Ricky Gervais

AN IDIOT ABROAD DVD Review

by Jackson Cresswell    Posted: February 25th, 2012 at 6:30 am

An Idiot Abroad is a BBC travel series dedicated to the seven wonders of the world and the culture that surrounds them.  It isn’t a new idea.  Dozens of shows have tackled the exact same subject using a combination of stunning photography and a charismatic, informative host which can create a rich, in-depth look at some truly remarkable feats of architecture and ingenuity.  But Idiot Abroad offers something that none of those other documentary series has: a host who has no curiosity or interest in the subjects he is sent to cover.  Karl Pilkington is the host (or presenter) of Idiot Abroad and is either an Andy Kaufman-esque performance artist or, more likely, a man with unbelievably simple tastes.  Either way, his interactions and observations make this travel series extremely entertaining.  Hit the jump for our review of An Idiot Abroad on DVD.

LIFE’S TOO SHORT Series Premiere Review

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: February 19th, 2012 at 9:07 am

After finding success with The Office in the UK, not to mention the US adaptation on NBC, writer, director and star Ricky Gervais returns to the mockumentary subgenre with his longtime friend and writing partner Stephen Merchant. However, this time the two British funnymen bring a new face into the comedic world as Life’s Too Short follows an exaggerated version of dwarf actor Warwick Davis, still clinging to his fame from starring in films like Return of the Jedi, Willow and the Harry Potter franchise and struggling to keep his life together as an agent for other dwarf actors and a smug star who might be too big for his britches. For my take on HBO’s new series hit the jump.

Matt Live-Blogs the 2012 Golden Globe Awards

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 15th, 2012 at 4:52 pm

The Golden Globes are a bit of a silly ceremony and that’s part of what makes them so fun.  They used to have a modicum of influence over the Oscar nominations, but then deadlines were changed and now it’s just a fluffy ceremony where celebrities eat, drink, be merry, and receive recognition for performances and programs that will never be touched by the Emmys and the Oscars.  There’s some freedom to that and so we can cheer when The Hangover wins Best Comedy/Musical or Johnny Depp wins Best Actor for Sweeney Todd by virtue of being Johnny Depp.   And all of tonight will be made better by having Ricky Gervais as our host.

Click here for a list of the nominees and hit the jump for my on-going live-blog and be sure to keep refreshing the page for my comments.  You can also follow me on Twitter for more Globes commentary.  The 2011 Golden Globe Awards air at 8pm (EST) on NBC.

HBO Announces Premiere Dates for EASTBOUND & DOWN, LIFE’S TOO SHORT and LUCK

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: November 29th, 2011 at 2:14 pm

With the midseason premieres of several new and returning series just around the corner on network television, cable has plenty of new stuff in store as well. Deadline reports HBO has just brought their midseason premiere schedule to the table with the return of the third (and possible final) season of Danny McBride in Eastbound & Down returning on February 19th at 10/9c. Then following immediately after on the same night at 10:30/9:30c Ricky Gervais brings yet another one of his British successes to the cable network with Life’s Too Short. But before all that, the new drama series Luck, starring Dustin Hoffman, will debut on January 29th. However, the series will actually have a sneak preview after the season finale of Boardwalk Empire on December 11th as well. After the jump you can check out the trailers for all three series.

THE OFFICE 10th Anniversary Edition DVD Review

by Rob Wieland    Posted: November 29th, 2011 at 5:49 am

It seems like when influential TV shows are discussed, anything past the 1980’s is left off the list. Things peter out around All in the Family and come to a stop right around Seinfeld. That’s nearly two decades worth of shows left out of the conversation. One of these shows recently released a 10th anniversary edition. The Office may only have two short English seasons and a 2-part Christmas special under it’s belt, but its influence has been felt in modern television for a decade. Our review is after the jump.

Ricky Gervais Comments on Hosting the Golden Globes; Says it Will Be His Last Time

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: November 18th, 2011 at 3:28 pm

The first time Ricky Gervais (The Office) hosted the Golden Globe Awards in 2010, he was the first British host in 14 years. The last time Gervais hosted, he took on a hailstorm of criticism (mostly from the celebrities he razzed in hilarious fashion). Now that the comedian is slated to host the Globes in 2012, there’s no way to know what we can expect…unless we ask the man himself.

In a recent blog post, Gervais talked about the decision to come back as a host “for a third and definitely final time” and what made him decide to agree. The comedian is currently at work on his performance for the Globes, saying, “Started writing gags for that today by the way. I should apologise to everyone now; but I won’t apologise after so what’s the point? Much more from Gervais after the jump.

Ricky Gervais Set to Return as Host of Golden Globes

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: November 16th, 2011 at 1:35 pm

Because there hasn’t been enough talk about awards show hosts and controversies lately, it now looks like Ricky Gervais will be returning as the host of the Golden Globes. As you probably remember, Gervais hosted the ceremony last year and came under fire for being too much like Ricky Gervais. Personally, I didn’t even think Gervais was that “controversial”, but more than a few celebrities in attendance apparently took offense and the Office actor has been talking about it ever since. Showblitz reports that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association has voted to have the comedian return.

Gervais revealed this past February that organizers had asked him to consider returning, but the HFPA responding with a resounding “false”. It looks as though they either changed their mind or were so embarrassed by Gervais’ outing of their proposition that they decided to lie. An official deal isn’t yet in place, but both parties are in agreement and Gervais is poised to host what’s sure to be an interesting ceremony come January.

Liam Neeson Knows AIDS Is Ripe for Improvisational Comedy in New Clip from LIFE’S TOO SHORT

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 11th, 2011 at 9:13 am

Last month, we showed you a clip from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant‘s new TV series Life’s Too Short starring Warwick Davis (Harry Potter).  The clip had Johnny Depp lampooning himself by going after Gervais’ hosting of the Golden Globes.  It was pretty funny and it was good to know that someone was looking out for Tim Allen.  This new clip absolutely blows it away.  In the latest clip, Liam Neeson comes in to talk with Gervais and Merchant about expanding into comedy.  Neeson, Gervais, and Merchant use Neeson’s dramatic gravitas to brilliant effect and show that improv, Oscar-nominees, and contracting AIDS from an African prostitute is an odd but hilarious mixture.

Hit the jump to check out the clip.  Life’s Too Short began airing yesterday on BBC Two and will air in the US on HBO next year.

Watch Johnny Depp Rip on Ricky Gervais About the Golden Globes in Guest Appearance on LIFE’S TOO SHORT

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: October 26th, 2011 at 2:54 pm

Back in March we learned that the British comedy series Life’s Too Short from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the creators of the UK version of The Office, would feature some great guest stars like Jerry Seinfeld and Johnny Depp alongside series star Warwick Davis (best known for playing Wicket the Ewok and Professor Flitwick in the Harry Potter franchise). The series won’t hit HBO until sometime next year (though it will air across the pond before then), but now we have an absolutely hilarious clip of Johnny Depp meeting Ricky Gervais and absolutely tearing him a new one about his jokes during his hosting stint at the Golden Globe awards. Of course, it’s all in good fun as Depp has his fedora handed to him a couple times as well. And if there’s one thing you’ll learn from this clip, is that Depp is quite a big fan of a certain 90′s sitcom star. See the clip from Life’s Too Short after the jump.

First Trailer for Ricky Gervais’ BBC Sitcom LIFE’S TOO SHORT Starring Warwick Davis

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: June 22nd, 2011 at 4:23 pm

Since his programs like Extras and The Ricky Gervais Show have found a happy home at HBO, it’s no surprise to learn from Deadline that the cable network will also air Life’s Too Short, the new comedy series from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. We first heard about the project back in April of last year which has Warwick Davis playing a fictionalized version of himself as a down and out little person actor trying to hustle and connive his way back into the spotlight. We’ve already heard about guest stars such as Johnny Depp and Jerry Seinfeld , and it sounds like Sting and Steve Carell will also make appearances along with Gervais and Merchant playing themselves in small roles too. The series will first air on BBC Two later this year and will hit HBO sometime in 2012, but you can check out the first trailer for the new series after the jump.

First Trailer for THE MUPPETS plus Poster for Fake Movie GREEN WITH ENVY

by Collider Staff    Posted: May 23rd, 2011 at 11:37 am

The first trailer for The Muppets has gone online.  It takes a little while to get to the actual Muppets, but stick through the trailer for the first 50 seconds and you’ll get there.  This is really more of an announcement trailer, and I’m not sure what will set this Muppets movie apart, but creating a trailer that basically goes “Surprise!  Muppets!” isn’t a bad way to start.  I’m slightly confused by the set-up of a fake Jason Segel/Amy Adams romance flick called Green with Envy, but I’ll go with it for now.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer for The Muppets and the poster for Green with Envy.  The Muppets also stars Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones, and a slew of celebrity cameos.  The film opens November 23rd.

