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Tuesday's Connector: Ricky Gervais
He's one of the funniest men in the world and his dry, English sense of humor has earned him a top rated television show and a number of blockbuster movies.
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caption="What do you want to ask Ricky Gervais?"]
Comedian Ricky Gervais first achieved mainstream fame with his hit television series "The Office" where he played the self-involved, socially incompetent manager of a small paper company.
The two seasons of "The Office" were a huge hit in the UK and the concept for the show eventually spread to other cities including France, Germany and the United States.
Gervais also found success in the cult classic "Extras" and subsequently won a Golden Globe for best television series in 2008.
Throughout this time, Gervais also continued his stand-up comedy routine and regularly had sold-out shows around the world.
The British comedian's movies have also earned hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office and his range of movies include "Ghost Town," "Stardust" and "The Invention of Lying."
Today, Gervais is promoting a new HBO series called "The Ricky Gervais Show" which is an animated television series based on his popular comedy podcasts.
Here's your chance to ask Ricky Gervais a question.
Please leave your questions below and be sure to include where you're writing from. Tune in on Tuesday March 23 at 2100 GMT to watch the full interview.
What's the most recent, ridiculous conversation you've had with Karl?
Graham, Lanarkshire
Would you rather have YOUR brain put in Karl's body and Karl's brain put in your body OR have YOUR brain put in Stephen Merchants body and Stephen's brain put in your body.....?
(I am Rickys most devoted fan, my cat is named Ricky, my colleagues at work call me Ricky, my ringtone is Ricky laughing....please let him know his most loyal fan lives in Melbourne Australia) – I am 48 and have loved him for 8 years.
Will you be coming down under any time soon? If you do please don't just go to Australia but also New Zealand....please!
Jo (from NZ....obviously!)
What advice would you give an aspiring comedian in today's society? I love all of your shows, especially the dry sense of humor which you bring to them. How did you find success?
Which actor/actress would you most like to work with?
What would you recommend for Indie film, or film school guys trying to create webisodes or pilots on their own? "Don't" is not an answer 🙂
What would you recommend for Indie film, or film school guys trying to create webisodes or pilots on their own? "Don't" is a bad answer 🙂
(Ben Racicot from Boston)
I would really like to know if the Ricky gervais show crew will be getting back together for any new podcasts? Also will you be writing a film for Karl Pilkington as he is clearly an amazing naturally funny human being? Thanks for the amazing body of work thus far and I hope there will be more soon!!
Insanely funny stuff on his new show. I want to memorize this stuff, it's that good.
Why oh why you didn't kiss Jennifer Garner in "Invention of lying"?
Croatia
If there was a biographical movie about you, Steve, and Karl, who would you have playing each roles? (I'm sure you'd demand to direct it and write it. I'd expect nothing less)
Lisa from Orlando, FL
PS- Please start including places other than L.A. and New York City to do your stand up tour!
Hi Ricky.
I'm a 15 year old girl from Toronto, Canada. I saw the Invention Of Lying at last year's Toronto International Film Festival and when you came on stage to introduce the film I was utterly eccstatic. The same thing happened when I saw you walking to your car afterwards. This is the first time I've ever been 'starstruck' since I don't go crazy like most people every time I see a celebrity but you're different. I've always admired your work and everything else about you (how you stay true to yourself etc). I love Extras and The Office (I do like the American version but yours is waaaay better), your flanimals books (yes, I know they're for 5 year olds but they're endlessly entertaining), of course the Xfm shows and podcast, and even Seona Dancing (sorry I had to bring that up lolx)...Can't wait to see Cemetery Junction!x
Now for the question. Are you ever planning on doing any live tour dates in Canada?????
and if Karl was an animal (other then homo sapien) what do you think he'd be?
(I'd ask the same about Steve but that's a bit obvious...a giraffe, no? hehe)
–Ryan Greenberg, 15
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hi!
I'm interested in your writing process with Stephen. Is one you "the ideas man" or better at dialogue etc? Can you veto each others ideas? Or do you really write everything together 50/50?
