I'd say Gervais did sod all acting as Brent.
Aaron, I still love that sig. I re-read it today and it made me smile more than Office 1 and 2
Add to the list of poor acting the snooty guy in Fawlty Towers rat episode who goes really mad at Basil for looking at his girlfriend's legs. "You're getting my gander up."
But you still can't top Chloe Annett and Mike from the Young Ones.
Glad to have been of service! 
Good thought on that snooty guy. Can't think what else he's been in, but I do recognise him and the voice.
Can't say I've seen any more than the first five minutes of series one episode one of Red Dwarf, but I enjoyed Chloë Annett in Crime Traveller. (Although I suppose I was only 9 at the time.)
Odd coincidence. The last episode of CT was broadcast 10 years ago today.
Red Dwarf is worth the mid series, really very good but bad start and sad demise.
If we widen this can we add Patrick McGoohan. I love the guy and his premise and idea for Prisoner (including the execution of the series) but his acting was hideous ... absolutely the worst Bond impression ever. So over the top, Shatner called for lessons.
What about Paddy out of Max and Paddy - Don't know whether its cos I think the programme is crap, but seem to remember him being pretty bad.
Ooh, yes, Paddy.
And Mike from Spaced, loved the show but Mike was a job for the lads.
I think Paddy's acting in Max and paddy was fine, but Mike in Spaced wasn't great. After saying that, I think Nick frost is a good actor now. His performace in Hot Fuzz was great.
Lenny Henry in Britains first all black cast comedy, The Fosters. The Fosters was a terrific show, very funny, had fine acting from the great Norman Beaton and was a major stepping stone in Sitcoms approach to black people, but Lenny Henry's portrayal of Benjamin Foster was poor. He just OVEReacted all the time. I have alot of respect for Lenny though, as I think he is a fine comedian. He was only young and less experienced when he starred in this, so he has learnt alot in the last 30 years.
Never thought I'd be doing this, but I'm defending Ricky Gervais and Paul Nicholas in the same sentence.
Paul first: if there is anybody who could have played the knowing cheekiness of Vince any better in Just Good Friends, then please add their name to this discussion. If the argument is: he looked as though he already knew what he was saying next, then - good on him. The character generally was supposed to, so it was well acted.
And on Ricky G - well, I don't usually dig my oar in to support him because he has enough fans out there who will do it no matter what, but IMO to suggest that he can't act is a strange one. Usually people criticise The Office for not being funny enough, and that it plays more like a drama. This is only possible because Mr G is totally convincing in his portrayal of Brent, and not just in the most farcical moments. To my mind he was absolutely superb in the scene where he is begging for his job back: totally convincing, and totally empathetic.
Whether or not Ricky G or for that matter Paul N have a wide range of acting skill - no idea, but that's a different thread, innit? I think Brent and Vince were very well acted.
Worst acted characters for me are usually the bit parts in 70s sitcoms, e.g some bloke behind a desk in Some Mothers... or a minor character in 70s Dad's Army. But neither of these faults mean they aren't still great sitcoms.
Paddy in max & paddy, poorly acted one joke about being a vegan, or a meacon as he called it, that sticks out for bad acting, i can't think of anyone that hasn't already been mentioned.
Quote: Badge @ April 20, 2007, 2:11 AMAnd on Ricky G - well, I don't usually dig my oar in to support him because he has enough fans out there who will do it no matter what, but IMO to suggest that he can't act is a strange one. Usually people criticise The Office for not being funny enough, and that it plays more like a drama. This is only possible because Mr G is totally convincing in his portrayal of Brent, and not just in the most farcical moments. To my mind he was absolutely superb in the scene where he is begging for his job back: totally convincing, and totally empathetic.
Whether or not Ricky G or for that matter Paul N have a wide range of acting skill - no idea, but that's a different thread, innit? I think Brent and Vince were very well acted.
Well, each to their own I suppose. I've not managed to force myself to watch all of The Office, but for me it just didn't gel. Overacted in the wrong places and generally often felt like he was trying just too hard.
But anyway.
In defence of Chloe Annette, the material she was given to work with wasn't great, especially in series 7 of Red Dwraf. One of the writers had left the show and the scripts become markedly weaker. And she was great eye candy.
Ricky Gervais is interesting, in his own things he's great, especially The Office (sorry Aaron, but if you can't see how brilliant his potrayal of Brent is you really do need a good slap). But in other peoples stuff Gervais's acting style jars terribly (he stood out like a sore thumb in Night At The Museum and For Your Consideration).
Kim Walker in Desmond's.
Quote: Aaron @ April 19, 2007, 6:48 PMOdd coincidence. The last episode of CT was broadcast 10 years ago today.
I love Crime Traveller. I have it on DVD. I even wrote to the writer Anthony Horowitz - the man behind Foyle's War and the Alex Rider books - and BEGGED him to do more - and I got a reply, my third, actually.
I can't believe anyone has nominated Patrick McGoohan. His performance in The Prisoner (and in Columbo for that matter) was superb.
Keith Barron in Duty Free was pretty bad.
Quote: chipolata @ April 20, 2007, 10:59 AMRicky Gervais is interesting, in his own things he's great, especially The Office (sorry Aaron, but if you can't see how brilliant his potrayal of Brent is you really do need a good slap).
No, no, I maintain that he completely overacted it in the wrong places. Wouldn't have mattered quite so much if it was actually funny.
Quote: Dave @ April 20, 2007, 11:46 AMI love Crime Traveller. I have it on DVD. I even wrote to the writer Anthony Horowitz - the man behind Foyle's War and the Alex Rider books - and BEGGED him to do more - and I got a reply, my third, actually.
I really loved it too. Not sure why they didn't do more; what did he say?
Quote: Nick @ April 20, 2007, 12:24 PMKeith Barron in Duty Free was pretty bad.
If we're honest, the whole of Duty Free was a bit poo really.