 RICKY'S BLOG - Read Ricky's thoughts on his upcoming movies, visits to restaurants and round-headed friends. Week fifty-three - January 2009 Did an interview today for The Simpson's 20th Anniversary. Insulted Karl quite a bit which I assumed would be cut, but the producer said it would definitely stay in. It was nothing new - "round headed moron" etc., but it might reach a whole new audience who didn't know that. Demoed the song I'm doing for Sesame Street. Hope they like it. It's a bit mental but so is Sesame Street sometimes. Nice plug in the Washington Post for "The Arts". They even streamed an exclusive clip you might like.
I sent a copy of the show to Damien Hirst as he gets a mention. I ended the email like this... "I'm a huge fan but I bought a house to live in instead of one of your paintings." Hope he sees the funny side So Ghost Town was released in cinemas in Australia. The reviews I've seen were great. I have no idea whether that makes any difference at all, but it must be better than bad reviews I suppose. (I'm not even sure about that any more) Anyway here's an interview I did earlier. Got an email today from Sesame Street saying that as I'm appearing as myself I can wear my own clothes, but to; 1) Please avoid black or white tops. 2) Please avoid logos, stripes and bold geometric patterns 3) The muppet Grover is blue and Elmo is red so please avoid these colors. The yellow jump suit it is then. I can't wait though. That might be close to a perfect day. Waking up in New York, singing to a muppet, then having dinner, before squeezing one of my weird headed bald gimp friends' heads. Anyway, talking of weird bald muppets I've got to go now and watch that fella on Masterchef take way too big a mouthful and tell us it's a lovely pudding. Cooking doesn't get tougher than this! Masterchef is hotting up isn't it? Watched the new series "Rehab" too. Oh God. TV eh? Can't live with it.... (I'm even thinking of taking up reading.) Early night tonight though, as I'm doing a few live Australian TV shows tomorrow morning via satellite. Had another meeting about the animated series. It looks like we might do a dozen 11 minute episodes to start with. We're also looking into a UK broadcaster showing it too. Here's another look at a lovely little animation. Goodnight John Boy. Just watched two episodes of "The Celebrity Agency" on MTV. I feel bad. It was fascinating, but only in the way that looking through medical books at pictures of congenital deformities is. I couldn't resist. Like when you drive by a bad accident on the motorway and you know that if you look you might have nightmares but you still look. I think I will have nightmares tonight. These people that will be filmed doing anything... I don't know whether to feel sorry for them or call out the vet and have them put down. Maybe it's the same thing. Any vets out there? Producers of Dexter! Hurry up for fuck's sake. Had a conference call about animating the podcasts for US TV. I'm so excited about it. Not because of the money or anything but because of the fact that we don't have to lift a finger. We've done our bit. It's the best job ever. (Obviously it's Karl's second best job ever behind the paper round he had when he was 13) Talking of which Thank God for 24. (I know I'm an atheist but "Thank Fox" doesn't have the same ring to it) I'm getting the first five episodes of Damages Season 2 fedexed over. That's the weekend taken care of. Oh, by the way, I've got a couple of dates for you; The GQ podcast and the Shortlist podcast will be up on the 24th Feb. The Ricky Gervais Guide to The Arts may be up on the 18th now if everything goes smoothly. It's not Dexter, but it's our favourite one so far. (Actually our favourite one so far is probably one of the free ones, but Steve doesn't want me to say that.) He is off to India tomorrow. I wonder if he will still haggle in restaurants there? Week fifty-two - January 2009 I think I've got the Sesame Street sketch in pretty good shape. I'm also doing The Daily Show again while I'm in New York. Always good fun, and no pre-interview. Jon Stewart is so smart and funny. (And their goody bag is the best of any chat show) The DVD of the HBO Special (Ricky Gervais Stand-Up Special: Out of England) is released at the end of March. Another reminder to UK fans - even though it's an all new recording, it is a compilation of routines from Animals, Politics and Fame (with a bit of new stuff) so probably not worth buying if you've already got all those. Talking of the UK, I hope everyone there watched the David Attenborough programme on Darwin. Superb. Quite a few things on TV about evolution at the moment. (Something to tide me over till the new seasons of Dexter and Damages) Obviously there's nothing as informative as The Ricky Gervais Guide to Natural History. I wonder what David Attenborough would make of Karl. Finally, the missing link. Check out Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street. Amazing. Look out for Bernard Manning on trumpet. Hope I didn't offend anyone with my last blog entry. I read it to Karl before I posted it and he laughed - which, as you know, is rare. As I say, it was not aimed at anyone in particular, no particular forum or fansite as I never read those things. I read a couple a few years ago and, as sweet and flattering as it was, it isn't healthy. With everyone in the world having strong and completely different opinions on the minutiae of your work, it might start influencing your decisions. The reason I told Karl to stop reading comments was just because it made him want to stop doing the audiobooks every time some idiot came up with a conspiracy theory. (He read one on iTunes saying that some of Natural History had been cut and pasted from the Xfm shows and it made him want to "knock it on the 'ed." I appreciate that "fans" have views on my work - I just don't want to hear them. And I don't mean that in a bad way, I mean I don't take notes; I don't take notes from the BBC, HBO or anyone else. It's not that I think I know better than everyone else in the world, it's just that I feel the best work is never done by committee or by pandering to the most popular suggestions. I think I have the best fans in the world. The stuff I've produced over the past few years could never have been the success it was without the initial dedication of the hard core few. However I wouldn't want to be stuck in a lift with them (only joking). No, really, they're a bit mental (joke). Freaks. Ghost Town is in Australian theatres from Feb 12th. Read about this here. It's still getting nice reviews in the US. And it's out on DVD in the UK in a couple of weeks. Oh and please vote for it in The Empire Awards. I've persuaded Karl to do more "Guide to.." audiobooks. Actually I think the success of the first two persuaded him. He even got his boiler replaced this week. He moaned that it cost him a packet but the next day it was like he'd had the weight of the world lifted off his shoulders. Luckily there is still everything else in the world to moan about. His latest thing is reading comments on iTunes and Amazon. Steve and I have told him a thousand times not to read comments on those things and especially not on forums or fan sites (at least he doesn't do that). People who leave negative messages on forums are usually deficient in some way. You wouldn't go round reading toilet walls would you? You certainly wouldn't bother replying to comments made on that toilet wall unless you were a right fucking div. He wants to do an audiobook specifically about this. Might be funny. Except I don't want to dignify their comments and let them think they've got an audience. I'm not talking about genuine fans by the way. If you are a sane person who enjoys what we do then great. It's those people who have a criticism but continue to watch or listen and slag it off. It's weird. Anyway, I told Karl not to worry about them. Just let them continue writing to the same twelve people and giving themselves cool nicknames and illegally downloading things. They are all like Paul "The Party Animal' Parker. (Who has presumably hung himself whilst masturbating by now.) At least it's the way he would've wanted to go. Well, obviously. That is the good thing about suicide. By definition it's the way you want to go. (Unless you were hanging yourself while masturbating and the rope broke and you fell through the floor boards, naked, cock in hand, into the flat downstairs where they were having a gay orgy, and you landed on a giant dildo that went up your arse and fatally ruptured your internal organs.) Anyway, those free podcasts we did for GQ, Shortlist, The Guardian and The Telegraph, should be up next week. They turned out great and the three of us were discussing that it's some of the best stuff we've done. Then Steve suddenly said, "It annoys me that we're giving it away." Unbelievable. An open letter to the BBC.
