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Hercules Has Seen HBO’s THE RICKY GERVAIS SHOW And FUNNY OR DIE PRESENTS!!

Published at:  Feb 19, 2010 1:21:48 PM CST

I am – Hercules!!


HBO has taken the acclaimed podcasts by Ricky Gervais -- Golden Globes host and writer-director-star of the BBC’s “The Office” and the major motion picture comedy “The Invention of Lying” -- and animated them. One of the better moments from episode one:



I find HBO’s “The Ricky Gervais Show” too sporadically amusing to grant it access to my DVR, and quite tame next to the more fearless American mockfests hosted by Adam Carolla (whose newer podcast almost instantly eclipsed Gervais’ in terms of worldwide popularity) and Sirius satellite radio lynchpin Howard Stern.

I also got bigger and more frequent laughs out of HBO’s “Funny or Die Presents,” a sketch-comedy spin-off of the website overseen by “Anchorman” creators Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and Judd Apatow. One hilarious segment co-starring dreamy Zooey Deschanel from the first episode HBO sent along for review:



HBO has already greenlit a second season of "Funny Or Die Presents."

USA Today says of “The Ricky Gervais Show”:

… The purposely retro animation, which turns Gervais into a more cheerful Fred Flintstone, not only adds nothing to the mix — it subtracts. … After his woefully unprepared stint as Golden Globes host (a job that was, just as he seemed to believe, beneath him), this is another attempt to get by on TV with the least possible effort. …


Entertainment Weekly says:

… magnifies everything venal and childish about the original (jokes about dildos on sticks and monkeys on benders) while masking its incredible wit. Fans are better served reading Karl's book spin-offs, with his own edgier drawings and some new musings, instead. …


The New York Times says:

… Podcast purists may despise the cartoons as pandering — animated subtitles for slower audiences — but they don’t detract from the comedy. … The series is not a full-blown comedy show; it’s a collection of Web-styled sketches and proof that big laughs can come in small doses.


The Los Angeles Times says:

… the least of [Gervais’] series, but it is generally amusing and pretty to watch, and I like the way it rambles. (Rambling is a quality largely absent from professional television.) … On one level, the animation is just a way to get the soundtrack onto television -- to give you something to look at while the talk happens. But at its best, it points up the way that conversation works -- it can follow its twists and turns, even word for word. In doing so, in making all their stories and characters concrete, it can distract from what's being said as much as underscore it, but you can always close your eyes; the jokes will work just as well.


The Washington Post says:

… Using the audio from the radio episodes and then supplying a sort of 1960s-style Hanna-Barbera wash of cheap animation to more fully illustrate the inanity of their conversations, Gervais has landed on something quite special that can be scorchingly funny. (Others may find it to be a bizarrely lazy use of Gervais's talents.) …


The San Francisco Chronicle says:

… Media Rights Capital, an independent production company, took an offbeat idea and made it work surprisingly well. …


The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:

… The animation adds some humor but probably not enough to justify adding this series to my already overbooked TV viewing schedule.


The Boston Herald says:

… Gervais isn’t the funniest guy here. That distinction falls on Pilkington, who is either a brilliant performance artist or one of the dimmest mammals on the planet. … Oh, you’ll laugh. But you probably won’t remember much of it the next day.


The Boston Globe says:

… Alas, HBO has come up with a dull, unimaginative interpretation of the podcast, essentially giving us animated versions of the three men sitting in a sound booth talking into microphones. … On a podcast, it works, drawing your imagination into bizarre places as you listen. But accompanied by such static imagery, Pilkington’s unique idiocy loses its allure. …


Variety says:

… This inspired idea works just fitfully -- such as when illustrating Gervais' strange fascination with monkeys. Still, anything that brings Gervais into homes more frequently is welcome, if not necessarily, as the Brits say, brilliant. …


The Hollywood Reporter says:

