Life’s Too Short

I am a big fan of Ricky Gervais, so I highly recommend you check out his and Stephen Merchant‘s new comedy series Life’s Too Short, starring Warwick Davis, when it is finished and aired later this year. For now, check out the following clips.

Warwick Davis talks Ricky Gervais, Life’s Too Short and Cat Deeley, with Brad Blanks

Life’s Too Short – Ricky introduces Warwick

Canadian comedy mini-series for election night – “The Party”

CTV asked a group of Vancouver comedians to produce a comedy mini-series for election night – Watch the first episode here.

Talking Funny: Ricky Gervais, Louis CK, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock – Really funny (and insightful) stuff

Four funny comedians: Ricky Gervais, Louis CK, Jerry Seinfeld, and Chris Rock in a room talking about the business of being funny. I enjoy the show very much even it has some serious discussions about being a comedian and being funny. The four men definitely had lots of fun. And I think there are a few things worth thinking over, enough that I mentioned the show to a comedian friend and I hope she enjoys it as much as I did.

Here is a short clip, Talking Funny – April 22

Talking Funny “We’re Pros” Tease (HBO)

You may find the full program here, “Once in a lifetime? Ricky Gervais, Louis CK, Jerry Seinfeld & Chris Rock talk comedy. [Video]”.

HuffPost, “HBO’s ‘Talking Funny’ Roundtable Of Gervais, Rock, Seinfeld & CK Discuss Draining Jokes (VIDEO)”

This reviewer doesn’t like the show but I beg to differ, “‘Talking Funny’ Isn’t Quite The Same As Being Funny”

WSJ, “Stand-Ups Sitting Around“. Here is an excerpt,

“The tone of their armchair summit is informative, but it’s clear the comics’ main agenda is to crack each other up, and the material is decidedly blue.

Among their gleanings: Mr. Seinfeld used the F-word in one bit—a decade ago—before expunging it from his act. Mr. Rock believes jokes often fail simply because the audience doesn’t get the premise, hence his trademark repetition. (“You can be married and bored, or single and lonely. Married and bored, single and lonely.”) Mr. C.K. forced himself to write newer, stronger material by replacing his opening joke with his closer. And Mr. Gervais got into stand-up because he needed to prove himself to other comedians after his instant success with “The Office.”

Mr. Gervais assembled the group. “It was an easy pitch,” Mr. C.K. says. The one-hour show was edited down from nearly five hours of conversation.“

May the Farce be with Roger Abbott (1946-2011)

Very sad day. Roger will be dearly missed by Canadians. News of friends and fans honouring Roger (with a 20+ minutes radio tribute on Q).

Here is a tribute to Roger Abbott (1946-2011) from his friends and colleagues at Royal Canadian Air Farce.

A 2008 QTV interview of Roger.

Air Farce founder Roger Abbott dies at age 64

Published On Sun Mar 27 2011 (Toronto Star)

Lesley Ciarula Taylor
Staff Reporter
Actor and comedian Roger Abbott, one of the founders of Canada’s long-running beloved comedy troupe the Royal Canadian Air Farce, has died after a 14-year battle with leukemia. He was 64.

“I’m heartbroken to tell you that our beloved friend, Roger Abbott, died last night at Toronto General Hospital, 14 years after being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a progressive disease that he kept secret from all but a few close friends and family until a week ago,” friend and co-star Don Ferguson said on the show’s website on Sunday.

“Roger was the guiding light of Royal Canadian Air Farce since it began in 1973, and all of us who have had the honour of working with him and the pleasure of knowing him will dearly miss his kindness, generosity, integrity, leadership and wonderful sense of humour.”

Ricky Gervais and David Bowie

For those who don’t know much about Ricky Gervais‘ style of edgy comedy, he actually co-wrote Extras and got David Bowie to sing a song to laugh at his character in the show.

I love Ricky‘s comedy. But if you want to hop on the bandwagon to hate him because of his recent Golden Globes performance, I recommend you rent or borrow from library his original “The Office” and “Extras” to watch first.

Other clips

Also check out UK Guardian, “Ricky Gervais: America can’t decide whether he’s funny, cruel or just British – Baffled Americans react badly to the comedian’s bitchy quips about the stars at the Golden Globes ceremony”

And this Economist article. Yes, even Economist has something to say.

“Ricky Gervais and the British way”
Jan 18th 2011, 23:35 by J.G. | LONDON

“THANKS to its host, this year’s Golden Globes, Hollywood’s annual warm-up for the yet more soporific bombast of the Oscars, was uncharacteristically watchable. Ricky Gervais, the British comedian who made his name on BBC television with “The Office”, was presenting the show for the second year running. Last time, he was sporadically provocative. This year, he was, at least by non-British standards (something I’ll return to), incendiary.

Ricky Gervais – The funny business with Golden Globes

I love frank and engaging interviews and Piers Morgan had a great chat with Ricky Gervais, one of my favourite comedian, especially after Ricky’s Golden Globes performance. In case you missed Ricky’s performance, here is his Golden Globes 2011 – Opening Monologue and maybe you can see what some of the fuzz was about. The night got better or worst depending on who you talked to.

When was the last time a host got so much attention to Golden Globes a week after the show? I agree with Seattle Pi, Bring back Ricky! Also check out Ricky’s blog for his takes on things.

* Hollywood Reporter, “VIDEO: Ricky Gervais Funny, Revealing, Joyfully Unrepentant on Piers Morgan’s Show – Great hour of talk; Morgan less cocky, more likable and Gervais thoughtful.”

