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Derek (TV series)

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Derek
Genre
Created byRicky Gervais
Written byRicky Gervais
Directed byRicky Gervais
Starring
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 comedy-drama television series 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.

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] and appears briefly in his Science tour of 2010. In this show, Gervais bemoans the harassment he suffers at the hands of autograph-hunters, adopting a 'Derek-like' persona before denouncing 'them' as genetically inferior.[13]

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."[14]

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 inhibition. Derek says it is more important to be kind than to be clever or good-looking. Many media sources describe him as autistic, though Gervais has firmly denied this.[15] Gervais has, in fact, remained carefully ambiguous as to whether Derek is intellectually challenged, autistic, or otherwise.[16]

Supporting characters

Kerry Godliman plays Hannah, the care home's manager and Derek's friend. Karl Pilkington plays Dougie, the home's caretaker; Derek and Dougie live in Dougie's council flat. David Earl plays Kev, a slobbish and sex-crazed friend of Derek who does not work but spends much of his time there.

Episodes

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
Pilot 1 12 April 2012 (2012-04-12)
1 6 30 January 2013 (2013-01-30) 6 March 2013 (2013-03-06)
2 6 23 April 2014 (2014-04-23) 28 May 2014 (2014-05-28)
Special 1 22 December 2014 (2014-12-22)

Pilot (2012)

No.
overall
Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais12 April 2012 (2012-04-12)2.59[17]

Ricky Gervais is Derek Noakes, a middle-aged man who is a care assistant in a retirement home. His friends, caretaker Dougie (Karl Pilkington) and manager Hannah (Kerry Godliman), also work there. Hannah has been working there for 15 years. Unemployed Kev spends a lot of time in the home. Derek moved in with Dougie when Derek's mother died. A handsome young man, Tom, visits his grandmother Annie in the home frequently.

A film crew arrives, which Derek suspects is from Secret Millionaire. He shows his favourite YouTube video, Hamster on a Piano. Hannah is attracted to Tom. She assumes that all good men are married or gay. She wants to find out his sexual orientation without him knowing that she wants to know. She reasons that she can work out his orientation if she knows what his favourite films and television shows are. Derek asks Tom on her behalf, but he gives away the reason that he is asking. Tom pretends he is gay by saying that he is a fan of Glee, The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli and Audrey Hepburn. Tom says to Hannah that he was joking and that he is single and not gay. An awkward conversation ensues between Hannah and Tom, in which she pretends that it was Derek who wanted to know his orientation. Hannah and Derek go to a pub, where three female chavs insult Derek. Hannah headbutts one of them, before she and Derek leave. Joan, Derek's favourite resident at the home, dies. Tom takes Hannah to the pub; Derek tags along without being invited.

Series 1 (2013)

No.
overall
Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)[17]
2"Episode 1"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais30 January 2013 (2013-01-30)2.32
A visit from a council official, Roger, sees Broad Hill retirement home facing a major cut in funding or closure. Hannah, the home's manager, is determined to keep it open. He says that the home is spending too much on staff and tries to justify making some staff redundant. The staff tell Kev to leave because his presence is a liability with Roger there. He is not satisfied with Jack of all trades Dougie being employed there because he does not do enough work to justify being employed there full-time and is not qualified. She rallies best mates Derek, Dougie and Kev. They start a petition to keep the home open and go to Hampstead High Street to gain signatures. Staff from the local animal shelter bring in several animals for a few hours as pet therapy for the residents. Roger asks Hannah if Derek is autistic. She avoids answering and Derek says he does not know and it does not matter if he is or not. Dougie tells Roger to leave, which he does. The staff and residents are very pleased with Dougie.
3"Episode 2"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais6 February 2013 (2013-02-06)1.98

It is Derek's 50th birthday. Dougie says that he is a decade younger. Derek celebrates with a party at Broad Hill, specifying the music and food that he wants. Dougie takes Kev and some of the residents in a minibus to the local library. The party takes place that night, during which Hannah brings Derek a birthday cake with 50 candles on it. Derek feels nauseated after drinking Special Brew given to him by Kev.

