The Official "Derek" Thread

[Ho L. Fuk]

Well, now Gervais has confirmed a show about Derek is going ahead, I figured it would be worth making a thread about it.



What does everyone think about this?

Happy? Not happy?

Personally, I'm tired of seeing Ricky try to defend his sense of humour - and for a man who cares so much about what critics think of him - I can't help but to think that this is going to lead to a lot of drama.

I know it is a tad too early to really tell what the show is about, but it if has the same sort of style as the Derek Noakes youtube video I think we can be in for a fun time ahead.

Thoughts!

[Sergio Georgini]

I think it's pretty funny.

[mushroommai]

I don't like it, well, I just don't know how to feel when I watch it, that's all.
Because I think Ricky is funny, but then I can't help feel like the man with the learning disability, is the butt of the joke, and I don't like that. Especially when Ricky has always defended his disabled jokes- as being a joke about the awkwardness of people, not the disabled person.
And I've already said it, my mam looks after people with learning disabilities and physical disabilities, and I could never laugh at them, so I don't see how I can laugh at Derek.

I think I sort of get what Ricky's trying to do, but It just personally doesn't make me laugh.
I'm hoping Ricky will have developed the character, into one you find endearing and laugh with him at times, not at him.

[ike]

I always thought that little video clip was quite funny, but I can't see the humour stretching for a whole series-worth of episodes. It'd work better as one character as part of an ensemble, in a sketch show for example, but Little Britain have already done that...

Because I think Ricky is funny, but then I can't help feel like the man with the learning disability, is the butt of the joke

Same as the Podcasts and An Idiot Abroad, then.

[EinHistory]

Not looking forward to it from what I've seen.

The Office and Extras dealt with taboos like disability sensibly, and the humour was more in how Andy or David reacted to them. I hope LTS will be the same, and not just poking a dwarf.

But this seems to be more laughing at the Derek character - and that's just not funny or intelligent, particularly when you've got such a comedy legacy.

I hope I'm wrong - or that this show just doesn't go ahead.

[ScottHanson]

I keep thinking it's gonna be terrible and unneccessarily offensive and tacky, but then rewatching the clip I do laugh, especially at You know impressions? "I don't believe it." and "Sweatpants, every year. 22 pairs, can I have some trousers please?"

It could go either way, if he makes it clear Derek is just a bit weird and oblivious, but is obviously sympathetic and the hero of the show it'll be alright, or it could just be mongbashing.

[Tomkerr93]

Looking forward to seeing Ricky in the lead role again, having taken a back seat in recent projects.
Kinda ashamed to say I find the clip funny, but like you've all said - it needs to be a show where we laugh at the other people, not him. I know he steps close to the line sometimes but I don't think he's one to blatantly cross it.

[shawnadancing]

I like the little clips here & there, or maybe even a short movie. But I can't see a whole series (even 6 episodes). I don't know, people love Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys, so they might like Derek. Maybe Webisodes would be a better choice....

[Smeghead]

Wait a minute, I thought Derek was that project about an atheist who dies and goes to heaven? What happened to that?

[EinHistory]

Wait a minute, I thought Derek was that project about an atheist who dies and goes to heaven? What happened to that?

Derek and Afterlife are two completely different projects.

[Scotland Rocks!]

To me, it's not about whether or not the original Derek was funny.

It's that I have no confidence that him doing that character again, for 30 minutes x 6 episodes, will be.

It would be like them doing a whole series on "Golden Years." We got it the first time.

Oh yeah, and as I pledged I would say:

God dammit.

[MMatt]

"@rickygervais Does Karl have any cameos in Life's too short?"
No. But he's going to be in "Derek"

I can't wait for it now.

[Nill Demand]

That clip's funny and hopefully he'll manage to make it funny as a series.

[EinHistory]

Yeah, I saw that tweet and wondered if it was a joke. At least there's a reason to watch it now.

[Ho L. Fuk]

Yeah, don't get me wrong guys, I do think Derek is funny. I'm just worried about the backlash from the mongs and all the shit Ricky is going to have to try to explain away. Can you imagine it? It's bad enough now and he hasn't even done anything. Every second or third tweet/blogpost is going to be about proving someone who doesn't like it wrong.

And let's face it; if the series is similar to the video clip, he doesn't have much of a defense case.

I love the bit when he is identifying the animals he has on his desk.

*twiddles fingers* ..... i don't know what that is!
*pause*...Lobster crab..