Ricky Gervais Goes To Hollywood

If you want hecklerspray’s opinion - and while you’re here, pal, that’s all ye shall be getting - Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant’s new series Extras hasn’t been half-bad.

What with all the celebrity endorsement, the project could have oh-so-easily turned into the sort of Elton John-starring Little Britain bumkissery that makes any self-respecting viewer hang their head in shame. With a trail of vomit dribbling down their chin.

But no! While it - cliche impending - hasn’t been as good as The Office, Extras has indeed swung perilously close to genius. Particularly the Les Dennis episode, which - in any sane world - would transform the Family Fortunes host from laughable has-been to craggy-faced tragicomic ’serious actor’ territory.

No surprise then, what with all this success, that chubby Mr. Gervais is planning his move to Hollywood.

After notoriously turning down several projects - Ricky was apparently offered an action comedy in which he would play Will Smith’s half-brother - Gervais is clearly a man who knows quality when he sees it. Which is why he has leapt at the chance to work with Spinal Tap (DVDs) mirthmaker Christopher Guest and Mighty Wind (DVDs) genius Eugene Levy.

Expected to be a heavily-improvised project, For Your Consideration will feature Gervais (DVDs) as a deluded film-maker "convinced his movie is going to bag an honour". A bit like Martin Scorsese must have felt while making Gangs Of New York, then.

hecklerspray has to confess - we’re awaiting this cinematic treat with baited (minty fresh) breath. But the real question remains. Forget Extras. Forget the stand-up shows. Forget even the antics of David Brent. Will Ricky ever manage to beat the sheet gut-busting hilarity of his and Steve Merchant’s Saturday afternoon XFM radio show - in particular the unrivalled spectacle of ‘unique’ producer/sidekick Karl Pilkington and his unforgettable ‘Monkey News‘ feature?

That’s for you to decide …

Read More:

Gervais Poised For Hollywood Role - BBC News

Hear More:

The Hilarious Radio Show Archives - XFM

[story by C J Davis]