* CNN (with video clips), “Ricky Gervais offers no apologies for Golden Globes jokes”

* Seattle Pi, “Bring back Ricky!”

* Gawker.tv, “Ricky Gervais’ Targets Come to His Defense” (with video clips)

* UK Press Association, “Cruel? I was doing my job: Gervais”

* Hollywood Reporter, “Ricky Gervais: If I’d Been Too Nice at Golden Globes, It Would Have Been ‘Nauseating'”

* ABC News, “Ricky Gervais: The Couldn’t-Care-Less Comedian – On ‘Piers Morgan Tonight,’ Ricky Gervais Refused to Apologize for Golden Globe Remarks”

* By the way, I think the following exchange between Ricky and Piers Morgan was very revealing of Ricky as a person. Hollywood Reporter, “Ricky Gervais: It’s the ‘Right Thing’ for Steve Carell to Leave ‘The Office'” Here is an excerpt (emphasis added).

“”I sent him an email saying I think you’re doing the right thing,” Gervais — who serves as an executive producer on the NBC hit after originating the ditzy boss role in the U.K. version — said on Piers Morgan Tonight Thursday. […]

“As a producer, I was expected to try and stop him because he’s a big part of it,” continued Gervais. “[But] you know, it can survive. Whether it should or not, I don’t know. I’m just an adviser and he’s done an amazing job. He’s done his time. It sounds like a prison sentence, doesn’t it?””

The Graham Norton Show

The Graham Norton Show is pretty neat to watch. Check out the following clips from two different episodes. You can find the rest of the clips for the two shows online.

2010 CIFF Picks: Me, Too (Yo, Tambien)

Here is a new addition to my 2010 Calgary International Film Festival Picks: Me, Too (Yo, Tambien) (CIFF screening info: Globe, Saturday, Oct 2, 2:45pm) (film website).

This is a drama/romantic comedy with a twist. Here is the CIFF film synopsis (with emphasis added),

“ME, TOO is the story of Daniel (Pablo Pineda), the first European with Down syndrome to graduate university. Raised in a highly academic home environment, the 34-year-old Daniel is constantly caught between two worlds, without quite fitting in on either side. He is more intellectual than the average person with Down syndrome, but not “normal” enough to fit in with much of “normal” society. Because of his loneliness, his relationships are the most important part of his life. When Daniel starts a new job, he soon forms a close friendship with one of his co-workers, Laura (Lola Dueñas). The friendship advances quickly into something more all consuming, and soon Daniel falls in love.

The intimate journey of Daniel, Laura and their friends and family captures the intense emotions each of them experiences. ME, TOO is a fascinating and emotional first feature film written and directed by the team of Álvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro.”

Stephen Colbert congressional subcommittee opening statement

Stephen Colbert testified today on Capital Hill about the plight of illegal farm workers in US but in his TV funny man character. Here is a video of Stephen‘s congressional subcommittee opening statement. Read more reports from Toronto Star, NYT, CNN, and AP.

Attend 2010 Banff World Television Festival

Since I first attended Banff World Television Festival (bwtvf) as a CTV Fellow in 2006, I have reported on Banff and NextMEDIA conferences every year since. I was thrilled to attend Banff and report on CTV Flashpoint, ran into Brett Wilson & Sarah McLachlan and interviewed Brett, interviewed Ron Moore (Battlestar Galactica), watched Doug Ellin (Entourage), and interviewed David Hoselton (House).

Every year, I eagerly await announcements of exciting events or speakers that will lead me to block off my time and decide I will attend bwtvf and NextMEDIA conferences. OK, I know it is a short drive from Calgary to Banff, but I don’t want to report simply because I have to. I want to attend and report because I LOVE to!

Well, for 2010, because of one man, I am again going to attend and report from Banff World Television Festival with the most excitement and eagerness because I just LOVE Ricky Gervais and consider Ricky one of the most talented comic mind and producer/creator of shows in our time.

If you are remotely connected in the entertainment business, find time to attend 2010 Banff World Television Festival and you will learn a lot, plus you get to meet Ricky. Here is the press release from Banff about Ricky.

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Ricky Gervais to be Awarded Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award at BANFF / nextMEDIA 2010 – British comedian and recent Golden Globe host to participate in tell-all interview about his career and success

February 8, 2010, 9:10 pm

Banff, AB – The Banff World Television Festival and nextMEDIA are delighted to announce that Ricky Gervais will be presented with the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award, at this year’s event taking place June 13-16 at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta. The award acknowledges outstanding comedic performances – prominent comedic actors who have received this prestigious award include John Cleese, Bob Newhart and Kelsey Grammer.

In addition to being recognized for comedic excellence, Gervais will also chart his career and success to date, in an interview, which delegates can attend.

Over a 10-year period Ricky Gervais has become the most influential British comedian since Charlie Chaplin. He is an award-winning stand up and his tour ‘FAME’ became the fastest selling UK stand up show in history, selling an untouchable 100,000 tickets in 9 minutes.

Named one of the 100 Most Influential People In The World by Time Magazine, one place behind Nelson Mandela, Ricky has also won two Emmys and three Golden Globes. ‘The Office’ is the most successful British comedy of all time being shown in over 90 countries with seven remakes.

“This is probably the greatest honour of my career. Only the Nobel Peace Prize can top this, but I will only accept that in person if the ceremony is held somewhere as beautiful as Banff. I think they Fedex, luckily,” says Ricky.