Saturday 17 March 2007

i'm desperate to be impressed again

ricky gervais. he created david brent and won a load of awards. the office was genius. absolute quality tv that made me laugh and cry. it introduced me to stephen marchant and lucy davies, both legendary in their own hilarious and lovely ways (respectively).

but since then, there's always been something lacking. i liked extras, but it was a bit 'look at all the famous friends i've got.' and i haven't really enjoyed his stand-up. though i do have a ticket to see him at the royal albert hall in october - got a box wi' ma buddies - so hopefully he'll buck his ideas up.

but anyway...

i'm writing about gervais, mainly because i'm a bit annoyed. i'm sitting here watching comic relief '07. recently he's been on with a little clip pretending to go to kenya and then turning it into a ironic sketch about being the writer of the office and bringing on some celebrity pals. so, like what he did for live8, then.

i really want to see him go to africa and/or have a genuine emotional reaction to the things he's supposedly trying to help. i like the guy. i just want to be convinced that he's donating his time & talent because he's engaged with it, not because that's what is expected of people in his position.

or maybe it's just the line between the on and off-screen persona is difficult to cross for some people. i wouldn't blame him for resisting going to the slums of nairobi. if i was given the opportunity i'd be terrified, it looks like a pretty harrowing experience.

just, c'mon gervais. you have so much influence from your status within the popular culture of this country. see if you can use it without just twisting it into a big joke. i reckon it'd help. you don't have to go all 'bono' but, y'know, could be good.

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