… The static nature of three talking heads (even in cartoon form) is dull, and the intermittent non-studio interstitials used to illustrate the discussion fail to provide enough of a change. Watching cartoon characters laugh at one another feels recursively silly, and not in a good way. … But the main issue is that this show is not really about Gervais, or even Merchant. It is the Karl Pilkington show, because the essence of all content involves Gervais or Merchant prodding Pilkington into sharing his odd theories about the world (for example, nothing worthwhile was invented post-1900), then turning into his sneering, slightly hostile peanut gallery. Gervais even calls Pilkington a "little round-headed buffoon." This makes Pilkington seem the kinder person in the room, and the tone rings wrong. …


“Caprica”: 9 p.m. Friday. Syfy.
“The Ricky Gervais Show”: 9 p.m. Friday. HBO.
“The Life and Times Of Tim”: 9:30 p.m. Friday. HBO.
“Real Time With Bill Maher”: 10 & 11 p.m. Friday. HBO.
“Funny Or Die Presents”: 11:59 p.m. Friday. HBO.







$16.99 per “Office” season!!
(That’s 72% off season five!!)




Soderbergh's Latest!!





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    Readers Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 1:57:15 AM CST

    OH! CHIMPANZEE THAT!

    by deweyoxburger

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:02:13 AM CST

    Really looking forward to "Real Time"

    by toe jam

    I know a lot of people hate Bill Maher's smug personality, but in this household we love him, and "Real Time" is always highly anticipated. Also, "The Life and Times of Tim" was a very pleasant surprise last season. Glad to see it's back.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:07:26 AM CST

    This show HAS TO BE better than it's reviews

    by redjester

    Hell, the four or five skits I've seen from the show were worth the price of admission alone! Anyways if Hercules and company end up being correct about the show's suckage, I'm going to be seriously pissed.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:18:33 AM CST

    That isn't Zooey Deschanel

    by savourthesea

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:37:33 AM CST

    Zooey? Where's Zooey?

    by cotsos

    I want my Zooey!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:56:55 AM CST

    Zooey

    by hercules

    You'll have to tune into the show tonight to see her play Lincoln's widow.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 3:02:40 AM CST

    I've seen it.

    by v'shael

    I thought it was brilliant.

    Granted, as a fan of the podcasts, and of Karl Pilkington's insane ramblings, I'm a bit biased.

    The animation is quick and cheap, much like a flash-animation that you would see online. If you've seen the clips, you know what you're getting animation-wise.

    The real laughs come from Karl. He is just so... misinformed about the world and how it works.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 3:03:42 AM CST

    It's called a SPELL CHECK.

    by v'shael

    "sporatically" ? It's sporadically.
    Talkbackers can afford to be lazy about such things, but as the article writer, you should know better Herc.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 3:08:48 AM CST

    TIM!

    by philetline

  • Feb 19, 2010 3:09:02 AM CST

    TIM!

    by philetline

    Whatever. Life and Times of Tim is back! Awesome.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 3:26:23 AM CST

    Fuck Adam whatshisface

    by jonjonb

    The Ricky Gervais Show (going all the way back to their radio show ten years ago) is the best audio comedy series pretty much ever, even though this animation is admittedly balls and actually detracts from the humor by being so shitty.

    The only podcast that comes close to being as funny as The Ray Peacock Podcast, but I can't see many people outside of the UK being able to appreciate that.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 4:07:08 AM CST

    Telegoons again!!

    by kefrif

    I'm sure this is history repeating...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 4:57:42 AM CST

    The FUnny or Die promos on YouTube....

    by wordage

    ....look pretty funny...at times. They also look like they are really borrowing very heavily from The Dave Chappelle Show in terms of writing and style...but with a star-studded cast.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 4:59:30 AM CST

    Biggest Insult is

    by captain rawbeard

    The fact that the animated podcasts are only available to US iTune account holders and not UK ones. Granted we got the original audio ones (not sure if US got them) but it still smacks of thanks for your support but we are giving the Americans extra stuff

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 7:49:10 AM CST

    What's up with your anti-Gervais bias Herc??

