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Original poster

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:
cansu · 28/12/2023 17:44

I dislike his smug and arrogant persona. I don't find it funny either. I hope it's an act because if he is in anyway like that as a person...

DewHopper · 28/12/2023 17:44

369damnshesfine · 28/12/2023 17:35

I know it’s not Armageddon but this lives rent free in my head and I laugh about it at random times in the day.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yI6qvQtrTU8&pp=ygUfcmlja3kgZ2VydmFpcyBzdXBlcm5hdHVyZSB3b21lbg%3D%3D

This and his 'God giving jobs to dogs' are my favourite parts of his stand up. Bloody brilliant.

Original poster
RosesSmellLikePoo · 28/12/2023 17:45

Interesting discussion, enjoying the replies

OP posts:
monicagellerbing · 28/12/2023 17:46

I love RG and he doesn't offend me but I was disappointed in this latest show, I didn't think it was funny and the reading from the 'does the dog die' website was so boring. He needs new jokes if he's going to continue

DewHopper · 28/12/2023 17:47

monicagellerbing · 28/12/2023 17:46

I love RG and he doesn't offend me but I was disappointed in this latest show, I didn't think it was funny and the reading from the 'does the dog die' website was so boring. He needs new jokes if he's going to continue

I really enjoyed that part!

369damnshesfine · 28/12/2023 17:48

cansu · 28/12/2023 17:44

I dislike his smug and arrogant persona. I don't find it funny either. I hope it's an act because if he is in anyway like that as a person...

Yes I think that is part of his act, as he will always talk about how much money he has and his huge house etc but he donates a lot of his money to charity and is apparently a really nice person in RL.

VolvoFan · 28/12/2023 17:49

Gervais pushes the boundaries of comedy and he goes out of his way to piss people off. This is part of his knack for putting bums on seats, and it's the bums on seats which sells the tickets and thus makes the money.

Glassflour · 28/12/2023 17:51

my DH actually put on the Armageddon show yesterday and I got up and started tidying around the house. his comedy is pathetic. That’s why I like the likes of Michael McIntyre who make every day stuff funny but Gervais is horrendous.

WhatsTheUseOfWorrying · 28/12/2023 17:54

I think he’s very, very funny. And his Netflix specials are about the last worthwhile British comedy satire left.

All the BBC and C4 stuff is lazy and formulaic.

DewHopper · 28/12/2023 17:57

Glassflour · 28/12/2023 17:51

my DH actually put on the Armageddon show yesterday and I got up and started tidying around the house. his comedy is pathetic. That’s why I like the likes of Michael McIntyre who make every day stuff funny but Gervais is horrendous.

Sorry but Michael McIntyre? You cannot mean that surely...?! 😮

SpecialCharacters · 28/12/2023 17:57

Gervais pushes the boundaries of comedy
😂
Funniest Gervais joke in years!

Sparklesocks · 28/12/2023 17:58

I don’t think he’s as funny as he thinks he is. Agree comedy should push the boundaries but he just lazily chucks in a few controversial statements to appear edgy. Yawn.

Crushed23 · 28/12/2023 17:58

I’m afraid his stand up hasn’t been funny for decades.

The last one I found funny was ‘Fame’ from the mid-2000s.

DewHopper · 28/12/2023 17:58

369damnshesfine · 28/12/2023 17:48

Yes I think that is part of his act, as he will always talk about how much money he has and his huge house etc but he donates a lot of his money to charity and is apparently a really nice person in RL.

Show quote history

Lots to animal charities too. It's bonkers that people cannot see that he has created a persona for the stage! He even makes this point in this current show.

Walkingtheplank · 28/12/2023 18:00

369damnshesfine · 28/12/2023 17:35

I know it’s not Armageddon but this lives rent free in my head and I laugh about it at random times in the day.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yI6qvQtrTU8&pp=ygUfcmlja3kgZ2VydmFpcyBzdXBlcm5hdHVyZSB3b21lbg%3D%3D

Well this video is why so many people claim they don't find him funny.
They hate that he hit the nail so squarely on the head.

I'm sure he's happy to have the free publicity and thanks for reminding me to watch!

MorningHood · 28/12/2023 18:02

C’mon OP, try harder… 🙄

minicheddars87 · 28/12/2023 18:03

heathspeedwell · 28/12/2023 17:19

He's making extremely topical points about freedom of speech and the current state of our society. Sadly the multi-layered humour has obviously gone right over a few heads.

However, it's still the most watched thing on Netflix and he's helping a lot of people to stop and think, while also being incredibly entertaining. He's an absolute one-off.

"Sadly the multi-layered humour has obviously gone right over a few heads.

Probably because it's about as "multi-layered" as a Ritz cracker 🤣

DewHopper · 28/12/2023 18:04

In your opinion. Are you another Michael McIntyre fan?! 😂

JollyHollyxmas · 28/12/2023 18:05

Re Ricky Gervais, I really think his influence and style has been copied ad infinitum across media and film, he's had a hell of an impact! However for me personally, the funniest thing he has ever done was the office uk. Even now i cam laugh out loud at some of those one liners! For me the rest of his career has been a 'difficult second album'. Still love him, and have seen him live, and still think he's brilliant but to me the office uk will be with me forever!! Lols.

KnowsWhatAGiraffeIs · 28/12/2023 18:07

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.

Anyone who says this doesn't know anything about the "alt-right" who are far further out there than anything Ricky Gervais has come out with, though.
I thought the new special was good.

The problem with centrism is the left think you're "far right" and the right think you're "far left" because neither side seem to know what the middle looks like anymore.

VolvoFan · 28/12/2023 18:08

As for him maybe running out of ideas, in this clown decade? No. Plenty of stuff to take the piss out of.

Glassflour · 28/12/2023 18:09

DewHopper · 28/12/2023 17:57

Sorry but Michael McIntyre? You cannot mean that surely...?! 😮

Edited
Show quote history

Yeah I like his humour. Not overly dark and relatable.

Original poster
RosesSmellLikePoo · 28/12/2023 18:15

MorningHood · 28/12/2023 18:02

C’mon OP, try harder… 🙄

Anything interesting to add? Your comment is the most pointless addition to this thread. Everyone else has managed to discuss - then you come in with this 🙄 go back to bed, love.

OP posts:
Blondebutnotlegally · 28/12/2023 18:18

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.

Seriously? Out of all the things he jokes about you draw the line at ME/CFS?

He doesn't think the actual topics are funny either, do you honestly think he gets a genuine giggle from children with cancer? It's such a narrow minded take from it. The point is finding humour in dark subjects through satire, irony, sarcasm. He doesn't actually read stories of people with ME and laugh.

Winnipeggy · 28/12/2023 18:19

His stand up has been quite lazy for a while. He has found his place as a 'controversial comic' but he's lost so much of the spark that used to make him great. He has his diehard fans though so doesn't have to try too hard anymore.