What are you watching?

Entertainment
2429

I listened to his radio show and podcasts from 15+ years ago. Every character he writes and plays post-Brent is basically just himself except for Derek.

By the time Derek came along I was pleasantly surprised. I think it had a lot of charm which I wasn’t expecting, and after life does too in a lot of parts. I definitely enjoyed it throughout but I’m not jumping up and down for a new season.

His stand up and hosting though are quite average. I’m not sure why they’re the most famous bits of his career now.

2430

Because when he hosts and does stand up he is rude/offensive as himself, not as a character, and that makes for a good sound bite

1 Like
2431

He’s the sort of fat fella who’d laugh at a racist joke or something about the Holocaust. His audiences at his stand up shows are just as bad

(“Oooh, should we laugh at that or should we just “oooh”? I know. Let’s “ooh” and then laugh”) banal fucks.

Some of his stuff with Karl Pilkington is excellent. I think this is because Karl Pilkington is incredibly funny without even knowing it, Stephen Merchant knows how to (innocently) press his buttons and ask him all the right/wrong questions, and Gervais the fat fuck knows when to laugh at just the right time (like canned laughter in a 70s sitcom, allowing us to laugh)

2432

The animated Pilkington podcasts are simply genius.

1 Like
2433

I can’t remember who said it but basically since him and Steven Merchant stopped working together his work has lost them genuine laugh out loud/cringe moments, and Merchant’s work has lost all subtlety. They compliment each other so well yet their work alone is really quite poor. I don’t think I could watch anything by either of them now despite being a massive office and extras fan.

3 Likes
2434

That thing Merchant did on his own in USA (was it called Hello Ladies?)- that wasn’t bad

2435
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2436

If you like it too, Persona, I know I’m onto a winner :wink:

2437

That’s the only thing I remember from it. :grimacing: :laughing:

2438

@JakeyBoy

1 Like
2439

I wanted Julius and Steve Fleming to make an appearance in the inquest episode, too, lol.

For old times sake

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2440

Stumbled across this old blog piece a few days ago, not even sure how I found it. Was quite interesting though.

2441

I’ll 100% be watching ‘After Life’, I thought the first series was really funny, poignant and actually one of the best things I’ve seen Gervais in, alongside The Office and Extras :+1:

I can definitely detach the Gervais that I see saying pre-agreed naughty things at award show dinners from the Gervais that writes genuinely moving and at the same time funny comedy dramas like this one

Also going to start on Ozark which seems to be the most hyped show for a while. At present I know nothing about it whatsoever :eyes:

3 Likes
2442

Are you setting a challenge for me? :blush:

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2443

Just binged season 2 of Ozark. Basically just like what I remember season 1 was like. Fun, interesting, highly addictive, realistic whilst being totally unrealistic. It’s a good show so far.

4 Likes
2444

Which modern day actor has the fewest turds or most blockbusters on their record? Di Caprio only ever seems to star in the latter.

2445

Haha that’s exactly right. :slight_smile:

2446

I think Brad Pitt has a really good record, Tom Hardy too. I like most of what Ryan Gosling is in as well.

3 Likes
2447

Yep, probably only di Caprio. Almost always makes good films (after Gangs of New York, of course)

1 Like
2448

You’ve lost me there?