Latest news with #Gervais
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix fans keep watching 'underrated' comedy with 'perfect' Ricky Gervais
It is said to be an underrated film of the genre and ideal for fans of the comedian Netflix fans keep watching an 'underrated' comedy movie featuring a 'perfect' Ricky Gervais. Ghost Town, was recently added to the streamer's extensive library and has quickly become one of the most watched titles on the service. At the time of writing, it currently sits at number six in the top 10 chart for top films among UK users. This places it just behind recent release Happy Gilmore 2 at the top and Adam Sandler's original film at number four. However, the 2008 release is certainly enjoying a resurgence in popularity with many viewers rediscovering the supernatural rom-com. According to the film's synopsis, after a near-death experience during a routine colonoscopy, people-hating dentist Bertrum Pincus, played by Gervais, is shocked to discover that he is suddenly able to talk to the dead. Constantly cornered by unhappy spirits who want him to help resolve their earthly problems, the misanthropic Pincus is driven to distraction. Eventually talked into helping the dearly departed Frank Herlihy, played by Greg Kinnear, Pincus attempts to talk to Frank's widow, Gwen. But problems arise when Bertram is smitten with her. Ghost Town was directed and co-written by David Koepp, who has a distinctive filmography, mostly as a screenwriter. He has penned the scripts for movies including Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, the original Jurassic Park, Tom Cruise's The Mummy reboot and most recently spy thriller Black Bag and Jurassic World Rebirth. The film earned a more than respectable rating on Rotten Tomatoes of 85%. Many critics like fans were impressed with The Office co-creator Gervais' performance in what was his first leading film role. Gervais had previously had smaller parts in Stardust and Night At The Museum. It is now considered a hidden gem of a romantic comedy, perfect for fans of the comedian or the genre. One fan, sharing their thoughts online, said: "What an underrated romance-comedy with some life lessons learned throughout. They don't make movies like this anymore I think." Another posted: "This is one of my favourite comedy films that is great for repeat viewing. Ricky Gervais is perfect as the grumpy dentist that just wants to be left along, and Greg Kinnear serves as the perfect foil." While a third added: "Hilarious and beautiful romantic comedy that perfectly tackles the feeling of loneliness and redemption. Underrated by most, but not by me."
CTV News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘I just know she's here': Widower cycling 30,000 kilometres for late wife
Widower Mark Herbst is riding 30,000 kilometres on his bike, honouring his late wife. Matt Gervais, a member of the YQG Cycling Club, rode with Orillia's Mark Herbst on Tuesday morning. 'I can't wait to hear more of his stories. We didn't get enough time with him,' Gervais said before bidding his new friend farewell. The 69-year-old widower is turning his grief into purpose, riding around the world while chasing a world record in the process. Herbst arrived in Leamington on Monday night from Ohio, entering the sixth of 21 countries he'll visit. Since January, Herbst has been on a journey around the world that started and will end in Thailand. '189 days ago today, I left Bangkok, Thailand, went down through Malaysia, Singapore, across Australia, up to New Zealand, over to Vancouver, down the west coast, to the U.S., up Route 66 to Leamington,' Herbst told CTV News. Mark Herbst Mark Herbst talks to CTV News in Leamington, Ont. on July 15, 2025. (Bob Bellacicco/CTV News Windsor) He's on the Canada leg of a tour enroute to setting a Guinness World Record for the oldest person to ride around the world. The minimum distance is 29,000 kilometres with the same bicycle. The route is tracked. Herbst does shoot a daily video and has to take pictures to validate where he has been. There have been some unique stops along the way, including Route 66. 'You can go through all these little towns and one of them that I went through was Winslow, Arizona,' he said. 'Anybody who was an Eagles fan, there was the song 'Take It Easy' and there's a line says, 'standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona. It's such a fine, fine place to be. And then, flatbed Ford, girl slowing down to take a look at me.' You can go there and stand at the statue with Glenn Frey and a flatbed Ford. It was really cool.' Mark admitted the journey can get lonely at times, providing a lot of time to reflect on the real reason he is on the road. 'I'm also raising funds for Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto. They're one of the top five cancer research hospitals in the world. And the reason I'm doing that is my wife died of cancer three years ago,' said Herbst, who described his wife as an Ironman athlete full of life that lost her battle to cancer. In some of the moments of solitude while on his journey, Herbst said he has had spiritual enlightenment. 'There are moments I'll ride along, and I'll just have this thought of Jackie, just start crying but there's so much happiness in there as well,' he said. 'It's just like there are days when I just know she's here.' Herbst has had people join him during the ride and he plans to share all of his experiences in a book. When asked if he had one message to anyone reading this he said' 'Challenge yourself. Doesn't have to be a ride around the world. It's just like anything. Ride around the block and learn a language. Just use these gifts that we've been given before they're gone,' Herbst said. He hopes to raise $100,000 for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation in Toronto. You can follow Herbst's journey here.
