Ricky Ghostvais and Ghost Kinnear

Greg Kinnear will grab a familiar plotline from his frequent screen partner Bruce Willis when he plays a dentist who sees dead people in DreamWorks' romantic comedy (?) Ghost Town. Ricky Gervais is also attached to star in an unknown role. Superhero scribe David Koepp, who wrote the screenplay with his Zathura collaborator John Kamps, will also direct, his first trip back to the chair since 2004's abysmal Secret Window.

Gervais recently announced the end of Extras, and appeared with Stephen Merchant and a half-dozen surprise guests in a new spot for the UK's Red Nose Day.

Koepp recently, uh, wrote a draft of the most anticipated fourquel of all time.

Ex-Extras

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant have decided to turn down BBC's offer for a third season of their beloved, award-winning Extras. This comes as no big surprise, a few weeks after Gervais joked with the AV Club about not ever being able to do more than two seasons of anything. Just like The Office, everything will be wrapped up neatly with an extra-long Extras special, which is now in the early stages of development. It will almost definitely feature more real-life celebrities making fools of themselves, but there's no word on whether they'll be pulled from Gervais' recently announced dream team, which includes Mel Gibson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Gervais has also stopped doing his interview series Ricky Gervais Meets..., reportedly because of his bizarre chat with Garry Shandling, which was either a complete disaster or an amusing tribute to the awkward conversation seen on both men's shows. There's no word on ehether his already-taped discussions with Jerry Seinfeld and pre-meltdown Michael Richards will ever air.

Meanwhile, there seem to be no set plans for the duo's future, but Gervais is continuing to perform his live stand-up show Fame, recently adding a mess of dates at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, after selling out three shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

This Week in Funny 2/26/07-3/4/07

Monday, February 26:

Jim Gaffigan on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC)

Tuesday, February 27:



New on DVD: Stranger Than Fiction (click here to buy)
New on DVD: Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (click here to buy)
Steven Wright and Tracy Morgan on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)

Wednesday, February 28:

New The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show: “T-Bones TV” (Comedy Central)
Billy Connolly on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)

Thursday, March 1:

New Scrubs: “My Night to Remember” (NBC)
New 30 Rock: “The Source Awards” (NBC)
New The Sarah Silverman Program: “Muffin’ Man” (Comedy Central)
Seth Macfarlane on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)
Rob Corddry on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC)

Friday, March 2:



New Monk: “Mr. Monk Goes to the Hospital” (USA)
New Psych: “Scary Sherry 2: Bianca’s Toast” (USA)
Charles Grodin and Dan Naturman on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
Patrick Warburton on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)

Sunday, March 4:



New The Simpsons: “Yokel Chords” (FOX)
Series Premiere The Winner: “Pilot” (FOX)
New Family Guy: “Airport ‘07” (FOX)
New The Winner: “The Single Dates” (FOX)
New Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!: “Salame” (Adult Swim/Cartoon Network)
New Saul of the Molemen: “Fun King” (Adult Swim/Cartoon Network)


Live Comedy Watch:



2/26: Zach Galifianakis at Juanita’s in Little Rock, AR
2/26: Todd Barry at Lolita Bar in NYC
2/26: Demetri Martin at Ohio State in Columbus, OH
2/26: Maria Bamford at Tigerlily in Los Feliz, CA
2/27: Ricky Gervais at Portsmouth Guildhall in Portsmouth, UK
2/27: Zach Galifianakis at University of Arkansas Alltell Ballroom in Fayetteville, AR
2/27: Comedy Death-Ray with Bob Odenkirk, Andy Blitz, and Todd Glass at UCB Theatre in LA
2/27: Emo Philips at 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, CA
2/28: Ricky Gervais at Colston Hall in Bristol, UK
2/28-3/3: Emo Philips at Punch Line in San Francisco, CA
3/1-3/2: Ricky Gervais at International Centre in Bournemouth, UK
3/1-3/4: Harland Williams at the Improv in Chicago
3/1-3/3: Louis CK at Helium Comedy Club in Philadelphia, PA
3/1: America’s Best Comic with Matt Besser and Andrew Daly at UCB Theatre in LA
3/1: Tig at University of N. Iowa in Cedar Rapids, IA
3/2: Jerry Seinfeld at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, VA
3/2: Zach Galifianakis at Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia, PA
3/2: The Benson Interruption with Doug Benson, Todd Barry, Aziz Ansari, Graham Elwood, and Arj Barker at UCB Theatre in NYC
3/2: Stephen Lynch at Shriver Hall in Baltimore, MD
3/2: Billy the Mime at UCB Theatre in LA
3/3: Zach Galifianakis at Lisner Auditorium in Washington DC
3/3-3/4: ASSSSCAT 3000 DVD Taping with Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh, Matt Besser, Horatio Sanz, Sean Conroy, Chad Carter, and Andrew Daley at UCB Theatre in LA
3/3: Stephen Lynch at SUNY in Albany, NY
3/4: The Whitest Kids U’Know at Pianos in NYC


