Top 10 Ricky Gervais Performances
Ladies and gentlemen: the King of Cringe Comedy. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the top 10 Ricky Gervais performances. Since bursting onto the scene with “The Office,” Gervais has earned wide acclaim as both a writer and performer on both sides of the Atlantic and has gained notoriety for his unique style of humor. For this list, we're broadening the definition of 'performances' to include his acting, comedic roles, hosting duties as well as those times when he's just being Ricky.
Special thanks to our users Daniel John, Kieran Sol Owens, morgan1999 and Jackson Diehl for submitting the idea through our Suggest Tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comSuggest
Script written by Aaron Cameron
#10: Himself
“Life’s Too Short” (2011-13)
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Continuing in his proven - if not groundbreaking - mockumentary style, Gervaismay share billing with Warwick Davis, but he regularly steals the spotlight in “Life’s Too Short.” Created and written by Gervais along with Stephen Merchant, the pair plays what we hope are fictionalized versions of themselves alongside a showbiz dwarf. These appearances don’t only justify the programme’s high cameo count, but also often set little Davis up for the big fall. Alas, poor Warwick.
#9: Derek Noakes
“Derek” (2012-)
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Transmitted on Channel 4 in the UK and later stream-able on Netflix in the U.S., this comedy-drama sees Gervais play a man who may not actually be autistic, but is certainly...odd. Outwardly, the child-like Derek Noakes is a kind, innocent and caring person, which makes him a radical departure from anyone elseGervais has played - including himself. He isn’t only the star of the mockumentary-style series, but he also created, wrote and directed both series of the programme, set in a nursing home.
#8: @rickygervais
Twitter (2009-)
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Need a 140-character burst of Ricky? Yep. Twitter. Since first logging into the micro-blogging site in 2009, Gervais has amassed an astonishing 6 million followers. Although clearly a tireless self-promoter, the comedian also uses his account as a platform for animal causes and adoption, as well as way to talk about atheism and gay rights - often at the same time. While there may never be an end to the “God debate,” Gervais has been recognized for his support of animal issues by PETA, while his thoughts on gay rights can clock as many as 47,000 re-tweets.
#7: Himself
“An Idiot Abroad” (2010-)
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After proving he had the whole mockumentary thing down, Gervais moved on to making travel documentaries in 2010. Ricky and sidekick Stephen Merchant send friend, and “Derek” co-star, Karl Pilkington off to far-flung locations throughout the world, despite his preference for staying at home. By pulling the strings for his own entertainment as much as he does for ours, Gervais treats viewers to a slice of what we can only assume is the real Ricky Gervais in “An Idiot Abroad”: a cackling madman and comical tormentor.
#6: Himself
“Ricky Gervais Live: Animals” (2003)
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After the colossal impact of “The Office,” Gervais was keen to prove he could, if he chose to, do stand up. Although he had dabbled in the craft prior to the hit sitcom, his newfound fame allowed him to come in virtually at the top. While the results of his “Animals” show may divide the room, the comedian maintains that he has never been after the mainstream comedy fan but instead seeks out what he calls the “Iggy Pop” crowd of comedy. The content of this tour certainly proved it.
#5: Mark Bellison
“The Invention of Lying” (2009)
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Sure, it’s not “The Office,” but then it wasn’t meant to be. Co-written and co-directed by Gervais, the fantasy romantic comedy is set in an alternate Earth where no one has lied. Ever. We’re not making that up. When Gervais’ Mark Bellison stumbles upon the concept, he discovers the benefit of lying and in turn invents both fiction and religion. While its atheist overtones may have troubled some, the film won praise from many credits for its boldness and radical execution.
#4: Andy Millman
“Extras” (2005-07)
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What if David Brent didn’t run an office and instead did something better suited to him, like standing in the background and not speaking? Giving at times an honest look at the lower rungs of show business, “Extras” sees Gervais playing Andy Millman, an actor who seeks fame at all costs - but he’s also got ideas well above his station and his foot permanently in his mouth. This makes him his own worst enemy. Even after landing his own sitcom, true success continues to elude Andy as he finds the reality of fame never quite lines up with his ambitions.
#3: Himself
“The Ricky Gervais Show” (2010-12)
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Like “An Idiot Abroad,” this podcast is, in actuality, centered more around Karl Pilkington, though it also starred Stephen Merchant and Gervais; however, that detail did little to stop it from becoming the most downloaded podcast in the world. Thanks to multiple recurring features like Monkey News and EducatingRicky, the popularity of the podcast became so strong it spawned an animated series that also featured the three men in question.
#2: Host
“Golden Globe Awards” (2010-12)
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Did he host or did he roast? Well that depends who you ask, but for the Gervais-faithful, his take-no-prisoners approach to hosting was just what the awards ceremony needed. The comic shocked many with his ironic attacks on the Hollywood elite, and shocked them even further when he returned to host not once, but two more times in the early 2010s. Despite initial mixed reviews, critics warmed up to his later efforts before he handed the gig off to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in 2013.
Before we unveil our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
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