One such person is the renowned stand-up comedian, Ricky Gervais, who has made another splash in the industry with the launch of another Netflix special. Gervais has always been in the spotlight for pushing the boundaries of society, especially in the way that society is so critical about cancel culture and being politically correct. However, is the effectiveness of Gervais’s comedy what it used to be when he made such an impact in the industry?
Another special on Gervais’s list is Mortality, another in his unending battle with the ‘thought police.’ One of Gervais’ several trademarks is that he is always crossing boundaries, making fun of topics many people are afraid to touch on. Gervais tackles, among other things, the power of comedy, freedom of expression, and paradoxes in human morality in Mortality.
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However, this special also represents an evident transition. Gervais begins by talking about his success and his performances that often result in his specials going viral. He states that the online backlash and outrage are the reasons his Netflix specials have become the most-watched content on the platform. However, this element of self-awareness feels almost cynical as he admits that his fame is in part based upon his ability to provoke outrage. This dynamic continues to shape how streaming deals rise and fall in the spotlight of public opinion.
Although this is rather entertaining, it does bring to mind the notion of whether Gervais is as passionately devoted to this comedic edge as he once was or if he simply wants to create content more directly related to going viral so he can simply promote his brand. Gervais’s “freedom of speech” can sometimes seem more like he is promoting the culture he dislikes.
Ricky Gervais is currently at the stage of his career where he is extremely rich and successful, and this shows through in his comedy. In his show, Gervais talks about not needing to prove anything, especially when it comes to success and the kind of money he makes. However, the emphasis on personal success and the accompanying finances sometimes takes precedence over the raw comedy that made Gervais famous.
Is Gervais’s Comedy Still Relevant?
This is what also made Gervais so popular in his earlier performances, as he was able to make people laugh as well as make them question their beliefs in society. However, this is what is being continued in “Mortality,” but this time, it seems as if Gervais is more concerned with his own legacy as opposed to the craft of making people laugh. But as Gervais holds up a critical mirror to society, he is essentially holding the same mirror to himself. In this attention to the contradictions and hypocrisies in liberal ideology and the shifting grounds on which morals stand, the sting still remains, but often the approach seems more a function of staying topical in a media-rich environment.
