TCA press tour: Ricky Gervais finds comedy gold in a round-headed minion
Just a few days before he hosts the Golden Globes, Ricky Gervais appeared at TCA with his longtime collaborator, Stephen Merchant, to discuss their upcoming 13-episode HBO series, “The Ricky Gervais Show.”
The series is actually an animated comedy based on their very popular podcasts, which feature loose, wacky conversations among Gervais, Merchant and their oddball pal, Karl Pilkington. Gervais and Merchant said that they met Pilkington some years ago while hosting a radio show; he was “this round-headed minion” sent to work for them who turned out to be “comedy gold.”
Gervais coined the awkward phrase “realanimation” for the format, which Merchant further explained: “It’s not a scripted show, these are real conversations we had with Karl. … It’s all the ramblings of an idiot.”
Although Gervais and Merchant frequently insult Pilkington, Gervais insisted that the show’s appeal lies with this unique fellow. “He sees the world through different eyes. … But he’s got an opinion on everything and it’s a funny one -- because it hasn’t been heard before! I can’t get enough of Karl. He’s a comedy genius, whether he knows it or not.”
Asked if he’d consider doing a cutting-edge late-night talk show, Gervais referred to the existing cutting-edge host whose show he appeared on last night: Conan O'Brien. “I thought Conan was amazing. I thought his monologue was one of the funniest and most biting I’d heard on a chat show for years.”
As for future plans, Gervais offered: “We might do something with the American 'Office' next season. But that's in our heads at the moment." He said that versions of both “The Office” and “Extras” are spreading across the globe, making the comedy duo of Gervais and Merchant into a kind of franchise -- just like “Ronald McDonald and the Grimace.” Yes, just like that.
"The Ricky Gervais Show" premieres on HBO Feb. 19.
-- Joy Press
Photo credit: HBO
I can't wait. I already have the podcasts memorized but this will add another dimension and maybe other people here in the states will finally "get" what I've been talking about. I absolutely love those three funny funny men.
Posted by: Kerry | January 15, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Great stuff. I live in the UK and am very happy Ricky is following through on his promise to make Karl a worldwide legend!!
Now...if I could just cure my addiction of the podcasts/xfm shows running 24/7 on my laptop! NURRRSSSEE!!!
Posted by: Richard | January 15, 2010 at 02:14 PM
I'm not sure this will be as good as the other work by gervais and co, don't get me wrong the office was original, but these 'animations' are just old podcasts dressed up, you can argue that gervais is doing he's bit for the environment by all this recycling. One funny thing I noticed was the pilkington tourettes gervais suffers when he's on any publicity oppurtunity, he literally mentions him in every other sentance, I know he has to plug him, but it is a bit shameless.
Posted by: Chloe Addams | January 16, 2010 at 02:53 AM
Hi. I would like to say that I would like to understand the podcasts but my level of english is limited (I'm learning). So, that's why I have no hearded the podcasts. But I am acquainted with it since I read it every day in the blog. Well, I think (and hope) I can understand them someday jajjaja, in the future. Ey Mr Gervais, if you read this and if you like, you all could do a podcasts about languages. (I don't know if this already exists) But I think it could be interesting and funny :-)
On the other hand, I am a witness of whom the series, so many "Extras" since "The office" they are spreading all over the world. I think they invented a new genre of humor. Tragicomedy. Or but they have not invented it, they have developed it on an amazing form. The paradoxical of the humor is that, sometimes, we laugh of the saddest things, therefore, the tragedy is something inherent in the comedy and not it opposite one.
Because of it the humor that they express is so genuinio, because they have could catch it.
Well, just to express again my congratulations to you for your work and very good luck for the golden globes. From Spain.
Posted by: ioclaudio | January 16, 2010 at 03:44 AM
I kinda wanna keep Karl as a hidden secrete...
Posted by: Jasdeep Grewal | January 16, 2010 at 04:13 PM
I could not have said it better myself ioclaudio. From Australia.
Posted by: Cam | January 17, 2010 at 03:23 PM
I'm so looking forward to this! Karl has the most beautiful brain in the world.
Posted by: Jonas | January 17, 2010 at 04:39 PM
Thanks Cam. It has been difficult to me express what I think in english so that feedback is good to me. Thank you very much.
Posted by: ioclaudio | January 18, 2010 at 01:47 AM
I can't wait for this.
I'm also not surpirsed by the massive Backlash against Ricky's hosting of the Golden Globes. Why do Critics want him to fail so badly?
He was great.
Posted by: Alan | January 18, 2010 at 03:35 PM
SPILL DID IT FIRST !!!!!!
The hell man "Spill.com" has been doing this for a while now go to the site and look at their stuff, listen to their podcast, and I guarantee you it's 10 times funnier than whatever this will be.
SPILL.COM
LET'S DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: gorillaguy | January 22, 2010 at 06:36 AM
I call BS on ioclaudio. That is totally Gervais himself.
Hilarious though.
Posted by: iorichardo | January 27, 2010 at 12:39 AM