Derek

[narabdela]

but not if youre a stick in the mud labour type

Oh deary me!

[bobsterkent]

I just can't stand the man, really don't like him

[will.15]

One of the things that fascinated me about the criticism of his recent dwarf show was that he was somehow mocking small people, but nobody seemed willing to address the fact that a dwarf was playing in it, and why that man took the role. I found it equally interesting that the old people were willing to be portrayed in this show, as slightly disabled by age. Perhaps because they know this is a reality.

Why did rhey do it? $$$$$

[Moor Larkin]

Why did they do it? $$$$$

Same as everyone else then ........ neither saint nor sinner.....

Oddly enough I had cause to be around an old folks home recently and someone remarked how the nice the staff were - some of them are not very bright, but then that is only to be expected I suppose was the quote I recalled being slightly surprised about, never having had much to do with such places before. Gervais seems to have hit some of the nails right on the head. Not too surprising that some people are uncomfortable about it all.

[Freddy]

Enjoyed the writing and some of the touches were wonderful, when Derek went to knock on Joan's door and realised he doesn't have to and putting the winnings in her purse were quite moving. It's just a pity it's the same formula as his others, there are things in it where the acting should tell you what has happened, not the spoken word. Wonder what another actor playing Derek would have done with the character rather than RG.

[jimw1]

when Derek went to knock on Joan's door and realised he doesn't have to and putting the winnings in her purse were quite moving.

Indeed the part in which Derek finds out about Joan's death was Quite a moving scene' I have to say I had no Idea Ricky Gervais had the Acting Qualities to pull off a scene like that...

[sidney bliss]

Having worked in Elderly Care for 26 years and counting I would love to work in a home like that!! However, I too thought Gervais managed to get home a point or two - Joans painting for example may seem crap to us but probably holds sentimental value for her -reminding her of her former home that she shared with hubby and brought up kids in, perhaps. And yes, Death is of course a regular occurrence in such places and touches everyone in one way or another. And, for the record, my staff are very kind people and because they don't have 2 a levels to rub together don't make them thick. Thick is a label for those who can't see the work that they do.

On the whole I thought it a decent effort in the 30 minutes given.

[Rowdon]

Can I judge it on literally 30 seconds? Thanks. Didn't like it. It was Ricky Gervais doing David Brent with a greased fringe. I may try 40 seconds or a minute next time.

[Freddy]

Can I judge it on literally 30 seconds? Thanks. Didn't like it. It was Ricky Gervais doing David Brent with a greased fringe. I may try 40 seconds or a minute next time.

I have the same problem, but try to look past that fault, (RG please take note next time) and enjoy other performances and some good writing.



Paul

[Moor Larkin]

Can I judge it on literally 30 seconds? I may try 40 seconds or a minute next time.

I shouldn't bust a gut... .... It's not like it's The Third Man or anything....

There was a grotesquely bad scene where Derek falls in a pond and strips naked to get dry (pixellated). It was very forced and seemed completely out of place in an otherwise understated show. Fortunately it came right on the advert break so I was able to file it under *error* and forget it had happened. I would guess it was only used because Gervais is being squeezed into this "comedy" slot by the TV channel. Frankly, if you were looking for laughs it would be better to give derek a wide berth. On the other hand I'd far rather watch this attempt at exploring the amusing tedium and minutiae of life (if such is even worth making into *entertainment*) than watch the sort of Misery-TV that normally passes for *exploration* of such scenario's as old folks homes and cerebrally-challenged people and their place in modern British society.

I have gathered from the press that filming had involved some vague luvvies such as an ex-Spice Girl, but all that was dropped from the pilot, so I'm a bit wary of where the show might go if it ever got a permanent slot. I found Extras annoying because of the faux-humility of the stars that be-straddled that Gervais vehicle. That became too much like celeb-TV for my caustic tastes.

[batman]

I didn't like it. Apart from being poorly written and performed (especially by Gervais), it lacked the one thing that could have made it more tolerable, warmth.

[Mervyn2]

I didn't like it. Apart from being poorly written and performed (especially by Gervais), it lacked the one thing that could have made it more tolerable, warmth.

I agree entirely. Plus I simply don't know where the programme can go from here without descending into the kind of cheap laughs Gervais seems to enjoy. Neither a comedy nor fly-on-the-wall docu-drama, it struck me that someone like Mike Leigh would have made this into something truly memorable. Leigh would also have made sure ALL of those coins would have gone back into Joan's purse...

[Laura Jesson]

Anything and anyone that irritates Stewart Lee can't be all bad.

Stewart Lee. Now there is the Emperor's New Clothes.

[Laura Jesson]

Watched the recording last night that I'd made - Oh dear. What was all that about. Very disappointed. A poor man's version of "Getting On".

[CaptainWaggett]

I thought there was a thread but I couldn't find it . Anyway...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012...-gervais-derek

Channel 4 has commissioned a full series of Ricky Gervais's one-off comedy drama Derek, about an autograph-hunting care-home worker.
Derek, starring, written and directed by Gervais and described by Channel 4 as a "bitter-sweet comedy drama about a group of outsiders living on society's margins", attracted criticism for allegedly mocking people with learning disabilities.

[Steve Crook]

attracted criticism for allegedly mocking people with learning disabilities.

They shouldn't attack Gervais just because of his learning difficulties
He's slow to learn that he's not funny

Steve

[Film Man]

Used to love the guy but this was terrible...let's hope he can return to 'The Office' type quality comedy.
Film Man.

[Steve Crook]

Used to love the guy but this was terrible...let's hope he can return to 'The Office' type quality comedy.

Or can't he do something funny instead?

Steve

[golightly]

Like all comedians who hit the heights, or the lows if you watched Life's too short, you get fed up with them, he should diversify and do a travelogue, preferably in the South Pole.

[David Challinor]

Don't like anything he does - I still can't believe the hoo-haa The Office raised which helped the lazy fly-on-the-wall doc style comic writing endure for a few more years....I'll bet anyone that 40 years on, The Office won't be shown as much or considered as a comedy tv great as, say, Fawlty Towers is.