I'm not sure if I have mentioned it but the TV shows I'm obsessing over Community (yay for new season!), Grey's Anatomy and Star Trek.

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I didnt watch this when it was first shown on Channel 4 but have recently come to adore it.

Originally the pilot was broadcast then a six-episode series was shown much later. The reaction to the pilot was mixed, with many considering Gervais' portrayal of Derek to be offensive, due to the perceived mental disability of the character leading some critics to suggest that Gervais was making fun of the mentally ill.

Gervais was quick to publically answer the question people were asking and state that not only was Derek not mentally ill but asked "what difference would it make if he was?" and after watching the series I have to agree with him. He was even able to work this into the series, through the way certain characters in the series see him as opposed to the way the main characters in the show, those closest to him, see him.

Derek is a volunteer in a care home for the elderly. The other main characters are Dougie, the caretaker and Dereks housemate, as well as Kev, the lonely, drunken, unemployed friend of both, and Hannah, the manager and head nurse of the care home. In Gervais' own words Derek is intentionally unintelligent, childlike, dresses badly and has "crap hair" so as to not to confuse the audience. He has stated that all of that, all of the material and unimportant things that make Derek who he is had to clearly contrast who he REALLY is, and who he really is, according to Gervais is "a hero". All of those material things help to show you who many in society perceive Derek to be, yet when you really watch the show you learn that Derek is selfless, loving, caring, and most importantly kind. Again, as Gervais himself has stated, "His kindness comes along and trumps all".

Maybe its just because I didnt watch the pilot on its initial broadcast. Maybe its because I was able to watch all seven episodes back-to-back, but I struggle to comprehend the criticism of the show in the ways I have outlined because frankly, when Gervais asks if it would change anything at all if Derek was infact intended to be mentally handicapped, it would not. Derek is quite possibly the most touching, sweet and adorable show I've ever seen.

It takes some of the touching and "real" dramatic moments from The Office, where the brilliance of that show was in how David Brent sees himself as opposed to how everyone else sees him, and showcases some of Gervais' best dramatic writing in a situation where there is no difference whatsoever between how Derek sees himself and how everyone else sees as him, as they are both one and the same. Derek is honest, genuine, forgiving and kind.

There is a wonderful scene in the show that sums it all up beautifully for me, as both an example of exactly how Gervais was able to explore his unexpected criticism between the airing of the pilot and the series and also of exactly what Derek is all about. It comes in an episode where the care home is under threat of closure as the council are withdrawing funding, and the representitive from the council who is there to carry out an investigation angers the staff by questioning Derek directly about his mental health. When asked if he has ever been tested for autism or would consider taking a test, he asks if he would die if he did have it, he is told no. He asks if it would change his life or change who he is, and is told no. He then replies "Well, dont worry about it then".

I've now watched the seven episodes five times. In my opinion it shows a whole other side to Gervais and his work. Alot of the initial criticism, it would seem, could easily have just as much to do with the fact that Derek is played by Ricky Gervais, and influenced by the way some perceive Ricky himself to be. A ruthless, arrogant, offensive "comedian". I find it quite ironic that those who feel that way judged this show immediately, before they had even probably ever seen it and this show is actually the one thing he has ever done that may just change their minds. If it has a second series as good as the first, then this show will actually be my favourite thing he has ever done. And I loved The Office.

I've been watching Arrested Development. I was never into it when it was on, but perhaps I was too young to understand it. My boyfriend kept going on about how good it is so I started watching it. It's probably the funniest show that has ever been made. I'm addicted, and it's on Netflix which is just great! Almost done with Season 3 :o

All the characters are hilarious in their own way. I love Tobias and I absolutely love Buster, he's such a mama's boy and super adorable even with his fake hook hand, lmao.

Really? I always just saw him as a big kid who has all the fun in the world just being himself. Seems like he'd be a genuinely nice guy in real life.

I love Derek, it's a heartfelt programme that, in my eyes, highlights the wisdom that simple people are in touch with, wisdom that supposedly more 'intelligent' people often overlook.