I've never seen you talk about this in any of your interviews (and I've read many) so I would really LOVE to know how it all works....
Cheers x
Ricky,
After all the awards and success you've achieved in the last 10 years do you feel you'd be happy to give up and retire now or is there still more you'd want to be able to say you've done with your life?
What do you hope to have done in the next 10 years and can you tell us about you're new project you're writing with Steve Merchant?
Ricky,
After all the awards and success you've achieved in the last 10 years do you feel you'd be happy to give up and retire now or is there still more you'd want to be able to say you've done with your life?
What do you hope to have done in the next 10 years and can you tell us about you're new project you're writing with Steve Merchant?
Glasgow, Scotland
Have you ever seen an old man eating a Twix? /David, Stockholm
Whenever I try to share Karl Pilkington with other people they instantly think he is being fake. How do you answer people who have the audacity to question him?
why do you choose not to sing? you have such an amazing voice.. wish we could hear it more. heard you on youtube when you were with elmo for you encore at carnegie hall..(boy can you belt it out) it was amazing to hear ,it makes me smile everytime i here it. is there going to be a video put out?
saw clips of your paintings... you are really talented. have you done anymore.?.what medium do you prefer..
ps.. If laurel and hardy had a baby i think it would look like you. you seem to have both features of them ...lol
from Victoria BC, Vancouver Island Canada
When will the Ricky Gervais Show air in Mexico? I absolutely love admire everything you do but most of the times have to get it online because nothing gets into Latin America, probably the english humor is not as well received. Anyways I look forward to getting Cemetery Junction sometime soon here, same for everything else. Love you Ricky, you're a mind of your own.
Greetings,
My question is: What is the main difference between American humor and British humor, if any??
Keira:)
NY
Ricky,
You and Steve said that entering the Office, you both had a list of things not to do rather than things to do on a show. What are some of those things you would never do on a show?
Charles, Texas.
Dear Ricky,
What are karl's parents like? Do they have round heads?
James, Australia
Your movie, "the invention of lies" was moderately funny, until you implied that God and the doctrine of an afterlife is a "lie" – are you an atheist?
What is your writing process? Do you outline? Do you follow writing rules (eg Robert Mckee, Syd Fields) or do you have your own particular style? What are the biggest differences you have found in writing for tv opposed to film?
Thanks
Jim, Sydney Australia
Is Monkey News coming back?
Ricky Mentioned he stopped believing in God at a young age because of his brother. God was a very important thing to him, but he gave up so easily, putting more faith in his brother than in himself.
Even if he couldn’t find it with the church, has he ever attempted to search for God through meditation, paying attention to his dreams, or figure out his own way of praying now that he is more mature?
P.S. We sleep half our lives away barely paying attention to what goes on with our unconscious, who knows what that state is truly capable of, and with sincerity and effort you might find what you once were looking for. It worked for me 🙂
Most of your comedy is all about your "disadvantages"
What would you do If you were tall, slim, good looking guy with foot long knob?
Cracow Poland
You received mixed reviews for your hilarious Golden Globes 2010 performance. Why is it that Americans don't warm easily to sharp British humour?
Ramila – New Zealand
Will you someday be able to get hbo to animate the xfm days? I miss Rockbusters!
Andrè – Norway
Hi Ricky,
I'm just wondering if Elmo is going to be working with you in any future projects? You two were absolutely hilarious together and should form a comedy team. =)
I can see it now: The Ricky and Elmo Tour. Talk about awesome. =)
dear Ricky
when did you first laugh the gervais laugh-cackle, and when did you realize it was so infectious?
your fan
Would you ever consider returning to radio? The XFM days were even better than the podcasts! Please don't stop doing the podcasts!
Ricky, which of the following would it hurt you most to lose?
– Money
– Fame
– Sense of Humour
Hey Ricky, Loved your performance in the video game Grand Theft Auto 4. With the video game industry starting to out-perform the movie industry in sales, do you think it will be a matter of time before more celebrities cash in on this growing market all together?