Derek and Hannah show around Vicky, a girl who is doing community service there, having been convicted of stealing shoes from the shop she worked in. Vicky initially dislikes the home, but with Hannah's encouragement, begins to like it. Vicky decides to come back next week as a volunteer.
4"Episode 3"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais13 February 2013 (2013-02-13)1.79

Kev brings a morbidly obese, ugly, middle-aged woman into the home. He boasts about how much sex he has had with her recently.

In the home's garden, Derek licks a toad after Kev tells him to. Derek wants to save the life of a baby bird that has fallen from a tree. He phones 999 for an ambulance. One of the paramedics tells him that it is dead.

Some of the residents attend a jumble sale. Dougie is annoyed with Derek for buying an ugly ornament which they took to the jumble sale to get rid of.

It is date night for Tom and Hannah. Marge, a dying resident, suggests to Tom that he marry Hannah. She gives her engagement ring to him to give to Hannah. After Marge's death, her obnoxious daughter Shelley (who was to inherit the ring) arrives and takes the ring from Tom. Dougie angrily ejects her.
5"Episode 4"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais20 February 2013 (2013-02-20)1.43

Derek and Kev try to sell some of their autographs in order to raise money for the home. They are unable to, because Derek cannot remember who the autographs were signed by and Kev's are all on pictures which prominently include him.

Hannah's rich, narcissistic, friendless former classmate Rebecca brings her mother Jill into the home to become a new resident. Rebecca boasts at length about her success before leaving.

Dougie drives Derek, Kev and several of the residents to Broadstairs for a day trip. During the journey, Derek asks Dougie several stupid questions. On the beach, Kev writes crude sexual words on the shells of live crabs using a silver marker pen.[18]
6"Episode 5"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais27 February 2013 (2013-02-27)1.66
Derek forms an entertainment committee to plan a cabaret show at Broad Hill. Kev tries to produce Boys on Film, a play of his Duran Duran film script - casting himself, staff and residents as the band. Kev and Derek tell jokes. Deon, who is on a community service order having been convicted of stealing shoes from a shop, raps about working at the home.
7"Episode 6"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais6 March 2013 (2013-03-06)1.52

Derek watches a video of a baby monkey riding on a pig.

Hannah tells Derek that his father, Anthony, phoned the home and wants to see him. Derek has not seen him since he walked out when he was a child and he refuses to see Anthony.

Much-loved resident Lizzie dies and her funeral is attended by many of the residents and staff. Anthony turns up and approaches Derek. Derek initially rejects Anthony, but minutes later changes his mind and they go to the home together, where he introduces Anthony to the residents and staff.

Series 2 (2014)

No.
overall
Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)[17]
8"Episode 1"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais23 April 2014 (2014-04-23)2.29

Most of the old Broad Hill faces are back, alongside a few new ones. Vicky is now a permanent member of staff, as the home's unofficial beautician. New member of staff Geoff claims that there are camps in which humanzees are kept.

Derek is happy that Antony is moving in. He tells Derek about his travels to many countries.

Tom and Hannah are trying to conceive, which Derek tells the other staff and residents about.

After being called to remove a large spider from the toilet, being annoyed by Geoff and being electrocuted by an electric heater that he had wired wrongly, Dougie quits.

Last appearance of Dougie[19]
9"Episode 2"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais30 April 2014 (2014-04-30)1.81

Derek talks about Hannah and Tom's sex life in front of everyone at the home and keeps a written record of it. Kev asks Hannah if she will have casual sex with him.