It is a sad day. Soon I will watch the last episode of season one of Damages. It is one of the most compelling, stylish and brilliantly written series I've ever seen. It's been a tough few weeks. It was only in January that I received the third season of Dexter in the post and promptly watched it in a week. The mighty Clyde Phillips (the exec producer) himself sent it to me after we met at the Golden Globes. But that's as far as my "string pulling" goes. What I really want is to make him to work faster. I now have to wait for both these audacious works of TV art to make some more. Of course neither of these shows or other examples of America's best, (Sopranos, The Wire, Simpsons,) can compete with the return of Minder on Channel 5. (I am being sarcastic in case you didn't see it. Possibly more sarcastic than I've ever been before. I couldn't take the risk of anyone in the world thinking I was serious for one second. Sarcastic. Really, really sarcastic. I didn't think it was very good. It was not very good.) We watched it with Karl and Suzanne who were over for dinner. We only tuned in to see who they'd cast in which roles but the worse it got the more we had to watch. It wasn't annoying. It didn't take itself too seriously. It was just... Do you remember when you were little and you were into rock music so your mum got you a Top of the Pops album and you had to listen to the same guy singing Life on Mars and Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree? That's what I'm talkin' bout. I got a call from one of my US agents saying that my letter to President Obama was read out on all the news programmes in the States today. Hilarious. They actually discussed it on CNN. Maybe I'll get a reply. You never know. After all, Gordon Brown wrote back. It was even in the Washington post. And here. I'd love to think that somewhere there is an adviser sitting with the President saying. "OK... so let me see if I've got this straight... 1. Withdraw from Iraq, 2. Sort out education in the poorest communities and 3. Swap Posh for Hilton." I worked on the song for Sesame Street. It's mental. Hopefully in a good way. The recording of it is being filmed by 60 Minutes who are doing a special on me. I'd love them to film us doing a podcast but Karl would never allow it. He let me dress him up as a whoopie cushion and let off a champagne cork on his head but wouldn't let one of the most prestigious documentary teams in the world watch him talk bollocks. Never mind. Howdy Doody chuckle chums 
It's The Chubby Funster here. Snowy isn't it? Sorry I called some of you "nonce cunts" in my last blog. It's going to get even snowier apparently. Brrrrrrr!!! Of course, only the nonce cunts amongst you would assume I was talking to you. And you won't be reading this as you wouldn't be so dopey as to visit this site again. If you are reading this, then welcome. Lets have a super blog-tastic time yeh? We did some exclusive podcasts for various publications to promote the new series of audiobooks. So look out for them in The Guardian, The Telegraph, Shortlist and GQ. Hope you like them. If you don't, you can't moan, as they're free. (Unless there are are still some N.C.s reading this, in which case of course you will moan) A new free sample of The Arts is available now on iTunes by the way. Found this on youtube today. Do not listen if you find the old and bewildered a comedy taboo. Wrap up warm. PS. Cunts. (Only joking) cunts Joking. cunts joking cunts I was thinking of putting a warning up that people have to click on before reading this blog. It's just that I do this blog for me and like minded people, so I'd like a filtering process for idiots who might not like what they read. Something like this... I enter this blog knowing that there will be swear words and politically incorrect terms of abuse that may make me cry if I am a little nonce. I won't write to the papers as it is fuck all to do with them. I won't complain to the BBC either as it is fuck all to do with them. In fact, even if I find something so offensive that puts me all in a tizz, I will bite my tongue or a lovely big cock, whichever is tastier to me or works as a better pacifier. I may well find things that I don't find funny, but I promise I won't try to deconstruct the "so called humour" on forums read by 12 other losers as that would be as constructive as writing things in shit on a toilet wall. No, instead I will show Ricky how comedy should be done and become more successful than him, as the best revenge is living well. If I am a sensitive little flower and, not heeding this warning, still read the blog only to find something that offends me, I will never read the blog again. To do otherwise would be stupid and show that I am a masochistic and feeble nerd with no life. If you enjoy this blog then great. It's written for your amusement. I have read the above and agree to the terms and conditions. Actually I don't want to warn anyone. Fuck 'em. Anyway,... I'm looking into the legalities of adopting Robin Ince. He is 40 years old which is higher than the norm but I assume with his consent I could become his legal guardian. His parents are wonderful and did a great job, but they are finding it increasingly difficult to look after him now. I am so proud of him going off on tour by himself, but as his new papa, I worry about him, as he is not like other boys, and is sometimes out of his depth in the real world. Ed, Matt and I always feared "Earthy Bumpton" (coming down to earth with a bump; this expression explains it in fun terms so as not to scare him too much), but wanted him to stand on his own two feet. We were worried that he would leave restaurants without paying, as that was what he's been used to for the past few years touring with me. Please could you become a friend of his on Myspace and keep an eye on him for me. An open letter to Barack Obama.
Week fifty-one - January 2009 Karl couldn't work today as he had to go to Kent. "Why?" I said, "it's only Friday." "'Avin' me car MOT'd. I don't trust 'em in London." He thinks in London they would fail it and say he had to get something fixed. So he took the day off and drove all the way to his weekend home. I called him about 6pm. He was angry and fed up. The garage in Kent failed his MOT and said he had to get something fixed. He said he is definitely moving to Manchester now. They must be really trustworthy with MOTs up there We're recording a free podcast to promote The Ricky Gervais Guide to Philosophy on Monday. (The free podcast for The Arts will be out next week) I hope Karl is in a better mood. Or not. Doesn't matter really. Just as much fun for me either way. Talking of fun. Someone has done a nice visual to go with a podcast clip of international funster - Paul "the fucking lunatic mental cunt party animal" Parker. Wrote a sketch for Comic Relief today. (Because I really fucking care) The last one we did was great fun. (Even though we had to shoot it all in 8 hours.) The BBC told me that at the moment I cried, they hit the peak of donations for the night. This immediately plummeted when people realised I was taking the piss. So I really made a difference. Saw this great article today on comedy website Chortle. I particularly liked the review by Steve Bennett. 
Did the third in a run of warm-ups at The Finchley Arts Depot. I enjoy stand-up so much more these days. I just chat and have a laugh as opposed to worrying about every line being enjoyed by everyone. I think this is the best stand-up show so far. And I know I would say that, but I think any artist (even a lowly comic) SHOULD think that, or otherwise start again. You should get to a point where you think "I don't need to get any bigger so I should just get better." Worked on the sketch I'm doing for Sesame Street next month. They've let me write a song. I can't give too much away but I'm singing to Elmo. Can't believe my luck. Being paid to go to New York to sing to a furry little blue thing. As I've said before, all my little friends are freaks. Got this from my weird nosferatu-type-headed friend Rob. I think he's got his own back. From: rob steen Subject: 20 years Date: 18 August 2008 13:44:37 BST How did this happen? 