I have a two part question:
Part 1: I was wondering who your favourite comedian was growing up / who was the biggest influence in your comedic develpment?
Part 2: Which movie do you consider to be the best comedy movie of all time? (Your movies excluded, of course. LOL)
Nic from Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
Dear Ricky! A big.....HUGE fan....Literally.....
Having the blessing of being the chubbier version of you I need to ask you this question!
How do you stay calm in a room where you know you are the funniest guy and how do you stop yourself from commenting and throwing hilarious jokes almost at everything?
Elb- Canada
Ricky,
In your experience, what are the main differences between American and British humor? Can you give examples of material that works in one country but falls flat in the other?
Thanks,
Mike
Austin, Texas
Where does your obsession with tormenting bold roundheaded friends (Robin, Karl) comes from?
Is there a Freudian explanation for this maybe?
Zagreb, Croatia
My Family and I are loyal fans.....my Husband and Son constantly quote you or one of your shows.....THANK YOU Ricky for entertaining us and giving us the gift of laughter!
my question –
What makes Ricky laugh?
Danielle Sneyd from Toronto, Canada
Ricky, When you had the guest appearance on "The Marriage Ref" I thought you was the funniest one on the panel however, I need to know why did you feel the show had some weirdness going on? And I think you hurt Madonna feelings! Do you? And what's up with the other guy that was on the other side of Madonna, he seemed bitter. Is he?
Alabama, USA
Sir, what are ur advice for we the younger one's or we the youth.
What is the reason for atending so many countries
Its been a nice time with him, so we hope this time again it will also be. Mwah!!!
what's love
What inspires u before u go on a show
Who do you think is the funniest person in comedy today – other than yourself? lol
What do you have to say about Nollywood Comedians or that of Africans as a whole. Enugu,Nigeria.
I just read about you but I've never watch any of your comedies. When will you come to Nigeria?
I just love u
You've talked about turning Cemetry Junction into a TV series. Assuming the movie is a success, how likely is it that this will happen? Will it continue as a drama with funny bits, or will it become a comedy with a solid dramatic story arc like extras and the office?
Do you have any interest in doing another TV series, or is it strictly "Hollywood or Bust" at this point in your career?
Thanks for all the great laughs, Ricky.
I am wondering...is there any rough outline/agenda/sketches to any of your "conversations with Steve and Karl or you just simply and wonderfully out of your minds?
Thanks,
Dan
What gave him such fame?
How do you combine your comedian work with your stay in the muvee industry
been funny"could it be natural or artificial,lol i just wanna know.. cheerx..You are the best
Which The Office series is more humorous to you- the British or the US?
Now that you're a big successful handsome man on both the television and the silver screen – would you consider re-starting your music career?
I look at you and see you are entirely living your work (hope you understand what i mean) so i wonder if you sometimes get bored and wish you were doing something different
Even d devil takes timeout to watch ricky gervais.. Great guy he is! Spectacular comedian!
So, take me through the writing process with Steve Merchant. Do each of you have aspects or characters you're better at writing? Do you really obstruct progress and annoy Steve like on the video blogs?
Louis CK excluded, who are the comedians you follow/listen to/admire these days?
How did you meet Jane?
Hi Ricky. Following on from a short conversation we had a few weeks back when I bumped into you, I just wanted to clarify something with you: did you really mean it when you said you thought Karl was cute and that he had the kind of bottom which turned heads? Just wanted to check.
where and how do you get your inspiration
where and how do you get your inspiration? Ismaila Dahiru Muhammad from Kano Nigeria
It tells a lot about the state of German humour that our version of The Office is by far the funniest German show on television, while still being completely inferior to the British or even the US version.
We may build nice cars, but we can't be funny without copying someone a million times funnier.
Anyway, keep up your amazing work and please continue Extras some time in the future – David Bowie verbally abusing your character in a song was probably the funniest thing in the history of mankind.
Max – Germany
What can someone do to be an outstanding comedian?
