Not the pilot, I have not seen that.
This is just a programme about him telling us about his character Derek.
The making of? If you're referring to the archive clip they show of Ricky playing him a few years earlier, he says himself that was from the early days of the idea, before it had properly developed, when he was just an unscripted character he used to do with friends.
The only non knee jerk "it's prejudiced!" critic I've seen say anything negative about it is Ian Hyland, who simply said it isn't good as The Office (you know, the most successful British comedy of all time) :rolleyes:.
I think Comedy Drama sums it up better, dramedies tend to be dramas with funny bits, written by drama writers, where as Derek is more a comedy with sad bits and is written by a comedy writer.
I think because he potrays him as a bit dim AND hunched over and gurning people assume the character is disabled but as ricky says, Baldrick, Father Dugal and Mr Bean were far more stupid but no one calls them disabled.
And even if Derek was, so what? You are meant to laugh at the things he does not him. I have seen people with down syndrome in real life do something I found funny and laughed doesn't mean I am making fun of them just what they did or said.
I think you should be able to make comedy about anything.
I think because he potrays him as a bit dim AND hunched over and gurning people assume the character is disabled but as ricky says, Baldrick, Father Dugal and Mr Bean were far more stupid but no one calls them disabled.
And even if Derek was, so what? You are meant to laugh at the things he does not him. I have seen people with down syndrome in real life do something I found funny and laughed doesn't mean I am making fun of them just what they did or said.
I think you should be able to make comedy about anything.
Actually Mr Bean evidently did have something wrong, he exhibited the behaviour of someone socially awkard and maybe with Asperger's. Baldrick was just uneducated and Fr
Dugal was seen as very dim which is a form of disability,
I'm sure that it's supposed to be 'kind' and 'touching' and well written, but sorry I can't take Ricky Gervais seriously as that character.
The way he portrays him doesn't come across as believable.
If any other actor portrayed the character like that you'd say that they were shit.
Everything else about it is fine, but the Derek character himself which Ricky Gervais plays just comes across like a pure cartoon character.
It's like taking a character from a wacky sitcom type show, like say for example The IT Crowd, and throwing them into a comedy-drama. It just doesn't ring true for me at all.
No idea, I didn't write him nor am I a medical professional. But Gervais is too scared to challenge detractors by saying "yes, he does have (X), so what?", especially after mong-gate so he acts like there's nothing wrong with him at all.
I think because he potrays him as a bit dim AND hunched over and gurning people assume the character is disabled but as ricky says, Baldrick, Father Dugal and Mr Bean were far more stupid but no one calls them disabled.
Secondly, what gives you the impression that he is?
This is just going to descend into the same old "He's arrogant and and up himself vs He's just putting on a persona" argument that EVERY thread about Ricky Gervais does isn't it??
No idea, I didn't write him nor am I a medical professional. But Gervais is too scared to challenge detractors by saying "yes, he does have (X), so what?", especially after mong-gate so he acts like there's nothing wrong with him at all.
But what leads you to believe he's meant to have one? What about Ricky's portrayal of him makes you think 'he's disabled'?
I enjoyed The Office and Extras. Haven't watched any of Derek yet but don't really like the look of it from the trailers, I don't believe Ricky Gervais has a very big "range" as an actor, and pulling off something quite sensitive, i.e. the portrayal of a middle aged man with possible learning difficulties isn't something I think a limited actor such as Gervais can really manage.
Comments
The making of? If you're referring to the archive clip they show of Ricky playing him a few years earlier, he says himself that was from the early days of the idea, before it had properly developed, when he was just an unscripted character he used to do with friends.
I didn't really get this show when it was first on. Not sure I should be laughing or not
I do like RG but not sure what he is getting at with the character. Is it a comedy or a drama
To quote his answer to that one, "it's whatever life is".
From his tweets it's a comedy drama like Shameless, but more sitcomy. Basically, a comedy with sad, dramatic bits.
First look video:
Making of show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ETtPDQrTzw
The press love it:
Kevin O'Sullivan @TVKev
PS... don't miss Ricky Gervais' "Derek" next week. It's remarkable. I mean it...
Kevin O'Sullivan @TVKev
@shonaghwoods Best programme I've seen for ages.
Kevin O'Sullivan @TVKev
@rickygervais Obviously, I watch a lot of TV. Derek is the best programme I've seen in a long time. Loved the scenes with the dogs!
boydhilton @boydhilton
@TVKev @rickygervais And Kev & I usually never agree... so it must be true.
Kevin O'Sullivan @TVKev
@boydhilton @rickygervais How about that, Boyd! Derek... the show that brings people together.
The only non knee jerk "it's prejudiced!" critic I've seen say anything negative about it is Ian Hyland, who simply said it isn't good as The Office (you know, the most successful British comedy of all time) :rolleyes:.
It's a Dramady !
Drama + Comedy = Dramady
I think Comedy Drama sums it up better, dramedies tend to be dramas with funny bits, written by drama writers, where as Derek is more a comedy with sad bits and is written by a comedy writer.
At the funny bits, yes.
That's not what I meant.
To put it another way could Derek be based on what could have happened to David Brent?
Usual Ricky format ie Office and Extras, funny bits and poignant bits.
And even if Derek was, so what? You are meant to laugh at the things he does not him. I have seen people with down syndrome in real life do something I found funny and laughed doesn't mean I am making fun of them just what they did or said.
I think you should be able to make comedy about anything.
What condition though?
I think its more comedy+drama , which is
.... coma ?
Actually Mr Bean evidently did have something wrong, he exhibited the behaviour of someone socially awkard and maybe with Asperger's. Baldrick was just uneducated and Fr
Dugal was seen as very dim which is a form of disability,
The way he portrays him doesn't come across as believable.
If any other actor portrayed the character like that you'd say that they were shit.
Everything else about it is fine, but the Derek character himself which Ricky Gervais plays just comes across like a pure cartoon character.
It's like taking a character from a wacky sitcom type show, like say for example The IT Crowd, and throwing them into a comedy-drama. It just doesn't ring true for me at all.
He's just mocking the disabled. Again.
Firstly, this:
Secondly, what gives you the impression that he is?
It showed nothing..
mong 2 (mɒŋ)
— n
slang ( Brit ) a stupid or foolish person
[C20: a shortening of mongol ]
Collins English Dictionary
It hasn't referred to Down Syndrome people in decades, it's no more prejudiced than the phrase 'Chinese Whispers' is racist.
He's been calling him it for years, see here.
But what leads you to believe he's meant to have one? What about Ricky's portrayal of him makes you think 'he's disabled'?
He should add some happy trumpet music when there's a funny bit.
It's the music of the documentary Derek's meant to be appearing in.