Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Ricky Gervais

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Ricky Gervais But Were Afraid to Google

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**UPDATE**

RICKY GERVAIS WEEK is over, gutted. Look for the biased review of THE INVENTION OF LYING this weekend – and check out the entire post here, plenty of sounds and videos to last you…

I have said here many a times that Ricky is an idol of mine, someone I look up to and who motivates me to get things done. He is one of the smartest people to listen to – I would love to one day just have a chat with him about everything BUT his work; the man has an extensive knowledge of the world and knowing his ideas reflect those of mine (religion, science, fame) is just another reason for me to look at him as a hero; thank you sir. – The Mayor

That’s right, it’s RICKY GERVAIS WEEK here in the City of Films. Everything Ricky! Even the damn quote we forget about all the time. Check back daily…even hourly, Bio, Videos, Pictures, News and much more. All in celebration of him…and his movie THE INVENTION OF LYING opening Friday October 2nd.

He is more than an idol of mine…he’s a living idol of mine (sorry Rodney). I will divulge all there is to know about Ricky (useful stuff anyways) such as the day he found out that God wasn’t real thanks to a slip of the tongue by his older brother. And if that doesn’t grab you I will also be talking about his music career (I guess you can call it that), books, stand up, TV shows, movies, podcasts and everything libelous.

By no means is this the life and times of Ricky Gervias, please do take the time to head to WIKI and Pilkipedia for a lot more information. Even his own website, which I will highlight later on as well.

In The Beginning…

Born Richard Dene Gervais, but we can call him Ricky Gervais…obviously. He’s a writer, director, actor, producer, and all around God. Gervais took over my life years ago and not a day goes by where I don’t get a Ricky fix, whether it is the sounds of his classic radio days on XFM, a world record breaking podcast or a clip from one of his sold out live shows. My favorite thing about Mr. Gervais is that you can see that he loves what he does and loves sharing it with all of us. Countless awards and accolades from all over the world, there is no stopping him from taking over your world like he did mine. I’m very glad he gave up the music career. Read a more in-depth biography here.

“Right, I’m just going to add to the list of people we’ve offended: Sorry to Jewish people, sorry to Chinese people, sorry to Welsh people, fat women, Elvis fans, animal lovers, lovers of great radio”. – RG on XFM

Don't talk shit! Play a record.

Gervais worked as an events manager for the University of London until he was offered a job at XFM. Needing an assistant, he interviewed the first person whose curriculum he saw (it was on top of the pile), Stephen Merchant. In 1996 they were made redundant when the station was taken over by the Capital Radio group. Gervais and Merchant returned to XFM in 2001, for a Saturday show. The show ran intermittently until January 2004. This was the first time they worked with their producer Karl Pilkington and the rest is history. With a “head like a fu*ing orange” Karl and the gang took XFM to new highs and mostly hilarious lows.

OOOHH!!! CHIMPANZEE THAT!!! MONKEY NEWS!

Classic karl.

Cha-Cha-Changes…

“If you do a film about the Holocaust, you’re guaranteed an Oscar … that’s why I’m doing it: Schindler’s bloody List…” – Kate Winslet (Extras)

I’ve created an atmosphere where I’m a friend first; boss second, probably an entertainer third.

I was working at a video store when I came across the DVD of The Office. By the cover it looked like old toss, but once I turned it over to see Matt Groening praising the beast, I took it home. The Office (UK) is one of the best TV shows of all time, but we all know this now. It took me by surprise, after years of me neglecting anything but The Simpsons, I found a new show in my life could stir up an array of emotions the very same way. I was a Ricky Gervais fan then and there and have never looked back. The difficult second album EXTRAS was another blend of cringe worthy moments and emotion that stands with The Office as some of the best TV in the last twenty years. What a relief these gems were; The Office is the most successful British sitcom of all time, award winning and highly praised by some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Read more on The Office’s creation and aftermath here, as well as EXTRAS here.