Did another warm up gig. I've got about 45 minutes now. I don't know when I'll have time to tour but at least I'll be more than ready. Robin is refusing to support me. He says as good as the money is, his medical bills for the mental breakdown that will result will eat into his profit. I doubled his money to test his integrity. He still said no. I will up it again in a week or so. It's like a game show. "What price sanity?" - With Vernon Kay! This is from the last tour. Started working on a sketch for Sesame Street. I'm really looking forward to recording it. They tape in NY too. Perfect. Talking of the greatest city in the world, last time I was there I hooked up with Louis C.K. Here is the e mail correspondence leading up to that meeting.
On 2 Jan 2009, at 18:39, Louis C.K. wrote:
Here is the fat ginger slob on youtube Week fifty - January 2009 Did the interview and photo shoot for the Sunday Times Magazine. Enjoyed both very much. In fact, the "surprised face" I did at the end of the shoot might actually be used in the feature. Mental. Karl is finally back from holiday. Did the free podcast/sample thing for The Ricky Gervais Guide to The Arts. We'll stick it on iTunes around the beginning of February. (The actual audiobook will be available from about the 24th of Feb) Because Karl has been sitting in the sun doing even less than usual, but eating more, he is a bit tubbier than usual so has a particularly round, red head. He looks like a fucking Edam. We did a bit for our 4th audiobook in the current series, "Philosophy". I don't want to give anything away but at one point Karl actually laughed. Me and Steve couldn't believe it. I don't think he fully understood the feeling himself. That was only for a couple of seconds though. The rest of the time he was of course a miserable git. I realised that the chocolate Golden Globe that the Four Seasons made for me looks a bit like Karl in a sports car wearing a scarf. 
So the second audiobook in the latest series, The Ricky Gervais Guide to Natural History, is available now on iTunes. Hope you like it. (Links on the front page) In a few days we'll put out a free sample of The Arts, the third in the series. Tomorrow I'm doing an interview and photo shoot for the Sunday Times Magazine to plug the UK release of the Ghost Town DVD (out 2nd March) I used to dread photo shoots, but last summer I started adding my own little project to each session. A coffee table book of my "surprised face" taken by top photographers around the world. This one was taken by Andy Hollingworth 
(When I say coffee table book, I just mean my coffee table obviously) Me and Jane went shopping today to buy a gift for Jennifer Garner's new baby. I wanted to buy it a whole edam with "Ricky" on the side but Jane picked out a really cute baby-grow with matching boots. I said I'd love to see Robin in this. Jane said it will never happen as he is a middle-aged man with dignity. I wanted to bet, but she wouldn't. Did our first "workshop" with potential cast members of The Man from the Pru. It was nearly as much fun as dressing up Robin. A journalist asked me today if "making it" in America and driving round L.A. in limos changes a man. Yes. it makes him look orange. 
Week forty-nine - January 2009 My 'Inside the Actors Studio' premiers Monday night on Bravo in the US. if you're in that neck of the woods, and I know for a fact that about a quarter of a bilion of you are, then give give it a watch. Thanks to the American press for the nice plugs; There's never a bad time to talk about: Ricky Gervais. The 47-year-old British comedian with "a pug-nosed face" gets his own "Inside the Actors Studio" treatment on Bravo. With any luck, it will persuade you to rent the underrated gem "Ghost Town." And, like his too-short appearance on the Golden Globes, it should also remind you what a crime it is that Gervais is not hosting this year's Oscars. (Monday) LA Times and Inside the Actors Studio, 7 p.m, Bravo Want to see what real talent is like? Check out James Lipton's interview with Ricky Gervais, the Brit who's responsible for half the funny stuff on the tube lately. I'm assuming the reference to the funny stuff I do on the tube means my TV work in America as apposed to my "clown busking" on the London Underground. Is there anything less amusing than a clown? Genocide maybe? What about a clown juggling? You know it's going to be a thirty year old middle class hippy who lives in a squat which he's trying to legally own. There used to be this "white-dreaded" fool who, in the summer, would sit in Russell Square and happily play one fucking drum for 6 hours. Even I'm not that annoying. Talking of useless fools and Inside the Actors Studio, here is a clip of the time we asked Karl some of the questions from the show. Hear the whole thing here (iTunes link) Thanks to Rotten Tomatoes for making Ghost Town rom-com of the year. Who needs more Golden Globes anyway? Talking of a Golden Globe... The gimp chimp's roundy-bonce must have a bit of colour by now. He is still on holiday in the Caribbean. 11 days off! Meanwhile I'm promoting the audiobooks to keep his money rolling in. We hit 150 million downloads for the podcasts yesterday. Ridiculous The Ricky Gervais Guide to Natural History is out next week by the way. Medicine still available. 
Worked with Steve today on The Man from the Pru. Roped in a couple of A listers when I was in LA. Can't tell you who yet. Oh by the way, my American week..... We stayed in our New York apartment for the first time on this trip. I thought the one thing I'd miss was the luxury service at The Four Seasons. However doing your own laundry and washing up and shopping was, surprisingly, a new joy. Made me feel part of the city if you know what I mean. One the Monday we went to see the puppies and kittens in the posh pet shop down the road. Saw this amazingly cute thing. It's like a little bear cub. We named him Dexter and went to see him every day. 
We also walked around Central Park every day. Apparently it's bigger than Monaco. But with fewer French people. Talking of which... I had the best mashed potato I've ever had in a French restaurant called Le Charlot on East 69th Street. My new favourite restaurant in the world by the way is Park Avenue. They change the menu and decor according to the season. Wonderful. (I'm like Michael Winner) Annoyed my bald weird little Brum-chum Rob every day. Then off to LA. The hotel put a Golden Globe made of chocolate in my room.
How nice is that. Went for a walk and bought this little work of art which we sent to New York. They are little rodents with silver feet and they're waiting for us. 
