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Ricky Gervais Live 3 - Fame [2007]


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Editorial
Synopsis

Ricky Gervais performs live in his stand-up show Fame, which became Britain's fastest-selling live tour at the time. Gervais discusses his fame and the resulting complications that occur.


milking it
Review date: 2008-08-05 Rating: 2 out of 10

You wonder what all the fuss is about...you watch 'The Office' and think it is on its way to reaching perfection. You watch 'Extras' and you mostly witness really mediocre material with rogue sharp and very funny television moments; usually featuring Merchant, Williamson or Jensen. You think the Podcasts just get progressively worse but have a sneaking admiration for Pilkington; the podcasts are a vehicle for him and rightly so. You get tired of that stupid switch-on-and-off Gervais girlie-laugh, 'head like a...orange', 'you're an idiot!' schtick.

You watch 'Animals' and feel that aside from the mildly amusing Rick Waller joke, this is third-rate end of the pier stuff writ large. You think 'someone so championed, not least by themselves, will not make a second bad live show...much too shrewd.' In the meantime, you look at the success of 'Flanimals' and at least see why kids love those books...good, silly fun. Why not? You watch 'Politics' and the jokes are pretty wafer-thin and you are incredulous that the material is this lacklustre and predictable. And yet...still the awards roll in...BAFTAS, EMMYS...so, you think, 'what is it I am missing here?' Then 'Fame' hits the screen...you think, 'at last...good opening...he's going to be great this time...' But, no. Gervais fails to bring a smile throughout the show.

And you decide that it doesn't matter how many records get broken, how many awards are supplied, how many films get made and how much pomp surrounds Gervais. This is a man who is a PR man to rival Barnum. He tells everyone he is great so often that the myth becomes bigger than the man. You watch 'Live Aid (slight return)',The Diana concert', the cringe-inducing Garry Shandling interview, that woeful episode of 'The Simpsons'... and you are confronted with a severe lack of talent on the screen... you note how very inadequately Gervais handles even the slightest criticism of what he does.

You have watched this man's every move and product because the media and Gervais would have you believe he is comic gold and you are about to witness the best and you want it to be true. You cannot believe how someone who co-created something as brilliant as 'The Office' could get away with so much mediocre dross in its wake. And you realise that this man has terrific business-savvy and could personally charm Vatican staff into leading an atheist rally; This man is not a comic genius. Gervais cannot do stand-up any near as well as Richard Pryor or George Carlin (RIP) or Garry Shandling (a few great stand-ups)...he's not anywhere as good or as inventive as Ross Noble, Lee Evans, Jimmy Carr, Bill Bailey etc. Gervais is marginally better than someone you can see for free at a seaside resort. I hope those films are good...

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Reviews


The one that made me HATE Gervais.
Review date: 2008-07-01 Rating: 2 out of 10

I actually went to see this show live. I want to save a lot of people a lot of time and money: DO NOT BOTHER WITH THIS!

I spent a fortune on tickets to this show, and it was, frankly, pathetic. Robin Ince was a great intro. act- Loved him. The one star rating is actually for him, because, frankly, Gervais deserves nothing.

His set tells crude and disgusting "jokes" clearly designed to 'shock' and make him appear more edgy. Jokes about kids with cancer? How low can you get?? He clearly feels threatened by more modern and original comedians.

He also did a basic rehash of jokes he used a few years ago on his channel 4 chat show (Didn't think anybody would remember that did you Gervais?)... He also did a completely forced piece where he 'cannot stop laughing'- Before anyone says I'm being cynical, I know at least 5 people who saw the show in different places on different dates and he did the exact same piece at every show. He also repeated some jokes from 'Animals' and 'Politics'!!!

With all this repetation and tastelessness you might think the set was at least a long one? Not by my watch- 50 minutes. Plus a short encore (Totally pathetic- Desperate to show off how much money he's made.).

Fame simply provides Gervais with a reason to blab about how much financial gain he has had from showbiz.... Plus to have a total ego trip about his own comedy- Which, frankly, does not impress anyone anymore.

At least he has a load of famous friends to fall back on.... Ooops, I meant acting career.

You'd be better off buying the new Boosh DVD, or the comedy of another comedian who hopefully has more respect for his audience.

The best yet
Review date: 2008-06-19 Rating: 10 out of 10

I am a huge fan of Ricky Gervais and own all of his Stand Up DVDs, this one being easily the best. His stage persona, his presence and his material has just got better and better.

Many reviewers have found this material offensive. However, what these people need to remember is that Ricky is a comedian, and not a politician. The jokes that he makes are not supposed to be taken seriously. Like many great comedians, he tries and makes light of heavy situations. He plays a lot with what you can and can't say, which will obviously offend some people. But if you are easily offended, I really don't know what you're doing watching Ricky Gervais.

The claims that some of this material is racist is simply not true, and it is an insult to suggest it. Putting on an African accent to make a joke about something else entirely is in no way racist! It's no different to someone putting on a Scottish accent to illustrate a point.

Other topics he includes are rape, cancer, ME and obesity, which again offend some, but he is showing his comic talent by being able to make these subjects lighter and funny, which he does very well. It's also what Ricky has done in his previous Stand-Up DVDs.

For me, the material on this DVD is largely original, different and refreshing. If you are prepared not to take what he says as gospel and see it for what it is: a fantastic comedy piece, then you will enjoy this DVD.

I was pleasantly surprised and really warmed to him
Review date: 2008-05-29 Rating: 8 out of 10

I was fully prepared to dislike this DVD, which is why I rented it ratehr than bought it. However, although I have often perceived Ricky Gervais as smug and annoying, I actually liked this show very much. He is obviously sending himself up and when he makes jokes about children with cancer, the joke is very much on him, not on them. His delivery is warm and inclusive, and all the flashy paraphenalia is again, a deliberate send up of himself. He lists his awards (and there are many!) and again, you definietely get the impression that yes he's proud of himself, but yes his conceit is again part of his humour. He's not afraid to be the fool and that's part of the irony after his deliberate showing off. He cuts himself down to size so that we don't have to. Its a good show, professional, slick and funny with a few personal anecdotes thrown in for a bit of intimacy. Surprisingly good and I don't hesitate to recommend it.

Awful
Review date: 2008-05-07 Rating: 2 out of 10

I think everyone agrees that The Office and Extras were brilliant and original shows but Live 3 - Fame is dreadful. Don't waste your time watching it

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Ricky Gervais

Creators:
Ricky Gervais (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: Universal Pictures Video
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures Video
EAN: 5050582495386
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-11-12
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 78 minutes
Language: English (Unknown)

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