I 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.
Because David Mitchell has booked all the guest spots up!
I read once that he said he just didn't want to be that sort of celebrity and wanted to be known for other work. To be honest I can understand that as Mitchell is becoming to be more known for his panel appearances than Peep Show or Mitchell and Webb!
There are plenty of top comedians over the years that haven't done panel shows, its not like a duty, some poeple just don't want to do them or don't like them. It doesn't have to be an ego thing.
I'd personally like to see him on HIGNFY. Get the feeling Hislop/ Merton would 'bully' him and like to see who came out on top, so to speak.
ricky int a quick comedian like frankie boyle rickys a great writer stand up and actor david mitchell is quick and others that why they are on them shows
i think thats true, he's more a writer. He'd probably be good on QI though as he has a nerd's knowledge of things.
Hahaaha I think they would bully him on HIGNFY but they bully alot of the hosts. I like david mitchell and I think he's great on the panel shows. I would like to see Robert Webb on one of them.
Quote: ContainsNuts @ August 6, 2007, 9:44 AMI read once that he said he just didn't want to be that sort of celebrity and wanted to be known for other work.
Like always doing his funny little dance at the drop of a hat.
(I think it's that he's just not a "spontaneous" comedian. He has to have everything pre-prepared and planned.)
HIGNFY would be ideal then 
Not at all. It might not be the most 'free' show, but it's looser than some (MTW), and Paul and Ian rarely hold back.
Good point. I think it's mostly due to arrogance and feelings of superiority. Gervais if your reading this your not the only one who's wrote a great T.V show. That Steve Merchant probably thinks he's the second coming now to.
I don't think he's arrogant.
I do think the only one he'd be any good on would be QI.
Imagine the expectations the audience (or maybe I mean comedy geeks) would have if he did go on. If he spoke too much everyone would say he was trying to take over, if he didn't speak enough they'd say he'd been shown up for the pretender he is.
Etc.
I wouldn't be arsed with it all either if I was him.
He's always pretty funny on talk shows, same sort of skills required. But as mentioned loads of big comedians don't do the game shows so it's probably just because he's too busy.
David Mitchell is brilliant on them though.
He'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. 