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  • MONDAY DECEMBER 27 2004 9:00 AM

"The Office" Scribe Joins "The Simpsons"

Submitted by Christopher

Edited by Christopher

Ricky Gervais, producer, director, and writer of the British television show The Office, has become the first British writer to join The Simpsons. Matt Groening asked Gervais to join the writing staff because of his work on The Office—Groening is a huge fan.

"It was embarrassing, because he was saying how much he loved The Office and I was saying how much I loved The Simpsons. It turns you into a nerd because I was quoting bits of the show back at him," said Gervais.

The pair met for lunch before Wednesday's British Comedy Awards in London, where Groening was given an outstanding contribution award. Gervais and co-writer Stephen Merchant also won a prize for their work on The Office.

Having agreed to write the script with executive producer Al Jean, Gervais said he had already completed a first draft. "I bang it down, give it to them, they make it funny and I claim the credit," he said. "I feel like I know Homer. It's a joy."

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Hunkpapa

Hunkpapa

United Kingdom
June 2004

DEC 27, 2004 02:34 PM

Am I alone in thinking this is terrible news? Ah well..

Doghouse_Reilly

doghouse_reilly

I'm lost
February 2004

DEC 27, 2004 02:47 PM

I am convinced Ricky Gervais can do no wrong.

If anything could make the Simpsons funny again, it would be his involvement.

AceTracer

acetracer

Hollywood, FL
January 2004

DEC 27, 2004 02:54 PM

The show might actually be good again now.

mat8drb

mat8drb

United Kingdom
October 2004

DEC 27, 2004 03:10 PM

That'll be cool; and a better use of his time than starring in Alias. (Not that I;m jealous of sharing screen time with Jennifer Garner, oh, no, not at all.....)

Chrono01

Chrono01

Syracuse, NY
February 2003

DEC 27, 2004 03:47 PM

Hmm. I wonder if Gervais can make the Simpsons GOOD again. The last 5 years have seemed like a boring skipping record to me.

timmy55

timmy55

United Kingdom
October 2002

DEC 27, 2004 03:48 PM

in_a_blue_state said:
never bothered to watc the american office because i was sure it would suck in comparison. the original was pretty much perfect as is.

however, the british "sequel" they recently broadcast to tie up the plotlines of the original series also completely sucked and should be avoided by office fans at all costs.


Yeah - I thought it sort of went against everything The Office was about. He was an idiot, a loser and he had a uniquely weird view of the world and his part in it. Then they gave it this really cheesy, predictable sitcom ending. The only thing I can think of in its defence is that they wanted to draw a complete line under it so that they would never be tempted to go back to the characters.

Anyone that's a fan of The Office should be looking forward to the new Chris Morris sitcom Nathan Barley - set around the London media scene.

SomethingStupid

SomethingStupid

North Hollywood, CA
March 2004

DEC 27, 2004 04:07 PM

Wren said:
You know, it was getting to the point where I was actually sort of hoping The Simpsons was going to be cancelled. It's embarassing, I can't stand to watch the new episodes.

I think it'll take more than one great writer to rejuvinate the show. How do they know he'll play off of the other writers well? Could be a disaster for all we know.


This pretty much sums up my every thought on this. The new episodes are just too stupid. I used to feel like I was watching one of the smartest (if sophomoric) shows on television. Now it's turned into one of the dumbest, and given the stupidity of most television, that's really saying something.

sideshowskut

sideshowskut

Hopkins, MN
October 2004

DEC 27, 2004 05:02 PM

I think this can only end up good. After 16 years, the show is just running on empty (especially the last few years) & this may really help. I'm hoping it does cuz I think The Office is fantastic. It's so good that there are parts I can't watch cuz they're just so squirminly/uncomfortably fantastic. This could be the kick in the ass that The Simpsons has needed for a while.

thelastbeliever

thelastbeliever

United Kingdom
January 2004

DEC 27, 2004 05:15 PM

hunkpapa said:
Am I alone in thinking this is terrible news? Ah well..



Nope. I hated the office. I tried to like it, god knows i tried. There are only so many times you can watch Ricky Gervais looking suspicious and uncomfortable in front of the camera. Got boring very quickly.

poet22

poet22

USA
February 2004

DEC 27, 2004 10:10 PM

i'm pretty sure that in 2002-2003 Groening was literally trying to kill the show. it seemed they were all taking the incredibly offensive Family Guy approach in an effort for either ratings or actually trying to get cancled. and now again, the stupidity and poor form of the simpsons would seem it is getting run into the ground again. there have been rumors of groening wanting it to end at times. i don't understand though. is the head writer trying to give his years their own personality? things are dumb and even offensive without redeming comical value. they'd be better off creating a fan collective together to write new episodes.

i'd be interested to see if this one man can make a difference, cuz this will make or break the show.

Jeff_Fries

Jeff_Fries

Humptulips, WA
September 2003

DEC 27, 2004 10:55 PM

timmy55 said:
Anyone that's a fan of The Office should be looking forward to the new Chris Morris sitcom Nathan Barley - set around the London media scene.


I've laughed myself to tears over TvGoHome so many times that this incredibly shocking news actually made me a little misty. Wow. I may have to move to England.

Hapworth

Hapworth

Morgan Hill, CA
December 2004

DEC 27, 2004 11:40 PM

Gervais is wonderful at writing for himself, but I'm starting to wonder if he'll be good at writing for the Simpsons. For me, it's the performance of his material that I enjoy so much.

They should just let the Simpsons die and let him put his time into other projects. "Like Old Yeller, I loved you Simpsons ... but now I have to raise this rifle and put you out of your misery."

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