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Description: Stand-up from the star of Extras and The Office, plus Robin Ince.
Trains: Tube: Hammersmith 
Phone: 0870606 3400
Website: www.hammersmith-apollo.com
Making a mockery: Ricky Gervais poked fun at Johnny Vegas, Dawn French and Richard Gere but also told many jokes at his own expense at the opening show at the Carling Apollo
Ricky Gervais: the ultimate class joker
Will the real Ricky Gervais stand up? Is he the sensitive writer who made us all squirm and laugh in equal measures when we watched The Office on television or is he the tasteless comedian who makes cruel jokes about sick people, fat people and stupid people on stage? Clearly a bit of both. The first of a record-breaking month of London gigs found Gervais in taste-free yet frequently scintillating form.
After his nervy appearance at this summer's Princess Diana tribute there had been a backlash looming, but the 46-year-old has successfully fended it off. He had the audience in stitches before he even appeared, with a sneak preview of the star-studded Extras Christmas Special. George Michael was seen discarding a kebab and spliff before going cruising on Hampstead Heath, Clive Owen was seen demanding prettier prostitutes.
As the lights dimmed, Gervais appeared in a puff of dry ice, sporting a crown and ermine and dancing to Queen's One Vision in front of his name in neon. Suitably self-mocking, although maybe the giant Emmy was a prop too far for the multi-award winner. He soon ditched the robe to reveal his trademark black T-shirt and a pair of very unflattering, but possibly very expensive, baggy jeans.
The show is called Fame, but it took a while for Gervais to address this issue.
First he had to get other topics off his chest, boasting about how much he has done for charity before recalling how, when he moved to Hampstead and discovered that his neighbour had an autistic son, he took him to a casino in the hope of making a Rain Man-style killing.
Arrogance was constantly undercut by razor-sharp gags directed as much at himself as the less fortunate. Worrying about whether the BBC would employ him if he got any fatter he noted that as long as Johnny Vegas was still working he would be alright: "He's like my canary down the mine."
A deliciously bitchy routine about Dawn French sailed close to the wind, as did his remarks about World Aids Day ("I don't think it'll ever catch on like Christmas") and his impersonation of an African sending his daughter to fetch water: "One false move and I'm Jim Davidson," he perceptively noted.
If the show lacked a narrative arc, that was as much to do with the fact that it was more concerned with harvesting laughs than provoking thought. Despite name-checking Socrates and nodding towards the God-doubting thoughts of Richard Dawkins it was soon back to thoughts about the kind of things people write on lavatory walls.
Gervais is hardly the finest comedian ever to tread the boards, but he is undoubtedly special. With his giggles about Adolf Hitler's odd number of testicles and his discussion of urban myths about Richard Gere and Marc Almond he is the perennial playground prankster, the ultimate class joker. And everyone loves a clown. Even one with a big head.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Saw the final show at The Apollo, Hammersmith.
EXCELLENT show - how does he get away with it? Not at all pc but to be expected of him. As for Ricky's 'toilet humour' what everyone thinks but never says! Far better live than the tv shows.
I have seen some of the established comedians but enjoyed Ricky far more - eat your heart out Freddie Starr.
Just a shame we only had seconds of 'the dance'.
Thanks Ricky for the entertainment - keep it up mate.
- Chrissy, Bristol
Saw Fame at Hammersmith last night and we thoroughly enjoyed it! Not rib achingly but permanently smilingly.Y es,Ricky is irreverent but arrogant-no way-his tongue is firmly in cheek and his observation and mime is well worth the admission money.
- Bob, Luton
Fame is utter tosh.
Ricky boasts on-line about resting on his laurels. Fair enough, he's done some brilliant stuff, but he shouldn't charge his fans for resting on his laurels.
Having watched and listened to him since the 11'O clock show (1999), from being cleverley and unapologeticallly offensive, to him now pandering to a N American market and apologising and justifying rehashed jokes.
Once a characatuer/parody of himself, he's just taking money and rubbing our noses in it and no longer funny.
He could have been up there with the likes of comedic heavyweights such as Cook, Milligan And Morris.
- Sean, London UK
I went to see the show at the Royal Albert Hall last night - I thought it was very disappointing, even giving him credit for his purposefully offensive approach. What is funny about spending half the show talking about the toilet - his observational stuff was entertaining, the rest was literally toilet.
- Tom, London
Sadly I felt the show was hit and miss. I think his woeful performance at the Diana concert shows that he is not the comedy genius people think and got lucky with one show having tried for years. Ali G came out of the 11 o'clock show, Ricky just stayed there.
- Richard Lewis, London UK
I am in the Claudell, and Ricky, camp. I love Mr Gervais, and everything he has done - from stand ups, to Office/Extras to every single podcast/XFM show with KP - if not heard, treat yourselves through his website.
I think Fame was at times bordering on smug, but that is all part of the act - he and Steve M are comedy geniuses!
- Paul Hillier, Holland, UK
This man is a comic genius. I bet he could write a serious movie/story if he put his mind to it. I am the kind of person who totally gets his type of humor and he is consistently good. I would watch or pay for anything he is involved with because it's sure to be entertaining.
- Claudell, Omaha NE USA
I have now had the pleasure of seeing all three of the stand-ups, Ricky proved he wasn't a one-trick pony when writing Extras and The Office, both works of genius. Now with a third sucessful stand-up the man is bordering legendary status, funniest man on the planet bar none.
Genius, I already can't wait for either another stand-up or sitcom.
- Graham, Cambridge
I went to the Apollo a few nights back and he was unbelievably good. Like James say above, it's all a big joke. He takes the mickey out of himself more than he does other people. The guy is a legend.
- Oscar, London
Ricky Gervais is a talent. Do people not understand sarcasm or irony? I don't think he's bigheaded at all...it's part of the game.
- James Shepherd, Ross-on-Wye, UK
Some of Ricky's jokes may be borderline on the offensive, but in my opinion they never cross the line. It's never derogatory, there's reason (with slight mischief) behind his thinking.
- Ben Cameron, Medway, Kent
I'm interested to know how a pre-fame Ricky would feel about paying 35 quid to sit in a seat about 100 yards away from the stage and in the most sleep-inducing heat imaginable. Big fan, Ricky, but I won't attend any of your future shows.
- St, London
So he's moved on from taking the pee out of people with club feet and wrestling with dwarfs, has he? Gervais is probably the most overrated comedian strutting his stuff at the moment.
- James Hennessy, London, England