    by pizziola

    You didn't appreciate the BBC office. Are you too slow and unintelligent for Gervais's and Merchant's humour? I've listened to all the podcasts and they're brilliant. Go back to watching painfully awful hemorrhoid inducing shit like SNL and 30 Rock.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 8:22:37 AM CST

    whats with the canned laughter on that?

    by bileranter

    Had to listen to make sure that i was hearing it. Do people STILL need a cue for when to laugh?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 8:58:26 AM CST

    SRSLY Herc. PIZZIOLA is right. What up with the Gervais bashing?

    by thekylegassproject

  • Feb 19, 2010 9:01:43 AM CST

    JonJonB

    by thekylegassproject

    What is the Ray Peacock Show? I'm an American...but I don't want to be. Love it over there in the UK. Love Gervais and can't get enough English humor.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 9:02:07 AM CST

    Speaking of "Lucky Louie" ...

    by toe jam

    Has anyone else seen the promo for the new Louie CK series on FX? It's called ... drum roll, please ... "Louie." And it looks just like "Lucky Louie" -- not that it's a bad thing. I just can't believe they'd be so lazy as to call it "Louie." At least with "Lucky Louie," you had a lame attempt at sarcasm in the title. Still, though, I'm looking forward to seeing the new show come spring.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 9:29:48 AM CST

    I'm a major fan of Gervais...

    by lordporkington

    I still can't believe the bloke who used to appear for 5 minutes on the 11 O'Clock Show on late night Channel 4 is now making movies in Hollywood!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 9:33:55 AM CST

    And Pizziola...

    by lordporkington

    Just because Herc doesn't find Gervais funny, that doesn't make him 'slow and unintelligent'. If anything, you've made yourself look pretty unintelligent saying such a stupid thing. Humour is subjective and what makes one person laugh their arse off, will make another person roll their eyes and say 'that's dumb'. Oh, and I like 30 Rock too. Does that make me 'unintelligent' as well?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:00:05 AM CST

    Herc does seem a bit slow and unintelligent though...

    by righteousbrother

    also, somebody else, a fan used to animate sections from the Ricky Gervais radio show, and put them on youtube.......it must be where Gervais got the idea for this; I bet they're not going to see any money from it though.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:04:55 AM CST

    Drunk History

    by secretcylon

    I've seen 8-10 episodes of Funny or Die and overall it is hilarious. The Drunk History sketch with Lincoln is my favorite one ever.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:06:24 AM CST

    Also

    by secretcylon

    Herc like The American Office better than the British one so...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:06:50 AM CST

    likes

    by secretcylon

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:21:34 AM CST

    Carolla's show has become tedious.

    by the garbage man

    Contrary to conventional wisdom, complete creative freedom is not always better and his podcast proves it. Adam needs someone to tell him when he's wrong, to call him out when he doesn't know what he's talking about, and most of all to tell him to shut the hell up when he launches into yet another 15-minute rant about the exact same subject with the exact same arguments for the third day in a row. He's surrounded himself with lackeys and meek yes-men like Donny and with guests who don't give a shit, who are afraid of offending him and/or who just want to plug their latest work. In short, he's a victim of his own success: Carolla's humor derives from his outrage at being controlled, challenged, or slighted, and he just doesn't have that when he's sitting in his warehouse with his buddies and a couple of microphones.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:22:52 AM CST

    British humour in America

    by v'shael

    Look, the Brits are very good at self-deprecating humour. This doesn't always go down well in America, probably because self-mockery is not very well understood in a land where people shout "WE'RE NUMBER ONE!" and "U-S-A" at the drop of a hat. ("Any hat" in the words of the late Tasha Yar)

    How else to explain why a character like Basil Fawlty gets removed from the US remake of Fawlty Towers? Or why so many people cringe watching Gervais host an award show? They think it's real or something. And that the UK Office is "mean".

