Ricky Gervais v Dawn French
Interesting to see that Dawn French decided not to interview Ricky Gervais for her new series Boys Who Do Comedy. That's a serious omission for a series that offers a pretty comprehensive overview of the art of comedy and includes interviews with over 30 male mirth-makers. French reportedly said she didn't ask Ricky because "he’s been very unkind to me and to Len and he’s been quite personal."
This is certainly some evidence to back this up. There are gags at the expense of French's size in his Fame show and in Extras there was the scene when his character Andy Millman was asked to name a funny black British comedian and – despite the fact that he is standing under a picture of Lenny Henry – he can't come up with any.
So these digs have clearly touched a nerve. Yet I don't think Gervais was really being maliciously personal. He was just doing what many comedians do in attacking establishment figures from the previous generation (French and Henry are only a handful of years older than Gervais, but they are certainly from a different comedy era). However, wouldn't it have been brilliant if French had confronted Gervais on camera about the cruelty of his remarks?
Insult seems to be the name of the game in comedy these days. If you ever get to see this year's British Comedy Awards on television you'll see host Jonathan Ross putting the boot into various stars. Green Wing's Stephen Mangan was cruelly mocked for doing the Barclaycard ads, while in one of his intros Ross said something on the lines of "This is no laughing matter...like the Peter Serafinowicz Show". Ouch. And then miaow.
But is it really bullying? Ross's kind of showbiz bitchiness comes from the American tradition of "roasts" – very different to the footballing use of the term, this is when a star is celebrated by being mocked. Somehow Ross seems to get away with it – most of the time – whereas others cannot quite pull it off. Ricky Gervais can get away with it when he takes the mickey out of his tennis-circuit mates – David Baddiel, Jimmy Carr, etc – but going outside that chum circle is riskier.
Of course, Gervais may not be concerned about appearing in Dawn French's series – he'd probably say that telly documentaries are transient while Golden Globes are permanent. But he should be – given that she has nabbed everyone from Robin Williams to Russell Brand, Matt Lucas and David Walliams his absence sticks out like a Hartlepool canoeist in Panama.
That Lenny Henry/Extras scene is funny. Comedy is about taking the mick and especially if you're in the business, having the mick taken out of you and actually being able to accept it. To exclude someone from a documentary because they take the mick, if that is indeed the case (of course Gervais may have declined to give an interview for the show/refused to appear),is not funny. Whilst I've always respected Henry for being the first breakout black comedian in the UK and also for his charity work, I have never really found him funny. Or French for that matter.
Posted by: Ahmed R | 13/12/2007 at 10:06 AM
I have to agree. Henry is not funny. The best thing he has done was Chef, which kind of says it all.
Posted by: Stephen | 13/12/2007 at 02:54 PM
Ricky Gervais is simply not funny. His stand up especially is embarrassingly unfunny.
Somehow (Emperor's new clothes) he is deemed funny espicially US comedians who should know better.
Posted by: Nick | 13/12/2007 at 06:52 PM
I'm glad someone else noticed how dreadful that Peter Serafinowicz show was. All I read was were glowing reviews for that abysmal show. Probably written by female journos seduced by his dulcet tones.
Posted by: James | 14/12/2007 at 04:10 PM
Does French honestly think as a comedienne who is clearly (and famously) what can only be medically described as obese (I'm no size zero fan, but you can't in honesty tell me you have no health complications at her weight) that she would be somehow not be the punchline of a joke (personally made or not) at some point? It's always been the role of comedians to in some way poke fun at the previous establishment of comedy - I'd see it as an acknowledgement of their fame, Lenny Henry included. All French is doing in snubbing Gervais (who in fairness is damned annoying at times) is pointing out her own self-consciousness at her weight, which wouldn't normally be a bad thing except for the fact she likes to crow about how much she loves herself fat! Seems rather hypocritical of her. Either love who you are and accept no one is above being made fun of in your profession, or lose the weight and give Gervais cause to eat (no pun intended) his words!