Got given loads of free stuff, went to the Globes, flew home. So I did my bit at the Golden Globes and it went really well. Dare I say it, but the joke about Kate Winslet winning for a Holocaust movie may have got the biggest laugh of the night. Everyone who spoke to me said so anyway. All the US press said it was funny including Jewish magazine Heeb One review said, "Ricky Gervais killed the crowd with mock bitterness about not being nominated -- and simultaneously made himself the front runner to host any awards show in the future." TV Guide made it one of their top moments. Gothamist NY made my bit their lead story. New York Daily News said it was "Hilarious." The Boston Globe said "British comic Ricky Gervais proved once again to be the highlight of an awards show." So why did a couple of English papers say it went down badly? Because they're jealous lying cunts whose lives haven't turned out like they planned and want everyone to be as unhappy as they are. Week forty-eight - January 2009 In L.A. The weather is gorgeous and people are trying to give me free things to wear all the time. I miss New York already. The "uproar" about my comments about fat people on The Ricky Gervais Guide to Medicine continues. 'pop eater' 'queerty' 'the tyee' No one cared when in series 5 of the audiobooks Karl thought that Anne Frank was just "avoiding rent". Or when he said that "gays should have their own toilets". Maybe someone will get a little offended when they hear in February's 'Guide to... The Arts' that Karl thought that Sophie's Choice was "like a Deal or No Deal type thing". Unbelievable. Did Conan last night. He is the same height as Steve Merchant so I look like a fat elf standing next to him. Here's a clip at the NBC website. Did a little trailer for my Inside the Actors Studio episode with James Lipton. It is bizarre. I will try to post it if they send me the finished thing. Ar least I look a bit taller next to him. Had dinner at the Rainbow Rooms with Louis C.K. He is a bit taller than me, but I look great standing next to him because he is a fat bald ginger slob. Went to the world famous 21 Club. Had chicken and mash. My cold has turned to a cough. Brilliant. Went to the Whitney Museum. Edward Hopper is now one of my favourite artists. Never liked him before. Weird. Watched three episodes of Dexter. The best TV drama since The Sopranos Did Letterman. It rained all day. Still mustn't grumble. Went for a run today in Central Park. It was so cold I kept my puffa jacket on. I stopped when it started snowing. I'm not like one of those posh beardy twats that ask for money so they can go and lose body parts up mountains then have to be rescued by people risking their lives. No. So I went home and had a cup of tea. We went to the zoo again. The polar bears were loving the weather. Karl wasn't. It was cold in London too apparently. He said he was typing with gloves on. Boiler trouble I assume. Idiot. Blog Extra... Ghost Town made another top ten list. Not sure this one counts as was compiled by my pal and co-director on This Side of the Truth Matt Robinson. I'm hoping he will also decide the Oscars next year. Anyway here's what he thought of Hollywood in 2008. TOP TEN WORST FILMS OF 2008: 10. Fool's Gold -- I don't have anything funny to say about this movie. I'm just fed up. Just fucking stop it. Seriously. You're not getting anything out of it. I'm not getting anything out of it. Even "your audience" isn't getting anything out of it. You know what this movie cost? $70 million. You know what it grossed? $70 Million. It's a cats game. You're literally doing nothing. 9. You Don't Mess with the Zohan -- Remember in the trailer when Adam Sandler's little legs pop up and start kicking that guy in the face? So do I. 8. The Happening -- Nail in the coffin. Fucking took long enough. If anyone is keeping score at home, just know that if you write and direct a great film that grosses nearly $300 million (and one slightly over-rated yet entertaining super-hero movie) they will let you direct FOUR FILMS OF YOUR CHOOSING. Lucky for us all, The Happening was number four. 7. The Love Guru -- Here's when you know that you've stopped trying: you're still using mini-me in a movie that doesn't have a character in it named mini-me. This is exactly like George Lucas making Boba Fett one of the central story lines of the prequels. Sometimes "giving the people what they want" isn't the right thing to do. This is also why there are so many obese children. 6. Fireproof -- THIS DOES NOT BODE WELL. This makes me miss The Passion of the Christ. At least that had a few movie stars and some violence. Next up: the Mormon film movement. Oh wait... that's already started... and it's on this list. 5. Beverly Hills Chihuahua -- See above. 4. How She Move -- Seems beside the point. What about How She Talk? 3. Be Kind Rewind -- I actually walked out of this one angry. Such a disappointment to realize where the talent lies with Michel Gondry (Clue: not in his writing). I agree there isn't enough of people laughing and looking like they're having fun in comedy films nowadays, but conversely, there's also nothing more awkward than watching two guys pretending to be laughing and having fun. 2. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull -- YOU CHOSE... POORLY. 1. Twilight -- Dear Fat Girls of America, I know times are tough. I know how it feels to be overweight, and unpopular, to feel that no one really understands you and to wallow away at night, lying in your big bed, snacking and wishing there was an effeminate vampire boy-child to come steal you away and show you how shiny he looks in the sunlight. (I don't). But this is not the answer. I say it again, ma'am: THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER. I know it's too late to stop this train, but let us all agree that the Twilight books make Harry Potter look like Proust. And even worse, the Twilight film makes Disaster Movie look like The Leopard. TOP TEN BEST FILMS OF 2008: As always, my Top Ten is the closest melding I can muster of what I consider to be the best films and the films I flat out enjoyed the most. Apparently, as is obvious by many of my selections, this was the year that I was a nine year old boy. 10. Iron Man -- Just fun. 9. Synecdoche, New York -- I like to imagine that Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman made a bet to see who could do the other person's job better. You know, like an I Love Lucy episode. But in this I Love Lucy episode Kaufman walked into the candy factory like he was Gordon Ramsey on Kitchen Nightmare and made the best damn candy that candy factory had ever produced. On the flip side, Gondry, in an attempt to clean the house and take care of Little Ricky, burned down the entire brownstone and drowned Little Ricky in the tub. 8. Tropic Thunder -- It still bothers me that we live in a culture where Tom Cruise has to do public penance for being crazy by embarrassing himself with ridiculous dance moves. But almost everything else I enjoyed. I think it would have been better, as it was supposed to be, with Owen Wilson in the Jack Black role, though. 7. Ghost Town -- It would make the list regardless. It's fantastic. And the ending makes me well up with tears like a little girl-gay. And it stars my favorite actor in the whole world. Tea Leoni. 6. Let the Right One In -- A slap in the face to all that is bad in the world of cinema. Quite literally the anti-Fool's Gold. It's exactly what we need. 5. Speed Racer -- I'm sick of defending this film. But fuck it, one more go. Look, you're wrong. It's as simple as that. If you haven't seen it, whatever you think of it, you're just wrong. If you have seen it and didn't like it, well... you don't understand what you saw. This film is so far ahead of its time the closest thing I can compare it to is 2001. So there. That's a hyperbolic statement I will live to regret. But, hyperbole is necessary sometimes to prove a point. This film is amazing. It's even important. It's amazing storytelling, it's technically leagues ahead of anything else and here is the main reason people hate it: it is like nothing that has even been before. 4. Kung-Fu Panda -- Some of the best storytelling I've seen in a long time. Like a perfectly mechanized little watch. I bet that at this point in the list you're thinking that I'm praising some pretty childish and "light" films for their "good storytelling". But I just call 'em like I see 'em. And some of the best storytelling I saw this year took place in films aimed at children. 3. Wall-E -- The first time I watched it was on my laptop and it was a bootlegged version I downloaded from some asshole with a camcorder pointed at the screen. That's how bad I wanted to see it (I was in England where it wasn't releasing for another three weeks and I couldn't wait). Even with the crappy quality, it still did what it was supposed to do. Something I can't shake though: I don't totally understand how or why this film was allowed to be. 2. The Dark Knight -- I don't have anything interesting or funny to say about this. Oh wait... A Jew with a Barfing Dick. There we go. A chuckle, there. 1. The Wrestler -- hands down the best storytelling I've seen in a long time. There's nothing more impressive to me than a simple story you've seen a million times, presented in a way that makes you feel like you've never seen it before. Aranofsky-world -- here we come. P.S. For those of you who think this list is missing Benjamin Button, or Slumdog Millionaire, or Milk, or Revolutionary Road, or any of the other films on most peoples' lists, please don't assume I just didn't see those films. I did. I saw every film you're saying "but what about..." to. They just didn't make the list. But I liked a lot of them. Just not as much as you. Matt Robinson In New York for a couple of days plugging Ghost Town on DVD en route to the Golden Globes. Doing Letterman for the 12th time and Conan for the 6th. Then to California to get a goody bag, I mean to hand out a Golden Globe The old "Ricky slams fat people" headline is doing the rounds. I hope people actually listen to the podcast and hear it in context. That way they'll hear that I say much much worse things than that. One paper annoyed me a bit when they said I'd slagged off people who have gastric bands "like Fern Britain". At no point did I mention anyone specific except myself. Still what can you do. Week forty-seven - December/January 2008 I was annoying Karl by taking pictures of him in The Ivy the other night. Just as I took this picture, his girlfriend, Suzanne, put her hand under his chin to comfort her little stressed chimp. It looks like something from an egg and spoon race. 
