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To think Ricky Gervais is running out of ideas?

146 replies

RosesSmellLikePoo · 28/12/2023 14:34

I’m a big fan of Ricky Gervais - in particular his writing such as AfterLife and Derek. I’ve always liked his stand up too but recently I find myself not enjoying it.

Im not easily offended at all (obviously otherwise I wouldn’t watch RG at all!) but some of the jokes …
Jokes about Rottweilers shaking babies to death
Jokes about raping an old woman
Jokes about kids with cancer …

He says people can joke about absolutely anything they want and yes they can - but does that mean they should?

The last show was “controversial” on Netflix - quite a bit of backlash. We watched his new one last night and it felt like he was just trying to outdo the controversy from the last one! More jokes about “bald kids with cancer” babies with aids …

He even did an impression of a child masturbating a paedophile in exchange for a puppy. I mean come on … there’s dark humour and then there’s just going out of your way to be controversial. I get the feeling he’s focussing all his efforts on being the most controversial comedian in the world rather than actually being funny.

Any other fans of Gervais seeing this?

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 28/12/2023 14:39

I think you're missing the point. The ‘joke’ about the puppy was actually him pointing out that his mother telling him to avoid public toilets as there were men in there chopping boy’s willies off did the trick because if she had said there were men there with puppies and sweets he'd have done anything to get one.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 28/12/2023 14:40

I think anyone reading who hasn't seen his latest show, would need to see it as it adds context. It wasn't just as straightforward as the way you've listed.

I think he's very honest and yes, I think he does go out to push boundaries and goes for the shock element. Overall, I think I did cringe at some of his material, but I find overall that a lot of his stuff is very thought provoking.

Lastly, he's taking the piss put of himself a lot of the time.

PlayMeOurSongOnGuitar · 28/12/2023 14:43

You’ve completely missed the point of the jokes OP or you’re deliberately misrepresenting. Not sure which.

Lottapianos · 28/12/2023 14:43

I started watching his most recent Netflix show the other day and thought it was just more of the same. He can be very funny, but he can be unbelievably smug, trite and self-satisfied too, and he does seem to be obsessed with paedophilia

TellySavalashairbrush · 28/12/2023 14:43

There has been quite a backlash in relation to this new stand up show on Netflix. I also loved The Office, Derek, Afterlife, but I agree I think he is running out of ideas and just trying to be as controversial as possible to keep himself out there. Even bad publicity is better than no publicity.

He should stick to writing comedies or just retire with the millions he has accumulated.

RockandRollers · 28/12/2023 14:55

I think like many other comedians he's very over rated.
Some of his stuff is funny like the award ceremonies, but l would never pay to go and see him live.
I think to be honest he's taking the piss out of the audience most of the time,
"This is all I've got but you'll still laugh anyway. The jokes not on the kids with cancer but on the stupid buggers in the audience who would laugh if he stood there picking his more or scratching his nuts.

usernother · 28/12/2023 15:21

I think he's funny but I wondered if he is now just looking for controversial subjects to joke about and I haven't thought that before the latest show.

ChoseARandomUserName · 28/12/2023 15:40

I'm a massive RG fan and never take offense at anything I see or hear on TV.
But I watched his latest Netflix set and was just....bored. I didn't laugh once.
He's turning into a one-trick pony and needs some fresh material. I wish he'd craft some proper jokes about what's going on in the world around us, other than wokeism.
RG's friend Robin Ince warned him that he's becoming a poster boy for the alt right and I see where he's coming from.

Stickthatupyourdojo · 28/12/2023 15:43

ChoseARandomUserName · 28/12/2023 15:40

I'm a massive RG fan and never take offense at anything I see or hear on TV.
But I watched his latest Netflix set and was just....bored. I didn't laugh once.
He's turning into a one-trick pony and needs some fresh material. I wish he'd craft some proper jokes about what's going on in the world around us, other than wokeism.
RG's friend Robin Ince warned him that he's becoming a poster boy for the alt right and I see where he's coming from.

You've summed up how I felt when I watched it, but have put it better than I'd be able to.

PatButchersEarring · 28/12/2023 16:00

Agreed. It's utterly cringeworthy and not remotely funny. I think he's sold out and turned into an arsehole.

