Judd Apatow stands up to Ricky Gervais

By Chase Roper | January 25, 2011 at 12:24 pm | 11 comments | News | Tags: judd apatow, ricky gervais

Judd Apatow, the cash cow comedy producer (Judd Apacashcow?) did not like Ricky Gervais’ brash hosting style on the Golden Globes. To voice his disdain, Apatow, while he was hosting the Producers Guild Awards, explained why certain jokes were unfair and too mean spirited; then proceeded to deliver the exact same jokes directed at Gervais’ weight and film career. Remember when Gervais said NOBODY has seen The Tourist. . .?

Apatow said, [Gervais] says the characters were two-dimensional. Then he says he hasn’t seen The Tourist. So as a comedian, that’s not fair, is it? To make jokes about a movie you haven’t seen. I can’t do a joke about [Gervais's] The Invention of Lying because I haven’t seen it. You haven’t seen it. None of us have seen it. So the joke would not work.”

The joke seemed to work better when Gervais told it. What do you think? Does Apatow have a point or is he pandering?

About the Author

Chase Roper

Chase Roper is a brilliantly subtle and bitingly sarcastic writer/ humorist from very south of Seattle, WA. While it might not be relevant to his comedy writing career, Chase feels it is important to mention that he is also an expert on the subject of zombies and martial arts movies. Also, 'bitingly' might not be a real word.

Quing

Judd Apatow is acting like an ex boyfriend threatend by the new love rival and now trying to convince his ex how great he is still is. That would explain him spitting out his pacifier and throwing his toys out the pram.
http://youtube.com/Lawsoncomedy Lawson

Is Apatow serious? I can’t distinguish tone in written comments, so maybe he was just having a little fun, playfully jabbing at Gervais. But to act like Ricky isn’t allowed to shit on celebrities is ridiculous. I don’t care how you feel about any celebrity, they’re all fair game.
http://www.unsolicitedamerica.com Nicholas Trillo

I think Apatow is amazing and so is what he did with those tweets. He is a real director that listens to the people and not just his close knit circle. If you want to laugh I encourage you to check out http://www.unsolicitedamerica.com Look for them on facebook as well.

Nicholas Trillo
Mike

i agree, its open season all year if you live in the spot light.
http://bobbyfriske.com Bobby

This PC business is out of hand. Multi-Millionaire actors and actresses need to be able to have some ribbing. I know they’re delicate flowers, but if you google any one of them, haters abound on the net.

The powers that be at the Golden Globes knew he was coming out of the gate harder than last time. Hell, Gervais told him that was exactly what he was going to do, and he did it.

I say good for Gervais for not apologizing. Comedy can be harsh and brash at times and funny or not, good or bad, he did his act and KILLED it if you ask me.

As far as Apatow, I think he’s good, but I don’t think he’s great. He’s made some entertaining films. Maybe if you cut all the best bits together from all his films you’d have something along the lines of Stripes or Caddyshack. But I think we have given Apatow too much credit. If you ask me Knocked Up is the modern day horror movie. Yes, I’m serious.

All my opinion. Feel free to hate.
Bobby
David Bowie

Are you serious? Do you really not understand satire at all?

My god, there are so many stupid people in this country. Apatow was joking, you f***ing idiot. Just like Gervais. It’s so incredibly to simple to understand, yet you still choose to write untrue garbage about it. One word sums up the writer of this article: HACK.

You want the truth straight from the people who REALLY know? Go look up Apatow’s Twitter feed or Gervais’ blog, you f***ing moron.
Hauke

I love the invention of Lying, but even if you don’t, to mess with one of the best Stand Ups and try to make jokes about his jokes just can go wrong. I like a some of Apatow movies, but I am not sure he’s the best Stand Up author,…,well at least his “joke” about no one seen the invention of lying misses a real twist. Maybe he says “So the Joke would not work” cause he didn’t told one…and for rickey Gervaise and the grammys, does anyone ever saw a rickey gervaise Stand Up Show before hiring him, I thought the Golden globes been some of his nicer parts…compared to anne frank and the nazis…i.e.
Lily Von Schtupp

I am proud of Ricky for being bold and unapologetic. Apatow makes the most profain movies, and should know a good burn when he hears one. Who are we to decide whats too far? All of these people get to do what they love for a living and get paid a fortune. Apatow doesn’t even write funny, he hires other funny people, has them improv, and edits it into an sorta story line. Ricky is a brilliant writer, fuck Apatow.
Rob

I love Apatow, but he missed the point with that joke… The point was that the film was poorly reviewed (20% on rottentomatoes) and it did poorly at the box office, yet it was nominated for a few awards (if I remember correctly). He took several jabs at the reasons they were there after that. The joke he referenced clearly works because it has relevance to the ceremony. The joke Apatow then told doesn’t because it came out a year ago and as far as I remember wasn’t nominated for anything, including by the producer guild. I love Apatow, but that’s some pretty pathetic pandering… Especially for the guy who made Funny People (which I also loved despite popular opinion) considering it mocks the career of it’s star/his friend.
Elliot

Has everyone forgotten that Ricky Gervais is a FUCKING COMEDIAN? Hollywood is full of self-absorbed pussies that can’t take a joke, and I think Judd should stop being a vagina.
http://www.thelaughgarage.com Juls

since when did awards shows get so sensitive? presenters always take the piss, that’s what they DO! noone can handle it when it’s done with a British accent is the difference, Russell Brand copped the same bollox after the VMAs.

the most offensive thing about ricky’s Lost joke was that it was hack & unoriginal (much like Apatow’s line about noone seeing The Invention Of Lying- seriously, he just did the same joke?) & he can do SO much better- as evidenced by the rest of the show which was fucking hilarious!

Go Ricky, Apatow’s a tool, I mean who really gives a toss about his opinion anyway