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:22:57 AM CST

    Podcasts don't work when animated.

    by royston lodge

    Anything that works well on radio (or as a podcast) will inevitably suffer when visualized onscreen.
    A large part of the fun is that the listener creates the images in their head while listening to the stories. The images that they create onscreen will always pale by comparison.
    For the talkbackers from Soviet Canuckistan (like me), it's like when the Air Farce made the jump from radio to TV. I loved their radio show, cuz I had no idea what they looked like. When they did impressions of famous people, you had an image in your head of the actual famous person.
    Once they made the jump to television, and you found out what they looked like, it was no longer funny.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:27:00 AM CST

    @LordPorkington : The 11 o'clock show.

    by v'shael

    Ah man, I still remember Daisy Donovan. What ever happened to those sweater puppies?

    It shouldn't be a surprise about Gervais. He was the funniest thing on that show, and Ali G was a close second. They both did well out of Hollywood.

    It was a bit of a shame though that Ricky's first stand up show Animals was 75% of the gags he did on the 11 o'clock show. I guess he knew hardly anyone had seen it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:29:51 AM CST

    @Royston Lodge : You're just wrong sir.

    by v'shael

    I suggest you check out this Smodcast animation.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu6nbpnEQOw

    Watching a stoned animated Kevin Smith ask Aquaman if he wants to get high... that's comedic gold. And Scott Mosier as a fish? Genius sir.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:38:12 AM CST

    No sir, I don't like it.

    by royston lodge

    I that video proves my point.
    I'd like to make some Drunk History videos with my friends though. Luckily, Canadian history was originally created by drunks, so it would work really well.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 11:08:00 AM CST

    Best Podcasts

    by dijonase24

    Herc, you seem to be saying that just because Corolla's podcast has more listeners (and why wouldn't it, he's a pretty big name, esp in radio) that makes it better. I get that you're a Corolla fan, but that's not much of an argument. Not that I don't like Corolla. His podcast is pretty good from what I've heard.

    That said, if you want a great podcast check out Never Not Funny, Jordan, Jesse, Go!, or Comedy Death Ray Radio. Easily the three best podcasts I've listened to, in that order.

    I've actually never heard Gervais's podcast, though I'd like to at some point. Are old episodes available?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 11:10:50 AM CST

    V'Shael...

    by lordporkington

    Gervais was indeed the funniest thing about the 11 O'Clock Show, although Ali G did make me chuckle more than I should have. And if you're looking for more Daisy Donovan action, then check out the original version of the movie 'Death At A Funeral'. And I say 'original version' because Chris Rock just did an American remake.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 11:14:01 AM CST

    Howard Stern is a whiny douche

    by sithmenace

    But that's why Herc likes him.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 11:29:40 AM CST

    Death at a Funeral

    by frozen01

    I second the recommendation. That movie was hilarious, one of the funniest I've ever seen. And it didn't hurt that Alan Tudyk was in it :)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 11:31:51 AM CST

    Ricky Gervais isn't funny

    by joesixpack

    He somehow rode a wave of The Office fame post US Office premiere. He needs to go away already, I haven't seen him in a single funny thing.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 11:43:22 AM CST

    We here in the U.S. use comedy to make fun of others

    by terry1978

    Not ourselves, sans a few of the more deadpan comedians. We laugh at you, not at ourselves.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 11:45:10 AM CST

    all the stuff about stupid Americans

    by happy boy

    not comprehending other countries' humor has been upheld in this talkback. Gervais is pompous and 1 dimensional but he's unquestionably funny. The one knock on him is that he stole the Office from Office Space but you can say that about Sacha Baron Cohen stealing Borat from that Turkish dude. But then again we have a bunch of guys here thinking Howard Stern and Corolla are the epitome of funny so yeah... America is stupid.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 12:10:15 PM CST

    Extras was a great show

    by battle_royale_with_cheese

    I'm surprised nobody's mentioned it. I get that British humor can be hard to swallow in the states, but the episode with a foul-mouthed Kate Winslet taking a part in a holocaust movie so she'll win her Oscar was excellent.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 12:11:03 PM CST

