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The Ricky Gervais appreciation thread

82 replies

ItWasJustifiedHeWasACunt · 31/07/2022 20:40

Can I just say he's an utter fucking legend? Love him. After Life 1 and 2 helped me through a really shit time... now watching Derek and it's making me cry my eyes out and laugh so much it literally hurts. I wish I could be mates with his gang of friends on there. My kind of people. Swearing, uncouth but kind and non judgemental as fuck.

He's not just a comedian he's a brilliant emotional actor too.

Go Ricky!! Love Kerry Godliman too.

OP posts:
Afonavon · 01/08/2022 17:26

kittenkipping · 31/07/2022 22:25

I adore his most of his comedy, and think his wealth fame and fortune very well deserved. As a man, he seems slightly tedious- I'd not want to drink with him and his ego, BUT he is funny, clever, and he is clearly very kind and cares deeply about animal welfare and passionately advocates for and donates huge amounts to numerous charities and lives his life in a way that reflects his values re animals. He is so openly devoted to his long term partner, Jane, it's touching. His tweets about his cats show more love and affection than mine do for my children. There is no question that he is also hugely driven- a self made man, he didn't have friends in the right places or come from wealth- he's pulled himself out of the estate and into the mansion on his own merit. His teeth make me cringe, and I get the impression he's a funny bully, and as I said, I'd not long for time spent with him, but that's neither here nor there. His acting writing and comedy are often great

I agree that he is very funny and clever, but also that I think that he is a bit of a bully. I love Derek and afterlife, especially Derek.

Mangolist · 01/08/2022 17:29

Also love him so much. I've seen him twice live and both times were superb. Afterlife is a work of genius too.

RhannionKPSS · 01/08/2022 17:37

I love Ricky because of his love & care for animals more than his comedy.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

TV
Therealjudgejudy · 01/08/2022 17:44

I'll join the appreciation. Love, love R.G.

The Office was comedy genius 🤣

salsgy · 01/08/2022 17:51

Some of his stand up is not my taste but After Life….

Absolute masterpiece.

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 01/08/2022 18:08

I dislike most of his stuff so I'm not a huge fan; but Afterlife was beautiful, and his stand-up is genius.

mistermagpie · 01/08/2022 20:03

I am a big fan, the old podcasts with Stephen and Karl are brilliant, I've listened to them over and over and still laugh. The office and extras are great but Afterlife is just beautiful, it made me laugh and cry.

I think the thing with his work is that it is quite unique. At the time the office was completely different to the sit coms of the day, nobody had really done anything like that before. Same with the podcasts, comedy podcasts just didn't really exist, and I have never seen anything like Afterlife before. He seems really good at coming up with new ways to present quite mundane aspects of life and manages to find the humour and darkness there, it's very clever.

That said, I'm not keen on his stand up and I do think he laughs at his own jokes a bit too much, he always has thought himself terribly amusing and clever. But he is, so fair enough, I just prefer a more deadpan delivery!

Original poster
ItWasJustifiedHeWasACunt · 01/08/2022 20:56

I watched Derek for the first time last night. The "Fix You" scene, Kev crying about kindness and where he gets out of the car and runs towards his Dad oh man I was absolutely BAWLING! Snot tears! 😭

OP posts:
Crinkle77 · 01/08/2022 21:07

I have a bit of a love hate thing going on with Ricky Gervais. Loved him years ago on The 11 O'clock Show. His humour was so close to the bone it was like 'can't believe he's just said that'. Didn't get The Office at all and Extras was OK. But then absolutely loved the first series of Afterlife. I nearly spat my tea out at the 'tubby little ginger cunt' scene. Series 2 wasn't quite as good but series 3 was awful. I do love the C word from time to time if necessary but felt like it was overused just for the shock value and Brian was just vile. Not funny at all.

LoveInNashville · 01/08/2022 21:09

Loves animals, vegan, funny...love him.

Suzi888 · 01/08/2022 21:14

“I didn't write that- but yes. I admire a person willing to stand by their belief in the wake of offence and criticisms. I feel that it is few and far between a character that refuses to bend, that doesn't simply crow a "sorry" when threatened with unpopularity. It's rare and a test of integrity- whether you agree with the initial opinion or not”.

this plus he loves animals.