Ricky, you're the best in comedy. What is your next project that we can look forward to in the future? Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA
What is d most bursted movie or comdy ever done by Ricky?
If everyone watching the show were to smile, because we love you, would you smile back ?
Thanks,
– Chuck in Pennsylvania
I hear you like to play golf. Which golf courses do you most enjoy?
Hi Ricky,
What is the stupidest thing Karl has ever said?
And now a more difficult one:
What is the WISEST thing Karl has ever said?
Cheers,
Jens
Aarhus, Denmark
Do u have plans of coming to Nigeria? Which Nigerian director would u want to work with? Finally, what do u have to say about comedy in Nigeria?
Do u take scripts or u just get on set & do ur thing?
I just bought a new dog and i don't know the name to give it. Do you think LION will be suitable.
What inspiring message do you have for who wants to be like you.
Do u have plans of coming to Nigeria? What do u have to say about comedy in Nigeria?
Your and Steve Merchant's Office ended with the emotional pay off of Tim and Dawn finally kissing. Now that the American version has had Jim and Pam married, and now with a kid, do you have any idea how Greg Daniels and co. could up with an equally satisfying ending?
Thanks,
Josh From London
Hi Ricky, You're very attractive 🙂
My question is I know you're an animal lover, but which is your favourite?
Love u, Charlotte
x
Alright, Rick!
Big fan of yours since the early XFM days.
Really admire your comedy and creativity. On that note, do you have any plans to step outside of the comedy genre?
Just wanted to say the you have the warmest, most wonderful smile!
What annoys you most about living in America?
Love is something good to everybody,but so dislike by view meny peoples,pls how love can damage life ?
Where else did Ricky appear on GTA 4 other than The Comedy Club? 🙂
If you had been born in 1988 – so you were 22 this year – what do you think you'd be aiming for in your future in regards to your work and life? I'm 22 and lots of people I know have little to no ambition – ps, please come to Australia!! 🙂 Sydney
i think you're incredibly funny, altho i'm just barely familiar w/you. i thought i wouldn't know enough to ask you any questions.
after having read only 20% of the above questions, i now wonder: how many security teams do you think you'll need to have so that you can tour australia, new zealand, canada and the U.S. and make it back home in one piece? it looks like it's gonna take a team and a half just to fend off adoring fans/potential stalkers 🙂 good on ya!
enjoy your success, i am sure you've worked long and hard for the 'overnight' sensation experience!
Ricky Gervais: I am a fan of yours. I notice that your humor is often tinged with large doses of self-deprrcation. Do you believe that humor itself requires an element of tragedy?
Please make a few jokes about FREEDOM FROM HEALTH CARE for the people who cant read or understand what the health care bill is for. Give them what they as k for
NO GOVERMENT ASSISTANCE FOR HEALTH CARE IN THEIR STATES
Why not let some states opt out of health care and have the rest of us have Public option and see which states do better after 2 years. That would be a win win for all. Let the gop go to Glenn Beck and Hannity for freedom and medical solutions that the old white men from the GOP are most likely pay forour fo the goodness of the christian hearts. Joke? . They will get freedom from health care for free.
Posted by: daliya robson
Where do you stand on the film 'the curious case of Benjamin Button?' This theory was proposed to you well before the film in one of your podcasts and you completly dismissed it and ridiculed your co-worker for bringing up the idea... It is now an Oscar winning feature.
Do you accept that Karl Pilkington is a genuis and that in fact you should look at introducing him to some of the screenwriters you now work with?
Hi Ricky-
Would you please name your dream cast of actors you'd most like to work with but haven't yet?
Best of luck you!
Hillary
I love the office, and on good days at work, my workplace (government, unionized) reflects a similar environment: we have a perfect Dwight without our version even trying! But on bad days, it's depressing. Did you ever work somewhere like that? Do you miss teaching? Did the Office series evolve as a survival tool? Do you ever get bored with people, or do they still fascinate you (like Simon Cowell, for instance)?
Hi Ricky, my name is Nick Sullivan – I'm 19 from South Wales, UK.
