The Ricky Gervais Show

[turienzo's lovechild]

the invention of lying was appalling.......i tried to watch it on the plane back from cuba, but quickly discovered that watching the clouds for 2 hours was a better use of my time

however, the office was truly superb......there have been very few better sitcoms

 

[Colossal Squid]

Personally I AM a fan of Ricky Gervais. I used to listen to him on Xfm long before he was such a household name and I loved The Office and after that I really enjoyed Extras too. I think some of his stand up is good, although not the best stuff around, HOWEVER I've not really got on with this animated version of his podcasts.

I just think this is a step too far. Fairy nuff the original podcasts were immensely popular and probably were quite funny in audio form, where you were listening in whilst doing something else and using your own imagination to make the banter come to life BUT this half arsed animation takes use of your own imagination out of the equation and in its place adds nothing.

I got bored within about ten minutes and just left it on in the background as moving wallpaper.

Can't really blame him for letting HBO commission it, by his own admission he enjoyed doing it and probably would have done so even without making money from it so I don't think it's fair to accuse him of cashing in but I do think HBO and Channel 4 are perhaps a little guilty of milking his success with this poor tie in and it's really for the die hards only, most of whom will already have heard all the podcasts anyway.

Not my cup of tea but I am really looking forward to his new sitcom with the midget.

 

[Mellotron]

The Office was absolutely superb. Gervais' "ironic" arrogance does grate sometimes, but the standard of writing over both The Office and Extras was superb.

Some of the best comedy to come out of England ever, no question.

 

[drew]

I think it was said earlier but I suspect those that have actually worked in an office environment will probably be more likely to appreciate the characters created in the show. That is not to say other will not enjoy it or indeed, appreciate it. As for extras, it was very clever comedy, not meant to be slapstick or falling about laughing. How many 'A' list celebs do you know would send themselves up willingly on a show like that.

As for his films, I haven't seen any of them but then I doubt that is the best vehicle for his kind of humour. The standup shows, Animals, Politics and Fame are all very funny, in my opinion. Having said that, Frankie Boyle and Jimmy Carr are better standups by far.

It still amazes me that some people still think everyone must be sheep just because they like something they don't.

 

[brakespear]

I liked The Office a lot first time round but found it didn't hold up to repeat viewings well imo.....liked 'Extras' more....but that animation thing is just plain unfunny.

 

[Sheebo]

You have to be wired up a certain way to apprecate why the office is so good. You have to also be very observant and watch it a number of times - lots of hidden gems in there.

 

[the hitman]

IMO gervais is a genius. The Office was the best comedy to ever of been on tv

 

[Spider]

I just think this is a step too far. Fairy nuff the original podcasts were immensely popular and probably were quite funny in audio form, where you were listening in whilst doing something else and using your own imagination to make the banter come to life BUT this half arsed animation takes use of your own imagination out of the equation and in its place adds nothing.

I got bored within about ten minutes and just left it on in the background as moving wallpaper.

Can't really blame him for letting HBO commission it, by his own admission he enjoyed doing it and probably would have done so even without making money from it so I don't think it's fair to accuse him of cashing in but I do think HBO and Channel 4 are perhaps a little guilty of milking his success with this poor tie in and it's really for the die hards only, most of whom will already have heard all the podcasts anyway.

I'm not sure, I think you sort of can. The fact is he'd already made the podcasts and made money off them. Considering he obviously 'understands' comedy he would definetely understand the fact that the podcasts work in an audio form whereas probably don't in a visual one. There really was no need to turn this into a TV show other than to make some $$$s. Doesn't he have enough already?

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Anyone who thinks you have to work/have worked in an office to appreciate The Office is beyond hope.

 

[Spider]

Anyone who thinks you have to work/have worked in an office to appreciate The Office is beyond hope.

That's lucky then because no one actually said that!

 

[vegster]

I wonder how many people here actually like The Office because they found it funny and how many are sheep who profess to like it because they have some ridiculous fear of being labelled an idiot by the likes of Richie for daring to not find it the best thing since sliced bread.

Personally, I find Gervais to be neither half as funny or half as clever as he thinks he is and thought The Office was a prime example of a 'comedy' programme trying as hard as it possibly could to be clever, but forgetting that comedy is meant to be funny.

Ultimately though it's all about opinions, something the Gervais fan club in this thread seem unable to grasp.

Thank you Frutos, that summed up exactly what I was trying to say, mind you, you said it much better.

