The Comedy of Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais is perhaps best known for his part in co-creating The Office on NBC. Gervais actually created the British version of the television show which later spawned an American version. Gervais co-created the show with Stephen Merchant and it originally aired on a barely watched sub-station of the British Broadcasting Company (BBC).

Ricky's brand of humor is so great because it is some of the most offensive words that could be spoken by one man cleaned up with a proper British accent. Imagine a proper looking Englishman making fun of everything from cancer patients to Anne Frank to fat people in airplane seats. No topic is off limits.

Even with the extreme morbidity that lingers over his shows, Gervais is able to deliver his comedy with a grace and respect that is pure monarchy. And though you may find yourself laughing along with the jokes about incest and mom's walking in on their sons doing you know what, you'll find that you don't seem to feel too bad at having a go. Gervais' humor is the kind that appeals to the 12 year old boy in every grown man, but his show or his jokes are not for children. Gervais' humor appeals to our immature inner child who thought that it was o.k. to laugh at people with ailments and people who look different. At one point in a show Gervais called Anne Frank lazy for never getting around to a sequel. That is not the kind of language one would expect from a man who comes from a country that still has knights walking around, nevertheless you will find it funny.

Though you may not be able to tell it by looking at him, Gervais is quite the historian. His blend of history and comedy offers a new way to see something that you had to learn in school. One example of this historical humor is Gervais' comparison of the Falkland War to holding a midget at arm's length and no matter how much he waves his arms he just can't reach you. This comparison came from the fact, as Gervais discussed in his act, that the Falkland War was a range war because the British boats had the longest weapons range. The Brits just sat out of range of enemy weapons while delivering their own fury. The war lasted 74 days with the surrender of the enemy.

Gervais is currently listed as a producer on the credits of the American version of The Office and he continues to act in comedic roles. Some of his latest leading roles included parts in "Ghost Town" and "The Invention of Lying". Ghost town is about a rude loner dentist who can see dead people as a result of a surgical fluke. The Invention of Lying is a film about what happens when a man who lives in a world where lying doesn't exists finds out that he can lie.

Taking in a Ricky Gervais performance will not disappoint. Just make sure that you leave the kids at home. The things that man will say should not be spoken around children.

Sources:

Falklands 25: Background Briefing. Ministry of Defence. United Kingdom.

The Office. RickyGervais.com.

Bashir, Martin and Rosenberg, Sarah. What's Next for 'The Office' Creators. Nightline. ABC News.