Be Excellent To Each Other

I think by playing the character himself he makes it far worse, yes. I don't think he has the ability and as I say he has so much baggage associated with him. He's also not a man who can blend into character in the same way someone like Ronnie Barker could.

Do you know what, they occasionally undeniably are. Anyone with any experience of being a carer will tell you that. But that's not even what 99% of the show is about.

I have only seen it for a minute or two, during which time Karl Pilkigton was stealing things to sell on at a car boot sale, and it was hilarious.

I can see why the portrayal might be initially seen as offensive, but from what I've read the show makes it pretty clear that Derek is the good guy. The only issue is, as APOD said, with people who will just laugh at the person who looks and acts a little different. Much as 'Joey' became an insult in the playground, so could 'Derek'.

That, of course, doesn't mean it is in poor taste.

I can see how it would grate if you just hate Ricky Gervais anyway, especially all the gurning and stuff. But I just find his portrayal to be sympathetic rather than in any way cruel. Also recognisable in an number of ways from people with severe learning disabilities who I know now or have met over the years.


And I'm sorry to Grim... for telling him to fuck off earlier.

Do you know, I didn't even notice.

I assumed it was aimed at me.

I cried.

Yeah, it's absolutely impossible to legislate for the depths to which kids will sometimes sink to get a laugh or try to insult someone.

"I know that guy!"

Since Blackwood is a Tesco Value Eddie Murphy, has he been tested for presence of horse meat?

Or ham? [boom tish]

I've always been so confused by Al Murray. He seems to play the BNP football hooligan sort very well, so much so that I thought he was. Originally I thought it was a joke, then I realised it's not. Now you're telling me it is? Too much to handle.

Putting aside the problem of Gervais playing the part and over-egging it, the real depth of it as a show is all to do with the residents still being real people, and not just old. I think it is very sympathetic in its portrayal of old peoples homes, my late mum was a carer in a home for many years, so I guess I might have bit more of a connection to a show about it. I'm not sure if I like it because of Gervais, or despite him

I spent a fortnight or so working in a retirement home with an occupational therapist. It was an awful place.

I never used to enjoy visiting as a kid, that's for sure, but they did have an awesome conker tree in the garden, so it was a necessary evil.
I did get to the meet the Barron Knights on many an occasion though as are local and used to pop in to entertain the residents, you can imagine my excitement.

The reason I would put Derek in the "definitely not ironic and basically offensive" category is because it was written by Gervais and Gervais has had quite a thing of making definitely non-ironic "mong" jokes over the last couple of years - it's something he's latched onto and spent ages banging on about on Twitter, and then furiously defending himself from the PC nazis who didn't get the joke.

He's basically a c*nt, and him creating something genuniely warm towards its subject when he has spent ages making jokes about those with learning difficulties is impossible to imagine. Occam's razor and all that.

About 8 years ago he was on a kids christmas show (I think it was actually broadcast on christmas day). Also on there was a dwarf. Gervais was basically insulting this guy throughout the whole show, until he could take it no more, The camera was on one of the other presenters, but in the background, you could see the dwarf about to try and lamp Ricky.

I remember thinking he was really spiteful.

Malc

Sure the dwarf wasn't Warwick Davis?

I didn't like Derek when I saw bits of the first series, partly because I didn't find it funny but also because of Gervais's constant gurning (see also: Christopher Ecclestone in Doctor Who).

I actually quite liked Extras, mostly for some of the 'star' guest performances (I think my favourite was probably Kate Winslet advising on phone sex).

If Derek had a jaunty end theme tune I'd probably forgive it.

No, it wsan't someone I recognised and it was before that series was aired, I would say it was about the first season of Extras.

Malc

I've not seen Derek, but the adverts made it look like it was belittling mentaly disabled people, so I didn't watch it.

I could take or leave The office, but really liked Extras, I don't really like the one with Karl in, but not sat down to watch a full episode of it, that's just based on the clips I've seen and the adverts. Also not seen the one with Warwick Davies in.

Like I said I really went off him after seeing that Christmas thing, and then more recently the aforementioned twitter argument he had with Herring over the word mong.

Malc

Ha ha, this thread reads like a newspaper comments section with a load of outraged Dorises from Dorset moaning about something they know nothing about but reckon should probably be stopped.

Won't somebody think of the kids?

It's yet more proof that teh BBC is out of control and the license fee should be cut cut cut!!!!!1

He looks like a muppet with his hands being held up on sticks.

Racist

I'm not saying he should be stopped, just pointing out why I didn't watch it.

Malc

I watched that one last night. First one I've seen. Here's my thoughts...

Fair enjoyed it. Glad I'm not fishing anymore or I'd have been writing on the crabs this morning Dunno why everyone thinks Derek's meant to be a mong. The end was nice too

Given that no one has cast any aspersions on you personally for the fact you like it, merely expressed differing views on the source material, is that sort of response really justified?

And "know nothing about"? I've got two severely disabled relatives, but we can disappear up our own arses having a "some of my best mates are disabled" bollocks contest.

Different people react differently to different things. I'm not sure that requires name calling, does it?

you fucking spacker.

DYSWIDT.

Just watched some of it now, Derek isn't that funny, but Karl and Kev are funny

"know nothing about" was referring to people who obviously haven't even watched the fucking programme in question before offering their opinion on it.

Oh, well, that's a fine basis for proffering that sort of opinion on other people, then. Even if they have actually all seen it.

Carry on.

I haven't seen your arse and I wouldn't want to watch that for half an hour

Yeah, fuck this.

yes, yes you would.

Wotevs, eh.

Seriously, I wasn't trying to start an argument, I just thought you were a little needlessly punchy.

It's not you or really anyone, it's just this place has basically been not a lot except depressing this week. Can't be arsed at the mo.

It's because I've not been here.

I can't speak for others but I have watched at least as much as the C4 commissioning editor must have done in order to order more episodes after the pilot.

This is all becoming a bit ridiculous now.

The soul has been ripped out of this place and I'm fucking pissed off that we let it happen.

Blame WTB. And Davpaz.

Fuck's sake, Mark, really? To the point of doing a Cavey and deleting your avatar?

It's not that bad. This place is exactly the same as it's always been, only with less me than there was 18 months ago. Good thing, surely?

I'm a bit confused by this thread

Some people like a show, some don't. People variously like or dislike that show for different reasons, and have shared their opinions.

I know people are annoyed about things that happened at the weekend, but I'm not sure how that relates to this thread in particular.

I don't know what else to say, but I'm worried that if this is how all threads are going to go there's not going to be much point in carrying on reading

TOO MUCH WORRY IN THIS POST. THAT'S IT I'M LEAVING.

YES, FuCk ThIs I'm OfF

Hmmm. I guess I just don't understand.

OK, ignore me, I'm obviously missing something.

and/or

That's a bit poor.

Fucking hardly. This has gone through ridiculous and out the other side into non-parodyable.

I'm looking at Davpaz here, obv.

I'll speak my mind in a different thread.

It's a GIANT MIND AND CAN'T BE CONTAINED.

Ahem.