Derek (TV series)

Not to be confused with Derrick (TV series).
Derek
Genre Comedy-drama
Created by Ricky Gervais
Written by Ricky Gervais
Directed by Ricky Gervais
Starring Ricky Gervais
Kerry Godliman
David Earl
Karl Pilkington
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 14 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Ricky Gervais
Producer(s) Charlie Hanson
Editor(s) Valerio Bonelli
Cinematography Martin Hawkins
Running time 24 mins[1]
Production company(s) Derek Productions Ltd.
Release
Original network Channel 4
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
Audio format Stereo
Original release 12 April 2012 (2012-04-12) – 22 December 2014 (2014-12-22)
External links
Website

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 my inlaws and four fifths of my nieces 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 inhibitions. 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 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

Season Episodes Originally aired
First aired Last aired
Pilot 1 12 April 2012
1 6 30 January 2013 6 March 2013
2 6 23 April 2014 28 May 2014
Special 1 22 December 2014

Pilot (2012)

No. in
series		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais12 April 2012 (2012-04-12)2.59[17]
A bitter-sweet comedy drama. Ricky Gervais is Derek Noakes, who works in a retirement home with Dougie (Karl Pilkington) and Hannah (Kerry Godliman).

Series 1 (2013)

No. in
series		 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 the council sees Broad Hill retirement home facing closure. Hannah, the home's manager, rallies together her troops, best mates Derek, Dougie and Kev.
3"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?
4"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.
5"Episode 4"Ricky GervaisRicky Gervais20 February 2013 (2013-02-20)1.43
Derek and the gang decide take a trip to Broadstairs.[18] Derek tries to sell some of his autographs at 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.
6"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.
7"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. in
series		 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
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.[19])
9"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.
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. Derek purchases a rubber penguin as a gift for Simon.
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. in
series		 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, 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.[21] On Metacritic, the first season of the show earned a rating of 64 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[22]

The show attracted controversy due to a perception by some that it mocks mentally disabled people.[23] 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".[24][25]

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."[26]

Gervais' performance as "Derek" has attracted mixed reviews. Diane Werts of Newsday reacted positively, saying that "Gervais has nailed it".[27] Curt Wagner of Red Eye wrote that Gervais "surprises with some tender, quiet acting and obvious love of the character. [28] 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."[29] 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."[30] 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."[31] 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."[32]

The second series of Derek attracted positive reviews. The second series currently holds a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes.[33] Hank Stuever of The Washington Post reacted positively, saying that "Derek is an honest and often charming endeavor."[34] 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."[35] 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."[36] 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."[37] 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."[38] AV Club suggested that "Derek has all the creative ambition of [an online video of little piggies and bunnies doing cute things]."[39] Indie Wire stated that "Season two is all over the map."[40] Michael Hogan of The Telegraph described Derek as a "saccharine series" and "dreadful".[41] 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"[41] The Daily Mail described Derek as "an unfunny sitcom" and "the most rancid dollop of insincere gloop ever served up on telly".[42]

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

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.[45] The complete second series of Derek was released on DVD on 17 November 2014.[46] Additionally, a 2 disc boxset containing both the first and second series on DVD was also released on 17 November 2014.[47] 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. 1 2 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. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DgyoIMAMPI
  14. ↑ "Ricky Gervais interview for Derek". Channel 4.
  15. 1 2 Tanya Gold (9 February 2012). "No justification for this lazy comedy". London: Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  16. ↑ Radio Times
  17. 1 2 3 "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. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a563364/ricky-gervais-on-karl-pilkington-derek-exit-he-was-too-nervous-to-act.html#~pawrlWfKUxkOIk
  20. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/dec/23/tv-ratings-wrong-mans-james-corden-john-bishop
  21. ↑ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/derek/s01/
  22. ↑ http://www.metacritic.com/tv/derek
  23. ↑ BBC (9 April 2012). "Ricky Gervais defends comedy show Derek". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  24. ↑ Sam Wollaston (12 April 2012). "TV review: Derek; Long Lost Family | Television & radio". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  25. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/31/tv-review-ricky-gervais-derek-karl-pilkington_n_2588866.html
  26. ↑ Sutcliffe, Tom (31 January 2013). "TV review: Ricky Gervais' self-congratulating new show Derek, Channel 4". The Independent (London).
  27. ↑ Werts, Diane. "'Derek' review: Ricky Gervais nails it". Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  28. ↑ Wagner, Curt. "'Derek' review: Ricky Gervais finds his inner nice guy". Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  29. ↑ Owen, Rob. "TV Review: Ricky Gervais mixes humor, pathos in new series 'Derek'". Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  30. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/apr/24/derek-game-face-ricky-gervais-tv-review?commentpage=1
  31. ↑ Ramsey, Terry (23 April 2014). "Derek, series 2, episode 1, review: 'more mawkish than ever'". The Daily Telegraph (London).
  32. ↑ Stevens, Christopher (24 April 2014). "Comedy great? Gervais is just a sniggering playground bully: CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews last night's TV". Daily Mail (London).
  33. ↑ "Derek Season 2 Reviews". Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  34. ↑ Stuever, Hank. "Netflix’s ‘Derek’ returns, handled with tender, loving care". Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  35. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10783507/Derek-series-2-episode-1-review-more-mawkish-than-ever.html
  36. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/apr/24/derek-game-face-ricky-gervais-tv-review
  37. ↑ http://tv.uk.msn.com/what-to-watch/ricky-gervais-derek-remains-a-mawkish-mess
  38. ↑ http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/derek-series-two-review-ricky-gervais-confusing-comedy-drama-returns-lacklustre-opening-episode/
  39. ↑ http://www.avclub.com/review/derek-proves-again-ricky-gervais-nice-side-not-his-205188
  40. ↑ http://www.indiewire.com/article/television/review-ricky-gervais-netflix-dramedy-returns-for-season-2-with-less-derek-and-more-sex-jokes
  41. 1 2 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/golden-globes/11287201/Golden-Globes-2015-TV-Ricky-Gervais.html
  42. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2611762/Comedy-great-Gervais-just-sniggering-playground-bully-CHRISTOPHER-STEVENS-reviews-nights-TV.html
  43. ↑ The Telegraph
  44. ↑ The Guardian.
  45. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Derek-Series-DVD-Ricky-Gervais/dp/B00BEHH08S
  46. ↑ 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
  47. ↑ 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

External links

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