[Film] Ricky Gervais.
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Baldseagull
Well-known member
The stand up persona he uses is not very likeable, even if the material is decent. The Office, Extras, Afterlife all show he has more empathy and feeling than is on display as a stand up or presenter. I suspect that like a lot of us, he grew up taking the piss and having it taken to the extent that would be called bullying today, and uses that kind of humour for stand up.
Absolutely nailed it.
clapham_gull
Legacy Fan
- Aug 20, 2003
- 25,876
One trick pony, although his one trick (The Office) is up there with greatest British Television ever made.
It's difficult when the first kick of your professional career wins The World Cup.
It's difficult when the first kick of your professional career wins The World Cup.
StonehamPark
#Brighton-Nil
I think that’s harsh.
Extras and Derek were both very good.
And I believe After Life is the most watched British content on Netflix, which was enjoyable.
Seen him live and he came across as an arrogant prick, but that may simply have been his schtick for that tour. He seems to slip into bullying too easily, whether for real or as an act, and it isn't funny. I can watch old videos of Bernard Manning if I want that. My slightly peculiar German ex found arse-rippingly hilarious all the bits that made me cringe or feel uncomfortable, which means one or other of us didn't get it.
A shame because a lot about him seems good. Lively mind. Generous sort. Oh well, never mind. I don't like cake or sweet tea either and am happy to not miss either.
Is it PotG?
Thrifty non-licker
Nah, not buying that.
Whilst not a fan of his stand-up necessarily, Extras, Derek and After Life are right up there.
clapham_gull
Legacy Fan
- Aug 20, 2003
- 25,876
I'm not having that either.
The training day episode is up there with any Fawlty Towers episode.
Extras very very much isn't.
He peaked artistically if not commercially.
Last edited:
Wrong-Direction
Well-known member
- Mar 10, 2013
- 13,634
First time I've turned off one of his stand ups halfway through, just so predictable
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I'm American, and finally got around to watching the UK version recently after having seen every episode of the US version (most probably multiple times). I thought the UK version wasn't as good as I was expecting, but I appreciated it for being the source for the US version. I think watching in them in the reverse order might have made me appreciate it more. The UK version just didn't have the time to develop out its stories like the US version did - even though the latter overstayed its welcome by a couple of seasons.
clapham_gull
Legacy Fan
- Aug 20, 2003
- 25,876
I think that's a cultural thing and a difference in what we consider a "sitcom" and our expectancy of comedy.
American sitcoms tend to written by teams of writers and run a for a number of "seasons". The best UK sitcoms tend be written by two writers at most and the classics never out stay their welcome.
We don't want the characters to "develop", we want them developed by the first episode.
The UK version of The Office is very very English and classic for a very good reason, they killed it after two series like Fawlty Towers.
It was forever be critically acclaimed.
faoileán
Well-known member
- Jan 29, 2021
- 914
Agreed, the best British sitcoms have only lasted for a few series, e.g. Fawlty Towers, Young Ones, IT Crowd, The Office, etc. etc. the approach being leave them wanting more. However the US model seems to be that they try a season and if it works then throw a team of writers at it to prolong it as long as possible, e.g. Cheers, Frasier, Friends, etc. etc. Generally I find the Brit approach too short and the US approach way too long...
clapham_gull
Legacy Fan
- Aug 20, 2003
- 25,876
The classic UK ones stop because the one or two writers run out of ideas, but that's what makes then great.
Also need to mention Blackadder that cleverly re-invented itself with the same characters playing different ones. "Still worshipping God Melchy ?, last time I heard he was still worshipping me", is probably Rik Mayall's finest moment and God he had some in his career.
I'll still happily sit through it and even have a soft spot for the millennium one "back and forth". It's a bit crap but I still laugh at the dinosaur being killed by the smell of Baldrick's Y fronts.
They could easily have done more, before setting the last series in the First World War. Very difficult to continue after that.
Ahem!....... Dad's Army (plus good shouts for The Good Life and Porridge).
clapham_gull
Legacy Fan
- Aug 20, 2003
- 25,876
Dad's Army is my favourite programme of all time. I have soft spot for it because it reminds me of growing up in a Sussex Village. Porridge - my favourite "episode" is actually the movie.
They made some terrible cinema versions of sitcoms in the 70s, but the Porridge Film (and the original Dad's Army film) stand up and I'll happily sit through either time and time again.
As for the Good Life, I agree with Vivien.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEQJubPhHvI
BadFish
Huge Member
- Oct 19, 2003
- 18,194
I've turned most of them off. For a stand-up comedian he is a really good series writer.
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BadFish
Huge Member
- Oct 19, 2003
- 18,194
What occurs to me about 'edgy' comedians like him is that those who love him because he is edgy and offensive and politically incorrect are reacting to the exact some thing as those who find him offensive.
Perhaps those who like it enjoy it because they know others are going to be offended by it? 'yeah this'll sure the guardian readers . . .etc'
For me I don't feel particularly triggered by it but I also don't enjoy the fact that someone is writing jokes just to get this reaction from two different groups of people.
Having said that I enjoy Jimmy Carr's stand up. The difference? Maybe it is because Jimmy Carr is a really good stand up who can construct a joke? Maybe it is because it's obvious that Jimmy Carr is being ironic, in fact he is usually the butt of his own jokes.
What confuses me though is that many people who react to content like this by enjoying it's offensive content seem unable to understand why people would react in an offended way to the offensive content (see the is this joke offensive thread).
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Perhaps those who like it enjoy it because they know others are going to be offended by it? 'yeah this'll sure the guardian readers . . .etc'
For me I don't feel particularly triggered by it but I also don't enjoy the fact that someone is writing jokes just to get this reaction from two different groups of people.
Having said that I enjoy Jimmy Carr's stand up. The difference? Maybe it is because Jimmy Carr is a really good stand up who can construct a joke? Maybe it is because it's obvious that Jimmy Carr is being ironic, in fact he is usually the butt of his own jokes.
What confuses me though is that many people who react to content like this by enjoying it's offensive content seem unable to understand why people would react in an offended way to the offensive content (see the is this joke offensive thread).
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I loved the US version of The Office but the original is an stone cold classic. It nails British work culture like nothing before or since. Genius.
I haven't really enjoyed anything by Gervais for a while. I thought After Life was overrated and mostly a bit crap. I enjoyed Derek, actually. I watched his new standup. Meh.
I haven't really enjoyed anything by Gervais for a while. I thought After Life was overrated and mostly a bit crap. I enjoyed Derek, actually. I watched his new standup. Meh.