    KARL PILKINGTON HAS A HEAD LIKE A FUCKING ORANGE!

    by bob loblaw law blog

    It's true.And I could eat a knob at night.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 12:33:22 PM CST

    V'Shael

    by bluebottle

    Holy shit, I'm not a big Kevin Smith fan but that was fucking hilarious. Thanks for the link!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 12:49:40 PM CST

    thekylegassproject

    by jonjonb

    Ray Peacock is a standup comic who isn't particularly famous but seems to have sustained a career doing the circuit (as well as some minor acting roles). His podcast is sort of the same basic idea as Gervais', he does it with his two friends, one is fellow comic Ed Gamble, the other is Raji James, an actor who has somewhat fallen on hard times (he is the Karl Pilkington of this show, except he gets treated a million times worse than Gervais and Merchant do with Karl).

    Basically Ray and Ed spend most of the time giving Raji absolute shit and joking about his failing career and finding new ways to mine humour from the idea that he is a paedophile. Maybe some Americans can see the funny here but I really think the whole thing is too full of cultural references etc for many people outside the UK to get it. It's still worthwhile finding out more from Wikipedia, Google and youtube and seeing if you're interested. They no longer do the podcast in that format (although Ray and Ed do a weekly half-hour one of their own now) and it is quite hard to find. But if you go to http://tinyurl.com/ydvs6as (obvs removing any spaces this stupid talkback software might include) you can find all the episodes as well as some other bonus material.

    For newcomers I'd recommend skipping the first series entirely (except possibly episode four, because it contains one of their funniest bits ever) and starting with s2, where they've got the format properly sorted and the audio quality is also better. Again I'd have to reiterate that non-Brits will most likely scratch their heads at this stuff and be left cold, but in my opinion these are the funniest podcasts on the internet.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 12:51:33 PM CST

    @Bluebottle: You're welcome.

    by v'shael

    I would love to see more Smodcasts animated like that. And for me, the Ricky Gervais show is like that.


    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 12:55:36 PM CST

    The reason Herc is not a fan of Gervais is simple

    by spike fan

    He is not Joss Whedon. Lets face it the poor guy never stood a chance

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 1:13:10 PM CST

    @Bluebottle : If you haven't seen it, there's one more

    by v'shael

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcTa0AfqcXQ

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 1:19:28 PM CST

    Fucking Cheadle- I love that guy

    by yackbacker

    that amused me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 1:20:01 PM CST

    I prefer Karl Dilkington.

    by the 6th conchord

    I hope Gervais' show shows what the venerable actor Clive Warren looks like.

    You never see an old man eating a Twix!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 1:27:46 PM CST

    Why do I dislike Herc so much?

    by unapatowzing

    I really can't figure it out.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 1:28:04 PM CST

    Who the fuck is Clive Warren??!!

    by lordporkington

    That podcast probably made me laugh more than any other. And I want to name my firstborn Karl Dilkington in his honour. If it's a girl, she'll be Rebecca De Mornay.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:06:52 PM CST

    Adam Carolla's popular in the US

    by aversiontherapy2

    Please stop mistaking America for the world ffs.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:07:13 PM CST

    The 6th Conchord

    by bob loblaw law blog

    Or eata', MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARS, a bar-bar-bar!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:40:14 PM CST

    A fucking laugh track??? Reeeeeaaallllyy??????

    by skraggo

    Wow, that laugh track is fucking awful!!!! I love the Gervais podcasts but they don't need to be animated. Half the fun is imagining the incredulous looks on Ricky's and Stephen's faces while Karl is blathering on about something ludicrous. Ricky's laugh alone is infectious enough to render any laugh track superfluous. Jesus Christ... a laugh track... We're still using those?????? Chimpanzee that!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:45:20 PM CST

    Um...

    by jonjonb

    The show doesn't have a laughter track.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:56:55 PM CST