We're thinking of doing a few more audiobooks in our 'Guide To...' series. Possible subjects are, The English, The Mind, Philosophy, Sport and War. But before that, Natural History and The Arts still to come. Why can't they cure the common fucking cold? They wiped smallpox off the face of the earth. Most cancers are totally treatable now. Even AIDS isn't what it used to be. Now work on the snot and the feeling slightly unwell for Christ's sake. I've got a cold by the way. Read about my "attack" on fat people I heard someone on the radio once say that they were tired of the prejudice aimed at the overweight. They said something like "you're not allowed to make fun of gay people, so why are you allowed to make fun of fat people? It's the same thing." It's not the same thing though, is it? Gay people are born that way. They didn't work at becoming gay. Fat people became fat because they would rather be that way than stop eating so much. They had to eat and eat to get fat. Then, when they were fat they had to keep up the eating to stay fat. For gayness to be the same as fatness, gay people would have to start off straight but then ween themselves onto cock. Soon they're noshing all day getting gayer and gayer. They've had more than enough cock... they're full... they're just sucking for the sake of it. Now they're overgay, and frowned upon by people who can have the occasional cock but not over indulge. When a doctor tells me that that's how you become gay, I'll stop making jokes about fat people. Thanks to everyone who has already bought the new audiobook, Medicine. It's number 1 in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Scandinavia... so cheers. Now that's out around the world we'll put out a free sample of the next one, Natural History, tomorrow. You'll have to wait till Jan 21st for the whole thing. We recorded the third in the series today. The Arts. Karl said something during the recording that made me fall off my chair. It may be one of the funniest things I have ever heard. I can't explain it but it involves a war poet. I'll say no more. Anyway, thank you all again. Have a great new year. Ricky Another nice review of the Ghost Town DVD. You'll have to wait till March if you're in the UK and even longer elsewhere I'm afraid. Or just buy it from amazon.com. The Ricky Gervais Guide to MEDICINE is available from midnight on iTunes. Hope you like it. (You make not enjoy it if you are a limbless, gay dwarf. Just a warning) Saw Karl today. We did a bit of planning for tomorrow's recording of The Ricky Gervais Guide to THE ARTS. He knows less about art than he does about science and nature. Think of that. More whingeing about swearing in comedy. Most of it from comedians. My feelings on the subject are best summed up by an Eminem lyric; Will Smith don't gotta cuss in his raps to sell his records; well I do, so fuck him and fuck you too! Happy New Year. 
No comment. Only 351 days till Xmas. Am I getting old, or was Xmas TV the biggest load of shit ever? Obviously TV in general is awful but there was nothing I wanted to watch. (except TV Burp) When will TV, Film and Comedy stop pandering to the brain-dead masses? Still, that's the way of the world. I suppose that's why excellence shines. Back in London after spending a couple of days with the folks being attacked by cats, dogs and children. It was like stepping out of the car in a safari park. And so that was Xmas. January kicks off the same way as last year for me with The Golden Globes in L.A. I didn't actually go last year as the writers strike meant there was no posh ceremony. Still won though. Still won. I missed the British Comedy Awards too. Shame. It would have been nice to be in a room with a load of of bitter drunks who were less famous than the presenters. Talking of which. Here is a compilation of me winning and rubbing salt in the wound. And insulting a little disabled fella. Oh, and if anyone thinks I'm going to rethink my act in the present "watch what you say" climate, they've got another fucking puff rapist cunt Jesus tits aids cock-sucking think coming. Happy New Year. Week forty-six - December 2008 And so this is Christmas. And what have I done? I got up two hours earlier than usual and opened presents. Then we watched Noel Edmonds surprise people. (We'd recorded it especially) I cried. Then I had some porridge and we went to feed the ducks and geese on Hampstead Heath. Gulls have an aerial advantage, 
Watched 'Muppets take Manhattan'. That is the only way you could possibly improve New York. I'm stopping off there on the way to The Golden Globes. I'm making my 12th Letterman appearance on the 5th of January to plug the Ghost Town DVD. Found another nice animation on YouTube. Spoke to Karl. He is in Kent. I hope he's keeping his face nice and vacuumed My New year's resolution is to annoy him more, by the way. Why is Karl wearing Steve's glasses? 
Andy Hollingworth took a couple of nice picks at the Hammersmith gig 
Wham have let themselves go a bit. At least this didn't happen though.. 
Bought Jane a posh camera for her birthday. Now we can get better quality pictures of the cat sitting on my legs and of our bald headed friends. 
Did the Humanist Society concert at the Hammersmith Apollo last night. It was fantastic and Jarvis Cocker did a beautiful version of Greg Lake's "They said there'll be snow at Christmas". Tim Minchin was also amazing, ending the show with a nine minute beat poem. (I know it sounds horrendous but it was actually incredibly moving and inspiring) All the acts were great to be honest, but Robin Ince had his best day ever. Because he was such a good boy, I made him a Xmas love worm and insisted that he kiss it. 
He didn't want to kiss it at first, but once I lifted it up to his lips and he saw the look on the tiny little love worm's face, he couldn't resist. Week forty-five - December 2008 On December 19th at 8.55 am GMT, the Ricky Gervais podcast was downloaded for the 50 millionth time this year. That brings the all time total to 142 million world wide. Did the second night at The Bloomsbury Theatre. It was great fun and Robin has had his best two days ever. He washed his hair again and it was very fluffy like a little baby ape's. Good boy. Here's a review of the night. and another. I'm so sick of all this media talk about whether swearing is big and clever or not in comedy. Don't dignify the debate. If you don't like swearing, don't fucking swear. If you do, then don't worry about what any other cunt thinks. It's just filling poor column inches and feeding controversy. Oh Bollocks, I just added to the debate. Talking of offensive things that should never be heard, we finished the second in our new audiobooks series today. The Ricky Gervais Guide To... NATURAL HISTORY. We'll put a free sample up after 'MEDICINE' becomes available to avoid confusion. I will tell you that the bit where Karl designs a new animal is astonishing. Did 10 minutes at The Bloomsbury Theatre. The crowd were great. So smart. And I arranged for Richard Dawkins to feature on one of the future audiobooks. Think of that as a gamut of human evolution. Chatting to Karl in the morning and Richard Dawkins in the evening. Weird init? Alright? 
