Ricky Gervais, Good or Not Good?

[andy2002]

And come to think of it the Chegwin epp never went anywhere with the ranting; Chegwin just kept mouthing off. We know people enjoy these delusions, but I don't see what point there was to that particular presentation besides "Oh my God, did he just say that?" shock value. Ambiguity abounds.

The Chegwin episode was just another one of those 'Let's find an actor/celebrity and get them to behave in a manner that is the total opposite to how they are perceived' ideas, which Extras had already covered with Patrick Stewart (perv) and Kate Winslet (foul-mouthed and cynical). It was unfunny bollocks.

 

[Griff]

I remember when he started on 11 O'Clock show (I think). Thought he was a really irritating cunt.

Liked The Office and some of Extras though. When I see him in anything other than those two, though I do still find him an irritating cunt.

 

[Azrael]

The Chegwin episode was just another one of those 'Let's find an actor/celebrity and get them to behave in a manner that is the total opposite to how they are perceived' ideas, which Extras had already covered with Patrick Stewart (perv) and Kate Winslet (foul-mouthed and cynical). It was unfunny bollocks.

So Gervais isn't playing mindgames; he's just resorted to writing unfunny bollocks?

Yeah, I could go along with that.

 

[stavros]

Gervais wouldn't have to burnout his brief fame if he produced something of The Office's calabre. Hope he does. Or perhaps him and Merchant are yet another one-hit-wonder comedy duo. (From Father Ted to The IT Crowd: ouch.)

There aren't that many comedians/comedy actors who've done more than one truly great show. off the top of my head there's John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson, Larry David, Matt Groening, Armando Iannucci, Chris Morris, but I struggle for more. I really don't put Gervais anywhere near those mentioned above.

 

[i_hate_beckham]

Loved The Office and his stand-up. Extra's was shit though cos he is just being David Brent in a different situation so it was tired and old.

 

[rbrtioh]

hes class, id say his character in extras is fairly different to his character in the office, more cynical and less desperate to be liked...

a few second series episodes of extras wernt all that good tho, but on average its great

i think his stand up is really good too

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

In Night at the Museum, he's kind of funny, but in an irritating way. You get the impression that underneath, he's just irritating.

 

[Onslow]

You've all mentioned the stand up, the office and Extras, but the podcasts have been missed out! They are the most hillarious of all three! Not quite as "good" as the office, granted, but i have cried laughing listening to these a few times.

 

[futha]

fucking excellent all round

 

[Fledgling]

I thought the Office was excellent, well timed, well acted and spot on observation humour. Extras was vastly inferior and despite a few amusing scenes (Ross Kemp was good) the show is one of the least original types of humour and a poor rehash of the "oh gosh I just said chink/nigger/insert insult here, wtf happens now?" situations. It's been done before, the celebrity guest appearances started to become nauseatingly lovey.

He's smart and spot on with the Office but I suspect he lacks the range that predecessors (Fry, Atkinson, Mayall) had so greatness would be an overstatement. The Simpsons episode was utterly unecessary too.

And being a match for Jonathon Ross is not really something to aspire to. We,ve reached a stage where little Britain and Ross are the pinnacle: help, help.

 

[zed]

Whether you like him or not ...he has added a new dimension to the British comedy scene and you have to admire his ability to act and do stand up with practically no training. For that alone he deserves some respect.

If he ends up becoming another rich, ego-laden shit-tripper, he won't be the first will he?

And The Office will go down as one of the most important comedies of all time. If you're going to be a one trick pony, that is some trick to have.

 

[kyser_soze]

I think he's really funny, used to listen to him on XFM on Saturday before he'd done any TV, thought the 2nd season of Extras pissed on the first and that, depsite being eclipsed by the insanity of Karl Pilkington, the podcasts are fucking funny in the style of Derek and Clive.

I haven't seen 'Fame' yet, but while it's autobiographical (as are many stand-ups routines) it also touches on a lot of the space that extras does. And he's NOTHING like his media persona in real life - literally a completely different person.

 

[Farmer Giles]

He's very Larry David... ie not funny.

 

[Kameron]

He should have been humanely culled as soon as The Office was finished as 90% of his work since has been an insult to the intelligence.

Quite frankly I saw him a couple of times on the London stand up circuit before the office and I thought that he should have been put down before he did the office.

 

[andy2002]

Whether you like him or not ...he has added a new dimension to the British comedy scene and you have to admire his ability to act and do stand up with practically no training. For that alone he deserves some respect.

What 'new dimension' has Gervais added to the British comedy scene?

And I'd argue he can neither act nor do decent stand-up. 'Animals' was passable but 'Politics' was just lazy-arsed shite of the worst kind.

 

[andy2002]

And he's NOTHING like his media persona in real life - literally a completely different person.

Are you a friend of his then? Not being facetious, just curious...

 

[kyser_soze]

Met him ages ago at a Capital radio thing and had a chat about the radio show, was very unassuming which is why I think the whole 'Gervais' persona you see (going on about the awards for example) is as much as anything else a defensive persona. Puts the Millman character into deeper perspective as well I think.

 

[Erich Zann]

aye he pretty much plays the same character whatever the role..

So did marilyn monroe and john wayne, didn't do then any harm.

 

[Spion]

I think he's really funny, used to listen to him on XFM on Saturday before he'd done any TV, thought the 2nd season of Extras pissed on the first and that, depsite being eclipsed by the insanity of Karl Pilkington, the podcasts are fucking funny in the style of Derek and Clive.

Agreed

I think of Gervais as typifying comedy in the New labour era. Back when the Tories were in the chief butt of comedy was the toff. Now it's the insincere purveyors of equality-speak

 

[andy2002]

Agreed

Now it's the insincere purveyors of equality-speak

What, you mean those unreasonable people who try not to offend others by what they say and do? The bastards...

 

[Spion]

No, I was being straight up. I mean people who try their best to sound as if they don't want to offend people but are insincere. From old skool bosses coming to grips with the latest lexical requirements of HR policy to the likes of Labour's 'ethical foreign policy'.

 

[andy2002]

No, I was being straight up. I mean people who try their best to sound as if they don't want to offend people but are insincere. From old skool bosses coming to grips with the latest lexical requirements of HR policy to the likes of Labour's 'ethical foreign policy'.

Gah, I see what you mean. I clearly didn't read your post properly. Apologies...

 

[stavros]

He's very Larry David... ie not funny.

This statement is surely comedy sacrelige.

 

[Pugwall7]

The office was 100% surefire gold and and for that he must be good