Chimpanzee That!

This amount of pure unadulterated laughter should be outlawed. I cannot express just how enjoyable my life has been since I downloaded the Ricky Gervais podcasts.

The problem of course is that I can't stop listening to them. Like having Lost or 24 on DVD you get to the end of an episode and then think, "I'll just start listening to the next one, and then that's it. After that I'll go to bed." It never ends though. At the very end of the next episode you say exactly the same thing. As each episode goes by, I am fearful of the knowledge that I am closer to not being able to experience it again for the first time. Still, there are about 4 years of XFM broadcasts that should keep me happy when the podcasts are finished.

As one watches the show, you ask yourself the question, "Is Karl Pilkington for real?" It's a valid question, and here's my breakdown:

The "Karl is an idiot" Theory: I don't want to believe that Karl is an idiot because I think that the shyte that he spews is just too hilarious. Still, I had a friend in high school who was an idiot. He was a kind, generous, lovable person, but was a complete moron. We latched on to him for the pure comedy. I remember Grade 10 Ancient civilizations History class, when he sat right behind me. The shyte that he would spew was as funny as Karl, and every bit as idiotic. People like that exist, and they are just naturally funny. They don't care that people laugh at them, and most of the time we didn't laugh at him, but simply loved being around him.

The "Karl is a genius" Theory: Karl Pilkington is the best straight man ever. His stories are scripted and planned and Ricky, Stephen and Karl simply work together well as a comedy writing team. No one can come up with diary entries like, "There was a really fat bloke on the plane playing with his PSP. While I waited to go to the toilet, I looked at what game he was playing. It was darts. He's that fat and lazy he can't even face playing a more active game on a games console?" and "Old men's ears and noses carry on growing as they get older. Suzanne noticed his fingers were fat too. Maybe they continue to grow. Suzanne didn't laugh when I said her arse had the same problem." I mean no one can come up with that shit on their own. No one can just write a diary with endless nuggets of pure gold like that. There is a great bit on XFM broadcast from November 17th 2001:

"Rick did you see that film last tonight, 'Gaylord Say No.'"
"No."
"That means your a gaylord.... That is actually the official way of finding out if someone is gay."
"That's how Oscar Wilde got caught."

and...

"If you could give a cock to any bird, which would it be?"
"It's gotta be a bird of prey hasn't it?"
"Which would it be?"
"The Robin... Christmas cards would be like..."

The three of them hang about and write the scripts and then Karl keeps a completely straight face as Stephen and Ricky have a go at him. A true testament to their genius.

You can get the entire XFM broadcasts here, not to mention a fantastic website. Decide on your own, but die laughing in the meantime.