    V'Shael...Hating America Since 1984

    by rebeck2

    What a funny coincidence. Just the other day you were telling me I was imagining your hatred of all things American and here you are bringing it up unsolicited in a thread about an animated TV show. Wow, you showed me. You sure go to a lot of effort to let us know what's wrong with us... Asshat. (Or as the late and wholly fictional Tasha Yar said, "ANY asshat") YOU'RE NUMBER ONE! YOU'RE NUMBER ONE! I realize you're not hearing that enough (or at all) at the Winter Olympics.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 2:59:47 PM CST

    Skraggo

    by rebeck2

    I thought the same thing. Hard to believe they would think that was necessary, or wanted at all, in 2010. I figured HBO was smarter than that.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 3:03:27 PM CST

    Once again

    by jonjonb

    There is NO laughter track. That clip is from The Late Show, it is the audience there that is laughing.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 3:08:10 PM CST

    Oh, Thanks Jon Jon

    by rebeck2

    And good night, Mary Ellen.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 4:16:00 PM CST

    podcasts

    by ripleygrady

    I gotta say....I love everything Ricky Gervais has done, but this animated thing seems so terrible. The podcasts are some of the funniest things ever produced and I think they work based on the fact that people listen to them, not watch them. It just seems lazy and second rate - it's like 'hey, we've got hours of us talking absolute shit, why don't we cheaply animate it for those who haven't listened to it and those dumb enough to need visualizations.' I mean, there's nothing new here. They're cashing in again on something they've already produced - and that's what is kinda depressing. They always seemed to be big promoters of originality and art - I hope this isn't the beginning of the end for their creative brilliance.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 4:48:32 PM CST

    Will this be a repeat

    by jocutus

    of the classic "British Office is superior to US Office" talkbacks? Only now it's "Audio podcasts are far superior to animated podcasts"." "My imagination was far superior to whatever those animators dreamed up", etc. etc.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 5:48:27 PM CST

    JonJonB

    by skraggo

    Well that's a relief. Rant retracted. However, I still don't understand what the cheap animation is supposed to add to the show.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 6:14:05 PM CST

    Loved the podcasts. Not sure it'll translate to TV.

    by fastcars

    But one thing I absolutely don't give a fuck about is Adam Corolla's radio show. Why is that even mentioned? "Hey guys, here's some news about X. BUT Y IS SO MUCH BETTER YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT Y OH MY GOD."

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 6:53:14 PM CST

    HOW CAN YOU NOT MENTION LIFE AND TIMES OF TIM!!!!

    by danielkurland

    Jesus, this show is SO fucking funny. I've seen the first half of the premiere, and it is wonderful.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 6:57:21 PM CST

    Curious about Funny or Die...

    by danielkurland

    I've got pretty high standards in regards to sketch comedy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 6:57:45 PM CST

    Skraggo

    by jonjonb

    No idea on that one. This show is supposed to be aimed at people who haven't heard the podcasts, but I honestly believe if I was one of those people I'd find the conversations less funny because of the overall shittyness of the tacked-on cartoons.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 7:10:37 PM CST

    adam carolla and ricky gervais

    by charlesbronsonlives

    i like the carolla's but i get sick of hearing about mexican's who can't drive and how he'd had to see his daughter get fucked by a black guy. there's no comparison with gervais. fuck downloads. for one, the gervais podcasts that debuted in 2005 were free, sure, but no one knew anything about podcasts, and now he's charging for them and they're still gold. carolla is fine and whatnot, but he's nowhere near being considered on the same level as gervais, merchant, and pilkington. by the way, arent you the same retard who never gave the original office a chance? and don't fucking bring stern into this. you fuck up.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 7:13:25 PM CST

    LAUGH TRACK

    by charlesbronsonlives

    its a clip from the Letterman show. That's where the laughter is coming from. There is no laugh track on the hbo product.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 7:18:52 PM CST

    Karl Dilkington looks spot on

    by iforgotabout19

    And so does Merchant, But Gervais looks like Fred Flinstone. Also, what's up with the (barely audible anyway) laughtrack?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 7:20:04 PM CST

    Oh

    by iforgotabout19

    I just saw that the review says Fred Flinstone. Damnit, now I'm no better than USA today.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 7:33:19 PM CST

    ...so the rocket goes off, right?

    by pushthebutton

    A word on the animation of the podcasts... an article on the New york Times goes on to explain Ricky's model was drawn by Ricky himself, and most of the animation decisions came from the trio. They wanted the toons to look light and happy as not to support the thought that Ricky and Steve were being too mean to Karl.