Look how in pain he looks. He must be thinking. Bald Brummy Rob, Glyn and Karl and Suzanne came round for dinner. This is the card Karl made for Rob... 
Pretty accurate drawing. 
We then took the best picture ever 
Week forty-four - December 2008 So I picked up my first ever film award. Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy at the Satellite Awards. They are voted for by the International Press Academy so it's a nice one to win. Did another day of casting for The Man from the Pru. Saw some great people and now we start seeing them work together. We've never really "workshopped" before or even done rehearsals as such but this project will really benefit from that sort of thing. The stuff we recorded for the Natural History audiobook is great. We're doing a top-up recording this week, as we're trying to get around 50 minutes every time now. Medicine first though. I did this for a laugh 
Nice article in The Observer I thought I should back up the account of a typical night in with some photographic evidence. This is the view down at my own legs right now 
Ollie is without doubt beautiful. But, she may be the only un-photogenic creature in the world. I've never known another animal not look their best in a picture. Look how fat she looks in that photo for example. Also, on more than one occasion she has come out in photos looking like an old Vietnamese crack whore. We watched two episodes of Prison Break on DVD before she woke up. 
Went for a walk and did some more bread falconry. They are trained now and hover a few feet in front of me awaiting their morsel. Saw this weird sight. 
It's like some freak arboreal Nora accident. (I can't explain that reference if you don't get it I'm afraid) Wrote another letter to Gordon Brown. Ahhh!!! Robin came round to the office today. The little bit of grey hair he's got left is so fluffy now that I immediately pronounced him a good boy. He wanted me to contribute to a podcast he's doing for the Humanist Society. How can I refuse that little guy. I will never stop helping him. In an effort to inspire him I made him kiss my hand as I gently said, "kiss the hand that wrote The Office." He did. I still don't understand why he goes along with that sort of stuff. I suppose it's harmless. Well, apart from making him bald and grey. Did another warm up tonight. Best one yet with about another ten minutes of new stuff too. Having said that, I don't know how objectively good it was as the audience was so nice and up for it. The new free sample of the audiobook is up as a podcast on iTunes by the way. Some papers have picked up on the fact that Kate Winslet "finally gets her holocaust movie." Someone has put all her scenes from Extras on YouTube. What's even funnier is that I think it's from French or Canadian TV as it's subtitled. Karl is very grumpy at the moment and blaming everything on London. I know when he is genuinely really annoyed because he swears. This makes me laugh. Which makes him grumpier. It's a vicious circle. So is his head when he's swearing. The Ricky Gervais Guide to MEDICINE will be available on iTunes New Year's Eve. (it will actually be available before that but it's a more memorable date to advertise) The free eight minute podcast will be up tomorrow. We're recording the second one on Friday. We think it will be NATURAL HISTORY. Did The Simon Mayo Show on 5 Live today. It was fun doing radio with Steve again. Just like the old days where it all started. Mr Mayo was very complimentary about the Big Brother scene at the end of the Extras special. He is a very nice man. Here is the scene by the way. The first of the new series of audiobooks will probably be available on New Year's Eve. We're putting out a free eight minute sample this week to give you a flavour. We're also thinking of doing a series where eminent people get to interview Karl. You know, the Chinese Ambassador asking Karl to guess how old he is, or the little fella with the aging disease doing a duet of Happy Birthday. You get the idea. Suggestions welcome. (Your Evolution questions won't go to waste by the way, we're using them in our natural history guide next year) Talking of nature here's another pic from Amberley Castle. Two llamas and a goat. They all live together in harmony. In an argument I imagine the llamas side with each other though. 
They have more in common. i.e. they all look a bit like Ringo Starr. Week forty - December 2008 So I won The British Comedy Award for best actor. I wasn't at the ceremony because, as I said in my acceptance video, it is beneath me. Of course, some people think I'm joking. Went to Amberley Castle for the weekend. It may be the most beautiful place in England. 
Did a bit of shopping in nearby Petworth, a village with the most amazing antique shops. They've got a sense of humour too. Look how someone displayed this angel. 
In heaven everyone gets a free iPod. In hell you get this 
Recorded the first in the new series of audiobooks today. The series will be called "The Ricky Gervais Guide To..." and the first one is Medicine. One of the best ones we've done I think. It's like a long, definitive version of the 'Teach Karl' feature that we used to do on Xfm sometimes. We actually researched it and everything. Well me and Steve did anyway. Karl on the other hand came up with two of the most idiotic things he's ever said. He is as stupid as ever but a bit more defiant with it. An arrogant ignorance. Wonderful. We'll put a free sample up in a few days so you can decide if you want to spend a quid or not. Did a bit of shopping with Karl and while we were in Selfridges we recognized that bloke who looks a bit like Robin and Steve's love child This one. 
Karl didn't understand why I was so excited. If you're in Canada, don't forget to watch my stand-up special at the weekend. Another nice review here... Hey Ricky You're So Fine First thing you'll notice in Ricky Gervais' stand-up special, aside from the giant, lightbulb-encrusted letters spelling out his name, is that the British comic's routine is razor-sharp. We're used to seeing him as The Office's David Brent or Extras' Andy Millman, where the funny came from the characters' pained and failed attempts at humour, but Gervais' stand-up persona (and it's still a persona) boasts an A-game. Or at least, an amoral one. Though occasionally cracking cute - such as his hilarious routines on nursery rhymes and odd animal facts - Gervais mostly takes gleefully nasty shots at the fat, the autistic, AIDS, Nelson Mandela ("he hasn't reoffended... which shows you, prison does work") and Stephen Hawking ("he's pretentious - born in Oxford and talks with that fake American accent"). No, it's not as funny as his cringe-coms, but it's worth sitting down for. RICKY GERVAIS: OUT OF ENGLAND - THE STAND-UP SPECIAL AIRS DEC 6, 10PM ON HBO CANADA. Started kicking round some ideas for The Man from the Pru TV spin-off. It's probably going to be called The Men from the Pru, but what's in a name? Went for a walk over Hampstead Heath. I discovered a great new sport. No, not noshing on a stranger's cock, bread-falconry with sea gulls. It's amazing. They circle when you're feeding the ducks and try to steal the duck's bread. Jane said, "Cause a diversion so the ducks get some bread." I said, "OK." That's when I discovered that if you throw the bread in the air they take it on the wing. I will never get bored of this. 
