Stephen Merchant

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.

Relativity Media Sets Release Dates for Untitled Raven Project and Untitled Farrelly/Wessler Comedy

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 3rd, 2011 at 2:36 pm

Two upcoming Relativity Media films may not have titles, but they now have release dates.  First up, James McTeigue’s Untitled Raven Project (previously titled The Raven) will open on March 9, 2012.  Per the press release, “The film is a gritty thriller in which Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) joins forces with a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe’s own works as the basis in a string of brutal murders.”  The untitled movie also stars Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson, and Oliver Jackson-Cohen.

Relativity has also set the date for the Untitled Farrelly/Wessler Comedy that has an absolutely ridiculous cast starring in a series of interconnected stories.  Just some of the names on board include Johnny Knoxville, Gerard Butler, Anna Faris, Seann Hugh Jackman, Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Halle Berry, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Kate Winslet, Terrence Howard, Liev Schreiber, Elizabeth Banks, Justin Long, Kristen Bell, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Stephen Merchant.  Hit the jump for the full press release.

Jerry Seinfeld and Johnny Depp to Guest Star on Ricky Gervais’ Comedy Series LIFE’S TOO SHORT

by Ethan Anderton    Posted: March 17th, 2011 at 12:53 pm

As a fan of comedy from our friends across the pond in the United Kingdom, I pretty much love anything Ricky Gervais delivers from The Office to Extras. Now I’m currently eagerly anticipating another one of his BBC shows hitting HBO with Life’s Too Short, a series which sees Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick in the Harry Potter franchise and Wicket the Ewok in Return of the Jedi) as an egomaniac dwarf who runs a talent agency for fellow showbiz dwarfs. Gervais and Stephen Merchant (who also crafted the two aforementioned British comedy series) wrote the six episode first season which is described as a cross between Extras and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Now the show is even more enticing with some great guest appearances from some of Hollywood’s biggest names. Deadline reports Gervais is in the midst of working out a schedule with Johnny Depp to have some sort of guest role on the show, and he’s also approached Jerry Seinfeld for a guest spot to play “quite a whiny Upper East Side Jewish guy.” Honestly, this new series can’t come soon enough. While no formal deal is in place yet, the series is expected to hit HBO at some point, so stay tuned for more news on the project coming to the States.

HALL PASS Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 25th, 2011 at 7:14 am

The Farrelly Brothers have exhausted any goodwill they built up during the 90s.  They once were modestly successful with gross-out humor that was disgusting but also slightly clever.  Most gross-out comedies don’t go for a bull semen joke, but Kingpin just casually threw one into the mix.  Unfortunately, the glory days of that film and There’s Something About Mary are well behind them and their 2007 remake of The Heartbreak Kid was unbearable.  With their latest effort, Hall Pass, they regain some of their footing, but the laziness of the humor combined with the inability to find what works makes for a film that’s barely passable.

First Trailer for HALL PASS Starring Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate, and Jenna Fischer

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: November 4th, 2010 at 7:24 pm

Warner Bros. has released the first trailer for Hall Pass, the latest comedy from the Farrelly brothers (There’s Something About Mary).  Owen Wilson (Marley and Me) and Jason Sudeikis (Saturday Night Live) star as two best friends whose wives “take a bold approach to revitalizing their individual marriages: granting them a ‘hall pass,’ one week of freedom to do whatever they want…no questions asked.”  Christina Applegate (Going the Distance) and Jenna Fischer (The Office) star as the wives.  Hit the jump to check out the trailer and synopsis.

First Trailer and Image for GNOMEO AND JULIET

by Ramses Flores    Posted: September 21st, 2010 at 8:15 pm

Touchstone Pictures has released the first trailer for their upcoming animated film, Gnomeo and Juliet.  As you’ve probably already guessed, the film is a retelling of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet… only with gnomes.  The film will feature music by Elton John and the voice cast includes James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine, Jason Statham, Maggie Smith, Patrick Stewart, Ashley Jensen, Stephen Merchant, Matt Lucas, Jim Cummings, Julie Walters, Richard Wilson, and Ozzy Osbourne.  You can hit the jump to watch the trailer and to see the first image from the film.

Trailer for AN IDIOT ABROAD Starring Karl Pilkington

by Ti Alan Chase    Posted: August 24th, 2010 at 8:00 am

The trailer for Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s newest television show is now online.  An Idiot Abroad sends “Global Idiot” Karl Pilkington on a quest to visit the Seven Wonders of the World.  It looks to be quite amusing and should appeal to fans of The Ricky Gervais Show and of Gervais’ podcasts, both of which feature Pilkington’s odd musings about the world.  An Idiot Abroad is scheduled to premiere this month on Sky1.

The trailer and an official description of the series can be found after the jump.

Ricky Gervais Expands HBO Presence with CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM Role and Upcoming Series LIFE’S TOO SHORT

by Ti Alan Chase    Posted: June 11th, 2010 at 6:05 pm

If Ricky Gervais has a home anywhere in America, it has got to be at HBO.   The premium cable station has already aired both seasons of Gervais’ comedy series Extras, his stand-up special Out of England and the animated Ricky Gervais Show, which will be coming back for a second season next year.  Now Variety is reporting that Gervais will be appearing alongside his pal Larry David in the next season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Gervais will play himself – which should surprise no one who watches Curb - in the 8th episode of the new season.

