The Ricky Gervais Show: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 21 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 21 Ratings

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The Ricky Gervais Show

Now Playing: The Ricky Gervais Show

Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: February 19, 2010

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Summary: Ricky Gervais returns with an animated comedy that began as a radio show, continued in his podcasts, and now exists as a cartoon with collaborators Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilington.

Genre(s): Comedy, Animation, Talk & Interview

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E13. Freaks
Air Date: May 21, 2010
tbd
S1:E12. Noises
Air Date: May 14, 2010
tbd
S1:E11. Beetles
Air Date: May 7, 2010

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Alessandra Stanley

Jan 14, 2011

Gervais serves as a bullying sidekick to Mr. Pilkington and steps out of the way, letting his strange and funny collaborator take the lead. The series is not a full-blown comedy show; it's a collection of Web-styled sketches and proof that big laughs can come in small doses.

Tim Goodman

Jan 14, 2011

Media Rights Capital, an independent production company, took an offbeat idea and made it work surprisingly well. Read full review

Aubry D\'Arminio

Jan 14, 2011

This '60s-style animated edition of their record-breaking podcast, featuring cartoon versions of the duo and idiot savant sidekick Karl Pilkington, magnifies everything venal and childish about the original (jokes about dildos on sticks and monkeys on benders) while masking its incredible wit.

Robert Bianco

Jan 14, 2011

That a premise so slight yields as much amusement as it does is a tribute to Gervais and Merchant's quick wits and to Pilkington's blend of extreme gullibility and offbeat quirkiness....The purposely retro animation, which turns Gervais into a more cheerful Fred Flintstone, not only adds nothing to the mix--it subtracts. Read full review

Rob Owen

Jan 14, 2011

I'm still not sold on watching the show. I still think I might prefer to listen to the podcasts instead. The animation adds some humor but probably not enough to justify adding this series to my already overbooked TV viewing schedule. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Jan 14, 2011

Animation would seem to be an ideal vehicle for this, but there's only so much it can do--in part because there's no adhesive to the episodes. The three guys sit and bullshit for 20-some-odd minutes--at times entertainingly--until the program simply ends. Read full review

Randee Dawn

Jan 14, 2011

The static nature of three talking heads (even in cartoon form) is dull, and the intermittent non-studio interstitials used to illustrate the discussion fail to provide enough of a change. Watching cartoon characters laugh at one another feels recursively silly, and not in a good way. Read full review

SEE ALL 17 REVIEWS

User Score

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8.7

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User Reviews

liptap

Apr 3, 2011

Very, very funny. Karl Pilkington is an idiot. See through skin, SERIOUSLY!!! You know what, he may be the funniest, but without Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant setting up the jokes then he wouldn't be funny at all. But luckily, it is a hilarious show! 10/10

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

RezzaDee

Jun 21, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Amazing show, I couldn't stand the cartoon thing at first so I ignored it. However after watching an idiot abroad I had to watch it and it's amazing! I love Ricky Gervais's humor and Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkinton all together is outstanding. Best line ever is "alright Louis, alright superman, ermm who are you superman?... I can't tell you Louis" OMG my sides were hurting. I hope Ricky Gervais makes more shows or carry's on making this and an idiot abroad with Stephen Merchant as they are genius! I would like to add that the golden globe show from the states was hilarious and the Americans need to watch more of RG to understand his humor. Ricky, Stephen and Karl I love you all, if you read this please do an autograph signing somewhere as I would love to meet you! At the end of the day if there were more shows like this then tv would be good again as right now it's either "we've got no" talent shows or endless repeats of top gear on Dave. That about sums up my sky subscription. "well your not coming back here f**k off" looooool they have done it before haha. WATCH THE SHOW!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

pwnstar

Jul 14, 2011

Extremely funny. Every single episode is absolutely hilarious. I don't live in the UK so I didn't hear the radio show but I've been watching it on HBO and it is awesome. 10 out of 10

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

MichaelD

Aug 12, 2011

Absolutely hilarious show! I've never heard the radio show before but the cartoons really add to the jokes as well. The show proves that Karl is more or less a moron but he's likeable and the show wouldn't be anything without him. Also if you like this show, definitely watch An Idiot Abroad.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

WhiteTalpa

Mar 3, 2013

This is great, very funny the animation does really add a lot to the podcasts and even tho i have listened to the podcasts i had no problem watching this in parts the animation made it even funnier.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Dunkaccino

Jan 9, 2023

Some joyful, witty banter enlightened by amazing animation. It's a show hard to dislike.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JoeDeckard

Apr 10, 2019

Treat yourself. I just don't know anyone who could get away with what Ricky Gervais does. But as with all good humor - this is pure truth, gnawing at those funny bones and exposing parts of us that are both funny and truly painful. If you haven't had the luck to catch After Life - don't giveTreat yourself. I just don't know anyone who could get away with what Ricky Gervais does. But as with all good humor - this is pure truth, gnawing at those funny bones and exposing parts of us that are both funny and truly painful. If you haven't had the luck to catch After Life - don't give up after ep 1 because you think you know what this is about. It is so much more. Pure genius - thank you.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 8 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

62

Series Overview
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: April 20, 2012
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: January 14, 2011
Season 1

62
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: February 19, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E13. Freaks
  Air Date: May 21, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E12. Noises
  Air Date: May 14, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E11. Beetles
  Air Date: May 7, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E10. The Fight
  Air Date: April 30, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E9. The Jockey
  Air Date: April 23, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E8. Nuts
  Air Date: April 16, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Diary
  Air Date: April 9, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E6. Cobblers
  Air Date: March 26, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E5. Glass Houses
  Air Date: March 19, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E4. Dolphins
  Air Date: March 12, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E3. Charity
  Air Date: March 5, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E2. Knob At Night
  Air Date: February 26, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E1. Space Monkey
  Air Date: February 19, 2010