Gangs of gulls mugging ducks before the aerial bread diversion. Some more Hitler related fun. Have I got a treat for you... I did a day of press and TV interviews for Ghost Town being released in Germany after Xmas. One of the journalists put me on to a German show called Obersalzberg. It's basically The Office with Adolf Hitler as David Brent. Amazing I've been nominated for my first ever movie award... Ricky Gervais receives first award nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture The nominations for the International Press Academy Sattelite Awards in Hollywood, have just been announced. Despite the numerous awards that Gervais has received in his career, this is the first time he has been nominated for his role in a movie. He is up for best actor in Ghost Town, under the Comedy or Musical category alongside Sam Rockwell, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, Brendan Gleeson and Mark Ruffalo. Results are announced on 14th December 2008. Ghost Town has remained within the top ten UK Box Office for over six weeks. See, told you. But before that are the British Comedy Awards next Saturday where I'm also up for Best Actor in a Comedy, but this time for The Extras Special. I think that will be the last ever award that Extras is eligible for so wish me luck. This is where The Special began life. Week thirty-nine - November 2008 Did my second warm-up for Science last night. It's coming along nicely. I can't wait to start doing proper full length gigs but I've got so much filming and writing to do I think the next tour will be in bits and pieces over the next two years. I'll be doing warm up gigs wherever I am in the world so check this blog for details and tickets. My stand-up special comes to Canada next week by the way. The National Post are looking forward to it... "The Ricky Gervais - Out of England - The Stand-Up Special HB-Oh my gosh, how happy are you that HBO has arrived in Canada? The new channel presents one of the most talented comics of our time, Ricky Gervais, in a taped special of his stand-up routine at a sold-out WaMu theatre in New York City. The hilarious act includes Gervais espousing about whether obesity is a disease or just a bad habit and the arousal techniques of cannibals. Despite Gervais talking about the morality of Humpty Dumpty, this one is obviously for adult audiences only. Duh. It's HBO (Canada). (HBO Canada, 10 p.m.)" Here's an interview I did for Time Out New York about stand-up. And other things... Ricky Gervais He writes, he acts, he's a comedian - and he's a baby killer. By Jane Borden  Illustration: Rob Kelly The Office cocreator Ricky Gervais can be serious - he's an outspoken opponent of animal cruelty and a frank atheist - but as his Extras character puts it, he's almost always "having a laugh." If you've heard the Ricky Gervais Show podcasts he created with long-suffering friend and punching bag Karl Pilkington, you're familiar with Gervais's guffaw: loud and frequent. Then again, the 47-year-old Brit has reason to be happy. He's starring in the film Ghost Town, and he's shooting This Side of the Truth, a feature he also cowrote and codirects. His fourth stand-up tour - a showcase for favorite jokes from the first three tours, plus some new material - brings him to Madison Square Garden this week. Time Out New York: Do you appreciate stand-up more now that you've been making films? Ricky Gervais: The more I do it, the more I like it. Also, I've started exploiting the things that attracted me to it in the first place - it's the last bastion of self-censorship. TONY: You certainly don't censor how much you mock yourself. Ricky Gervais: Yeah, I always get something in about how fat and stupid I look. In my head I look like a young David Bowie. Then I catch a glimpse in the window and I go, "Who's Fatty looking at? Oh..." TONY: Do you like playing New York? Ricky Gervais: Yes. It makes me feel funny; it smells good. When I get here, I just feel strangely at home. It's an organism. Um, it's like coming home to a pet - amazing. And I only hope one day America likes me as much as I like her - is it a her? England is. But Germany's a he. Who decides? Maybe someone lifts them up and checks for a little winkle. TONY: Why are you drawn to uncomfortable situations? Ricky Gervais: I'm a white, middle-class, successful bloke. The only bad things that happen to me are social faux pas. I haven't got an ism. And comedy shouldn't be a platform. The thing I usually have a go at is bad comedy. The Office was a show about comedy. TONY: But over here Jim and Pam are a couple! Isn't that going to ruin the American show? Ricky Gervais: I don't know. I would never have done it. But we had completely different ambitions. Ours was finite. They've got to string their show out. TONY: The audience loves the characters. Is it frustrating when people confuse you for the losers you play? Ricky Gervais: Often it's because of lazy journalism. Apparently I'm just like [Office character] David Brent - the thing is, I slip in and out of character, that's my shtick. I do always play a man who comes from Reading. If I played Genghis Khan, he would talk like me and have this haircut. TONY: So David, what's funnier: someone falling or a fart sound? Ricky Gervais: [Laughs] It depends on context. At a funeral, if it was the vicar: the second one. What would be the first? [Pauses] A fireman has just caught a baby from a burning building and everyone's cheering and he gets so carried away that he just trips. And the baby falls under a bus. TONY: What?!? Why does the baby...? Ricky Gervais: You're right. Cut that last bit. TONY: >So what's on your wish list? Ricky Gervais: A God. From what I've heard, he's all-powerful, so he'd sort a few things out. TONY: Wow: a lamenting atheist? Ricky Gervais: Well, yeah: A God would be great. But it's just not true. So, let's see. An individual jet pack. TONY: The jet pack would burn your feet. Ricky Gervais: Okay, my biggest wish? That everyone died in their sleep, and nothing would matter. TONY: People would stop sleeping. Ricky Gervais: No! You sound like Karl Pilkington! What I mean is, people die peacefully in their sleep so there's no pain. TONY: I know what you mean, but people would try to find a way to cheat it. Ricky Gervais: Oh, you've ruined it now. You ruined the jet pack and the sleeping. All right...world peace. No: a jet pack. Thanks for your time. Ricky Gervais: No, thank you very much. I'm going to spend the next hour going, "Why did I say that?" Or, "That came across wrong." "Oh God, did she think I was insulting journalists?" "Oh no, why did I put the baby under the bus?!?" Did my first warm-up for "Science". It went really well. They laughed in all the right places and I did about 30 minutes. I think it's probably the best first warm-up of all four tours. Now the really hard work begins, but I'm happy so far. My favourite moment, by the way, was when I looked down during a routine about vicars being sucked off during gay marriages, and saw a very proper 65 year-old lady, literally with both hands covering her face, realizing that my stand up is definitely not what she expected. Also on the bill was Richard Morris (who played the homeless man in episode 2, series 2 of Extras) and Brian Gittins. Here's Brian in action. Robin asked me for yet another favour yesterday. (Haven't I done enough for him?) I said yes even though he had been a bad boy. He wanted me to contribute to a podcast. Anything for a friend. I said come to the office lunchtime. By 2.30 pm there was no Robin. I checked my messages and he had gone to my old office that I moved out of 18 months ago. Was I angry? Has he secured a Bad Boy Award for this week? No. Because of that stupid mistake he gets his second Good Boy Award. Let me explain. Yes, he tried to be all sexy. Yes, he wanted to eat an animal even though he swears he is a vegetarian. And yes, he is a little incompetent gimp. But he is MY incompetent gimp. And I will stick by him. Good boy Robin. Good boy. 
