British Comedy: The Ricky Gervais Show

Years: 2010-2012
Broadcaster: Channel 4
Genre: Comedy, Animation
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant,
Karl Pilkington
Stars: Ricky Gervais, Karl Pilkington
Episodes: 39
Episode Average: 7.641

BEST EPISODES:
Knob at Night (2010), Doppleganger (2011)

SERIES ONE

(2010)
13 episodes
Series Score: 100
Episode Average: 7.69
Perfect 10's: 1

S1E1

SPACE MONKEY

Originally broadcast: 23 April 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl suggests a better method of reproduction, Ricky tries to explain that humans and dinosaurs never lived together, and Monkey News looks at the use of banana dispensers in space.

"You're saying that but if Newton said it, you'd go, 'Hm. Interesting'."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E2

KNOB AT NIGHT

Originally broadcast: 23 April 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl chats about the idea of being conned by charities, an email leads to questions about the motives behind the invention of a sex-machine, and Ricky asks for someone to loop and mix a surprising revelation.

"I'm going to stand behind the machine. I've got to stand behind here. There's a lot of dials and stuff that I don't want to you bore you with."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E3

CHARITY

Originally broadcast: 30 April 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl revisits an earlier discussion with his ideas of reverse-ageing, Stephen asks for opinions on the trend of charitable gifts, and the offer of a superpower means a decision has to be made.

"Well, what I'm saying is, right. Let me put meself in their shoes. They haven't got any."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E4

DOLPHINS

Originally broadcast: 7 May 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl doesn't want his bum messed with, Stephen and Ricky try to explain the traditions of the 'Papua people', and an email leads to speculation about specially trained dolphins.

"Go ahead punk. Make my day."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E5

GLASS HOUSES

Originally broadcast: 14 May 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Stephen asks about favourite 'freaks', a listener challenges Karl to choose a food he could eat every day, and interpretations of common sayings prove to wide of the mark.

"You could have Professor Stephen Hawking sitting there whispering stuff in your ear, and it could all be true, but when you said it, gobbledy-gook."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E6

COBBLERS

Originally broadcast: 21 May 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

A listener asks about body parts, a naked woman gets more than she bargained for, and Karl explains why he won't have his prostate checked.

"She sees me with, like, my pants sort of down a little bit, with my arse out. She says 'What you doing?' I said, 'Don't look now,' I said, 'but there's a woman over the road, right, with no pants on and that she caught me looking, I'm just giving her a bit back'."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 9

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E7

THE DIARY

Originally broadcast: 28 May 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Ricky insists on taking a peek at a holiday diary, Stephen tells of how he came up with his own childhood nickname, and Karl explains the complicated world of CB code.

"Sat next to an old fella. Old men's ears and noses carry on growing as they get older. Suzanne noticed his fingers were fat, too. Maybe they continue to grow. Suzanne didn't laugh when I said her arse had the same problem."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 9

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E8

NUTS

Originally broadcast: 4 June 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

A listener asks who would be saved from a sinking ship, Ricky insists it was fair to demand that hands be washed before playing pool, and Karl tells of how he nearly killed a man.

"Can't remember what everyone had. Last time, Steve had little octopuses with pasta. You could see they were octopuses, they hadn't been cut up, or anything. My rile is that I only eat stuff that looks nice when it's alive."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E9

THE JOCKEY

Originally broadcast: 4 June 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

An email asks about going back to childhood, Stephen reads about adult nappies, and Karl wonders how many body parts could be removed before death.

"Cos it will take a long time to walk away from you while you were talking? Most animals would be off straight away."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E10

THE FIGHT

Originally broadcast: 11 June 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Ricky wonders how a dishwasher ended up on Mars, Karl tells of his last fight, and the concept of time proves difficult to grasp.

"It's the same way, like, if we didn't have planes and that, would we have wings now?"

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E11

BEETLES

Originally broadcast: 11 June 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl explains how he met Suzanne, Ricky asks about being a beetle, and chimpanauts are covered in the last ever Monkey News.

"How can you tell if a worm's English? Does it wear a very tiny bowler hat?"

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E12

NOISES

Originally broadcast: 18 June 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Favourite noises leave Karl thinking about death, talk of organ donation leads to fears about being a blind ghost, and slippers aren't for everyone.

