I believe Ricky Gervais has lost 'it'. He (in my opinion) now relies on shock, often unnecessarily offensive humour to appeal to the kind of audience he would not have wanted in the days of The Office / Extras. I find both him and Stephen Merchant redundant in the podcasts with Karl Pilkington and though they are unquestionably smarter than he, it is, let's face it, the 'Karl Pilkington Show'.
Just before and during The Office he appeared on The 11 O'Clock Show and Ricky Gervais Meets. The former, I seem to recall him trying to be as offensive (shocking) as possible.
This was a boring discussion five years ago. Let's have it after the first season of Derek finishes instead.
I remember that, he has always been pretty 'close to the bone', it always seemed as though there was more to him than that though, not so much now! I think it's all he's got...
I love all the offensive / tasteless stuff, the stand up, the Golden Globes and he is always a guest to look forward to on a chat show.
It's when he's not doing the off colour material that he shows himself up - he recently popped up on an episode of Family Guy as a talking dolphin and really stunk up the place.
Definitely. His ego has certainty got to him, relying on tasteless "mong" jokes and needless hacky shock humour. Where did the subtle brilliance of The Office and his early stand-up go? (sigh).
Any chance of consolidating the dozens of "I don't like Ricky Gervais" threads into one gigantic one, like with the sports threads?
I wish I could!
James Cotter has made Ricky Gervais redundant in the current landscape.
I didn't even know he went to Hogwarts.
Everybody loses their magic sooner or later. Even my posts aren't what they used to be.
Not only has he lost the 'magic', he also lost his anal virginity, in a poker game with Boy George.
Did he ever have 'magic', or just a few big successes and was then talked up (largely by himself) way beyond what was reasonable or fair?
Quote: Lee @ May 19 2012, 1:43 PM BSTJust before and during The Office he appeared on The 11 O'Clock Show and Ricky Gervais Meets. The former, I seem to recall him trying to be as offensive (shocking) as possible.
He was definitely, what I remember of it. This has to be his main trademark and comic purpose etc. so I don't see that he's slipping into it now out of creative exhaustion, like some are saying, as it is his main thing. But I think the huge success of The Office sidetracked many into thinking he was far more rounded than this, as did the usage of that style of cringey awkward humour he perfected in it, which it seemed every other show copied or borrowed or stole in the following decade, and still are!
I find it hard to know what his best role is, the cheeky, outrageous Wossy type compere at big award doos or the writer/star of unPC sitcoms. Either'll do for me but I think he does maybe try and do too much, but then so do a lot of actors/comedians and being productive is not really the worst trait to have. But trying to overstep the boundaries of taste or PC is always what he's done.
Doesn't take away the fact that a few of his projects have been and are brilliant, though. Most people get overrated by a certain amount of fans, Ricky just has more than most. Or had. Do you really ever hear people singing his praises anymore?
I think this period of 'bringing him down a peg or two' that some people seem to deem necessary is now a bit redundant.