Why Comedian Ricky Gervais Struggled to Write The Simpsons Episodes

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As a dedicated fan and admirer of Ricky Gervais‘ exceptional comedy work, it is quite fascinating to delve into his brief yet significant association with The Simpsons. The British humor maestro, who brought us The Office and other masterpieces, was invited for a guest appearance on the iconic animated series in Season 17.

Ricky Gervais isn’t fond of The Simpsons, as he is renowned for creating the groundbreaking British sitcom, The Office (aired from 2001 to 2003). Given his acclaimed work, the creators of The Simpsons, who admire Gervais, offered him a guest role on their iconic animated series, along with an opportunity to write for it.

Ricky Gervais proposed writing a script for one episode of The Simpsons, although producers considered it daring, they had a vision for its execution. In the Season 17 episode titled “Homer Simpson, This is Your Wife,” as reported by SlashFilm, the British comedian lent his voice to the character Charles Heathbar.

Immediately following the 63-year-old comedian’s Emmy win, the rebooted American version of The Office with Steve Carell, which skyrocketed to TV fame, caught the attention of Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons. Unable to resist, Groening extended an invitation to Ricky Gervais for lunch to offer his congratulations and gauge his possible involvement in The Simpsons.

In the book Springfield Confidential, writer-producer Miek Reiss mentioned that they felt honored when The Good Place actor proposed writing for them. However, two weeks after the pitch, they declined the offer. As quoted by Reiss, “We were very pleased, and even more pleased when he called back two weeks later to say, ‘I’m unable—it’s too challenging.'”

Speaking of which, Gervais – famed for shows like Extras and Life’s Too Short – admitted he was apprehensive about the show he’s been a fan of since the beginning of his career. In an interview with The Independent in 2006 while reflecting on his Simpsons debut, he confessed that the writing process was quite nerve-wracking for him.

“When offered the job, the comedian admitted he instinctively said yes, but at the same time, fear set in. Gervais also speculated that The Simpsons creators wanted to test him by presenting some of the difficulties they face daily, saying, ‘I guess they thought, ‘Let’s show this upstart that it’s not as simple as he imagines.'”

The actor’s affection for the Emmy-winning sitcom that triumphed 36 times originated in 1999, when he was embarking on his comedian career and aspired to join the show one day. Gervais recollected, “I recall wishing I could slip a joke into The Simpsons. It had been my preferred show for roughly a decade by then.”

Initially, Gervais harbored grand aspirations about his ideas, but when they were put into action, they received a harsh dose of reality. Despite this, it instilled in him even more admiration for The Simpsons’ writers. Remarkably, he was still acknowledged as the writer for that particular episode.

As a die-hard admirer, let me share this fascinating tidbit: Though the comedian didn’t pen the script for the show, he brilliantly conceptualized the plot for “This Is Your Wife,” featuring everyone’s favorite bumbling dad, Homer Simpson. Not only did he lend his voice to the character, but he also composed captivating original tunes and sang them, as per the source. The episode, which aired during Season 17, followed the Simpsons embarking on a reality TV adventure dubbed Mother Flippers, all thanks to Homer’s insatiable craving for an HDTV, which he aimed to acquire using the show’s earnings.

Because the concept of the reality show involved exchanging matriarchs between two families, Marge found herself living with Charles Heathbar from the Gervais family, and he eventually fell for her. Meanwhile, Homer moved in with Verity, who later ignited a romantic interest in Marge’s sister, Patty.

The Simpsons are available to stream on Disney+. 

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2024-08-07 15:22