"I mean, it's already happening now with that... People are doing jobs that they're not really qualified for because they get... They get sort of... Errr. What's the word? Sort of uppered too early."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E13

FREAKS

Originally broadcast: 18 June 2010
Directed by: Craig Kellman
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

A listener asks about childhood memories, the Elephant Man's beaten to top spot in 'Top 5 Freaks', and Karl questions his own existence.

"Hello babies, if you can't walk, what about your face? Let your face do the walking."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 7

SERIES TWO

(2011)
13 episodes
Series Score: 100
Episode Average: 7.69
Perfect 10's: 3

S2E1

CLIVE WARREN

Originally broadcast: 8 March 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Ricky and Stephen laugh at a film idea, Karl tries to get his head around brain surgery, and a diary entry leads to a warning about accepting sausages from strangers.

"No, but if you just talk, I find that your mouth comes out with stuff."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 9

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E2

DOPPELGANGER

Originally broadcast: 15 March 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl worries about getting himself mixed up, Ricky poses a question about heaven and hell, and Stephen tells a grim tale about a holiday to Rio.

"How would I know which one I was?"

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E3

THE FLY

Originally broadcast: 22 March 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

There's amusement when Karl tells of his childhood pet, the idea of evolution proves to be confusing, and Ricky questions stories about Frankenstein surgery.

"Just because we haven't got loads of other flies. At no point was there a crossover period where there's two, and it's like, 'Hang on a minute, he's trying it on here'."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E4

ONION

Originally broadcast: 29 March 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Ricky asks for opinions about animal facts, Karl ponders who's really in control, and the merits of a body transplant are explored.

"When they say survival of the fittest, they don't mean lions working out."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 9

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E5

INSECTS

Originally broadcast: 5 April 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Insect observations are met with laughter, Karl explains why he doesn't trust jellyfish, and Ricky sees opportunity in a newly discovered talent.

"Yeah, I like the fact that this bee suddenly saw Karl and had a heart attack. It'd never seen anything that round before. It approached him because he though it was a sunflower."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E6

KIDNEYS

Originally broadcast: 12 April 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl tells of his hospital visit, believing everything you read leads on to a chat about Noah's Ark, and Stephen explains how he got into trouble while swimming.

"Old Cold Belly Badness. If you wanna buy that book, Old Cold Belly Badness... it's, uh, a history of abdominal surgery by Karl Pilkington."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E7

NIGHT CLUB

Originally broadcast: 26 April 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl discovers he has a new fan, Stephen tells of how he was refused entry into a club, and Monkey News threatens a comeback.

"Roll up, roll up. See the man with one face."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E8

FUTURE

Originally broadcast: 26 April 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

A muddled response suggests that ugliness will lead to a decline in sexual desire, Karl's concerned that technology hinders discovery, and trousers seem to be on the list of endangered species.

"I mentioned before about, uh, your little finger. They'll come a time when that will go. I've said. I've watched it. I've kept an eye on what me little finger's doing."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E9

NATURAL HISTORY

Originally broadcast: 3 May 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl suggests that there are no more animals worth discovering, a ridiculous car design gains a fan, and Ricky talks about designing the 'hardest' animal.

"I didn't do anything with my hair when I had hair. I didn't style it, I didn't do anything with it, and it probably thought 'What am I doing here?'"

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E10

LEG RUBBER

Originally broadcast: 10 May 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

A question from Ricky turns into talk of the Tic Tac incident, Karl tells about a problem with a nerve in his leg, and Stephen ponders earliest childhood memories.

"I kicked my height. I mean, my leg got high up, but I was that chuffed that I got that high... I didn't think of putting my leg down again."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E11

MRS. BATTERSBY

Originally broadcast: 17 May 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

The workings of Karl's brain are explored, a ghost story touches on hearsay, and Ricky feels the wrath of an unsympathetic boss.

"Look, I know that when I was a kid, I ate a beetle. I ate a beetle because I thought it was liquorice."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E12

ART

Originally broadcast: 24 May 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl gets angry while discussing what constitutes art, Ricky asks whether art should be censored, and Stephen asks for opinions on 'outsider art'.

"Well, it makes you wonder dunnit. You that? That square, Trafalgar Square. You've got that, Nelson's Column. He's got one arm, and a leg missing or something and a patch over his eye. And you've got the thalidmode. Why can't they just do a full person?"

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S2E13

MUNCHIES

Originally broadcast: 31 May 2011
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

The notion of living a pre-programmed perfect life is met with something very unlike enthusiasm, Ricky and Stephen get carried away while discussing problem holes, and Karl says you never enjoy something as much the second time.

