Derek? Gervais best ever?

No. It's shit.

Kev, not the sort  of answer  I'd expect from you.  Curious..

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Hi Tony

I loved The Office, I think it was genius; and most of Extras was brilliant as well. But Derek is just unwatchable (and not in a good way either). I've tried to give it a chance - as I did with the equally dreadful  Life's Too Short - and just found it unfunny and embarrassing. It's as simple as that. I just think it's awful, in the same way that Miranda or Sue Perkins' new vet "comedy" Heading Out are awful.

It is neither funny enough to be a comedy nor subtle enough to be a drama. I have a pretty juvenile/sick sense of humour but Derek just doesn't do anything for me. I think there may be a decent comedy to be made around this situation but Derek ain't it.

I take it you rate it?

Mike,

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I was about to take your comment seriously until you mentioned miranda! I nearly had a nervous breakdown. OOOOOOOOhgs!

Tony - you don't like Miranda. Seriously?

You'll be telling us you like Mrs Brown's Boys next!

C'mon, Kevin.

I always enjoyed reading your posts.

No, I do not follow miranda.

Your point being?

None. I were joshing with you.

Still don't like Derek tho'.

i have always struggled with Gervais. His humour seems always to be based on unkindness and cruelty without any self awareness. So i usually ignore his programmes whatever the write up. However I sat down with my 27yr old daughter to watch Derek. She thinks the office is wonderful. Even she thought that Derek was appalling. It is not funny. Discussing it implies it has worth. It has none. Sorry.

I have the DVD box set on order, release is 11th. Nov., in time to watch during the void that is 27th - 30th Dec.

Hmmm...Not sure it's his finest hour.

Better though is that SKY are repeating Moone Boy with Chris O'Dowd from next Wednesday. Even though it's on SKY, it is quite good...Seemed to pass a lot of people by (probably 'cos it's on SKY) but it masde me laugh.

I have enjoyed watching 'Derek'. It catches some of the small moments of humour in an ordinary life in a similar way to Mike Leigh. It's not 'laugh out loud' and I don't think it is intended to be so.

Kevin

My father is old and poorly, so the final episode of 'Derek' brought a tear to my eye.

Most TV sit-coms leave me cold, but this 'not really a comedy' was I thought, quite a brave creation.

'The Office' was similarly innovative and I loved it. A lot of people didn't 'get' that either.

John.

I watched the last eisode of "Derek" and found it to be (as per previous eps) unfunny and creepily manipulative.

Far better is "Parks and Recreation", a US sitcom about institutional incompetence being broadcast on BBC4. It's a bit derivative of the American Office but it has real heart and is often very funny.