David Michael Swindle 🌀🟦 (@godofthedesert): "Ricky Gervais is one of the great tragedies of comedy. The Office was a masterpiece, but it’s clear now that Stephen Merchant was the real reason it succeeded. Without him, Gervais just always goes off the rails. It’s so sad, he has basically just become David Brent at this …"

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Ricky Gervais is one of the great tragedies of comedy.

The Office was a masterpiece, but it’s clear now that Stephen Merchant was the real reason it succeeded. Without him, Gervais just always goes off the rails.

It’s so sad, he has basically just become David Brent at this point. And it’s not funny. He’s really overrated.

Matt Ruby

May 15

There's a big reason why social media and standup are so often at odds. Social media performance is all about tribalism, fixed ideology, and moral superiority. Standup performance is (frequently) about attacking tribalism, shapeshifting toward whatever gets a laugh, and pointing fingers at everyone (including yourself).

Ricky Gervais:

“Okay, full disclosure: In real life, of course I support trans rights,” he says in his special. “I support all human rights, and trans rights are human rights.” But Gervais will also try on any hat in order to get a laugh. “I’ll take on any view to make the joke funniest,” he says. “I’ll pretend to be right wing. I’ll pretend to be left wing. I’ll pretend to be clever. I’ll pretend to be stupid. Whatever makes the joke funnier, without prejudice.”

Matt Ruby

May 15

4:06 PM

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