It is also expected that Gervais will have another series of his own airing on HBO next year.  He is currently gearing up to begin shooting his third comedy series, Life’s Too Short, for the BBC and it seems most likely that it will air on HBO when it finally makes it across the ocean.  Life’s Too Short will “document” the life of a show-biz dwarf and will star Warwick Davis, with Gervais, and Gervais’ writing partner Stephen Merchant in minor (no pun intended) roles.

Warwick Davis to Star in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s New TV Series LIFE’S TOO SHORT

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 21st, 2010 at 2:49 pm

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have cast Warwick Davis to star in their new TV series Life’s Too Short.  Davis, who was in the Daniel Radcliffe episode of Gervais and Merchant’s series Extras, will be the center of, “an observation comedy which follows Warwick’s day-to-day life in a small world where big things happen.”  Says Gervais, “We’re having so much fun working with Warwick.  Pound for pound he is one of the funniest men I know.”  According to Variety, Gervais and Merchant will appear in minor roles.

The 3′ 6″ actor’s previous roles include Wicket in Return of the Jedi, Marvin in A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005),  Charms instructor Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter films, and most importantly, he is the star of all six Leprechaun films.

HBO Renews THE RICKY GERVAIS SHOW

by Ti Alan Chase    Posted: March 24th, 2010 at 9:05 am

Despite lackluster ratings, HBO has ordered a second season of The Ricky Gervais Show. Michael Lombardo, president of HBO programming, told the BBC that it was renewing the show because it has “sparked a loyal and enthusiastic following that is growing steadily.”

The show adds animation to old audio from Gervais’ record-breaking podcasts.  Also appearing with Gervais are Stephen Merchant, Gervais’ longtime collaborator (The Office, Extras), and Karl Pilkington, whose nonsensical musings have caused Gervais to dub him “a global village idiot”.

Gervais and Merchant’s first film collaboration, Cemetery Junction, will be released in the UK on April 14th.

Christina Applegate and Alyssa Milano Will also Require a HALL PASS for Farrelly Brothers’ Latest Movie

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 25th, 2010 at 10:30 pm

The cast of The Farrelly Brothers’ next comedy, Hall Pass, continues to grow as Christina Applegate, Alyssa Milano, Larry Campbell, and Vanessa Angel have all signed on to co-star.  They will join Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Amanda Bynes, Stephen Merchant, J.B. Smoove, Nickey Whelan, and Derek Waters.  All this casting is surprising when you stop to consider that the Farrelly Brothers’ previous film, a remake of The Heartbreak Kid, was one of the worst things ever to happen to mankind.

Their new comedy, which they co-wrote with Pete Jones and Kevin Barnett, revolves around two husbands who are given permission to go outside their marriages for guilt-free romantic liaisons for one week.  If J.B. Smoove doesn’t tell one of the lead characters to “Get in dat ass,” this whole project will be a waste.

Stephen Merchant and J.B. Smoove get a Hall Pass from the Farrelly Brothers

by Keith Demko    Posted: February 22nd, 2010 at 7:55 am

The chances that the Farrelly brothers deliver something funny with their latest flick, Hall Pass, keep increasing as they add seriously funny people to the cast.

With shooting set to start Tuesday in Atlanta, the brothers have added to a cast that already included Owen Wilson, Jenna Fischer and Jason Sudeikis two names that will be very familiar to anyone who watches HBO: Stephen Merchant and J.B. Smoove. Merchant, of course, is Ricky Gervais’ main partner in comical crime and most visibly played his incredibly incompetent agent on Extras. And Smoove played Larry David’s extremely unlikely brother-in-law, one of “the Blacks,” on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

As for the movie itself, it’s about a pair of married couples  who decide to experiment with a free pass for the husbands to engage in guilt-free romantic encounters. Wilson and Sudeikis are the two lucky guys, and Merchant and Smoove will play two of their buddies.  Do funny people automatically lead to funny movies? Of course not, but here’s hoping that’s the case here. Hit the jump to find out what else Merchant and Smoove are up to on screens big and small.

Trailer for CEMETERY JUNCTION, Written and Directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 31st, 2010 at 9:04 pm

A trailer for the upcoming coming-of-age comedy Cemetery Junction has popped up online.  Written and directed by The Office and Extras creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, it’s hard to locate their style of comedy in the trailer.  Perhaps that’s because the film isn’t shot documentary-style or Gervais and Merchant aren’t the stars.  But the writing and one-liners still lack that subtle bite of Gervais/Merchant comedy.  I’m not really sure what to make of this trailer since it’s hard to get any sense of the characters or plot beyond Christian Cooke’s character wanting to run away with his girlfriend and the importance of getting out of a small town.  Oh, and the movie takes place in the 60s. I’m sure Gervais and Merchant’s stamp is on the film, but it’s hard to find it within this one minute and forty-four seconds.

Hit the jump to see the trailer and along with the official synopsis.  Cemetery Junction opens on April 7th in the UK.

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