I have wondered if he's properly lost the plot actually.

Maddy70 · 28/12/2023 16:09

It was the funniest thing ive seen in ages. Youre totally not getting it. He poking fun at the things you aren't supposed to laugh at

Kwasi · 28/12/2023 16:10

I watched the first 15 minutes last night. Didn't laugh once, so turned it off.

DemonCopperheed · 28/12/2023 16:15

"It was the funniest thing ive seen in ages. Youre totally not getting it. He poking fun at the things you aren't supposed to laugh at"

That's not how he explains it.

WoksAway · 28/12/2023 16:42

I watched it as I'm a big fan of his, I couldn't breathe for laughing, especially at the paedo and puppy bit.
He's even funnier live.

JMSA · 28/12/2023 16:44

He's had his time.

DewHopper · 28/12/2023 16:46

I enjoyed it OP and think his jokes are multi layered and clever.

NotTerfNorCis · 28/12/2023 16:48

I haven't seen the show, but from what you've said, he sounds like Frankie Boyle. I can't stand Boyle, self righteous bully that he is. But maybe the context adds something, like other people have said.

ArgueWithATree · 28/12/2023 16:48

We watched it last night.

I loved the last one. Controversial, yes but timely and perfectly pitched. This one seemed a bit less well crafted, he even says some of the jokes he hadn't tried before and I think it showed. I didn't really enjoy it, it felt forced but not in the way you describe. His MO is to be controversial and that's why you watch it. I just didn't think any really hit the mark!

Projectme · 28/12/2023 16:54

I love him. We saw him live earlier this year and have to say I was a bit disappointed tbh. I got a bit bored and he was only on stage for an hour and 15 mins (no break, which I know is good but I've seen other comedians live who have stayed longer). I wouldn't go and see him live again.

Ladyofthepond · 28/12/2023 16:56

I was a big fan of the old XFM shows, the office and extras.

Over the last few years though I’ve really struggled with his material, I thought after life was very poor and his stand up has progressively become worse (I loved animals and politics!).

His material of late, to me, has felt rather…self congratulatory? I admire his ego, I will give him that.

Whoever made the comment further up quoting Robin Ince I think is spot on. James Acaster and Frankie
Boyle have also called him out recently with very apt remarks.

It all feels like a very tired, and outdated act.

DewHopper · 28/12/2023 17:01

NotTerfNorCis · 28/12/2023 16:48

I haven't seen the show, but from what you've said, he sounds like Frankie Boyle. I can't stand Boyle, self righteous bully that he is. But maybe the context adds something, like other people have said.

He is just about the opposite of that wanker Frankie Boyle.

DewHopper · 28/12/2023 17:03

James Acaster and Frankie Boyle are transactivists who cannot see the ridiculousness of their position whereas RG nails it properly. They hate that.

guineverehadgreeneyes · 28/12/2023 17:03

He's been running out of ideas for years.

Several years ago he was making "jokes" in his shows about people with ME/CFS. I've been a carer for a child and now adult with ME/CFS for 25 years and I can tell you it is no joke.

When he was challenged about making jokes about an illness which can kill and result in around 25% of patients being bedbound with appalling quality of life, he tried to justify this by saying that he also made jokes about cancer and the holocaust.

I don't find him "clever" or funny, at all.

SpecialCharacters · 28/12/2023 17:12

It just feels tired. The sort of comedy that was edgy (and somewhat fresh) about 20 years ago. I don’t think it’s fallen out of favour purely due to modern sensibilities either, just that humour that relies on shock value becomes very tired, very quickly.

That type of humour can be somewhat elevated with sufficient wit (for fans of early 2000s adult animated comedies, I’m thinking South Park vs Drawn Together) but Gervais’s act lacks it.

His stand up has always been the weakest part of his repertoire though.

Flufferblub · 28/12/2023 17:19

I love the old podcasts and xfm shows too. I love Steve and Karl. Ricky seems to step on people to get where he wants to go. I don't know if that's really the case, but that's what it seems like to me. Robin Ince, Steve and Karl don't seem to be in touch with him any more. I haven't seen the new stand up show yet.

I remember a special with him, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld and Louis CK. It was just them all back slapping each other, and it was a bit painful to watch.

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