Fame
Fame is the third solo stand-up show by Ricky Gervais released on VHS and DVD on 12 November 2007. It was filmed at the Hammersmith Apollo in London.
Tour
Fame ran for over 100 shows across the UK mainland, including a long stint in London and a show at New York's Madison Square Garden. The show was reported to be the fastest selling stand-up tour in British history. A large poster commemorating this success was erected in Trafalgar Square. Fame featured support on its UK leg from Gervais' close friend and fellow comic, Robin Ince. During two shows, a souvenir CD featuring an hour long podcast from Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Karl Pilkington was given to the audience. The free podcast has since been released by Gervais on 10 October 2007 and is available through iTunes. At the start of each show Gervais came out to the song "One Vision" by Queen and he appeared in a crown and cape with huge letters that spelled "RICKY" behind him along with a podium in the shape of a BAFTA award.
Themes
Fame focuses on Gervais' attempts to deal with his own fame following his widespread success with The Office and Extras on both sides of the Atlantic. He talks about how fame has changed through time; famous people in history include Leonardo DaVinci and Isaac Newton, yet today Kinga from Big Brother can be famous because of a wine bottle. He also talks about the way the press treats celebrities through gossip and rumours in the papers. He often cites his own experiences with fame and the press, a well known example is the “iPodge” headline. The show also deviates from the main theme of fame to include observations on cancer, Hitler, autism, the chronic fatigue syndrome M.E., obesity, famine, and AIDS. Gervais even manages to fit in more stories about his favourite mate from school, David Beasley.
Quotes
- Ricky Gervais: But I will say this, if I ever get cancer myself I’m gonna go into the nearest hospital and go, “Right, I paid for that machine. Get that little bald fucker off it.”
- Ricky Gervais: Do commandos not wear pants? They must wear pants, don’t they?
Ricky (pretending to be a commando): Why aren’t you wearing pants?
(audience laughs)
What?
(audience laughs)
I’m a commando and I’m wearing pants.
(audience laughs)
I’ve never heard that phrase before.
(audience laughs)
They’re gonna see that. - Ricky Gervais: It’s not a disease.
- Ricky Gervais: On the same day The Sun published a picture of Jade Goody with the caption, “Racist scum,” they published a picture of that Chinese snooker player with the caption, “Pot Noodle.”
- Ricky Gervais: Have you seen those adverts on telly for rape? Not adverts for rape… starts 10 AM, everyone must go, no. It’s two blokes and one of ‘em is bragging he’s going, “Yeah, got off with a lovely bird the other night, we was kissing and cuddling, got a bit more serious and I shoved her down onto the sofa,” and he morphs and he’s in court and the voiceover goes, “If you don’t get consent, you could go to prison for rape.” What sort of society has to remind someone not to rape?
- Ricky Gervais: (to heckler) Oh, go on mate, sorry. I can’t do one on one it’s a big place. In a much smaller room, I’d still ignore you, you cunt, shush.