Evening Standard
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne bids farewell with Black Sabbath reunion
In his message, taken in the bath, Gervais quipped: 'My everlasting memory of you will be from when we were on the Graham Norton Show together, and they had to stop the recording because we both needed a piss, so maybe have one before you go on stage tonight. Have a great one.'
New York Post
22-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
‘FOPO' is a dangerous habit most people don't realize they're partaking in — here's why experts call it a ‘hidden epidemic'
There's fear of missing out, fear of a better option — and now there's 'FOPO,' another stress-inducing acronym that stands for 'fear of people's opinions.' It's human nature to care about what other people think — but letting this fear control your day-to-day can be an incredibly damaging habit that some experts believe is a constrictor of human potential. Psychologist Michael Gervais came up with the FOPO concept — which he describes as a 'hidden epidemic' — and says that people who suffer from it 'lose faith and confidence in themselves and their performance suffers,' according to Forbes. FOPO can cause someone to have low self-esteem and self-confidence. Prostock-studio – FOPO is 'primarily an anticipatory mechanism that we use, and it's a preemptive process to increase our acceptance in the eyes of others and for us to try to avoid rejection,' Gervais told HuffPost. 'And it's characterized mostly by a hypervigilance and social readiness — and what we end up doing is we scan our world for approval.' What he means is that more and more people are comparing themselves to others and seeking validation from the outside world — which ultimately causes someone to devalue themselves. Of course, social media — a way people seek approval from others through likes and comments — doesn't help either. 'And it's not so much about what's best for you anymore, it feels like what's maybe best for how others will perceive you,' Aparna Sagaram, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told HuffPost. Several examples can help you identify if you're living life with FOPO, according to Gervais. Experts believe most people suffer from FOPO without even realizing it. Mangostar – Pretending you watched a movie or TV show others are discussing, laughing at jokes that you don't find humor in, feeling anxious that you're taking too long to order at a cafe when there is a line behind you and not wanting to leave work before your boss does are just a few. If you're checking off the boxes, realizing you suffer from FOPO, Gervais told Forbes that the first step in combating it is to have a 'clear sense of purpose.' 'With FOPO, we develop a built-in mechanism to check outside ourselves to see if everything is okay. We give an inordinate amount of weight to what someone else may or may not be thinking about us,' he said. It's all about rewiring your brain, so instead of wondering, 'What does that person think of me?' 'We can rewire that mechanism to turn inward and check against our purpose. 'Am I being true to my purpose?' becomes the new reference point rather than 'Am I being liked?'' In addition to all of these damaging effects, having FOPO is also exhausting. 'FOPO burns a lot of our internal resources,' he told Forbes. And it's another thing — among many — that can lead to burnout. 'The more authentic you are, the easier it is to show up in a competent way,' Sagaram said in the HuffPost interview. 'And if you show up more competently, you're less likely to care about what others think because you feel so secure with yourself.'
Scottish Sun
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Award-winning comedy becomes latest hit show to be slapped with woke trigger warnings in crackdown by the BBC
Fans also slammed Channel 4 for a similar warning on a beloved sitcom WOKE JOKE Award-winning comedy becomes latest hit show to be slapped with woke trigger warnings in crackdown by the BBC Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HIT mockumentary sitcom The Office has been slapped with 'discriminatory language' trigger warnings by BBC bosses. Five episodes of Ricky Gervais's award-winning show on iPlayer have been flagged. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 1 The Office has been slapped with 'discriminatory language' trigger warnings by BBC bosses Credit: Handout All 14 episodes are available on the streaming service. Its two series, with Gervais as paper company branch boss David Brent, carry a 'G' rating to indicate adult humour. But some episodes also carry the additional warning. In the first series, debut episode Downsize — first aired in July 2001 — and the sixth episode Judgement are hit with the alert. And from series two, the first, third and fifth — Merger, Party and Charity — also carry the warnings. The Office won a clutch of awards in its time — most notably scooping a Golden Globe in 2004 for Best Television Series, the first British comedy to win. It was co-written and co-created by Gervais and Stephen Merchant, and went on to spawn a successful US version starring Steve Carell. The Office's alerts come after the BBC also put disclaimers about offensive or outdated language on episodes of Only Fools and Horses from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. In February, Channel 4 was branded 'humourless' for flagging a series of Father Ted on its catch-up. Broadcasters also hit Bafta-winning C4 sitcom The IT Crowd with advisories, with one warning: 'This episode was made in 2006 and contains strong, strong/offensive derogatory language and adult humour.' Terry and June to get woke warning - 80s comedy show ITV slapped 1970s comedy George and Mildred with a similar caution. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
