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Gervais On Stand-Up, 'Office,' 'Turning Tricks for Heroin'
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 Ricky Gervais has come a long way in a short time. The British comic best known for providing the world with the British and American phenomenon known as "The Office." Gervais made a somewhat rare State-side media appearance this week at the TV critics press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif., to talk about his upcoming HBO comedy special, "Ricky." He also gave some insight into the evolution of "The Office," gave his thoughts on the much talked about American "Office" spinoff, and talked about the differences between American and British comedy.
Many Americans might not be too familiar with Gervais' stand-up comedy style, where he tackles taboos and political correctness by making various observations through the lens of his on-stage alter-ego, which he describes as "a brash, ignorant, and I suppose sort of firm right-winged bigot, but stupid, and sort of lovable."
"He doesn’t really understand what he’s saying," Gervais said. "I like to have a slight bit of character slapped onto it just to back it up so it’s not just lines. I don’t really do gags. It’s quite anecdotal and flights of fancy, yes, certainly. Obviously, I don’t believe what I say, but I do it for comedy effect. I think it’s a smart audience that knows the comedy is coming from a good place."
With more British-to-American sitcoms being attempted after the success of "The Office," Gervais was asked about what kind of advice he'd have for Brits trying to bring their shows to the States.
"Everyone is trying it now, aren’t they? The floodgates have opened," Gervais said. "It just — you know, we didn’t get too involved (in the American "Office") after the setup, which I think was a good plan. I think it was important that the American 'Office' was made by Americans for Americans.
"But I just don’t think you should get yourself too worked up about it, would be my advice, because it’s a very precarious thing. I think 'The Office' is the first successful British remake of a sitcom for about 30 years now. I think 'Sanford & Son' was the last one. So the stats are against you, but just don’t take it personally. That’s what I’d say."
Gervais said the original "Office" wouldn't have survived on its own in the U.S. network television, despite its buzz and success on BBC America.
"I don’t think the English version would have survived network scrutiny," he said. "We’ve done our thing, and we were happy with that. And it’s on a DVD box set on my shelf, and it’s done, and I couldn’t be prouder of it."
On the topic of the "Office" spinoff that's coming soon to NBC, Gervais simply wished the writers the best of luck.
"I just think, really, good luck to them. It’s just not my baby," Gervais said. "I’m very proud of it. I think they’ve done an amazing job, and I’m, you know, an executive producer, whatever that means. I’ll tell you what it means. It means I get half of Steve Carell’s wages. So I want it to run and run. That’s not true."
Gervais was asked whether he preferred writing and performing scripted shows over doing his stand-up.
"That answer is difficult," he said. "I think that I do like writing and performing new comedy. That’s probably my favorite thing, whether it be TV or film. But, you know, in terms of 'what do you do?' I’d say I’m a comedian. I wouldn’t say I’m an actor. I'm starting to sound like David Brent. You know, I’d say I was a comedian, and I think that can encompass everything. So acting, film, and particularly the writing and directing. So I don’t see why I’d have to keep to one format, you know. I think, you know, comedy is the format."
Gervais first resisted the notion that British and American humor are different, but then hinted some differences that might exist.
"I haven’t seen it. I think we all laugh at the same things. There’s good and bad comedy, you know," he said. "So I think the only difference maybe is that, I suppose, Britains like flawed characters more. This might be rubbish, but if I had to guess the differences, it’s probably that we sort of champion the underdog more than you guys. I think you laugh at successful guys. There’s usually a romantic lead in all your comedies, but then, recently that’s not true with things like 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' which is, you know, it’s all about being flawed and in the wrong. But I think we laugh at the same things. I think it’s whether it’s good or bad."
Gervais, whose comedy career was launched about 10 years ago, said he never really had hard times before breaking into TV and radio comedy.
"I used to do tricks for heroin," he said, launching the roomful of critics into laughter. "That’s not true. So I know the audience is listening. I didn’t have tough times. I wasn’t trying. I really wasn’t. I had a normal job, and I went for — I worked in an office for seven years, and I was, you know, a people watcher. I was a funny guy, I thought, and I was a comedy fan. It was one of those things that sort of happened when I was about 36, and, you know, I met Steve Merchant and we started doing some stuff together, and I did bits and pieces of what popped up on the radio. It wasn’t that romantic struggle of coming up through the clubs."
He said his late start helped him defend his work against obstacles that might have made others fold to network executives' whims.
"I think it’s because I started late, and I had an older head on my shoulders that we didn’t compromise at all," he said. "You know, we’re the first that went with the BBC, and it wasn’t a bluff. If they didn’t let me do it my own way, I was going to walk away. I really meant it, and I look back now, and I shudder. I didn’t have burning ambition to be famous. You know, it just didn’t bother me, but what excited me was a chance to write and direct my own sitcom which was, you know, it was a dream I had from 36."
*** What do you think? Are you looking forward to Gervais' stand-up comedy special? Do you think American and British comedy sensibilities are different? Click here to comment!
****** Victor Balta and Tracy Phillips are blogging live from the TV
critics press tour. What do you want to know about your favorite shows?
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Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 07-11-2008 08:39 PM
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