2003
73,888
West west west Sussex
I really really don't like RG.

Although the premise is dated, the characters might have enough about them to see it through.

But RG ruined it, by being so very wrong.
I didn't think it was insulting or patronising, I have worked with people who share similar traits.

His performance was very very bad.
 














terryberry1

Well-known member
Jul 9, 2011
5,023
Patcham
Thought it was good, wouldn't really call it a comedy though. Has potential, its not a piss take of the mentally ill like i thought it would be. Sad at the end :(
 


T soprano

New member
Oct 27, 2011
8,018
Posh end of Shoreham
After the successful pilot episode of Derek last year it's back for 6 new episodes starting on Channel 4 Wednesday 10pm can't wait loved the first episode
Just thought I'd let you all know In case anyone missed it :thumbsup:
 




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