 

[clapham_gull]

The Office is the best sitcom ever produced.

Extras isn't as good but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.


Not seen the Podcast but Ricky Gervais is a legend

I thought the office was very good, but it isn't "the best sitcom ever produced".

That is very subjective, better to say it is your favourite comedy programme, that's all.

I've never liked anything he's done since then, I couldn't stand extras. I particulary dislike comedy that tries very hard to suggest that if you don't find it funny you've missed the point. Extras was very extremely indulgent but "trying" very hard to undermine the cult of celebrity. Sorry, it was full of celebs riding the Ricky Gervais wave, end of.

I'd put the Simpsons in that category in that, yes I can see the references but sorry you don't make me laugh.

Sucessful sitcoms tend to be of an accident, the writing is obviously important but I think the casting is equally if not more important.

That's what I think made the office succesful and what (for instance) makes Dad's Army (in my opinion) my favourite sitcom.

How many 'A' list celebs do you know would send themselves up willingly on a show like that.

Most of them, they know a good gig (or their agents do) when they see one, which is why Morecambe and Wise had little trouble getting them on their show either.

 

[Colossal Squid]

Did you just say you DON'T find the Simpsons funny? ? ?

 

[clapham_gull]

Did you just say you DON'T find the Simpsons funny? ? ?

Yep, especially when people quote it whilst doing the voices badly. There is very little American produced comedy that makes me laugh at all.

The marketing of it probably annoys me as well. I'd struggle to sit down and laugh at something that sells pencils cases in Woolworths, you might as well be making something made by Disney.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

I wonder how many people here actually like The Office because they found it funny and how many are sheep who profess to like it because they have some ridiculous fear of being labelled an idiot by the likes of Richie for daring to not find it the best thing since sliced bread.

Personally, I find Gervais to be neither half as funny or half as clever as he thinks he is and thought The Office was a prime example of a 'comedy' programme trying as hard as it possibly could to be clever, but forgetting that comedy is meant to be funny.

Ultimately though it's all about opinions, something the Gervais fan club in this thread seem unable to grasp.

Totally agree. Personally I found I just could not watch due to the cringe worthy, frankly poor obvious script but there you go each to their own.

But to say its the best ever, is laughable, just like when someone puts a best ever Brighton player poll on this board and you find the likes of Cullip and Watson etc in it, disregarding world class players like Lawrenson etc

 

[Spider]

Totally agree. Personally I found I just could not watch due to the cringe worthy, frankly poor obvious script but there you go each to their own.

But to say its the best ever, is laughable, just like when someone puts a best ever Brighton player poll on this board and you find the likes of Cullip and Watson etc in it, disregarding world class players like Lawrenson etc

I don't think anyone has said it's the best ever, but it wouldn't be fanciful to say it was one of the most important ever, and it's not far off being in the pantheon. It is to 2000s comedy what Fawlty Towers was to 1970s comedy.

 

[HseagullsH]

I don't think anyone has said it's the best ever, but it wouldn't be fanciful to say it was one of the most important ever, and it's not far off being in the pantheon. It is to 2000s comedy what Fawlty Towers was to 1970s comedy.

What makes the Office so perfect (as well as fawlty towers) is that they did not eek out more series just to get more money.

They did two brilliant series with a great Christmas special to wrap it all up.


So many sitcoms these days have one or two brilliant series, then they eek out about another 6 series which get worse and worse...

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

That's lucky then because no one actually said that!

Errr yes they did. Page two Little Al.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Gervais wanted desperately to break into Hollywood – but is now seen very much as a busted flush there after two stinkers, Ghost Town and the Invention of Lying, and his embarrassing Golden Globes appearance. Neither ‘Cemetery Junction’ or ’ Flanimals’ is slated for US release. Sorry Ricky but it looks like you’ll be relying on cameos in your mate Ben Stiller’s films from now on.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Gervais wanted desperately to break into Hollywood – but is now seen very much as a busted flush there after two stinkers, Ghost Town and the Invention of Lying, and his embarrassing Golden Globes appearance. Neither ‘Cemetery Junction’ or ’ Flanimals’ is slated for US release. Sorry Ricky but it looks like you’ll be relying on cameos in your mate Ben Stiller’s films from now on.

Fantastic phraseology there!

I thought his Golden Globes material was quality and would have been fine for a British audience, but it was lost on, and too much for, the largely irony/sarcasm-free zone that is Hollywood/the US of A.