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Derek (TV series)

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Not to be confused with Derrick (TV series).

Derek
GenreComedy drama
Created byRicky Gervais
Written byRicky Gervais
Directed byRicky Gervais
StarringRicky Gervais
Kerry Godliman
David Earl
Karl Pilkington
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes14 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerRicky Gervais
ProducerCharlie Hanson
CinematographyMartin Hawkins
EditorValerio Bonelli
Running time24 mins[1]
Production companyDerek Productions Ltd.
Original release
NetworkChannel 4
Release12 April 2012 (2012-04-12) –
22 December 2014 (2014-12-22)

Derek is a British television show starring Ricky Gervais who is also its writer and director.[2] The pilot was produced by Derek Productions Ltd. for Channel 4 and aired on 12 April 2012.[3][4] Channel 4 describes the show as "A bittersweet comedy drama about a group of outsiders living on society's margins."[5]

On 9 May 2012, Channel 4 announced that it had commissioned a full series, which began airing on 30 January 2013.[6] On 4 March 2013 (two days before the final episode of the first series was aired), it was announced that Derek had been recommissioned for a second series to be shown again on Channel 4 and later on Netflix.[7]

The first series became available for streaming on Netflix on 12 September 2013.[8] The second series, consisting of six episodes, started airing on 23 April 2014 on Channel 4 and concluded on 28 May 2014.[9] In November 2014, Channel 4 announced that a 60-minute "final" special episode of Derek would air in the United Kingdom on 22 December 2014.[10]

The show has attracted mixed reviews from critics. Gervais has been nominated for both a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his acting role in the show.

Overview

The pilot episode aired on 12 April 2012 on Channel 4. The show's writer, Ricky Gervais, revealed on his blog, just after the pilot had aired, that he was writing six more episodes. Filmed in a mockumentary style, the series is set mostly in a nursing home and centres on Derek, a helper at the home.[11] The title character first made an appearance in the 2001 Edinburgh Fringe show Rubbernecker.[12]

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 my inlaws and four fifths of my nieces know."[13]

Plot

Gervais plays 50-year-old Derek Noakes, a care worker at Broad Hill, a home for the elderly, who has worked there for three years. He likes watching reality television shows and game shows and is interested in celebrities, YouTube and, above all, talking about animals. The viewer is told he is kind, helpful and selfless, with good intentions. He is vulnerable because of his childlike naivety and distractions from society. He is ridiculed and ostracised, as well as being marginalised by mainstream society because of his social awkwardness and lack of inhibitions. Derek says it is more important to be kind than to be clever or good-looking. Many media sources describe him as autistic.[14] Gervais has remained carefully ambiguous as to whether Derek is intellectually challenged, autistic, or otherwise.[15]

Supporting characters

Kerry Godliman plays his colleague and friend, Hannah. The care home's manager, she has worked there for fifteen years. Karl Pilkington plays Dougie, the home's caretaker, in Series 1. Derek and Dougie live in Dougie's council flat. David Earl plays Kev, a friend of Derek who does not work in the home but spends nearly all of his time there. Kev's passion in life is collecting autographs from celebrities.

Episodes

Pilot (2012)

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)[16]
1"Pilot"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais12 April 2012 (2012-04-12)2.59
A bitter-sweet[citation needed] comedy drama. Ricky Gervais is Derek Noakes, a tender[citation needed], innocent[citation needed] autograph hunter who works in a retirement home with Dougie (Karl Pilkington) and Hannah (Kerry Godliman).

Series 1 (2013)

No. No. in
series 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)[16]
21"Episode 1"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais30 January 2013 (2013-01-30)2.32
A visit from the council sees Broad Hill retirement home facing closure. Hannah, the home's manager, rallies together her troops, best mates Derek, Dougie and Kev.
32"Episode 2"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais6 February 2013 (2013-02-06)1.98
It's Derek's 50th birthday; what better way to celebrate than with a party at Broad Hill retirement home?
43"Episode 3"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais13 February 2013 (2013-02-13)1.79
Derek is desperate to save the life of a baby bird that has fallen from a tree. Some of the residents attend a jumble sale and later it's date night for Tom and Hannah, but she's forgotten.
54"Episode 4"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais20 February 2013 (2013-02-20)1.43
Derek decides to sell some of his autographs in order to raise money for the retirement home. But it doesn't go too well when he can't remember who the autographs belong to.
65"Episode 5"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais27 February 2013 (2013-02-27)1.66
Derek forms an entertainment committee to discuss plans for a cabaret show at Broad Hill. Kev wants to produce a play of his Duran Duran film script, casting staff and residents as the band.
76"Episode 6"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais6 March 2013 (2013-03-06)1.52
In the final episode of the first series, a much-loved resident is in decline, which sets in motion a sequence of events culminating in the appearance of an unexpected specter. Meanwhile, Derek finds a door where there should be no doors ...

