Maybe he just doesnt want to; no one has to you know. A bit of an odd thread this!
Does Gervais think he is too big for Panel shows? Page 2
Not my cup of tea really. Not saying he sucks or anything, just not for me. Sorry!
All this thread can really do is go into the past debate about whether we like Gervais or not now. The real answer is that we don't know although he has actually said publically that he doesn't want to do them which is fair enough and doesn't mean he is egotistical about it.
Personally I believe they have cloned David Mitchell and have allocated one to each TV channel so that they can meet the goverments Mitchell Quota (blame the government). I'm sure someone came up with this plan in Dragons Den and they all bought in.
Quote: danield1000 @ August 6, 2007, 10:52 AMI like david mitchell and I think he's great on the panel shows. I would like to see Robert Webb on one of them.
I've seen Robert Webb on a couple and he's not that good really. Maybe, like Gervais, he works best when it's pre-planned?
Webb himself has admitted hes not great on them; where as Mitchell seems made for that kind of thing.
I think he wants all stuff he get's involved in to have some kind of artistic merit, can come across as a bit pretentious but I'm sure he loses no sleep over it.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ August 6, 2007, 9:32 AMI have noticed that Ricky Gervais doesn't appear on HIGNFY, Mock The Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Buzzcocks etc.
I'm sure he's been asked, so why do you think he hasn't guested?
Is it fear, arrogance, or indifference? Or something else?
This is not a bashing thread, so no flaming me.
I think it's because he's recognised that this kind of panel show is outdated and boring. It's a really old fashioned format that is kept alive because it's cheap to produce and requires no imagination. A small number of good presenters and panellists with a few good jokes keep the format just above 'dire' (but only just).
I think he probably just can't be bothered, it's not as if he needs the money. 
Honestly, this whole thread: why?
It's a valid debate.
So why not?
Have you seen some of the threads on here?!
I don't agree with the suggestion that Gervais can only be funny with pre-planned, written material. I've seen him improvise brilliant stuff countless times.
It just doesn't suit his kind of humour!
I think he would be good... but it would be like watching England every two years in a major footy final... not that it would be a let down like the footy... but everyone would be expecting too much... and sometimes he may not be funny... or people may not think he's funny... or all the other guests may try that extra bit harder to put him in his place... jealousy is a rite basta** in the wrong hands or minds
Quote: Jeremy Smith @ August 6, 2007, 6:25 PMHe's best when he has time to sit down and write it out. Stephen Merchant is very funny at one-liners.
But because he doesn't do it, it means hes arrogant?? I think if you suggest that you are ignorant and stupid. There are many number of reasons why he doesn't do them, one being that he doesn't need to do them, he has plenty of money.
Leevil - Jeremy Clarkson wrote about his time as presenter on HIGNFY that he thought it was going to be all staged etc. but that none of it was at all, and it was all off-the-cuff.
Fantasy Bazaar - I think you are living in a fantasy. No, he's not the only one who's written a great TV show. But he did write the most successful sitcom of the 21st Century, a follow-up sitcom that did extremely well, written three excellent selling books, as well as three sell-out stand up tours, starred in several films, written an episode of the Simpsons, and played a major part in the development of the podcast (thats not mentioning any of the awards he has won). So, even if he did feel superior and arrogant, he'd have reason to. But like I said, he has no need to go on the shows, as he is a household name already and his appearance would not help his status in any way.
Chris Rock never appears on panel shows. Neither does Will Ferrell. They must be too arrogant.
I think this says it all.
The answer to the question for me is that he has nothing to gain by appearing, but everything to loose.
Also, I don't think he would be willing to appear in anything without control over the edit.