Interviews are being conducted at Broad Hill by Hannah and a colleague for the caretaker position which was vacated by Dougie, who is moving to Manchester. Kev decides to clean up his act and goes to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. He is one of the interviewees, but is not selected because he has not worked since 1990 and is very unappealing and dysfunctional. He resumes drinking alcohol, days after he stopped.

Pete, a successful financier who is the grandson of resident Jack, brings his caravan to Broad Hill's car park and gives it to Derek and Kev to live in.
10"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.
11"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. Hannah suffers a painful loss.
12"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 Ivor. Tom is torn between his love of the Merchant Navy and his commitment to Hannah, Derek, Kev and the elderly. Meanwhile, Kev has suddenly taken up an interest in robotics.
13"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.
overall
Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)
14"Derek: The Special"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais22 December 2014 (2014-12-22)0.85[20]
In a 60-minute series finale, filmed at West London Film Studios, Broad Hill prepares for the Hannah and Tom's wedding. A vicar visits the home, but his close-mindedness proves no match for the simple wisdom of Derek. Kev's behaviour proves too much for Hannah. The residents of Broad Hill finally come together in celebration of Hannah and Tom's union as Derek sings an inane song about pudding.

Cast

Reception

Derek has been met with mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the first season holds a rating of 65.[22] On Metacritic, the first season of the show earned a rating of 64 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[23]

The show attracted controversy due to a perception by some that it mocks mentally disabled people.[24] 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".[15] 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".[25][26]

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."[27]

Gervais' performance as Derek has attracted mixed reviews. Diane Werts of Newsday reacted positively, saying that "Gervais has nailed it".[28] Curt Wagner of Red Eye wrote that Gervais "surprises with some tender, quiet acting and obvious love of the character.[29] Rob Owen of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that "although there could be an ick factor to Mr. Gervais playing a character with developmental issues, that turns out not to be the case. Mr. Gervais creates a character, not a caricature."[30] On the other hand, 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."[31] 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."[32] 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."[33]

The second series of Derek attracted more positive reviews. The second series currently holds a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes.[34] Hank Stuever of The Washington Post reacted positively, saying that "Derek is an honest and often charming endeavor."[35] Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly also praised the show, but wrote that the absence of Karl Pilkington hurt the series, writing: "The second season mostly upholds the first's tricky precedent, but the absence of regular Gervais associate Karl Pilkington means the yuks are a bit less hearty." Terry Ramsey of The Telegraph wrote,"We didn't need a second series of Ricky Gervais's comedy drama Derek."[36] In a review in The Guardian, Sam Wollaston wrote "That's the other big problem with Derek. That it's not very smart. Or very funny. Or very good."[37] 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."[38] 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."[39] AV Club suggested that "Derek has all the creative ambition of [an online video of little piggies and bunnies doing cute things]."[40] Indie Wire stated that "Season two is all over the map."[41] Michael Hogan of The Telegraph described Derek as a "saccharine series" and "dreadful".[42] 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."[42] The Daily Mail described Derek as "an unfunny sitcom" and "the most rancid dollop of insincere gloop ever served up on telly".[43]

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".[44] The Guardian reviewer Julia Raeside concurred, adding "I can find no comedy in it and it lacks the emotional truth required for a drama."[45]

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
2015 Primetime Emmy Awards Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Ricky Gervais Nominated

DVD releases

The complete first series of Derek was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 11 November 2013.[46] The complete second series of Derek was released on DVD on 17 November 2014.[47] Additionally, a 2 disc boxset containing both the first and second series on DVD was also released on 17 November 2014.[48] Derek: The Special was released on DVD on 26 October 2015. A complete collection boxset was also released featuring both series and the special.

