Derek

[ethandron]

What do you think of this programme starring Ricky gervaise (quite apart from whether or not you like Mr. Gervaise and starred someone else)? Personally I think it's in really, really bad taste and have never watched it, the trailers which have been shown have been more than enough.

[ChillDoubt]

Ho-hum. If I deemed something awful I'd certainly not watch it longer than 2 minutes.

[ummmm]

2 mins was probably enough to write it off as awful.

[emmie]

if you are directing that at me, no i actually watched more than 2 mins, what would be the point otherwise, i don't like him, or his portrayal, its false, not convincing, just looks like an actor with a bad hair do.

[ChillDoubt]

From the Wiki page about the series:

The show portrays the home's workers and residents as outsiders who struggle in life due to being disadvantaged, excluded from, and unwanted by, mainstream society.

Gervais's character, Derek, goes beyond his job description to help the residents for whom he cares. The character's quirky, goofy, and often hare-brained personality is tempered by a tender, honest and brave spirit.

The majority of the show takes place in the modest nursing home and surrounds the lives of the characters who hang about the facility, be they caretakers, residents, repairmen or a random, homeless man. During the first series, the programme changed settings to show the characters interacting with outsiders at shops, pubs and even a day trip to the seaside.

Gervais has said that the programme was inspired by his relatives who work in care homes: "Half my family are care workers. My sister works with kids with learning difficulties. My sister-in-law works in a care home for people with Alzheimer's. And four or five of my nieces work in old people's homes. I always write about what I know."

[albaqwerty]

I've seen the trailers, but never the programe.
Could someone please tell me what it's about?
All I've managed to get from the trailers is a young man with learning challenges living in a care home for the senior members of the population.

(I've been trying to go all PC on this)

[albaqwerty]

scrub that, Chill has answered before my question! :-D

[emmie]

and? i have visited friends, relatives in care homes, respite care, hospice,
does that make me an expert on their conditions, His portrayal for me doesn't ring true. if you like it fine, i don't.

[ChillDoubt]

I don't think he's claiming to be an expert emmie, through his writing he's probably just recounting some of the matters and daily occurences that he's heard his family talking about.
He doubtless did the same with Extras, recounting his own experiences.

[emmie]

i don't like his writing or him, not the Office, or Extras or this, he gives me the creeps. I did watch one episode, then parts of another, but it doesn't ring true for me, sorry, but there you are.

[Booldawg]

Gervais has always been a bit Marmite.

[vodkancoke]

I'm with emmie. Personally, I dislike Ricky Gervais with a passion.I gave this a go because it seemed to be different from his usual rubbish so I was hopeful it would be good. It isn't in my opinion. Not my cup of tea. It does get a big following though, it's just not for me.

[viv38]

Anyhoooo Chill, I'm looking forward to the second episode....

[ChillDoubt]

Indeed viv!

[Ratty2E]

I have watched them all and think it's very well done, the perfect mixture of comedy and tragedy. I'm not sure which bit of it you think is in bad taste, but then if you haven't watched it then you wouldn't know. Gervais does not label Derek as disabled in anyway but if you think he is and that's what's irking you then did you think Rainman was in bad taste or is it that you don't want to see old people on TV.

[emmie]

i don't think it's in bad taste, it's just him -

[vodkancoke]

IMO, Gervais plays the part very, very well. It's so different from anything else of his I have seen. I don't think any of it is in bad taste, it's just not my kind of programme.

[viv38]

I often think it must be very hard to keep his face set in the 'Derek look'.

[ethandron]

The character he portrays, certainly from the trailers, seems like one of his stand up characters where he's somewhat mocking of someone with learning difficulties, in fact it's been likened to a mockumentary. At least dustin Hoffman and Tom hanks didn't do that, I enjoyed both of their films, rainman and saving private Ryan.
I'm not sure I actually like Ricky gervaise, can't quite make my mind up about him when he's being himself. I loved the office, thought it very funny, but couldn't get into extras.
Maybe some of you are right, I should watch it. But I don't think I will.

[Baldric]

Saw the first 5 maybe 10 minutes of it, you would have to lash me to the chair to get me to watch anymore!

[ChillDoubt]

The term mockumentary in no way implies a mocking of anyone, it is mocking of the documentary style.

As I've said earlier, Gervais portrays Derek as endearing and as viv said the last episode involving his father in the last series was extremely touching.
He isn't mocking anyone, least of all the character he plays.