Golden Globe winner Ricky Gervais has turned down all variety of offers since the conclusion of “The Office,” but the much lauded funnyman may have received an offer he couldn’t refuse. According to the British press, Gervais is expected to write an episode of FOX’s “The Simpsons.”
According to the Guardian newspaper, Gervais was originally only supposed to make a vocal cameo, but “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening has convinced him to become the first Brit to write an episode.
Due to the show’s production schedule, of course, it could be years before the episode makes it from script to animation to air, particularly given that the episode appears to be only in the most nascent of stages.
“I’ve got the rough idea but this is the most intimidating project of my career. The Simpsons is the greatest TV show of all time. I can only make it slightly worse,” say Gervais. “When I first got into comedy my greatest ambition was to get one joke on The Simpsons. I may as well retire now.”
Both Gervais and Groening were at Wednesday’s (Dec. 22) British Comedy Awards, where “The Office” lost the top series prize to “Little Britain.”
Gervais’ roster of rejected vehicles have included a potential turn in the upcoming “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequel, the part of Higgins in a possible “Magnum P.I.” film and a role in the new production of “The Merchant of Venice.”
“The money being offered was criminal, but I am not interested in money,” Gervais has said of his work opportunities. “I’m interested in doing something I am proud of. Money gives me the creeps.”
His next project may be a BBC One comedy called “Extras,” which he would write with “Office” co-creator Stephen Merchant. Last year’s Golden Globe winner for actor in a comedy series has also been making visits to The States to follow the progress of NBC’s midseason translation of “The Office.”
If you think a kickin’ birthday party means pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, a Carvel ice cream cake and maybe an innocent game of spin-the-bottle, you’re clearly not hip enough to be the focus of an MTV series. The cable network, which used to have some connection to music, will look at extravagent Sweet 16 birthday bashes in the new series “My Super Sweet 16.”
MTV has ordered six episodes of the series, set to premiere after “Real World: Philadelphia” at 10:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Produced out of MTV’s News & Docs department, the series looks at the goofiest and most expensive coming-of-age parties available, focusing on the girls who demand them and the parents who shell out the big bucks.
“These kids are determined to go all out — and to out-do all of their friends — with these ultimate birthday blowouts,” gushes Nina Diaz, vice president of MTV News & Docs. “Our viewers are in for a wild ride as we go behind the scenes for all the drama, surprises, and over-the-top fun that make up this new breed of ‘Sweet 16’ parties.”
Viewers will meet Ava, whose Arabian Night-themed party included a team of college water polo players carting her on a silk pillow, and Lauren and Jackie, whose Hard Rock Cafe party became such a hot scene that tickets were being sold on eBay.
“These parties have evolved into one-of-a-kind events that, in some cases, you have to see to believe,” swears Dave Sirulnick, executive vice president of MTV News & Production. “This series will give our audience a look into some of the ways kids across the country are celebrating this milestone in their lives – and whether their real-life Sweet 16 experiences can live up to their fantasies.”
ESPN dominated the cable ratings for the week ending Sunday, Dec. 19 with a little help from Michael Vick and a lot of help from Peyton Manning. The double dose of NFL action pushed the sports network to a runaway ratings triumph.
Overall, ESPN averaged 3.39 million viewers per night in primetime. USA was well back in second with 2.47 million viewers, topping TNT’s 2.16 million average, good enough for third. ABC Family was in fourth, riding holiday cheer to a regular audience of 2.05 million viewers, leaving Lifetime in fifth with 2.04 million.
The Sunday night NFL game between the Colts and Ravens, featuring Peyton Manning gunning (unsuccessfully) for a single-season touchdown pass record, drew a near-record crowd of 12.08 million viewers to ESPN. The week’s second most watched cable program was ESPN’s Saturday tilt between the Panthers and Falcons, which enticed 7.58 million viewers. The Sunday game helped make that evening’s “SportsCenter” the week’s No. 4 show with 4.45 million viewers, while Saturday’s “SportsCenter” was No. 12 with 3.83 million.
Nickelodeon had the most offerings in the basic cable Top 15. There were three showings of “Fairly Odd Parents” ranked highly, peaking at No. 5 with 4.17 million viewers and going as low as No. 11 with 3.85 million. “SpongeBob SquarePants” also placed a trio of episodes on the list, coming in at No. 6 with 4.1 million viewers, No. 7 with 3.97 million and No. 9 with 3.91 million.
The WWE Entertainment double-bill put Spike TV at No. 3 with an average of 4.71 million viewers, while Sci Fi’s only listworthy entry was the second part of the miniseries “Legend of Earthsea” at No. 8 with 3.92 million viewers. Episodes of “Law & Order” on TNT (3.76 million, 13th) and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” on USA (3.58 million, 14th) also made the basic cable list.
The season and possibly series finale of “The Wire” paced the HBO-dominated premium cable list with 2.04 million viewers. A screening of “The Last Samurai” was second with 1.96 million viewers, better than the airing of “Mystic River” in third with 1.71 million. Episodes of the pornography documentary “Pornucopia” were fourth (1.6 million) and fifth (1.52 million).
Credit: Zap2It