Series 2 (2014)

No. No. in
series 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)[16]
81"Episode 1"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais23 April 2014 (2014-04-23)2.29
All the old Broad Hill faces are back, alongside some new ones. Derek's happy that his dad's moving in, while Tom and Hannah are taking things to another level. Dougie has had enough and leaves the home. (This is Karl Pilkington's last episode [17])
92"Episode 2"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais30 April 2014 (2014-04-30)1.81
There are job opportunities at Broad Hill, so Kev decides to clean up his act. Vicky's taste in men worries Hannah, while a visit from city boy Pete stirs things up for Derek.
103"Episode 3"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais7 May 2014 (2014-05-07)1.69
Hannah and Tom have happy news. Derek's dad, Anthony, goes on a date with Tom's nan. But matters of the heart are taking a downward turn for Kev, who calls on his brother, Cliff, for help.
114"Episode 4"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais14 May 2014 (2014-05-14)1.24
Derek and the Broad Hill gang go on a trip to London Zoo. Derek purchases a rubber penguin as a gift for Simon.
125"Episode 5"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais21 May 2014 (2014-05-21)1.48
The staff from Medway Animal Rescue Centre comes to visit, and for Derek that means playing with Igor. Meanwhile, Kev has suddenly taken up an interest in robotics.
136"Episode 6"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais28 May 2014 (2014-05-28)1.19
Derek goes on a date with a girl from a dating website. They bond over their mutual love of burping. He's excited but worried about his dad's health. Derek ruins things for everyone, and Kev fails to stand up.

Special (2014)

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)
14"Derek The Special[18]"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais3 April 2015 (2015-04-03)0.85[19]
In a 60-minute special, Broad Hill prepares for the Hannah and Tom's wedding. Kev's behaviour proves too much for Hannah.

Cast

Reception

Derek has been met with mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the first season holds a rating of 65.[20] On Metacritic, the first season of the show earned a rating of 64 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[21]

The show attracted controversy due to a perception by some that it mocks mentally disabled people.[22] Tanya Gold, writing for The Guardian, dismissed Gervais's claims that in Derek he was satirising prejudice against the disabled, instead saying it "feels more like lazy cruelty than satire".[14] Jack Seale criticised the show for relying too heavily on elements and characterisations from previous programmes made by Gervais.[1] The Guardian's Sam Wollaston found it to be "not very good" and felt that "the whole mockumentary thing feels tired now".[23][24]

Tom Sutcliffe of the Independent questioned the wisdom of commissioning an entire series of the show, writing: "To my mind, the pilot of Ricky Gervais's comedy about an assistant in a retirement home had already fully explored its awkward – and testing – balance of comedy and emotion." About the titular character, he wrote "It’s Derek’s redeeming qualities that are the hardest to take – a sense of self-congratulation at the refinement of its own sentiments that has a little bit of the bully in it too."[25]

Gervais performance as "Derek" has attracted negative reviews. The Guardian's Sam Wollaston wrote that "Ricky Gervais is out of his depth playing a character that isn't based on his own worst foibles."[26] Terry Ramsey of The Telegraph wrote that "There is Gervais’s cringe-making performance in the title role. I’m sorry, but Derek is simply Ricky Gervais in a patterned jumper with a cricked neck. Gervais is not a character actor and what Derek needs to bring him alive is to be more believable. What he really needs is someone else playing him."[27] Christopher Stevens of The Daily Mail wrote, "He [Gervais] slips in and out of character: sometimes he’s the gentle, stuttering carer, and at others he’s just Ricky Gervais in an acrylic cardigan, with a glint in his eye and a sarcastic quip on his lips."[28]

The second series of Derek attracted negative reviews. For example: "We didn't need a second series of Ricky Gervais's comedy drama Derek." wrote Terry Ramsey of The Telegraph.[29] In a review in The Guardian, Sam Wollasen wrote "That's the other big problem with Derek. That it's not very smart. Or very funny. Or very good." [30] Msn.com stated "Ricky Gervais' Derek remains a mawkish mess. Where to begin? The mockumentary format is moribund. The ethics are muddy. The tone is all over the place in everything but its consistent condescension."[31] Matt D of Unrealitytv.co.uk agreed with the consensus claiming "The primary reasons for this are the imbalance in tone and Gervais’ central performance both of which stop Derek from being a truly enjoyable programme."[32] AV Club suggested that "Derek has all the creative ambition of [an online video of little piggies and bunnies doing cute things]."[33] Indie Wire stated that "Season two is all over the map."[34] Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle has said: "If I watch something like Derek, I don't think 'this is...terrible', I think 'Stephen Merchant is amazingly funny'.[35][36] Michael Hogan of The Telegraph described Derek as a "saccharine series" and "dreadful".[37] Serena Davies, from the same publication, went as far as to claim that "the show seems to have been devised by someone of Derek’s limited intelligence... [I will not be] wasting any more of my time watching this rather flimsy, curiously pointless programme" [37] The Daily Mail described Derek as "an unfunny sitcom" and "the most rancid dollop of insincere gloop ever served up on telly".[38]