    I think the show is gonna be a hit. It takes me forever to introduce someone to the podcasts, but once i nag enough and get them to actually sit down and try them out - fans for life. I think by now, anyone who hasn't heard of the podcasts yet are the type that are so out of touch that they will need visual aids to understand the accents.

    I seriously hope this show stays on another season so we can see the "do you rule your brain or does your brain rule you?" debate.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 7:47:00 PM CST

    ya

    by ripleygrady

    I haven't seen a full episode yet, so I guess I can't comment. And although I still believe mine or anyone else's imagination is still far greater than this animation, I am still kinda baffled that they didn't pick out material from ALL of the podcasts - maybe things that would transfer well to this sort of thing, rather than just the first season. Again, I guess I won't know until i see it, but from the clip above I can't get too excited about this.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 8:48:12 PM CST

    remember Shorties watching Shorties on Comedy Central?

    by badmrwonka

    that shit was HILARIOUS, if this is at all in that style, I'll give it a shot.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 19, 2010 10:08:21 PM CST

    V'Shael does not hate America!

    by buffywrestling

    Not really sure what you guys are agruing about but...Hey! V doesn't "hate" anything. He shows the appropriate amount of disdain for any given thing at any given time.

    That makes him a "Talkbacker".

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 20, 2010 1:06:44 AM CST

    The Ricky Gervais Show episode #1 is up on YouTube

    by shabado

    Full length on HBO's official YouTube Channel: http://tinyurl.com/yjqs6kh

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 20, 2010 3:24:38 AM CST

    The Ricky Gervais Show

    by boyalien

    Was fucking hilarious. Animation did not detract, it added. Haters can suck it. This was the funniest thing I've seen on HBO in years.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 20, 2010 11:20:10 AM CST

    I hope Funny or Die

    by bass ackwards

    Puts out more Between Two Fern with Zach Galifianakis, I love that. And Carolla is diverting for a handful of episodes, but then it gets terribly boring having him interrupt guests so e can tell the same jokes/stories/rants over and over again.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Where you talk about American movies and American TV shows. Because you love it. You love American websites and American films and American TV shows but you get so angry when Americans don't like your country's product.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 20, 2010 1:15:17 PM CST

    Website, that is.

    by juemad

    Stupid American website.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 20, 2010 1:16:12 PM CST

    ... and it's "Why don't"

    by juemad

    Stupid American typing.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 20, 2010 1:34:36 PM CST

    Juemad

    by badmrwonka

  • Feb 20, 2010 5:12:26 PM CST

    The first episode is online

    by doubledown44

    I just watched the first episode of 'The Ricky Gervais Show' at http://itsjustmovies.com/7608.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 20, 2010 9:29:17 PM CST

    Praise be to the man with a head like a fucking orange

    by untitleduser

    The show was likely not aimed at guys like me who know every word of the podcasts but I still laughed my ass off finally, officially seeing Monkey News (you fucking :indecipherable:). The animation on Karl was perfect. My hope is the show broadens the fanbase for the podcast because it's brilliant.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 20, 2010 10:56:11 PM CST

    Show comes off as mean-spirited

    by juemad

    Merchant and Gervais sitting there, grinning with glee as they laugh at Carl. It's no different than the podcast but the two of them just come off as jerks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 21, 2010 2:33:25 AM CST