Ricky Gervais Live:

I think Schindler’s List is a fantastic film. And I didn’t watch it at the cinema actually. I got it out on video, about a year later – by mistake – ’cause I’d never heard of it and I was in Blockbuster sort of late one night. I was a bit drunk, and I thought it was a porn film. No, ’cause I saw 18 certificate, top shelf. I thought, oh, black and white – dodgy home movie, German sounding – they’re the best, and what swung it was that quote on the back from Barry Norman: “Have a box of Kleenex ready”. Rubbish, I used about two. There was a shower scene. – Ricky Gervais Live 2: Politics

He is absolutely irreverent, politically incorrect – so not everyone will like the Anne Frank jokes, but his comic genius is simply undeniable. Fact. Endless sold out shows across Britain and the U.S. makes him a pretty big deal. I would do a lot of things to get me a ticket to one of these shows. More about Ricky’s first three stand-up tours, Animals, Politics and Fame can be found here.

Ricky Gervais soon embarked on what he calls “the best television comedy ever”. “Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife” is an episode of The Simpsons that aired March 26, 2006. Ricky Gervais wrote the episode, making him the first guest star to ever be credited with simultaneously writing and guest-starring in an episode of The Simpsons. This episode received the highest ratings a Simpsons episode has ever received in the United Kingdom, as it topped 2.3 million viewers on Sky One and became the second highest rated show in the channel’s history. In a 2008 article, Entertainment Weekly named Gervais one of the sixteen best Simpsons guest stars.

The original Chubby Funsters.

http://www.vimeo.com/6834033

The Podcast, brilliant.

The Ricky Gervais Show features Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant and Karl Pilkington chatting about stuff. Basically each episode is a half-hour or so of audio drivel. The World’s No.1 Bestselling Audiobooks, holder of the Guinness World Record for the podcasting. Now with more than 170 million downloads and still counting. It’s the most irreverent bullocks you could ever imagine. To hear Ricky’s laugh (pretty much throughout) brings on such warm welcoming feeling that life is really meant just to humor us. It’s the best time I have ever spent doing anything. That may sound sad to some, but when life has got you down in the dumps, turn on Ricky, Steven and Karl and you will soon forgot the harsh reality that is probably something you shouldn’t care about in the first place. Read about the beginning and try to catch up here!

The Ricky Gervais Guide To The English.

Karl, Ruler of the World.

Flanimals were first sighted by Ricky Gervais a long time ago. He drew some rough sketches and made notes about their behavior. Then, Ricky asked his friend Rob Steen to draw them properly, anatomically correct and exactly as they appear in their natural habitat. The result is now 5 beautiful, informative and compendious volumes which are sure to delight, disgust and distress all who read them.

A Flanimals TV series is in the pipeline and there is a limited edition set of collectibles available
A major CGI-type movie produced by Chris Meledandri who did The Simpsons Movie and Ice Age is in the works; Ricky said “I’m very excited because I’ll probably be the part of the Puddloflag. It will be weird to hear my voice coming out of a short, fat, purple, sweaty creature (with a Reading accent).”

RICKY’S BLOG – Read Ricky’s thoughts on his upcoming movies, visits to restaurants and round-headed friends. One of my daily visits on the interwebs. He is honest and hilarious almost daily as he fills us in on his upcoming projects and the truth behind the jealous tabloids. And it gave us this, epic.

Well there you have it. Closing off RICKY GERVAIS WEEK here in The City of Films I would like to take a look at what Ricky has been focusing on more and more the last few years, film. As a writer, director, producer and actor Ricky Gervais showcases his effortless talent as one of the hardest working blokes around.

He created, wrote, directed and starred in The Office & Extras. Guest starred in Alias and 24. Wrote and starred in The Simpsons. Leant his voice to GTA 4, SpongeBob and popped up in both Night at the Museum films and Stardust with Robert De Niro (his hero). He starred in the highly underrated Ghost Town. He is now starring in his directorial debut which he also wrote – The Invention of lying. He is currently working on as writer and director with long time friend and collaborator Stephen Merchant their film Cemetery Junction. I might be missing things…but these just off the top of my head.

He makes his rounds doesn’t he? I will put up my review of The Invention of Lying and then being the countdown to Cemetery Junction; it’s going to be mental.