Screen Junkies » stephen merchant

HBO Takes Huge Financial Risk In Renewing ‘The Ricky Gervais Show’

Joseph Gibson — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:21:21 +0000

The executives over at HBO HQ know a shrewd investment when they see it. So it makes sense that, despite the massive cost, they’ve OKed a third season of the podcast-with-animation-put-over-it comedy “The Ricky Gervais Show.” In case you haven’t seen it, the cartoon is based on the massively popular podcast of the same name, which features Gervais, frequent collaborator Stephen Merchant, and village idiot/savant Kal Pilkington riffing humorously on a variety of subjects, most involving the weird way Pilkington sees the world.

This is good news for people who like good, low-key comedy (which most HBO subscribers are probably used to by now). With chimps! Maybe this season will be enough for a Golden Globe nomination.

Ricky Gervais Hires ‘The Tourist’ Star Johnny Depp

Wookie Johnson — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:52:18 +0000

Johnny Depp must be a glutton for punishment. The Tourist star is trying to free up his schedule so that he can guest star on depraved meanie-butt Ricky Gervais’ new show “Life’s Too Short.”

The show stars longtime Gervais buddy Warwick Davis as the egomaniacal dwarf who runs a talent agency for dwarf actors. Gervais describes the show as a cross between “Extras” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” It’s expected to air on HBO.

No word on who Johnny Depp will portray on the show. But let’s all hope he won’t appear as a pirate. (Deadline)

Wilson and Sudeikis Embrace Freedom In ‘Hall Pass’ Trailer

Col. Longshanks — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:25:59 +0000

Warner Bros. has dropped the trailer for Hall Pass. Directed by The Farrell Brothers, it follows two guys (Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis) whose wives give them one week off marriage to do whatever they want. Simple enough concept, so it’s clearly all in the execution, and I think we might have winner here. The awesome supporting cast is as follows: Jenna Fischer, Christina Applegate, J.B. Smoove, Stephen Merchant, Richard Jenkins, Alyssa Milano, and Vanessa Angel. If the Farrelly’s can’t make this movie work, God help them.

Hall Pass checks into theaters February 25, 2011.

‘Cemetery Junction’ Trailer Needs Subtitles

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Renowned Elmo tormentor Ricky Gervais has teamed again with his The Office/Extras co-creator Stephen Merchant to write and direct Cemetery Junction. And… and… honestly, I have no idea what it’s about. I watched this trailer four times now and couldn’t understand a word of it. Is that a real language that they’re speaking? If so, is it called Chimney Sweep?? Here’s what the studio claims it is about:

Cemetery Junction, set in 1970s England, follows three blue-collar friends who spend their days joking, drinking and chasing girls. Freddie (Christian Cooke) wants to leave their working-class world, but cool, charismatic Bruce (Tom Hughes) and lovable loser Snork (Jack Doolan) are happy with life the way it is.

Okay. That’s what they claim. But to me this could just as easily be a movie about the formation of The Beatles. Or the Stones. Or Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders. I CAN’T F***ING TELL!!

Watch the trailer after the jump, and please provide translation in the comments section.

Cemetery Junction Trailer – Watch more Movie Trailers

CEMETERY JUNCTION

Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Directors: Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant

Cast: Ricky Gervais, Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode, Emily Watson

Synopsis: A 1970s-set comedy centered on three upstart professional men working at an insurance company.