I have no idea what the hell is going on here. Funny is funny. Not funny is rarely funny, unless it’s so unfunny that it whips around the sun and slingshots into funny. Mr. Gervais does not get the last word but his opinion has merit, because he has found funny before, and continues to search.

American humorists of yore went for the heart, while I believe that the British Isles have pretty much always gone for the testicles. See: Mark Twain, Shakespeare. I could get into some sort of Protestant work ethic thing here, but I don’t know how far that could really take us. Also of note, some of the funniest/most heartbreaking stuff being written in the U.S. is being written by American Indians about reservation life, assimilation, and all that subaltern stuff that sucks so hard about our history. Some of the most unfunny stuff is coming from the capital-S south, which has a tendency to revel in Civil War “subaltern-ness” despite being chock full of rich white men. So perhaps one could also identify “funny” with “authentic.”

Sadly, in the good ol’ USA, authenticity is hard to come by. We are upstarts with no history so we steal everything, including most British sitcoms. It is a rare day that something original happens here that is worth y’all devoting your attention to it.

I find Gervais to be pretty offensive.

From the Golden Globes, which Ricky hosted: ““I want to mention a gentleman I am thinking of in England,” Dinklage said. “His name is Martin Henderson. Google him.”

Although he didn’t elaborate, a wave of curiosity swept through social media, where people came to learn of Henderson. Henderson, measuring about 1.4 metres (four feet, six inches) was celebrating his birthday at the White Horse pub in Somerset, England on Oct. 7. 2011. The 37-year-old man was attacked when he went outside to get a cigarette, various media outlets report.

Henderson was picked up and dropped from the approximate height of a metre (three feet). He believed that attack was inspired by a then-recent “dwarf-tossing” event that was attended by some members of England’s national rugby team.”
http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2012/01/27/wdr-drafr-tossing.html

Two days later, on the topic of Life’s Too Short on Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dEmv0luZ7zc#t=594s
I mean, how can you not find him offensive? Even Letterman looks annoyed. I swear to god, Gervais is obsessed with disability.

That’s straw clutching of the highest order to link those together.

RBK1917 - 21 February 2012 09:44 PM

I find Gervais to be pretty offensive.

From the Golden Globes, which Ricky hosted: ““I want to mention a gentleman I am thinking of in England,” Dinklage said. “His name is Martin Henderson. Google him.”

Although he didn’t elaborate, a wave of curiosity swept through social media, where people came to learn of Henderson. Henderson, measuring about 1.4 metres (four feet, six inches) was celebrating his birthday at the White Horse pub in Somerset, England on Oct. 7. 2011. The 37-year-old man was attacked when he went outside to get a cigarette, various media outlets report.

Henderson was picked up and dropped from the approximate height of a metre (three feet). He believed that attack was inspired by a then-recent “dwarf-tossing” event that was attended by some members of England’s national rugby team.”
http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2012/01/27/wdr-drafr-tossing.html

Two days later, on the topic of Life’s Too Short on Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dEmv0luZ7zc#t=594s
I mean, how can you not find him offensive? Even Letterman looks annoyed. I swear to god, Gervais is obsessed with disability.

To be honest, that’s all quite spurious.

Personally, I think that most subjects can be used for humour if it’s done right (and I think he does it right), there are obviously lines but I don’t think he crosses them (often).

I’m sure that those who find him offensive will like other comedians (or for that matter, bands / singers / tv presenters / etc etc etc) that I find offensive.  That’s life.

Jonny Gabriel Ngo Baheng - 21 February 2012 11:58 PM

That’s straw clutching of the highest order to link those together.

I’m not saying he made the comment because of the speech. I don’t think he did. I just think he should think a bit more about what he’s saying on telly. It is pretty offensive regardless, and he should at least tone it down a bit when Dinklage right before tries to spread awareness.

AUFCrick - 22 February 2012 12:19 AM

RBK1917 - 21 February 2012 09:44 PM

I find Gervais to be pretty offensive.

From the Golden Globes, which Ricky hosted: ““I want to mention a gentleman I am thinking of in England,” Dinklage said. “His name is Martin Henderson. Google him.”

Although he didn’t elaborate, a wave of curiosity swept through social media, where people came to learn of Henderson. Henderson, measuring about 1.4 metres (four feet, six inches) was celebrating his birthday at the White Horse pub in Somerset, England on Oct. 7. 2011. The 37-year-old man was attacked when he went outside to get a cigarette, various media outlets report.

Henderson was picked up and dropped from the approximate height of a metre (three feet). He believed that attack was inspired by a then-recent “dwarf-tossing” event that was attended by some members of England’s national rugby team.”
http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2012/01/27/wdr-drafr-tossing.html

Two days later, on the topic of Life’s Too Short on Letterman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dEmv0luZ7zc#t=594s
I mean, how can you not find him offensive? Even Letterman looks annoyed. I swear to god, Gervais is obsessed with disability.

To be honest, that’s all quite spurious.

Read my reply to Jonny. If it was something else, please elaborate.

Jack Warner - 20 February 2012 07:41 PM

Warper - 20 February 2012 03:21 PM

Jack Warner - 20 February 2012 02:58 PM

Gervais reminds me of Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan, when he hasn’t been heard of for a while he comes out with some controversial shit just to be talked about! They should both go and fuck each other!

WTF???

There both cocks!

They’re both completely different style comedians to me. But you’re entitled to your opinion. I really like Tommy Tiernan and think the PC brigade have gone mad on him the last few years.

Warper - 22 February 2012 09:48 AM

Jack Warner - 20 February 2012 07:41 PM

Warper - 20 February 2012 03:21 PM

Jack Warner - 20 February 2012 02:58 PM

Gervais reminds me of Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan, when he hasn’t been heard of for a while he comes out with some controversial shit just to be talked about! They should both go and fuck each other!

WTF???

There both cocks!

They’re both completely different style comedians to me. But you’re entitled to your opinion. I really like Tommy Tiernan and think the PC brigade have gone mad on him the last few years.

I agree they are both different, but still Tiernan’s first show/dvd was funny but since then he has gone downhill, wish that Radiohead song in Father Ted had finished him off!

Jack Warner - 22 February 2012 11:07 AM

Warper - 22 February 2012 09:48 AM

Jack Warner - 20 February 2012 07:41 PM

Warper - 20 February 2012 03:21 PM

Jack Warner - 20 February 2012 02:58 PM

Gervais reminds me of Irish comedian Tommy Tiernan, when he hasn’t been heard of for a while he comes out with some controversial shit just to be talked about! They should both go and fuck each other!

WTF???

There both cocks!

They’re both completely different style comedians to me. But you’re entitled to your opinion. I really like Tommy Tiernan and think the PC brigade have gone mad on him the last few years.

I agree they are both different, but still Tiernan’s first show/dvd was funny but since then he has gone downhill, wish that Radiohead song in Father Ted had finished him off!

Ah but then there would have been no first DVD at all, as the Father Ted appearance preceded all his stand-up releases.
I agree that his earlier stuff is still his best, but that can be said for most comedians. I still get a good laugh from his more recent stuff