Product Details

• Actors: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington
• Producers: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington, Glyn Hughes, Bob Higgins
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: January 4, 2011
• Run Time: 390 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0049AF6UG
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,327 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Ricky Gervais Show: Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

From the creators of the smash-hit series The Office and Extras and based on the original record-breaking podcasts, comes the new animated comedy series, The Ricky Gervais Show. The series is an animated version of the original podcasts that earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloads. It is voiced by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and colleague and friend Karl Pilkington whose offbeat musings inspire many of the storylines which include the merits of 20th century inventions; Karl's suggestion for population control; how philosophy has evolved through the ages and not forgetting Karl's perfectly round head!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Old Podcasts Plus New Animation Provide The Basis For This Funny, But Minimalist, HBO Show December 23, 2010

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

I'm going to start things out on a controversial note. I love Ricky Gervais and, honestly, I'd watch anything with his name on it. But "The Ricky Gervais Show" is a bit of a curiosity. While I definitely enjoyed it (these 13 episodes originally aired on HBO), I'm not sure the program was entirely necessary. Before you start to beat me up and send me hate mail--let me explain. The show uses material previously introduced on the famously outrageous Podcast starring Gervais and his long time partner Stephen Merchant. In essence, "The Ricky Gervais Show" is just an animated Podcast. None of the comedy stylings or interactions are new--only the visual representations of them are. Mind you, I don't think too many people will complain as both new and old material meld together well to create different levels of humor to the cracking wise.

Gervais definitely plays to his strengths here. And his primary strength is the ever daft Karl Pilkington. Pilkington is a perpetual guest on the Podcast, and every episode of this show is designed around his skewed world view. Merchant and Gervais taunt and mock Pilkington mercilessly--it seems to be, literally, the reason that this show exists. I'd feel sorry for the little guy if it wasn't so darned funny. Pilkington is a truly original voice and the series' MVP. Half the time you'll think he's putting you on with his wacky declarations, but I'm not so sure.

I also enjoyed the running gag of "Monkey News" which never gets old when spinning ridiculous "news" stories involving primates. Bottom line, if you enjoy Gervais' particular brand of humor, I can't imagine that you wouldn't like "The Ricky Gervais Show." From a visual standpoint, it can be somewhat stagnant--at least 60% of the animation is the three guys sitting in a studio.... But the humor is top notch. Funny, sometimes insightful, I liked hanging out with this trio in 30 minute intervals. Hopefully, you will too. KGHarris, 12/10 Read more ›

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Karl Pilkington, Idiot Sage February 20, 2011

By Brandon Duncan

Format:DVD

A few Amazon reviewers have claimed to find The Ricky Gervais Show merely mean spirited. I'd like to discourage anyone from heeding that criticism. If Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant seem uncharitable to poor Karl on first impression, it's all in the service of a greater good. That greater good is the structure and content of Karl's worldview. Karl Pilkington as everyman is a bizarre misnomer. He is a world unto himself. There's really no one else like him (at least that I've ever met...), and of course Ricky and Steve see this. Their efforts mainly exist to draw Karl out, to get him going on whatever subject strikes home, and to extract his comic visions and reinventions of the mundane. Not to say Karl doesn't say stuff that seems ridiculous and idiotic--he does, and often, but more often than not there is a bit of strange wisdom in his blather. But this is what makes the show so interesting! Because, for all the erudition and educated skepticism displayed by Gervais and Merchant, it's Karl who has anything of interest to contribute to the conversation. An idiot savant of the ordinary, the idiot sage for our time (the real deal, no character, at least I hope not), Karl is in the spotlight here, and it's no sideshow attraction.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pilkington is the Man! January 8, 2013

By Patrick Davis

Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase

Karl Pilkington, whether he is acting or not, whether this is rehearsed or not, is a comedy genius. Ricky and Stephen speak for themselves with all their success. Bringing Karl to the limelight was a fantastic idea. Love it!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Old Podcasts Plus New Animation: Wildly Funny But Might Be A Better Deal In DVD Presentation March 18, 2011

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

I'm going to start things out on a controversial note. I love Ricky Gervais and, honestly, I'd watch anything with his name on it. And "The Ricky Gervais Show" is a bit of a lark. While I definitely enjoyed it (these 13 episodes originally aired on HBO), I'm not sure the program is a great value if paying by the individual episode. Before you start to beat me up and send me hate mail--let me explain. Each episode clocks in at slightly over 20 minutes--I know they drop and raise on-demand prices, but it seems that (generally speaking) the DVD might work out a better deal if you're genuinely interested in the program. The show uses material previously introduced on the famously outrageous Podcast starring Gervais and his long time partner Stephen Merchant. In essence, "The Ricky Gervais Show" is just an animated Podcast. None of the comedy stylings or interactions are new--only the visual representations of them are. Mind you, I don't think too many people will complain as both new and old material meld together well to create different levels of humor to the cracking wise.

Gervais definitely plays to his strengths here. And his primary strength is the ever daft Karl Pilkington. Pilkington is a perpetual guest on the Podcast, and every episode of this show is designed around his skewed world view. Merchant and Gervais taunt and mock Pilkington mercilessly--it seems to be, literally, the reason that this show exists. I'd feel sorry for the little guy if it wasn't so darned funny. Pilkington is a truly original voice and the series' MVP. Half the time you'll think he's putting you on with his wacky declarations, but I'm not so sure.

I also enjoyed the running gag of "Monkey News" which never gets old when spinning ridiculous "news" stories involving primates.... Bottom line, if you enjoy Gervais' particular brand of humor, I can't imagine that you wouldn't like "The Ricky Gervais Show." From a visual standpoint, it can be somewhat stagnant--at least 60% of the animation is the three guys sitting in a studio. But the humor is top notch. Funny, sometimes insightful, I liked hanging out with this trio in 30 minute intervals. Hopefully, you will too. KGHarris, 12/10 Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely hilarious April 7, 2013

By kristi jones

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I thought listening to the podcast was the funniest thing ever, until I saw this. Seeing an animated version of Karl giving parenting advice is absolutely the best bit.