An Idiot Abroad

[Twitchin Kitten]

Has anyone been watching this on Discovery Science channel?

Apparently Ricky Gervais has a friend who he considers a bit on the simple side, knows he's not comfortable outside of his 'comfort zone' and likes play practical jokes on the guy.

Well he's pulling, "The biggest and most expensive practical joke of all time" and Karl is sent all over the world for his amusement.

Poor Karl is not sent to all these places in comfort and luxury, he's sent to be miserable for Ricky's amusement.

I've grown to like Karl and think Ricky is an ass. The show is funny as hell, but it's not as funny as Ricky sees it. He's an awful friend to Karl and Karl makes the best of a horrible situation because he wants to make the best show possible for his friend.

[LKTraz]

I haven't checked it out but maybe I should.

[Jamminitin]

I love Ricky Gervais. Are you sure this guy isn't just being a good sport. It would make me sad to think it was a mean trick.

[Phast Phinger Phil]

I've got the whole series on HD and it really is excellent. Karl Pilkington is in fact a very intelligent guy and he and RG are really the best of friends. Karl was the producer & co-presenter of The Ricky Gervais Show on Xfm London between 2001-2005. They know how to put a good show together, and that's what "An Idiot Abroad" turned out to be.

Where Karl appeared to be in some horrible situations, we should keep in mind he was never alone... film crew, sound techs etc. He was meant to grumble and moan. If he hadn't it would just have been another boring "Wickers World" type travelog.

If anyone was actually a "victim" of their combined humour it was the TV company that footed the bill for the whole thing. It was/is an extremely funny series and I have absolutely no doubt that Ricky Gervais, Karl Pilkington and Steve Merchant (also involved) went into it with their eyes wide open. They're all independently succesfull, and as a trio they continue to go from strength to strength.

[Twitchin Kitten]

Phinger, I understand they are all friends and not for one minute do / did I think Karl was an idiot nor did I think he ever was alone. How the hell would the show come to be if there were no film crew with him?

I'm just saying it's not as hysterical as Ricky Gervais seems to think it is when you hear him laughing his ass off. Karl comes across very much as being a good sport.

[Phast Phinger Phil]

Sure, all I'm saying is, that's how it's meant to be. Have you ever seen the British TV show "The Office"? Ricky Gervais played an inept but egotistical boss called David Brent. He revels in playing that kind of character. It's just like you see in wrestling, where one guy puts himself across as the "baddie". RG actively sets out to portray an insensitive, shallow person who contrasts well against Karl's simple and slightly stupid act. You hear Ricky setting Karl up and you think "you rotten bastard", then you see Karl getting a shit deal and you think "you poor man". It's supposed to be part of the "entertainment value" just like those crazy game shows where someone has to suffer various indignities to win a prize. It's good television, that's all. It was never intended to be a serious documentary.

[Twitchin Kitten]

We have both the US and the UK versions of The Office here. I'm not crazy about either version of that show. It comes across too 'flat' for me.

All I know is I like Karl's perspective of the awful situations he's thrust into. It is good television.

[Rhubarb]

This is over too but I haven't watched any of it. I don't like Ricky and feel he would be nothing without the support of other comics around him. Seeing someone live proves their worth, people I know have seen him (and some other standups at the local ComedyKlub) and haven't been so impressed. Standup is so much harder than TV comedy.

[Twitchin Kitten]

I enjoy Karl. The show is great but like I say, it's just not THAT funny in the way RG sees it.
I hope it goes to season 2