The First Ever Comedy Review! Ricky Gervais!

Ricky Gervais; Robin Ince
@ Tribeca Performing Arts Center
New York, NY - May 17, 2007

Ricky Gervais made his American stand-up debut as part of the High Line Festival (no Bowie cameos tonight), the first of two nights of prep for his big spectacular at the Theater at MSG on Saturday. Gervais hit the ground running with bits on AIDS and the obese. Then, for a softer touch, he switched to Anne Frank. You can't beat that. Gervais' stand-up is similar though not exact to his approach to television and radio. The generic Gervais persona, an observational comedian who achieves Larry David-like awkwardness sans Jewish neuroses, is enhanced by a more politically incorrect angle. Think early, pre-angry George Carlin, and you get the idea. Unlike the Gervais characters, the stand-up Ricky doesn't get awkward making fun of the Nazis for not being able to find Anne Frank or contemplating what the diagnosis moment was like for the first AIDS patient.
The particular bit about Humpty Dumpty is very Seinfeld-esque but a lot more blue as Ricky is never one to shy away from colorful language. This is also arguably the best bit that he does.
The childhood friend, David Beasley, seems awfully similar to Karl Pilkington. Afterall, wouldn't Karl ask if cannibals would try to get their victim sexually aroused as to ensure more...flesh?
Opener Robin Ince was arguably as funny as Ricky but in a different observational vein. Ince is the English equivalent of a Woody Allen-type. Very self-concious, very neurotic but in a genuinely English way. He's essentially a literate chap who finds himself in precarious situations with, say, street hoodlums. He's also a bit spastic, which helps.

A taste of Ricky: