I agree with both of you. 
Ricky Gervais' "Extras" wins Golden Globe Page 2
The reason for me thinking that Merchant is underrated is because in the radio shows, Steve tells some anecdotes or theories which then end up in the shows, e.g. the masturbating pen, the huge TV (both from Extras) just off the top of my head. Obviously Gervais is the bigger personality and star, but they are a team and so I think that Merchant deserves more praise.
As for who would write the better show, it seems to me that Merchant is funnier off-the-cuff, with quick-witted conversation jokes, but given time to plan (e.g. standups) Gervais is stronger. So maybe Ricky would make a better show...but who knows!
Even if they both did make separate shows, they still wouldn't be doing it alone. You'd then have to credit their director / co writer / whatever with some of the talent.
Yeah, but that's the case with every show, so it's really a given and should be discounted.
That was sort of my point, but I didn't realise it also discredited my subconscious point at the same time.
I will get back to you on that one...
(I shouldn't post past midnight. All me faculties come unravelled.)
I shouldn't post past 11pm. I should be in bed, at least on a worknight! >_<
Quote: Matthew Stott @ January 31, 2008, 10:23 PMNo real way of knowing that, as we dont know whos put what into the shows, do we? A bit tired of the whole Gervais baiting that goes on; hes succesful, get over it. 'Ooh, Im sick of seeing that git Gervais and his big smug face on the TV, so therfore Merchant must be the real talent'. The reason he gets more of the acclaim in comparison to his co-writer is that he plays the lead in both shows, Merchant barely even featured in The Office, therefore Gervais has a much bigger profile. They are a writing team, as such one is just as important as the other, if they werent then the one whos actually good would more than likely have left the other one behind.
Thats not supposed to be getting at anyone in particular, just my feeling towards the general Gervais hating that goes on.
You might not be accusing me of hating Gervais, but in case you are, I'll just like to go on record and say that I like him a lot. He's great. I just don't think that Merchant gets enough praise for his contribution. After saying that, he might not want it. He may prefer Ricky being in the limelight. Who knows?
Agree Merchant doesnt get enough praise, but that shouldnt be a reason to have a go at Gervais; Merchant doesnt get the same fame/praise because, like Ive said, Gervais is the star of both shows, so hes obviously going to be the public face of their partnership. A pat on the head to them both for writing great shows!
On the subject of Merchant did anybody hear that bizarre show he presented last night on Radio 2 about HBO? I say bizarre, because it seemed like blatant hagiography. Now, like a lot of people, I admire HBO and love a lot of their output. But is this really a fit and proper subject for a documentary on the BBC? And should said documentary really be presented by somebody who's actually worked for HBO? The whole thing smacked of product placement.
Makes a change from the BBC going on about how great the BBC is.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ January 15, 2008, 7:28 PMThough I did like De Niros silent school boy joy as he looks at the nudey lady pen!
The whole nudey pen thing is ripped off from an episode of Friends. Chandler has a similar pen and shows the exact same schoolboy joy as De Niro over the woman gradually becoming naked. Not that it wasn't funny in extras, it was, just that it had been done before.
Quote: chipolata @ February 27, 2008, 10:05 AMThe whole nudey pen thing is ripped off from an episode of Friends.
When people say this sort of thing it annoys me a bit, as you really have no way of knowing if it was 'ripped off' or not. It is, of course, quite impossible that two people would have came up with the same idea! 
Quote: Matthew Stott @ February 27, 2008, 7:47 PMWhen people say this sort of thing it annoys me a bit, as you really have no way of knowing if it was 'ripped off' or not. It is, of course, quite impossible that two people would have came up with the same idea!
I agree Matthew but Friends was probably on their radar as comedy writers. In saying that I've come up with a sketch and realised later that the inspiration was that I had actually seen it before. I genuinely thought I had created Four Candles.
Quote: ContainsNuts @ February 27, 2008, 9:14 PMI agree Matthew but Friends was probably on their radar as comedy writers. In saying that I've come up with a sketch and realised later that the inspiration was that I had actually seen it before. I genuinely thought I had created Four Candles.
Steve Merchant talked about it in one of the early radio shows as one of the two most embarrassing ways of being caught masturbating. That, and being caught wanking looking into a mirror. 
If a jokes funny - use it! Just don't blatantly go plagiarising all over the place.