Watched The Science of Doctor Who tonight with everyones favourite physicist, Brian Cox. It wasn't as good as his last lecture, but interesting nonetheless, and explored the speed of light, time travel and black holes.

Available here on iPlayer for those with access to it.

I can't get into Dr. Who. I watched a few episodes here and there but it's just not my thing for whatever reason.

I don't like it either. The show I mentioned wasn't an episode of Dr. Who, but a physics lecture, albeit a physics lecture aimed squarely at the layman.

I thought that the first installment of the "Black Friday" saga on South Park last night was one of the funniest episodes since "Raising the Bar". Hopefully the second half (or who knows how far they'll take the series, it is based off of Game of Thrones so it could go for a while) stacks up to the first.

Thats how I feel too. Plenty of people just really, really dont like him. I've heard a few of these people call him arrogant.

Where I think its harder than usual to tell where Ricky Gervais the performer ends and the person begins, and there is a lot of overlap, I tend to find most of what people dont like about him is actually the performer.

I think the "real" Ricky Gervais is opinionated but not arrogant, and as you said he's a big kid. I'd probably want to murder him if I was good friends with him and had to spend a lot of time around him, but I think he comes across like a good guy.

I'm watching "Extreme Cheapskates" on Netflix tonight.

Some money-saving habits of the people I've seen include:

- dumpster diving
- looking for change in/around pay-phones and public washers/dryers
- gathering salad fixings from the wild
- separating 2-ply toilet paper
- using cloths/soap and water in place of toilet paper
- cleaning out and reusing vacuum bags

these people are seriously insane.

I saw one where the couple shared their tooth floss, and the floss itself was only allowed to be 5 inches long or something.

I'm watching one right now where this one chick is sort of reasonable (apart from how she saves her piss in a bottle and uses it to nourish her plants, and only showers at the gym) and her boyfriend is an extreme asshole.

Some of these things that these people do are smart, but ... man, they're crazy.

VEEP - Julia Louis Dreyfus kills it - best comedic actress of our time.

I was watching the Walking Dead as fodder before Breaking Bad finished,

Not quite feeling it anymore.

I don't really like Julia because of her association with Seinfeld and Adventures of New Christine but I tolerate her for Veep. She's pretty funny in it.

these people on "Extreme Couponing" are pissing me off so hard right now.

why would you need hundreds of rolls of paper towels/toilet paper? Why would you need 55 bottles of mustard, 40 boxes of cereal, 90 packets of whatever, etc.?

I feel like a lot of their hoards are just going to expire, and they're going to waste what they could have given to charity, after using so many coupons that they've practically gotten all that shit for free.

bottles of mustard don't expire though and neither do the other stuff. I'm sure they take that into account and get things that are non-perishables.

that's true, but who's going to use 30 bottles of mustard in their lifetime (this woman's husband doesn't even eat it, so she's sort of alone in her mustard world)?

then there was this one guy that had 1,000 tubes of toothpaste.

that's pretty cool but he could live to be 105 and there'd probably still be toothpaste in his basement.

Gah, hoarding so much though

They sound like those crazies who perpetually prepare for doomsday/armageddon/nuclear fallout/the great reckoning by hoarding food supplies in their basements so when the rest of us are dead, they can live out their days stuck in a hole in the ground.

I like doomsday preppers a bit more than people that just hoard food supplies because they are doing extreme couponing.

Those extreme things don't have to happen but if a good natural disaster blew through their area they would be prepared for it and that's more likely to happen.

I've recently started watching Boardwalk Empire and I'm really liking it. Brilliant recreation of the era and the characters are all really good and pull you into their struggle. I'm midway through the second season now.

It goes really downhill :(

Really how do you mean? That's unfortunate :/

I will admit that it does kind of slog sometimes with the pacing but there are some really bat **** moments thrown in like

Watched two excellent programmes tonight. Too lazy to use my own brain and words so I'm copyin' 'n' pastin'. Available on BBC iPlayer if you gots it:

Natural World - The Himalayas

Documentary looking at the wildlife of the most stunning mountain range in the world, home to snow leopards, Himalayan wolves and Tibetan bears.