The special was given two stars out of five by The Telegraph. The reviewer, Ed Power, criticised the episode for the "weak performance" from Gervais and the "sub-Forrest Gump sympathy milking". He described it as "glib" and "manipulative".[39] The Guardian reviewer Julia Raeside concurred, adding "I can find no comedy in it and it lacks the emotional truth required for a drama".[40]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominee(s) Result
2014 Primetime Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Ricky Gervais Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Ricky Gervais Nominated

DVD releases

The complete first series of Derek was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 11 November 2013.[41] The complete second series of Derek was released on DVD on 17 November 2014.[42] Additionally, a 2 disc boxset containing both the first and second series on DVD was also released on 17 November 2014.[43]

References

  1. ^ a b Seale, Jack (28 March 2012). "Ricky Gervais in Derek - review". Radio Times. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Channel 4 launches Ricky Gervais's Derek | News | Comedy Central UK and Ireland". Comedycentral.co.uk. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  3. ^ "Derek - C4 Comedy Drama - British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  4. ^ company check ltd. "Free company financial check on DEREK PRODUCTIONS LIMITED. Registered number 07453009. Free company accounts. Companies House information". Company Check. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  5. ^ "About the programme", Channel Four website.
  6. ^ "commissions series of Derek by Ricky Gervais - Channel 4 - Info - Press". Channel 4. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  7. ^ Alice Vincent (4 March 2013). "Ricky Gervais comedy Derek re-commissioned for second series by Channel Four". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  8. ^ Strecker, Erin (22 May 2013). "Ricky Gervais series 'Derek' gets Netflix premiere date". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  9. ^ Hodgson, Claire (27 March 2014). "Ricky Gervais' heartwarming comedy drama Derek returns to Channel 4 for its second series this April". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  10. ^ DigitalSpy website.
  11. ^ Holly Thomas (5 April 2012). "'Who'd win between a suicide bomber and a shark?'". London: Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  12. ^ http://www.scotsman.com/news/rubbernecker-1-463782
  13. ^ "Ricky Gervais interview for Derek". Channel 4.
  14. ^ a b Tanya Gold (9 February 2012). "No justification for this lazy comedy". London: Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  15. ^ Radio Times
  16. ^ a b c "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Barb.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2013. (No permanent link available. Search for relevant dates.)
  17. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a563364/ricky-gervais-on-karl-pilkington-derek-exit-he-was-too-nervous-to-act.html#~pawrlWfKUxkOIk
  18. ^ http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/derek/listings/
  19. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/23/tv-ratings-wrong-mans-james-corden-john-bishop
  20. ^ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/derek/s01/
  21. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/tv/derek
  22. ^ BBC (9 April 2012). "Ricky Gervais defends comedy show Derek". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  23. ^ Sam Wollaston (12 April 2012). "TV review: Derek; Long Lost Family | Television & radio". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  24. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/31/tv-review-ricky-gervais-derek-karl-pilkington_n_2588866.html
  25. ^ Sutcliffe, Tom (31 January 2013). "TV review: Ricky Gervais' self-congratulating new show Derek, Channel 4". The Independent. London.
  26. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/apr/24/derek-game-face-ricky-gervais-tv-review?commentpage=1
  27. ^ Ramsey, Terry (23 April 2014). "Derek, series 2, episode 1, review: 'more mawkish than ever'". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  28. ^ Stevens, Christopher (24 April 2014). "Comedy great? Gervais is just a sniggering playground bully: CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews last night's TV". Daily Mail. London.
  29. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10783507/Derek-series-2-episode-1-review-more-mawkish-than-ever.html
  30. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/apr/24/derek-game-face-ricky-gervais-tv-review
  31. ^ http://tv.uk.msn.com/what-to-watch/ricky-gervais-derek-remains-a-mawkish-mess
  32. ^ http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/derek-series-two-review-ricky-gervais-confusing-comedy-drama-returns-lacklustre-opening-episode/
  33. ^ http://www.avclub.com/review/derek-proves-again-ricky-gervais-nice-side-not-his-205188
  34. ^ http://www.indiewire.com/article/television/review-ricky-gervais-netflix-dramedy-returns-for-season-2-with-less-derek-and-more-sex-jokes
  35. ^ "http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2014/08/23/20798/they_dont_want_anything_interesting_or_edgy
  36. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MRz9RPlsDQt=45m51s
  37. ^ a b http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/golden-globes/11287201/Golden-Globes-2015-TV-Ricky-Gervais.html
  38. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2611762/Comedy-great-Gervais-just-sniggering-playground-bully-CHRISTOPHER-STEVENS-reviews-nights-TV.html
  39. ^ The Telegraph
  40. ^ The Guardian.
  41. ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Derek-Series-DVD-Ricky-Gervais/dp/B00BEHH08S
  42. ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Derek-2-DVD-Ricky-Gervais/dp/B00JWNSX8M/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1403707214&sr=1-1&keywords=derek+series+2
  43. ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Derek-1-2-DVD-Ricky-Gervais/dp/B00N3S2YVO/ref=sr_1_4?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1410619030&sr=1-4&keywords=derek+series+1+and+2
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