Posted by: K | 14/12/2007 at 04:22 PM
I'm sorry - am I missing something here? Since when did you miss something/someone out of a "documentary" because they were mean to you? Firstly doesn't this suggest this series is a chum-a-thon for French and secondly, if a person was making a documentary about history, would you miss Adolf (an extreme example clearly!) because he was certainly mean and rather more than personal to lots and lots of people.
Posted by: Flo | 14/12/2007 at 06:19 PM
I'm surprised Dawn French has decided not to interview Ricky Gervais... He's so funny it's cringeworthy ;)
Posted by: S Asghar | 14/12/2007 at 10:14 PM
Oh boy, oh boy! I think Ricky is in love with Dawn and if they get too close they might give the game away, cause they can't control themselves. I think that it's going to be announced very soon that they are having an affair and they planned the whole thing to get back at Lenny for disrespecting Dawn in the past with his shag-a-thons.
Posted by: Sherry Collins | 16/12/2007 at 04:17 PM
Rick Gervais is not funny, so I don't care if he's not in the documentary. I love Dawn French, Lucas and Walliams, so I'll definitely be watching it.
Posted by: Mary M. | 18/12/2007 at 03:37 PM
Lenny Henry's not funny but then Gervais is as funny as a 4 day long bout of stomach cramps, Dawn French should cut the pair of them out of the documentary and concentrate on comedians who are actually funny.
Posted by: Pete Ikey | 18/12/2007 at 03:41 PM
If Dawn does not want to interview someone because they were rude about her and her husband why should she have to sit through an interview that is for her show, with a man she is clearly uncomfortale with, if it were my show and i got to choose who i interview, i would not choose someone who insulted my husbands work or my appearance, regardless of the comedy 'code'.
Leave her alone, if you don't agree with it, son't watch it, go put FAME on but until you all have your own show and are one of the most respected comediennes in history, get off your high horses and go back to work.
Merry Christmas
Posted by: Katie | 21/12/2007 at 09:32 AM
Ah, but is there something more sinister about all this? Has anyone ever seen Ricky Gervais and Dawn French in the same room? Are they really two different people?
Actually, they must be. He is funny and irreverent. She and her husband have become 'luvvies' whose so called comedy is stale and well past its sell by date.
I'd pay to watch Ricky Gervais. I wouldn't go to see Dawn French if she was in my back garden.
And I bet he's gutted he wasnt invited onto her comedy love-fest!
Posted by: Peter Harrison | 08/01/2008 at 08:02 PM
Obviously everyone has an opinion on comedy. Like many, I like Steve Coogan and Ricky Gervais. Like many, You probably like Everyone Loves Raymond. It's all relative.
I personally find Ricky Gervais consistently brilliant, perceptive and original. He takes risks. He is a great writer and performer. Whether he is rude or arrogant in person does not concern me. He could piss in my face and I still couldn't deny that he is one of the strongest comedian's of our generation.
It's a shame he's not involved in Dawn's show. It probably would have been the highest rating episode they made. It's a shame they didn't have more guts and humility to forgive and invite him on, if that was the case. He should be begged, for goodness sake- He's a comic legend! Just for ratings; just to make peace; Just because I don't see how Ricky could possibly not be included.
Posted by: Catherine Whakabich | 19/02/2008 at 03:34 AM
ok! the person who said dawn is obese! i went to see her and jen live and she was runnin around the stage! fine!! yes comedians make fun of people but he did go too far! (like always) dawn is ok in her own body and only reacting bk because even if you love your body someone making fun of it on t.v is horrible .. he didnt need to say it! she is happy and their for many curvy women out there! you should be happy that for once you have someone who is curvy and proud with a real talen! i meen people are complaining about size zero and then when an amazing curvy women comes along and is happy with her weight people start making fun! she is soo beautiful and this ricky gervais should get stuffed! if he doesnt like her then dnt bloody talk about her! because she has soo many fans infact over 100,000 people went to see her and jen live! amazing! so ricky go make fun of other things not personal matters!
Posted by: jordanna | 27/06/2008 at 01:26 AM