"He's got a problem hole in his head. It's called his mouth."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

SERIES THREE

(2012)
13 episodes
Series Score: 98
Episode Average: 7.54
Perfect 10's: 1

S3E1

BRIAN'S BRAIN

Originally broadcast: 8 May 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

An angry viewer writes in, Karl makes improvements to the neck tie, and Ricky's more interested in biscuits than the latest film idea.

"Don't go mad. If you're carrying anything big, you buy the scarf version."

HOLY GODIVA 2 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 5

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E2

COMIC RELIEF

Originally broadcast: 15 May 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Ricky learns that the most stupid ways to be ignorant actually work, Stephen recalls the time when his fame caught him out, and Karl questions the point of constantly donating to the same cause.

"Tubberware: It's dishes for fat people."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 7

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E3

ARMED FORCES

Originally broadcast: 22 May 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl explains how his mum tried to get her son out of army duty, a visit to a face rub place suggests high pain threshold, and Ricky questions the bravery of saving a man covered in curry.

"No, it was high and up. High and up. It was high up enough."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 9

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E4

ROOM 102

Originally broadcast: 29 May 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl puts his case forward for the banishment of slugs, the purpose of the fridge light is questioned, and being trapped on a desert island is seen as a chance to learn.

"There's no food in our kitchen for a slug, believe me. There's not enough there for me sometimes."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 9

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E5

KARL'S DAY

Originally broadcast: 5 June 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl suggests that he's not that kind of person to get annoyed easily, socks are seen as an enemy of freedom, and Ricky raises issue with DIY skills

"We did the program, it goes out on the telly. Job done. If people wanna watch it, they watch it. There's no point me cropping up on Loose Women asking people to tune in to me programme. They either want to watch it or they don't. If they're watching Loose Women, I don't want them watching my programme."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E6

THE ENGLISH

Originally broadcast: 12 June 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Attempts are made to define Englishness, Karl explains why he'd rather be Italian, and the perils of too short shorts are explored.

"And none of them really like each other. And I got stuck with an old fella who had a flatulence problem. He went on to say, 'It doesn't matter the suits hired'."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 9

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E7

LAW & ORDER

Originally broadcast: 19 June 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Opinions are sought on capital punishment, Ricky looks at the ten commandments, and Karl explains how he became 'Bruce'.

"You know, Mars a day and all that. And that's for energy, ans so is uranium. But more energy than a Mars Bar. Yeah."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E8

MEDICINE

Originally broadcast: 26 June 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl suggests that modern medicine makes us weaker, Ricky and Stephen ridicule an idea for a feeling well machine, and the use of fruit as contraception is explored.

"It's like a toothache, in my leg."

HOLY GODIVA 5 - ONION JACK 5
TOTAL: 10

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E9

EARTH

Originally broadcast: 3 July 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Karl suggests that otherness came after greenness, Stephen and Ricky are disgusted with methods of mattress disposal, and an argument's put forward for why it's better to ban plastic bags than to charge for them.

"We're running out of houses. People are living in basements. Now, that's only one step away from being moleish."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E10

SOCIETY

Originally broadcast: 10 July 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

The need for personal responsibility laws are questioned, Stephen asks about imposing a one-child rule, and Karl struggles to get to grips with the issue of social inequality.

"There's a... like... a wasp and a cricket having a wrestle"

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E11

WARTIME

Originally broadcast: 17 July 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

The historical importance of art seems difficult to grasp, a diary excerpt takes the discussion from idiot to idioms, and Karl becomes the wife of a soldier away at war.

"I think puns should be short for 'punch him in the mouth'."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 4
TOTAL: 8

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E12

WORLD CUP

Originally broadcast: 24 July 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Stephen and Ricky recall an uncomfortable football experience, cheating is defended as being a normal part of life, and Karl tries to take some credit for the career of a professional athlete.

"They shouldn't make them for them. Shouldn't makes them in that size. It should be one size only. If you're fit enough to play football, you can wear one. If you're a fatty, you're not."

HOLY GODIVA 4 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 7

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S3E13

THE YEAR

Originally broadcast: 31 July 2012
Directed by: Dan Fraga
Written by: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington

Ricky asks for a highlight of the year, the case for only hearing old news is argued, and realisation hits that Karl doesn't live in the real world.

"I saw a cockroach playing Pac-Man."

HOLY GODIVA 3 - ONION JACK 3
TOTAL: 6

Ricky
Gervais

Stephen
Merchant

Karl
Pilkington