Most of the people reading this blog are likely teenagers at the very least. So, it's probably safe to say that for most of you, watching animated programming may not be at the top of your TV viewing queue. It's understandable; as we grow older, we want to watch more 'grown-up' programming. However, there are some things that are just better in animation.
On Friday, "The Ricky Gervais Show" premiered on HBO. The show features Gervais, "The Office" co-creator and "Extras" costar Stephen Merchant, and radio producer Karl Pilkington chatting about anything and everything. These conversations are from the podcasts and audiobooks the three recorded approximately five years ago, and are now featured on HBO in animated form. Gervais and Merchant are comedy legends as a result of "The Office," but it is the previously unknown Pilkington who steals the shows. He is a simple, yet incredibly complicated man who says the strangest non sequiturs, and has incredibly strange theories on the world. I was familiar with the podcasts and audiobooks before HBO brought it to a wider audience, but the animation really works to bring Pilkington's wild thoughts to life, and the animation helps one see his "head like a f***ing orange," as Gervais and Merchant say. This clip from the series illustrates what makes "The Ricky Gervais Show" so much fun.
Animating these podcasts helps to bring them to life in a new way, and it allows for American audiences who are unfamiliar with Pilkington to experience his sheer genius. It may seem a little silly to create an animated sequence of already recorded conversations, but it is more captivating seeing animated versions of the three men versus videotape of said podcasts. HBO has worked with Gervais in the past, and they knew the key to making his work pop was to put it in this format. Animation isn't necessarily reserved for kids' cartoons anymore, and, as is the case with "The Ricky Gervais Show," it can improve on already great audio. When Robert Smigel created the Fun With Real Audio segment for TV Funhouse on "Saturday Night Live," he knew that animation unlocked plenty of potential.
It will be interesting to see how the animators will interpret Pilkington's crazy theories in the 13 episodes of the series. This is one cartoon that anyone should watch regardless of age, as long as they appreciate smart comedy by smart people. And Karl Pilkington.
As a bonus, here is a must-see (but not safe for work due to language) video of Gervais on "The Daily Show" last night. Gervais has fantastic rapport with talk show hosts (his Conan O'Brien interviews are classic), and he proves it yet again.
Also, if you want to listen to more podcasts from Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington, they are located here.
Great McCain cartoon. I had never seen that one before. Robert Smigel's cartoons are pure genius!
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