Old Gervais News - Page 1

British stars Ricky Gervais and Hugh Laurie are among the nominees for American television's prestigious Emmy awards. Gervais was nominated in the best comedy actor category for his performance in Extras alongside Alec Baldwin, Steve Carell, Charlie Sheen and Tony Shalhoub.

Hugh Laurie, meanwhile, is nominated in the best drama actor category for House alongside James Gandolfini, Kiefer Sutherland, James Spader and Denis Leary. Mob saga "The Sopranos", in which Gandolfini stars, claimed a total of 15 nominations, including a nomination for best drama. Ugly Betty, Heroes, Entourage, Grey's Anatomy, Boston Legal and Rescue Me were among the other US shows recognised by the award nominations.

The 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live from Los Angeles on September 16.

It's hard to say exactly when Ricky Gervais stopped being the endearing, ingenious wit behind The Office and became the tiresome embarrassment he is today. There were the endless, nauseatingly matey, appearances on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross; his mediocre episode of The Simpsons; his mutual appreciation society with overrated US comics Ben Stiller and Larry David.

Fawning anecdotes in which he would call Extras' guest Robert De Niro "Bob" were another giveaway. His cameo in A Night At the Museum (with Stiller) was sub-sitcom standard and, like The Simpsons, another example of him re-hashing Brent. After years refusing to "do" The David Brent Dance, these days you can hardly stop him.

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A comment by Ollygrant on Guardian Unlimited said it best with: "Typical, waiting until a talented man reaches the peak of his powers then pulling him down. If anything is tired and cliched, it's this well-worn British journalistic trick. Pathetic. The Office is a staggering work of genius. This article is a hack job."

BEN Stiller has labelled Ricky Gervais unprofessional and merely "an extra" after working alongside him. In Mirror.co.uk’s exclusive behind the scenes clip from the set of family comedy Night at the Museum (go to the video player to view), the Hollywood actor affectionately slates Gervais’ acting abilities and reveals The Office creator can’t stop laughing during takes.

"Ricky Gervais has a problem," quips the star. "He's not a professional actor as a professional actor would never crack up."

During the interview Ricky confesses he finds the whole filming experience amusing and can’t stop giggling at the absurdity of the acting – and the camera mens’ beards. The Extra’s star hosted a star-studded launch of the DVD at the Natural History Museum in London on Sunday and used the occasion to urge young people to visit museums and take an interest in the natural world (go to the video player to view).

Celebrities who attended with their children included Fame Academy tutors David and Carrie Grant, Melinda Messenger and Gail Porter (see picture gallery below). The audience was treated to a screening of the film and a tour of the museum.

FORMER EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson has said he'd "jump at the chance" of appearing in a third series of Ricky Gervais' sitcom Extras.

He added: "Not only is it the most enjoyable thing I've ever done, but it really has given me a second wind regarding focus and a platform. It was a great thing to be a part of."

Williamson said that Ricky was keen for a third series. But added: "He's a workaholic, so we'll have to see if we can persuade him."

In Extras, Williamson plays his most famous role, Barry from EastEnders.

Williamson said: "Working with these two (Gervais and Stephen Merchant) is the only thing that would make me reprise the character.

"There was no way I was going to turn down the chance to work with them."

But the actor admits he has no idea how he got the role. "I never even asked them why they picked me," he laughs.

Williamson said that he'd like to make more comedy shows but added: "I'd also jump at playing a character with no redeeming features whatsoever.

"Like that Albie guy in Cracker - I'd shave my head and be covered in tattoos. That would be great."

Perhaps in a thinly veiled attempt to get himself on the next series of Extras, Bob Dylan has invited Ricky Gervais onto his American Radio Show, The Theme Time Radio Hour, to be interviewed.

As we reported earlier, Dylan’s radio show, which has been running since last May on US station XM Satellite Radio, will be broadcast on BBC 6 Music from early next year, and Gervais will be one of the guests.

A notice on Gervais’ website read, “An invitation from Bob Dylan. Yes, Bob Dylan.” Adding, “Bob Dylan has asked Ricky to do his radio show in America. Ricky will pre-record their chat when he visits New York later in the year ready for broadcast early in 2007."