Life's Too Short (Gervais, Merchant, Davis)

[Davies]

Coming soon to the BBC; Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant's follow-up to The Office and Extras... Life's Too Short, starring Warwick Davis.

In this new show, a documentary crew follows a fictional version of the famous actor Warwick Davis. He is unable to find much work and every episode he gets in touch with Gervais and Merchant (playing themselves), in order to pester them for an acting job.

Below is a link to a clip from the programme, as shown on Richard Bacon's chat show...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8oS_UCOoRk

[Darth Marsden]

I love it when celebrities are willing to take the piss out of themselves like this. So few are these days.

I'm still not convinced I'll enjoy this show, but I don't doubt it'll be good. It's just a matter of taste - this sort of 'real-life' comedy that Gervais does isn't really my cup of tea. But I'll bet it'll still be funny!

Also, for those who don't get why the Charlie thing was funny - Charlie is slang for cocaine, and the presenter in the clip (Richard Bacon) had a drugs scandal a while back.

[Davies]

Originally Posted by Darth Marsden

...for those who don't get why the Charlie thing was funny - Charlie is slang for cocaine, and the presenter in the clip (Richard Bacon) had a drugs scandal a while back.

I had considered explaining that gag but for reasons of laziness I changed my mind, so thanks for clearing that up! I'll finish what you started by explaining that cocaine was found in his locker on the set of the famous British kid's show Blue Peter, for which he was a presenter.

[Sausy Gibbon]

I think it sounds good, Extras and The Office were both great. Off the side although I like their writing I find the Ricky Gervais out of character or how he portrays himself out of character really irritating, Stephen Merchant not so much but he is still pretty smug.

[Davies]

Originally Posted by Sausy Gibbon

... Ricky Gervais out of character or how he portrays himself out of character really irritating, Stephen Merchant not so much but he is still pretty smug.

I think you'll find that Merchant's portrayal of Wheatley, absolves him of any smugness crimes.

[Sausy Gibbon]

Yeah he's playing a character there but whenether Gervais or Merchant are on a chat show or radio they're so smug and obnoxious. The Ricky Gervais Show would be intollerable for me if it wasn't for Karl.

[JedExodus]

Originally Posted by Sausy Gibbon

Yeah he's playing a character there but whenether Gervais or Merchant are on a chat show or radio they're so smug and obnoxious. The Ricky Gervais Show would be intollerable for me if it wasn't for Karl.

Thank you kindly, lads are funny and all, but they really are a pair of wankers

[Davies]

Originally Posted by JedExodus

Thank you kindly, lads are funny and all, but they really are a pair of wankers

In all seriousness, I tend to agree when it comes to Ricky Gervais but I honestly don't find Steven Merchant to be all that smug, he's a lot more self-deprecating than Gervais, whose humour often revolves around boasting about his multiple awards and taking the piss out of minorities.

If Merchant does come across as a wanker, then I personally think it's by proxy of Gervais.

Anyway, Life's Too Short will probably only feature Gervais and Merchant for a few minutes every episode. The majority of the show will focus on Warwick Davis and that's one man who nobody could call a wanker (even if he's portraying one).

EDIT: Below is a link to a preview of Karl Pilkington's An Idiot Abroad 2 : The Bucket List, followed by a fantastic preview of Life's Too Short...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfvXooGRxKU

[Sausy Gibbon]

I'm sure it will be great hopefully it's more satirical of the entertainment industry than exploitative and taking potshots at his size. But from what I've seen and their track record it will hopefully be more like the former.
I agree Davies Merchant is the nicest of the two but there are times when he is pretty smug generally when he is bouncing jokes off Gervais.

[Davies]

Originally Posted by Sausy Gibbon

I agree Davies Merchant is the nicest of the two but there are times when he is pretty smug generally when he is bouncing jokes off Gervais.

... like I said; by proxy of Gervais.

Originally Posted by Sausy Gibbon

I'm sure it will be great hopefully it's more satirical of the entertainment industry than exploitative and taking potshots at his size. But from what I've seen and their track record it will hopefully be more like the former.

I have every faith that the show will mostly focus on the satire of the entertainment industry, much like the superb Extras did. Warwick has confirmed that there'll be gags regarding his size but thankfully he has stated that the joke will be on the ignorant people who mock such things. Warwick's episode of Extras is a good example of this approach, where Merchant's character; Darren Lamb asks a bunch of ridiculously ignorant questions of Mr. Davis. Observe...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Jm2Nf33qY

... I'd say the joke's very much on Darren for being such a gormless chowder head. Warwick is playing the straight man in that scene.

[Sausy Gibbon]

If Merchant is on I'll suspect there will be a bit of sparring between him and Warwick about each others size.

[Woodsyblue]

Niiiice. Extras is one of my favourite TV shows of all time and The Office (UK) is right up there too. Definitely going to give this one a look