Talking Funny: Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 22, 2011
  • Season #: 1
User Score
7.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Tony
    Apr 25, 2011
    9
    Gervais couldn't have assembled a better panel of modern-day comedians to discuss their craft. Usually dissecting stand-up comedy isn't itself all that funny, but this is a fun and hilarious hour examining the ins-and-outs of stand-up.
  2. Dark_Saint
    Aug 17, 2011
    8
    If your a fan of stand up comedy you'll love this, but if your just a fan of the comedians t.v shows you might think it's a bit boring. Hopefully next season they will bring some new comedians
  3. Dingleberry
    Apr 24, 2011
    10
    Three funny guys talk their craft accompanied by Ricky Gervais who does his best to destroy the momentum and fart in their collective spacesuit. Great stuff, while Gervais is silent.
  4. hismikeness
    Apr 25, 2011
    10
    Four of the funniest comedians sitting around the table both analyzing comedy and making each other laugh. Each man funny in his own way, with his own distinct style, yet they agree on some things and disagree on other things, sometimes in varying combinations. It's a toss up between who is the least universally known amongst the four, but I felt like Louis CK or Ricky Gervais are the two most likely to not be named by random people, yet I thought they were the funniest two. This hour flew by, and hopefully they will do more. This could be a series. One question I wished they asked each other was "Who is the funniest comedian not in this room?", or "Who should have been here instead of me?"... that would have been interesting. Great special for comedy fans and anyone who wants to laugh.… Expand
  5. mattylayne
    May 19, 2011
    10
    This was wildly entertaining and very informative for me, as a young comic. I could watch these 4 guys talk about the saddest of things and still giggle throughout. Ricky has a home-run here if he can find a way to keep it going.
  6. alexandergreen
    Sep 8, 2011
    9
    Interesting and consistently hilarious. I'm a big fan of Gervais and CK, and Seinfeld and Rock are both clearly talented performers. This is a sort of insightful window into their personal views on what it takes to be a stand-up, and the views interestingly contrast.
  7. fatfacerick
    Jan 18, 2012
    0
    Very decent show. C.K, Seinfeld, and Rock have been at the top of the game for years. Meanwhile Gervais is a third wheel, totally ruining what would have been an amazing hour of television. Would have been a lot better without Gervais, who comes off as arrogant and sometimes petulant. At one point he angrily tries to tell the others what they find funny about a certain joke, as they tell him he's wrong and explain why they find it funny, Gervais gets more agitated and more obnoxious. Gervais has one note; irony, whereas the others know entire scales and modes filled with notes that Gervais doesn't even know exist. Gervais should have stayed off camera, and put Steven Wright or Norm Macdonald, someone like that, in there. Someone who worked to get where they are. As opposed to Gervais, who had a stand up career handed to him because of The Office.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Apr 22, 2011
    80
    Well, Talking Funny is certainly addictive.
    Read full review
  2. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Apr 21, 2011
    70
    If you're an avid fan of any of them, there's probably something here for you, especially if you like to monitor subtext.
    Read full review
  3. Hitfix
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Apr 21, 2011
    80
    While there was plenty these four could have continued to talk about, there was never a point where I felt they missed something obvious because they didn't know the others and what they do well enough.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »