So here’s the thing. In his prime in the early 2000s there legitimately was a liberal PC orthodoxy in comedy. This meant if you made a joke about a marginalised group it was implicitly understood that the humour was either in the outrageousness of it, or that bigotry itself was the true target of the joke, and that we weren’t supposed to take it at face value.
But then actual fascists started gaining power by campaigning against those same marginalised groups, and that type of joke stopped being possible even when played back verbatim. Gervais either hasn’t realized that, or is happy to play to the tastes of real bigots.
I haven’t seen it, but the reviews I’ve seen sorta said it was funny because of the underlying premise, not because of Gervais.
My view of the guy is he has a negative amount of humour. Not only is he totally unfunny by himself, but he actively removes the humour from scenes he’s in.
Oh, he does not belong in front of a camera. He’s not a good actor and he has the comedic timing of a ham sandwich. But he wrote and co-produced it, so I give him credit for it.
Has he changed much? If you didn’t like him before you probably won’t now. If you did like him before but have already seen a lot of his stuff you will probably still like it but it might feel a little repetitive.
I think you need to go back to the late 90s with the 11 O’Clock Show to see his earlier work.
That’s the same show that brought us Ali G as well.
See, the other commenter is right. These comedians didn’t really change their act, but what did change was the context.
British honour in the 90s was a wild time where only a decade previously we had Bernard Manning, Jim Davidson and a who host of rotters as weekly fixtures. Outright bigotry as commedy.
Then it swung back hard (starting with the Comic Strip guys, possibly) but it was still fringe until the mid 90s.
That said, if any of you guys are unaware of who Alexi Sayle is, you are in for a treat.
he jumped on the anti-trans wagon real quick. and does a few other pro MAGA jokes. he claims he’s being subversive for it’s own sake, but I’m not amused by people who are ok with me personally losing my human rights or right to be alive because it’s just a sandbox for them to play in when it’s actually a gun to my head.
Very hot take, he’s often cited as a comedic genius. British office will always be way better than its American shadow. Afterlife showed he has range, extras gave us some of the funniest bits ever, etc
His last Oscars speech had him basically spit facts in a funny way. Guy isn’t a comedian, he’s a court jester, and I mean that in the most positive way.
He’s played to the MAGA crowd plenty in his last few acts. I personally can’t stomach this kind of shit because the hate is pointed at me and my loved ones. really makes it impossible to give a pass too. he’s just another asshole that would celebrate my death or the removal of my human rights if it means capturing an audience for profit. There’s a lot of entertainers that get a pass from white audiences if they’re fun enough. but it really spoils the mood when the gun is pointed at you.
When you thought Ricky Gervais was a mild safe bet.
Has that dude ever been funny?
So here’s the thing. In his prime in the early 2000s there legitimately was a liberal PC orthodoxy in comedy. This meant if you made a joke about a marginalised group it was implicitly understood that the humour was either in the outrageousness of it, or that bigotry itself was the true target of the joke, and that we weren’t supposed to take it at face value.
But then actual fascists started gaining power by campaigning against those same marginalised groups, and that type of joke stopped being possible even when played back verbatim. Gervais either hasn’t realized that, or is happy to play to the tastes of real bigots.
Or maybe we shouldn’t let bigots and fascists ruin everything.
He’s ok with them thinking he agrees with them. that’s enough to move on for me.
The Invention of Lying?
That’s all I got.
I haven’t seen it, but the reviews I’ve seen sorta said it was funny because of the underlying premise, not because of Gervais.
My view of the guy is he has a negative amount of humour. Not only is he totally unfunny by himself, but he actively removes the humour from scenes he’s in.
Oh, he does not belong in front of a camera. He’s not a good actor and he has the comedic timing of a ham sandwich. But he wrote and co-produced it, so I give him credit for it.
How much do you enjoy the joke “God isn’t real and everyone who believes in God is stupid” on a loop?
Me! Laughing at religious people is funny.
Well, strap in, because he’s got that one joke and another one about how people are mean to him. And his set is 2 hours long.
I concur, it makes me feel at least a little better I have to share this planet with religious people.
Has he changed much? If you didn’t like him before you probably won’t now. If you did like him before but have already seen a lot of his stuff you will probably still like it but it might feel a little repetitive.
I think you need to go back to the late 90s with the 11 O’Clock Show to see his earlier work.
That’s the same show that brought us Ali G as well.
See, the other commenter is right. These comedians didn’t really change their act, but what did change was the context.
British honour in the 90s was a wild time where only a decade previously we had Bernard Manning, Jim Davidson and a who host of rotters as weekly fixtures. Outright bigotry as commedy.
Then it swung back hard (starting with the Comic Strip guys, possibly) but it was still fringe until the mid 90s.
That said, if any of you guys are unaware of who Alexi Sayle is, you are in for a treat.
Alexi Sayle Playlist
I’ve never found the guy funny, no. I remember what an obnoxious twat he was in An Idiot Abroad, never intentionally watched something he’s in.
You are free to do that, but has his style really changed much? At this point if you go to see him and you are disappointed its kinda on you as well.
Don’t worry, I don’t plan to.
he jumped on the anti-trans wagon real quick. and does a few other pro MAGA jokes. he claims he’s being subversive for it’s own sake, but I’m not amused by people who are ok with me personally losing my human rights or right to be alive because it’s just a sandbox for them to play in when it’s actually a gun to my head.
You can support gay rights and still tell a joke about sucking cock.
Very hot take, he’s often cited as a comedic genius. British office will always be way better than its American shadow. Afterlife showed he has range, extras gave us some of the funniest bits ever, etc
I remember laughing hysterically at his bit about Humpty Dumpty being reassembled by horses, “…if you were to design the perfect egg smashing device…”
I also found his portrayal of the titular Derek to actually be quite touching. I enjoyed the show.
His last Oscars speech had him basically spit facts in a funny way. Guy isn’t a comedian, he’s a court jester, and I mean that in the most positive way.
He’s played to the MAGA crowd plenty in his last few acts. I personally can’t stomach this kind of shit because the hate is pointed at me and my loved ones. really makes it impossible to give a pass too. he’s just another asshole that would celebrate my death or the removal of my human rights if it means capturing an audience for profit. There’s a lot of entertainers that get a pass from white audiences if they’re fun enough. but it really spoils the mood when the gun is pointed at you.
Gervais came onto the scene as a Christopher Hitchens millennial knock-off and has aged about as well.
He is the greatest philosopher among comedians, a massive Kant.