I've been a big fan of yours since my young teens and have followed your work ever since.
I'd just like to ask you about your next project with Stephen Merchant. Not Cemetery Junction but the one that you mentioned in your blog. You said you were ditching the drama in favour of all-out funny.
I thought that you were going to do a series based on Cemetery Junction after it's theatrical release. Is this now not the case?
I'm actually excited and glad that you are ditching the weight of your work so to speak to try and max-out the comedic element. Not that I don't enjoy it. I actually think The Office is of course enhanced by it as is Extras.
But with The Office it was so bittersweet, so peppered, so controlled and real. So naturalistic and true to life. It's actually some of the finest crafted drama AND comedy I've ever seen on TV.
With that said though, after the drama in Extras... I started to picture and yearn for you and Stephen to do comedy for comedy's sake. Still finely crafted, subtle and ironic but just focusing on the humour. I thought it'd be interesting to see how far you could take it.
So I was thrilled to read this is what you're doing next. Can you divulge anymore details on the project, ie. the theme, if you and Stephen will star in it etc.
Thanks, Nick.
When casting for your projects, what do you look for in potential cast members? Do you base your selection off personality, the reading, how long one can go without laughing, or by how much pressure an actress can take when you squeeze her head? Would bringing a fresh roll of gaffer tape garner brownie points?
When casting for your projects, what do you look for in potential cast members? Do you base your selection off personality, the reading, how long one can go without laughing, or by how much pressure an actress can take when you squeeze her head? Would bringing a fresh roll of gaffer tape garner brownie points?
Betsy from Webb City, Missouri
Do you see yourself abandoning stand-up and doing more tv/film acting as other famous comedians have done? BTW, please consider a British re-make of a French comedy _Le diner de cons_, it's hilarious!
Do you see yourself abandoning stand-up and doing more tv/film acting as other famous comedians have done? BTW, please consider a British re-make of a French comedy _Le diner de cons_, it's hilarious!
Jen Brown
a Texan in Canberra, Australia
Hi Ricky i must commend you for a job well done. My question to you. As comedian with a great sense of humur. Have you eva came across a difficult, unavoidable and bored moment which could have made you to forgget an act of being a comedian?.
What inspiring message do you have for young comedians.
Do you think you, through proper translation, can make the Taliban laugh or at least understand your humor?
Jef from Dubai
plz plz plz plz plz plz plz plz plz plz COME TO NEW ZEALAND WE ALL LOVE YOU OVER HERE IF YOU COME DONT GO TO AUSTRALIA ONLY COME TO NZ PLZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With The Office you stopped after 2 seasons because there was nothing left to explore – IMO a great decision and part of the reason why the show is legendary, even if you probably missed out on a lot of royalties.
But the American version is already in its 5th season;
– why is this and do you think the show is still as good as its first series? – You're executive producer, so are you the one who should say 'stop' at a certain point?
– Or is Steve Carrell simply funnier and more creative than you to make 5 seasons possible?
What are the chances of you joining up with Ben Elton and Rowan Atkinson to create what would be an unholy triumvirate of comedic genius?
Don't you think you would be funnier if you didn't use that fake British accent? I'm just sayin', if you're British or whatever, where's the bad teeth, then?
Where do you get your confidence from? I mean, not too long ago, you had very little going for you, I understand.
What was the most absurd and ridiculous comment Karl has ever made to you, on or off air?
i loved your desert Island disks; Can you suggest one more track? Something that moves you every time you listen to it... And can you please tell us why?
neil,
cape town
Who do you think is sexiest, you, Steve, or Karl? Please keep in mind that Karl has a head like an orange.
Betsy from Webb City, MO
Hi Ricky,
Big fan of you and Stephen Merchant. How exactly did you guys meet and what were the early days of writing together like?
Mark.
i love u movie that is,the invention of lying.i've watched it over 15 times. what i want to know is u get your ideas from and are u working on any movie.
Hi am so worrid about this acid rain
i own at least 3 video blogs and i love to video blog myself and do some crazy stuffs`-.