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[-] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 weeks ago

Has that dude ever been funny?

[-] skisnow@lemmy.ca 24 points 2 weeks ago

So here’s the thing. In his prime in the early 2000s there legitimately was a liberal PC orthodoxy in comedy. This meant if you made a joke about a marginalised group it was implicitly understood that the humour was either in the outrageousness of it, or that bigotry itself was the true target of the joke, and that we weren’t supposed to take it at face value.

But then actual fascists started gaining power by campaigning against those same marginalised groups, and that type of joke stopped being possible even when played back verbatim. Gervais either hasn’t realized that, or is happy to play to the tastes of real bigots.

[-] Tattorack@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Or maybe we shouldn't let bigots and fascists ruin everything.

[-] Snowclone@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

He's ok with them thinking he agrees with them. that's enough to move on for me.

[-] Omegamanthethird@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

The Invention of Lying?

That's all I got.

[-] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 weeks ago

I haven't seen it, but the reviews I've seen sorta said it was funny because of the underlying premise, not because of Gervais.

My view of the guy is he has a negative amount of humour. Not only is he totally unfunny by himself, but he actively removes the humour from scenes he's in.

[-] Omegamanthethird@lemmy.world 0 points 2 weeks ago

Oh, he does not belong in front of a camera. He's not a good actor and he has the comedic timing of a ham sandwich. But he wrote and co-produced it, so I give him credit for it.

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

How much do you enjoy the joke "God isn't real and everyone who believes in God is stupid" on a loop?

[-] Tattorack@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Me! Laughing at religious people is funny.

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Well, strap in, because he's got that one joke and another one about how people are mean to him. And his set is 2 hours long.

[-] Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

I concur, it makes me feel at least a little better I have to share this planet with religious people.

[-] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago

Has he changed much? If you didn't like him before you probably won't now. If you did like him before but have already seen a lot of his stuff you will probably still like it but it might feel a little repetitive.

[-] adam_y@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

I think you need to go back to the late 90s with the 11 O'Clock Show to see his earlier work.

That's the same show that brought us Ali G as well.

See, the other commenter is right. These comedians didn't really change their act, but what did change was the context.

British honour in the 90s was a wild time where only a decade previously we had Bernard Manning, Jim Davidson and a who host of rotters as weekly fixtures. Outright bigotry as commedy.

Then it swung back hard (starting with the Comic Strip guys, possibly) but it was still fringe until the mid 90s.

That said, if any of you guys are unaware of who Alexi Sayle is, you are in for a treat.

Alexi Sayle Playlist

[-] Snowclone@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

he jumped on the anti-trans wagon real quick. and does a few other pro MAGA jokes. he claims he's being subversive for it's own sake, but I'm not amused by people who are ok with me personally losing my human rights or right to be alive because it's just a sandbox for them to play in when it's actually a gun to my head.

[-] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 weeks ago

You can support gay rights and still tell a joke about sucking cock.

[-] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 weeks ago

I've never found the guy funny, no. I remember what an obnoxious twat he was in An Idiot Abroad, never intentionally watched something he's in.

[-] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 weeks ago

You are free to do that, but has his style really changed much? At this point if you go to see him and you are disappointed its kinda on you as well.

[-] Ilovethebomb@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

Don't worry, I don't plan to.

[-] m0darn@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 weeks ago

I remember laughing hysterically at his bit about Humpty Dumpty being reassembled by horses, "...if you were to design the perfect egg smashing device..."

I also found his portrayal of the titular Derek to actually be quite touching. I enjoyed the show.

[-] KuroiKaze@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Very hot take, he's often cited as a comedic genius. British office will always be way better than its American shadow. Afterlife showed he has range, extras gave us some of the funniest bits ever, etc

this post was submitted on 03 May 2026
665 points (98.5% liked)

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