Snow leopards stalk their prey among the highest peaks. Concealed by snowfall, the chase is watched by golden eagles circling above. On the harsh plains of the Tibetan plateau live extraordinary bears and square-faced foxes hunting small rodents to survive. In the alpine forests, dancing pheasants have even influenced rival border guards in their ritualistic displays. Valleys carved by glacial waters lead to hillsides covered by paddy fields containing the lifeline to the East, rice. In this world of extremes, the Himalayas reveal not only snow-capped mountains and fascinating animals but also a vital lifeline for humanity. (R)

Light and Dark

Two-part series in which Professor Jim Al-Khalili shows how, by uncovering its secrets, scientists have used light to reveal almost everything we know about the universe. But in the last 30 years we have discovered that far from seeing everything, we have seen virtually nothing. Our best estimate is that more than 99 per cent of the universe is actually hidden in the dark.

The story of how we used light to reveal the cosmos begins in the 3rd century BC when, by trying to understand the tricks of perspective, the Greek mathematician Euclid discovered that light travels in straight lines, a discovery that meant that if we could change its path we could change how we see the world. In Renaissance Italy 2,000 years later, Galileo Galilei did just that by using the lenses of his simple telescope to reveal our true place in the cosmos.

With each new insight into the nature of light came a fresh understanding of the cosmos. It has allowed us to peer deep into space and even revealed the composition and lifecycles of the stars.

In the 1670s, the Danish astronomer Ole Roemer discovered that light travelled at a finite speed, a discovery that had a profound implication. It meant the further one looks out into the universe, the further one looks back in time. And in 1964, by detecting the cosmic microwave background, the afterglow of the big bang, we captured the oldest light in the universe and saw as far back as its possible to see with light.

I started watching Dexter this week, since they finally put it up on Netflix. I'm already on Season 3 and really enjoying the show so far. Anyone else watch Dexter?

I just finally set up Netflix on my ps3 & I'm watching, or better said revisiting, my ATF mini-series, which has since become solidly identified with this music.





Back in the VHS days I probably watched it a dozen times but I haven't seen it in at least 15 years. Much of it is really choking me up.

I'm not going to spoil it for you haha but you'll see. Al Capone and Chalky are my faves I think.

Started rewatching Breaking Bad today because LiL has not seen the first 3 seasons. I also haven't seen the final season, so this will be fun!

I have been watching Naruto Shippuden, Bleach, Fawlty Towers and Ross Kemp on Gang's mainly this week

Oh you sweet summer child.

I don't think either of us have watched cable TV for longer than a few minutes in about 2 years.

Haha, I used to not watch any TV until I got into the GOT fandom, then it went all downhill from there. Although most of what I watch isn't American

I just finished up Season 3 and Id say it's been a pretty good show other than some of the weird stuff haha. The last few episodes of season 3 got really crazy.

As for favorite character I'd say George Harrow. So bad ass when

oh and another thing I was def surprised by


It's definitely helping filling the void that Breaking Bad left, not on the same level as it but still a good show regardless.

Gillian is ****ing insane
Honestly Jimmy deserved it
I felt so bad for Angela though, I loveeeed her

Haha yeah she really is, that whole thing where she was bat**** insane...

Yeah that was really rough scene with Angela, it was so brutal. This show is definitely really tragic.

I don't even watch this show and I know this scene. A friend of mines showed me the scene like two days ago.

Jericho and the walking dead.

it really was one of the best moments in the series so far for me. He was holding **** down :thumb:

Well now I have to wait till season 4 comes out on DVD so I started up watching some Home Movies again. This show never gets old for me.

Some of my friends decided to watch stupid shows during pre drinks from now on so recently saw the first episode of dawsons creeek. omg how have i been ignoring this show for my whole life. Filled to the brim with great shiit. And i never even knew the captain mighty duck himself was one of the main characters. Has anyone else realized how gr8 this show is??