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. ^ "Free company financial check on DEREK PRODUCTIONS LIMITED. Registered number 07453009. Free company accounts. Companies House information". Company Check. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Derek - All 4". Channel4.com. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  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. ^ Eames, Tom. "Ricky Gervais's Derek to air final episode in December". Digitalspy.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  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. ^ "Rubbernecker". The Scotsman. 24 August 2001. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Ricky Gervais | Science | Autograph Hunters". YouTube. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Ricky Gervais interview for Derek". Channel 4.
  15. ^ a b Tanya Gold (9 February 2012). "No justification for this lazy comedy". London: Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  16. ^ Dowell, Ben (4 December 2014). "Ricky Gervais explains why he loves Derek Noakes more than any other character he has created". Radiotimes.com. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  17. ^ a b c "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Barb.co.uk. Retrieved 16 February 2013. (No permanent link available. Search for relevant dates.)
  18. ^ Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office Derek Article".
  19. ^ Jeffery, Morgan. "Ricky Gervais on Karl Pilkington Derek exit: He was too nervous to act". Digitalspy.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  20. ^ Plunkett, John (23 December 2014). "The Wrong Mans is back with 2m viewers while Derek bids farewell". The Guardian.
  21. ^ "Margaret Towner, veteran actress who appeared in Star Wars franchise – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  22. ^ "DEREK: SEASON 1 (2013)". Rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  23. ^ "Derek - Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  24. ^ BBC (9 April 2012). "Ricky Gervais defends comedy show Derek". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  25. ^ Sam Wollaston (12 April 2012). "TV review: Derek; Long Lost Family | Television & radio". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  26. ^ "TV REVIEW: 'Ricky Gervais' In 'Derek' - Karl Pilkington In A Wig Made For A Compassionate Tale, Lightly Told". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  27. ^ Sutcliffe, Tom (31 January 2013). "TV review: Ricky Gervais' self-congratulating new show Derek, Channel 4". The Independent. London.
  28. ^ Werts, Diane. "'Derek' review: Ricky Gervais nails it". Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  29. ^ Wagner, Curt. "'Derek' review: Ricky Gervais finds his inner nice guy". Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  30. ^ Owen, Rob. "TV Review: Ricky Gervais mixes humor, pathos in new series 'Derek'". Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  31. ^ Wollaston, Sam (24 April 2014). "Derek; Game Face – TV review". The Guardian.
  32. ^ Ramsey, Terry (23 April 2014). "Derek, series 2, episode 1, review: 'more mawkish than ever'". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  33. ^ Stevens, Christopher (24 April 2014). "Comedy great? Gervais is just a sniggering playground bully: CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews last night's TV". Daily Mail. London.
  34. ^ "Derek Season 2 Reviews". Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  35. ^ Stuever, Hank. "Netflix's 'Derek' returns, handled with tender, loving care". Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  36. ^ Ramsey, Terry. "Derek, series 2, episode 1, review: 'more mawkish than ever'". Telegraph. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  37. ^ Wollaston, Sam (24 April 2014). "Derek; Game Face – TV review". The Guardian.
  38. ^ "TV | What to watch on TV tonight, latest news and clips | MSN UK". Tv.uk.msn.com. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  39. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  40. ^ Dyess, Phil. "Derek · Season 2 · TV Review Derek proves, again, that Ricky Gervais' nice side is not his best side · TV Review · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  41. ^ Ben Travers (12 May 2016). "Review: Ricky Gervais' Netflix Dramedy Returns with Less 'Derek' and More Sex Jokes". IndieWire. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  42. ^ a b Hogan, Michael. "Does Ricky Gervais deserve a Golden Globe for Derek?". Telegraph. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  43. ^ "Comedy great? Gervais is just a sniggering playground bully". dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  44. ^ Power, Ed (22 December 2014). "Derek, review, final episode: 'glib and manipulative'". Telegraph. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  45. ^ Raeside, Julia (23 December 2014). "The Wrong Mans review – audacious and ambitious, it got everything right". The Guardian.
  46. ^ "Derek - Series 1". Amazon. 11 November 2013.
  47. ^ "Derek - Series 2". Amazon. 17 November 2014.
  48. ^ "Derek - Series 1-2". Amazon. 17 November 2014.