Ince. Thrilled. I'm afraid I have no choice but to declare Robin Ince a bad boy this week. Not only did he want to eat the larvae of flies to show how tough he is, but now he wants to be all sexy. He even made himself a little bra which he wants people to see. 
His face is defiantly saying "Yes! I'm a sexy bad boy and I like it" He's clearly showing that X marks the spot where he got heartburn from feasting on the blood of baby animals. It's only a matter of time before he starts swearing and staying up late. Where did it all go wrong? Is it my fault? I don't know. I just don't know. When he stripped off on a beach once, I thought it was because he liked the feel of nature on his body. It was obviously something a little more sinister at work He used to be such a good boy 
INCE IS A BAD BOY! I tuned into Richard and Judy, squeaking loudly because the trailer said Robin was on the show. I know that is not normal viewer behaviour, but he is such a good boy... usually... He was presenting a feature where audience members had to pick up stars in their teeth from a big box of live maggots. Robin said that he had originally planned to eat one of the maggots during the feature, but had learned that Germaine Greer had deemed such actions as cruel so had decided against it. 1. Robin shouldn't need anyone to tell him that crunching a live animal to death for fun is cruel 2. He claims he is a vegetarian. Bad Boy Robin. Very bad boy. 
Crazed and bloodthirsty Ince on Richard and Judy I am worried that this is my fault for heaping praise on him at the award ceremony last week. Does he think he is above the law now? I don't know if he can turn this around in time for the second ever Good Boy Awards this Friday. God knows... God Knows. I am so excited. Forget The Office. Never mind more Extras. Who needs Science? The Ricky Gervais Show Audiobooks are to be made into an animated series for American TV. Can't tell you too much about it yet, but I don't think I've been this excited about a project since I gave Robin a make over. Talking of little baba Ince, because he was such a good boy this week someone made him into an animation too. Steve is back from running round dressed as a fairy. We met today and tried to plan the next year. The film, the TV spin-off, Extras special, more audiobooks, the animation, This Side of The Truth and both our stand up tours. That's a lot to fit in when you only work 11 till 3. Steve asked if I'd consider working longer hours. I asked what he had in mind. "Well," he said "Maybe work till 7pm some days on the film." I said, "only on the days when I'm not acting." It was a deal. Sometimes I think he cares more about that Hollywood movie than making the audiobooks into a cartoon. I'll show him. Week thirty-eight - November 2008 It was a beautiful day today. We went for a long walk and bothered loads of dogs. It's a hobby. Congratulations again to Robin Ince for his Good Boy Award. Apparently it has helped a bit and he's had a couple of job offers. He is compering at the three gigs I'm doing with Richard Dawkins in December, so I hope everyone tells him he is a good boy when he comes out on stage. Found this on youtube. That's from Series 5 (available here at iTunes) which is hanging on at number 1. Here's that little test we did by the way... It was a lovely night too round these parts. Look at that beautiful Hampstead dusk. Red sky at night.. Sherpherd's pie. 
Robin Ince wins first ever Good Boy Award. 
Stand up comedian Robin Ince will be the proud recipient of the first ever Good Boy Award. The award, now in its first week, will be awarded weekly to Robin Ince for being a good boy. 
Awards body founder and chairman, Ricky Gervais said, "Robin has won this award because he has been such a good boy this week" Thrilled Robin Ince is thrilled to be the proud recipient of the first weekly Good Boy Award and hopes it wont be the last. Speaking today to Gervais via mobile when told of the award said 'Oh good. That wont make me look like a nincompoop." 
Cool Dude. Ince after the news of Award. Gervais added, "I'm sure this wont go to his head. If it does he will get a Bad Boy award," he joked. 
Checked out the new studio today. It's great. Me and Karl did a little test podcast. Steve wasn't there so Karl insulted his looks unchallenged. It's only a few minutes long but it will give you an idea of how shoddy we still are. We'll put it out as a free sample very soon. Another Robin Ince lookalike has cropped up on House Guest. 
or is this the lookalike? 
I can't tell any more. 
Talking of my favourite little tiny-thumbed book-wormy waddle-gimp, I thought of something the other day. When I was about eight my mum was walking me to school after buying me some sweets. As we got to the playground my various little friends came up to play. My mum, to my horror, said, 'give your friends some of your sweets.' I did this until there were none left. Later she replaced them because I had been kind and shared. She explained that some children don't get bought things and that I should never eat sweets in front of them without giving them some of mine. I understood, and from that day on if I had sweets and other children where around I hid them in my pocket and ate them later in secret. I also told my mum that I'd shared them with all the other kids and got my stash replenished daily. But my mum's attempt at making me kind must have resonated, because I was thinking about all the times I've been on TV accepting awards and imagined little Robin Ince sitting at home wishing he could have just one award. I was nearly in tears and I thought I'd give him one of mine. Which one though? Not an Emmy or Globe obviously. In fact none of the American awards. The Baftas look great all in a line on the shelf, so I'd not want to lose one of those really. He could win a Comedy Award himself; everyone does eventually. I didn't know what to do. Then it hit me... I would start a new award especially for him! Each week I will present Robin with a Good Boy Award. (Only if he's been a good boy obviously, otherwise the ceremony would become a farce like the National TV awards.) If he was a bad boy and, say, lied about being a vegetarian like he did on tour when MANY fish died, then he would get NO award that week. So let's keep an eye on Robin and decide if he wins the first Good Boy Award ever this Friday. Set up the audio studio today in the office. Well Karl and Glyn did, as I was on This Morning being given pajamas and slippers. Hope they did a good job. Oh, here I am ready for bed in those pajamas and slippers by the way. 
Funny article about me and others, quitting Hollywood. My Inside The Actors Studio is being broadcast in January apparently, but they've posted a little outtake on the website. Ghost Town had another good weekend at the box office and only dropped 9% which is again quite amazing. Particularly with Bond and High School Musical 9 out. Word of mouth really is the greatest marketing tool so thank you all for seeing it and then telling your friends. I only have about 6 friends so they can't have made that much difference. And 3 of those are Karl, Steve and Glyn who saw it for free. The Extras Special DVD is also doing well. I was in my local HMV and it's in the top 5 movies. Again, nice to be promoted to film but it's a tough category - look what happened at the Emmys. The studio should be ready this week. Steve's back next week so we might record a new audiobook soon. Someone else has managed to enter the top five on iTunes for the first time in about two years. A bloke called Barack Obama. He must be really funny, but no one can get past The Podfather and Series 5. We started casting for The Man From the Pru this week. I managed to get a part. How do I do it? We've decided to bring out a soundtrack album for This Side of The Truth. And we may have a big exclusive single that I can't tell you about yet. (How annoying is that?) Our Hedgehogs have escaped. How ungrateful. Simon the nice man at Wildlife Aid is on the look out for some disabled replacements. Ones that can't climb six foot walls. Talking of animals. There's a special gala performance of The Jungle Book at The Bloomsbury Theatre on the 22nd December in aid of Animals Asia. They basically rescue bears from evil cunts in China. So please by a ticket. Ricky's Blog continues with Week Thirty-seven here ... |
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