    DanielKurland

    by banky the hack

    Have you seen much Whitest Kids U Know? I think they're among the funniest sketch group still functioning. Not quite Kids in the Hall or Mr. Show, but pretty funny. Look for "WKUK Water Balloons" on YouTube.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 21, 2010 5:56:14 AM CST

    The drunk from Drunk History is hotter than Zooey

    by american mythos

    I would definitely take drunk history lessons from her. That said, I still love Zooey.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 21, 2010 6:02:57 AM CST

    Funny or Die

    by american mythos

    I usually have a few laughs here and there from clips off the Funny or Die website, but I found the HBO show much funnier. Hopefully it sticks around so SNL and Funny or Die can supplement the other's hit and miss style of comedy. And I better see more drunk history next time! With the same lush of course. Or maybe they can take a new cute female comedian every week, juice her up, and let her play teacher.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 21, 2010 12:58:57 PM CST

    If you're on the fence about Carolla

    by hercules

    I implore you to click that link up there and listen to his interveiw with Larry Miller. Ace's story about the drinking girl made coffee fly out my nose.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 21, 2010 1:27:31 PM CST

    A quick review of that Carolla podcast

    by v'shael

    Your milage may vary, naturally...

    Larry says he wants to tell a story. Adam immediately interrupts him, to start plugging shit. It's basically adverts. Skip to 2:30 before Larry is allowed to start the story.

    We get maybe 5 lines into the anecdote before Adam interrupts and kills the momentum, to ask about matinees. This becomes a running thing.
    Larry is just building up some steam again, when Adam interrupts to talk about holding a flask in case fans want to buy him a drink.

    For the rest of the story, every time Larry builds up any speed, Adam steps in like a fucking roadblock.
    In other words, if Larry's "drinking bit" is classic, you'd never know it thanks to Adam. He's a fucking tool.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 21, 2010 4:03:27 PM CST

    Adam interupts because that's who Adam is

    by juemad

    He does that in his personal life. Everyone knows him knows how he loves to talk and talk and talk. Guy is still funny. At least he isn't sitting there making fun of his co-host for the entire show.
    That's high-school shit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 21, 2010 4:23:57 PM CST

    the last gag in episode one had me ROLLING.

    by redhorsevector

    and i'd heard it already last year on the podcast. i won't step on the joke, but it involved a shopping list... hahahahahahaha.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 21, 2010 6:21:36 PM CST

    I LOVED The Gervais show....

    by jaysin420

    it looked dumb after a few minutes but then I didn't stop laughing until it ended. Funny or Die was awful but they have tons of funny stuff on the site so I don't know I guess it should get better.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 21, 2010 6:49:41 PM CST

    The podcasts are fucking brilliant BUT

    by thewaqman

    this animated series is dumb and unnecessary. Just do yourselves a favor and download the podcasts. Comedy brilliance.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 21, 2010 6:51:54 PM CST

    Also his podcasts > Stern and shit

    by thewaqman

  • Feb 22, 2010 11:08:35 AM CST

    I love British comedy

    by gotilk

    And I have to say I agree for the most part about Ricky. But I do like the audio podcasts. Much like Stern, the bulk of the entertainment for me comes from listening to a seriously dysfunctional work family find new ways to not communicate well. Usually in ways I'm familiar with. Like in the clip above.. anyone with half a brain knows he doesn't actually THINK that actually HAPPENS in real life, but Ricky just jumps right on him like he's an idiot who thinks that's the way life occurs, like a cheap bully-class-clown, which is entertaining as hell. Mostly because you cannot imagine anyone except hangers-on and family (maybe not all of THEM) wanting to be around the guy.. ever. (even though to be fair, the guy he makes fun of in this case IS 5 kinds of dense) Part of why I never liked either of the Office series (while recognizing that it is brilliant and creative) is that I just don't respond well to that whole cinema verite style "discomfort comedy" thing. Usually.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Feb 22, 2010 2:13:03 PM CST

    its better as a podcast

    by jamf

    as usual, imagining stuff in your head is better than seeing it on screen. sigh.

    Reply to Talkback

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