New Trailer for Season Eight of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: May 23rd, 2011 at 9:25 am

Larry David is back, and he’s as neurotic as ever in this new trailer for the eighth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO. And once again, this season is rife with some great guest stars which you can see in the trailer including Ana Gasteyer, Paul F. Tompkins, and the one that I can’t wait to see, Michael J. Fox. We also know that Ricky Gervais will show up at some point, so that’s definitely someone else to get excited about. The season premiere hits HBO on Sunday, July 10th ant 10/9c, but in the meantime, you can check out the hilarious new trailer after the jump.

Laura Linney to Star Opposite Bill Murray in HYDE PARK ON THE HUDSON; Ricky Gervais’ Voice Joins SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD

by Ramses Flores    Posted: May 6th, 2011 at 7:02 pm

Laura Linney (The Big C) will star alongside Bill Murray in Hyde Park on the Hudson.  The film focuses on FDR’s love affair with his cousin, Daisy, during a June weekend in 1939 when the British King and Queen visited Roosevelt’s upstate New York cottage in what was the first ever visit to America by a member of the British monarchy.  As we previously reported, the notoriously reclusive Bill Murray has signed on to star as FDR.  Now, Deadline reports that Linney has signed on to play FDR’s cousin/lover, Daisy.  I’ll watch anything with Bill Murray and it’ll be interesting to see who will end up playing Eleanor Roosevelt along with the King and Queen.  Roger Mitchell (Morning Glory) will direct the film.

In other casting news, Ricky Gervais has signed on to voice the character of Argonaut in the upcoming Spy Kids film, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World.   In the press release Gervais said, “Not only am I lending my voice to Spy Kids, but they can keep it.  I’m sick of it.”  Not much is known about Argonaut besides the fact that he is a robot spy dog.  Gervais joins the cast which already includes Jessica Alba, Jeremy Piven, Joel McHale, Rowan Blanchard, Mason Cook, Antonio Banderas, Danny Trejo , Alexa Vega, and Daryl Sabara.  Spy Kids: All the Time in the World opens on August 19, 2011 and it’s written and directed by Robert Rodriguez.  Hit the jump  for the synopsis.

Trailer for HBO Comedy Special TALKING FUNNY with Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Louis C.K. and Ricky Gervais

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: March 30th, 2011 at 2:58 pm

As a connoisseur of comedy, I love learning about the craft and process of stand-up comedians and the brilliant work they do on stage. So you can imagine my excitement about the forthcoming comedy special Talking Funny, a casual conversation about comedy and life as a comedian from some of today’s greatest funnymen. Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Ricky Gervais and Louis C.K. all sit down to shoot the shit, share anecdotes, talk about adding new material to their acts and more. Check out the funny trailer below, and don’t forget to check out the special when it premieres on Friday, April 22nd at 9/8c on HBO.

Ricky Gervais and Will Arnett Slated to Appear on THE OFFICE Season Finale

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: March 21st, 2011 at 10:52 pm

The announcement that Steve Carell would leave The Office before the end of season seven provoked rampant speculation about who might replace him.  It just so happens that two of the mentioned possibilities, Ricky Gervais and Will Arnett, will appear in the finale.  Gervais came up because he created and starred in the British series that served as source material to NBC’s remake, but he has gone on record saying that he has no plans to join the show.  Gervais’ appearance will presumably build on the brief cameo he made in an episode earlier this season.

Actually, it was Gervais himself who brought Arnett’s name to the table.  Gervais wrote, “Had a little meeting with NBC about various things and recommended Will Arnett for a regular in The Office. Thoughts? I think he’s amazing.”  Is it possible the network heeded his advice?  Yes, but not necessarily probable.  EW‘s sources warn that an appearance in the finale does not require that either will be the boss next season.  There will reportedly be “other notable guest stars,” including Will Ferrell, who is on board for a four-episode arc.

The Office was officially renewed for an eighth season late last week.  The one-hour finale airs May 19.  Watch Gervais’ initial cameo after the jump.

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