MsBallen · 01/08/2022 21:19

I love him, but don't like all his jokes or opinions and that's ok. You don't have to agree with every single thing someone says to like them or enjoy their work. He is very clever and very creative to have multiple hit shows. I loved them all the office last episode was just brilliant how his character changes in an instant when his best mate insults the woman he likes despite his earlier misogyny.
Derek, extras and after life were all brilliant, it's guaranteed if he has written something I'm going to enjoy it. I even liked ghost town and the invention of lying.

Furball · 01/08/2022 21:23

Watched Special Correspondents yesterday, was expecting it to be abit flat, but it was really funny and we all really enjoyed it.

Started to like him from The Office - the time he stands up in the ostrich costume!😂

WanderingFruitWonderer · 31/08/2022 03:34

I'm a bit late to this thread. But I love him too. Mostly because of his great love of animals and slight distain towards humans. I'm a vegan too. I really appreciate his opposition to animal testing.
Funnily enough, I'm not an atheist, I'm very spiritual (not religious as such) . But Ricky is a tolerant atheist, who is fine with other people doing their own God-related stuff. I'm a tolerant theist, who is fine with anyone doing their own thing (or not) spiritually, provided they don't harm anyone, so all good.
The Office was a work of genius...

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 31/08/2022 04:19

I think he's great, loved after life

StClare101 · 31/08/2022 04:43

I think I liked Extras the best.

I hated the psychologist character on After Life. I know you were meant to but it wasn’t clever and it wasn’t funny.

His stand up is very clever. He’s a TERF and I like him for that!

helogast · 31/08/2022 04:48

I appreciate his talent but not the jokes about cancer and dead babies

MissTrip82 · 31/08/2022 05:56

ToffeeNotCoffee · 31/07/2022 21:22

He's bone idle. However, I admire how much money and adulation he has for doing nothing. Who else could have got away with it like he has ? No wonder he's so smug. He's taken us all for a ride.

(His sidekick grinning, smirking Stephen Merchant is no better.) Well his portrayal of a murderer was good.

Idiot Abroad - R.J. got paid for giggling and laughing at his own jokes. SM just sat there.

Extras - R.J. got paid for giggling and laughing at his own jokes.

The Office - I never laughed once. I suspect R.J. wasn't even acting i.e. that's what he's actually like.

Imagine watching show after show after show featuring someone you don’t find entertaining.

What an utterly bizarre thing to do.

Malariahilaria · 31/08/2022 06:02

I too think he's brilliant. Took a while mind, the office made me cringe so much I'd only laugh the second time i saw an episode so knew what was or wasn't going to happen and could relax.

I also like that he doesn't care who he offends because mostly now this means TRAs who seem to terrify most celebs. I applauded the pronoun sketch, go Ricky!

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 31/08/2022 06:03

He is very articulate about comedy which I like. Just because you're offended doesn't mean you're right. Also the thing about being the subject of a joke is not the same as being the target.

iliketartan · 31/08/2022 07:00

Oh I love him - especially his stand up and can't wait for his next one 'Armageddon' to hit Netflix. I follow him and Jane (and their cat!) on twitter and their love for animals shines through ❤️

ProperSorryFrown · 31/08/2022 07:10

He is a genius. He can catch the simple yet profound nuances of human behaviour. Not bad for a Whitley boy. Though my favourite thing about him are his hilarious tweets about Jane and his veganism.

DrizztDoUrdan · 31/08/2022 07:28

Referring to ME/CFS as "that's the one where you feel a bit tired and can't be arsed" labelled him a cunt with zero empathy. Twat.

Spidey66 · 31/08/2022 07:35

Loved The Office, Derek and After Life, but couldn't get on with Extras. Derek in particular was very Marmite, but Ricky Gervais portrayed him very well.

ChagSameachDoreen · 31/08/2022 08:09

DrizztDoUrdan · 31/08/2022 07:28

Referring to ME/CFS as "that's the one where you feel a bit tired and can't be arsed" labelled him a cunt with zero empathy. Twat.

But that's comedy. Don't you see? He riffs off commonly held perceptions about things for comedic effect.