For more live dates this week, watch for our Aspen U.S. Comedy Festival breakdown tomorrow!

This Week in Funny 2/19/07-2/25/07

Monday, February 19:

Jim Carrey on Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
David Steinberg on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)

Tuesday, February 20:



New on DVD: For Your Consideration (click her to buy)
New on DVD: Fuck (click here to buy) (documentary featuring George Carlin, Bill Plympton, Hunter S. Thompson, Billy Connolly, Drew Carey, Bill Maher, Janeane Garofalo, Eddie Murphy, Kevin Smith, and more)
New on DVD: The Second City - First Family of Comedy (click here to buy)
Bill Maher on Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC)
Lewis Black on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC)
Richard Lewis on The View (ABC)

Wednesday, February 21:



Jim Carrey on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC)
Harland Williams on Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC)

Thursday, February 22:

New My Name is Earl: “Guess Who’s Coming Out of Joy” (NBC)
New The Office: “Cocktails” (NBC)
New Scrubs: “My Therapeutic Month” (NBC)
New 30 Rock: “Hard Ball” (NBC)
New The Sarah Silverman Program: “Not Without My Daughter” (Comedy Central)
Tom Lennon and Ben Garant on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)

Friday, February 23:



New in Theaters: Reno 911!: Miami
New Monk: “Mr. Monk and the Really, Really Dead Guy” (USA)
New Psych: “Poker? I Barely Know Her” (USA)
Tom Green on Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC)
Jim Gaffigan on Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
William H. Macy on Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC)
Ken Davitian (fake Borat producer) on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)

Sunday, February 25:

New Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! (Adult Swim/Cartoon Network)
New Saul of the Molemen (Adult Swim/Cartoon Network)

Live Comedy Watch:



2/20: Tenacious D at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancoucer, BC
2/20-2/21: Ricky Gervais at City Hall in Newcastle, UK
2/20: Todd Barry in Here’s the Thing at the Pit in NYC
2/20: Paul F. Tompkins and Dana Gould in Comedy Death-Ray at UCB Theatre in LA
2/21-2/24: Emo Philips at Dr. Grins in Grand Rapids, MI
2/21: Michael Showalter at UCB Theatre in NYC
2/21-2/25: Marc Maron at Cap City Comedy Club in Austin, TX
2/22-2/23: Ricky Gervais at City Hall in Sheffield, UK
2/22-2/23: Kevin McDonald’s Hammy and the Kids at UCB Theatre in LA
2/22-2/25: Mike Birbiglia at the Improv in Brea, CA
2/22: Doug Benson, Paul F. Tompkins, and Andy Kindler in the Benson Interruption at UCB Theatre in LA
2/23-2/24: Todd Barry at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse in Arlington, VA
2/23: Michael Showalter at UCB Theatre in NYC
2/24: Zach Galifianakis at Irving Plaza in NYC
2/25: Michael Showalter and Eugene Mirman in Tearing the Veil of Maya at Union Hall in NYC
2/25: The Whitest Kids U’Know at Pianos in NYC
2/25: Free ASSSSCAT at UCB Theatre in NYC
2/25: Free ASSSSCAT at UCB Theatre in LA

This Week in Funny 2/12/07-2/18/07

Monday, February 12:

Bill Maher on Tavis Smiley (PBS)

Tuesday, February 13:



New on DVD: Mutual Appreciation (click here to buy)
New on DVD: School for Scoundrels (Unrated Widescreen Edition) (click here to buy)
Harry Shearer on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)

Wednesday, February 14:

New The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show: “Salute to America” (Comedy Central)
Marc Maron on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC)

Thursday, February 15:

New My Name is Earl: “The Birthday Party” (NBC)
New The Office: “Business School” (NBC)
New Scrubs: “My Perspective” (NBC)
New 30 Rock: “The C Word” (NBC)
New The Sarah Silverman Program: “Positively Negative” (Comedy Central)
Jim Carrey on Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC)

Friday, February 16:



New Psych: “Game, Set, Muuurder?” (USA)
Tracy Morgan on Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant on Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC)
Barry Levinson on Tavis Smiley (PBS)

Sunday, February 18:

New Extras: “Episode 12” with Jonathan Ross (HBO)
New The Simpsons: “Springfield Up” (with guest star Eric Idle) (FOX)
New King of the Hill: “Blood and Sauce” (FOX)
New Family Guy: “The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (FOX)
New American Dad: “Black Mystery Month” (FOX)
New Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! (Cartoon Network/Adult Swim)
New Saul of the Molemen (Cartoon Network/Adult Swim)

Live Comedy Watch:



2/13/07: Ricky Gervais at Carling Apollo in Manchester, UK
2/13/07: Tenacious D at Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, CA
2/13/07: Mike Birbiglia at Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction in NYC
2/13/07: Doug Benson at UCB Theatre in LA
2/13/07: Comedy Death-Ray with Human Giant, Andy Kindler, and Chris Hardwick at UCB Theatre in LA
2/13/07: Marc Maron at Comix in NYC
2/14/07: Paul F. Tompkins and Marc Maron at You’re Welcome at the Meta Theater in LA
2/14/07: Invite Them Up with Eugene Mirman at Rififi in NYC
2/15/07: Ricky Gervais at Opera House in Blackpool, UK
2/15/07-2/18/07: Nick Swardson and Tig at the Improv in Houston, TX
2/15/07: Eugene Mirman at PA’s Lounge in Somerville, MA
2/15/07: Human Giant at UCB Theatre in LA
2/16/07: Tenacious D at Paramount Theater in Seattle, WA
2/16/07-2/17/07: Emo Philips at Historic University Theater in Seattle, WA
2/16/07-2/17/07: Eugene Mirman at the Comedy Studio in Cambridge, MA
2/16/07-2/17/07: Paul F. Tompkins and Morgan Murphy at Aimee Mann’s Valentine’s Day Revenge at Largo in LA
2/17/07: Sarah Silverman at House of Blues in Las Vegas, NV
2/18/07: Tearing the Veil of Maya with Michael Showalter and Eugene Mirman at Union Hall in NYC
2/18/07: Free ASSSSCAT at UCB Theatre in NYC
2/18/07: Free ASSSSCAT at UCB Theatre in LA

This Week in Funny 2/5/07-2/11/07

Monday, February 5:

Tom Lennon and Ben Garant on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)
P.J. O’Rourke on Tavis Smiley (PBS)

Tuesday, February 6:



New on DVD: The Science of Sleep (click here to buy)
New on DVD: Running With Scissors (click here to buy)
New Campus Ladies: “Foreign Exchange” (Oxygen)
Naked Trucker on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)

Wednesday, February 7:



New The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show: “Gold Watch” (Comedy Central)
Chris Elliott on Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
Jonathan Katz on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC)
Bob Saget on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)

Thursday, February 8:

New My Name is Earl: “Blow” (NBC)
New The Office: “Phyllis’ Wedding” (NBC)
New Scrubs: “My Road to Nowhere” (NBC)
New 30 Rock: “Up All Night” (NBC)
New The Sarah Silverman Program: “Humanitarian of the Year” with guest star Zach Galifianakis (Comedy Central)
Steve Martin on The Ellen Degeneres Show (Syndicated)

Friday, February 9:

New Monk: “Mr. Monk Visits a Farm” (USA)
New Psych: “Cloudy Chance of Murder” (USA)
Tenacious D on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)

Sunday, February 11:



New The Simpsons: “Little Big Girl” (FOX)
New King of the Hill: “SerPunt” (FOX)
New Extras: "Episode 11" with Ian McKellen (HBO)
Series Premiere Saul of the Mole Men (Adult Swim/Cartoon Network)
Series Premiere Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! (Adult Swim/Cartoon Network)

Live Comedy Watch:



2/5/07-2/6/07: Ricky Gervais at Brighton Centre in Brighton, UK
2/5/07: Matt Besser and Andrew Daly host America’s Best Comic at UCB Theatre in LA
2/5/07: Paul F. Tompkins, Dana Gould, and Andy Kindler at Largo in LA
2/6/07: Laugh Don’t Destroy with Michael Showalter, Eugene Mirman, and Jon Benjamin at Union Hall in Brooklyn
2/6/07: Comedy Death-Ray with Patton Oswalt, Greg Proops, and Aziz Ansari at UCB Theatre in LA
2/6/07: See You Next Tuesday with Paul F. Tompkins and Morgan Murphy at UCB Theatre in LA
2/7/07: Ricky Gervais at New Theatre in Oxford, UK
2/7/07: Invite Them Up with Eugene Mirman at Rififi in NYC
2/7/07: Show & Tell with Andrew Daly and Hard ‘N Phirm at UCB Theatre in LA
2/7/07-2/8/07: Maria Bamford at Irvine Improv in Irvine, CA
2/8/07-2/9/07: Jerry Seinfeld at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, MN
2/8/07-2/9/07: Ricky Gervais at Cardiff International Arena in Cardiff, UK
2/8/07: Human Giant, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Andy Blitz at UCB Theatre in LA
2/9/07-2/10/07: Sarah Silverman at Cobb’s Comedy Club in San Francisco, CA
2/10/07: Nick Swardson at Spreckles Theater in San Diego, CA
2/10/07: The Thrilling Adventure and Supernatural Suspense Hour with Paul F. Tompkins and Dave “Gruber” Allen at Mbar in LA
2/11/07: Tearing the Veil of Maya with Michael Showalter, Eugene Mirman, and Tig at Union Hall in Brooklyn
2/11/07: Sarah Silverman at the Showbox in Seattle, WA
2/11/07: Free ASSSSCAT at UCB Theatre in LA
2/11/07: Free ASSSSCAT at UCB Theatre in NYC

Ricky Loves Guesty

The short interview doc Ricky Gervais Meets...Christopher Guest is now online. It's the latest in what will apparently be a series of Gervais pieces, which started off with Larry David.

For most of the hour, Guest runs a series of dry improv laps that rarely stay on the subject, while Gervais lobs almost uncomfortable fanboy praise across the desk and laughs like a hyena. Nevertheless, they do shed some interesting light on each of Guest's films and his aresenal of actors, his creative process, and their shared influences and objectives.

Check it out:












Thanks to the great Film Junk for the heads up.

This Week in Funny 1/22/07 - 1/28/07

Tuesday, January 23:



New on DVD: The Puffy Chair (click here to buy)
New on DVD: Relative Strangers with Ron Livingston (click here to buy)
New Campus Ladies: "The Last Supper" (Oxygen)
Ricky Gervais on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
Louis CK on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (Repeat) (CBS)

Wednesday, January 24:

New The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show: "Key to the City" (Comedy Central)
Stephen Colbert and Rainn Wilson on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (Repeat) (NBC)

Thursday, January 25:



Tina Fey guest-hosts The View (ABC)
Wanda Sykes on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC)
Kevin Smith on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (Repeat) (NBC)

Friday, January 26:

New in Theaters: Smokin' Aces
New Monk: "Mr. Monk Is At Your Service" (USA)
New Psych: "From the Earth to the Starbucks" (USA)
Bob Saget on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC)
Will Ferrell on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (Repeat) (NBC)

Sunday, January 28:



New Extras: Episode 2.3 with Daniel Radcliffe (HBO)
New The Simpsons: "Revenge is a Dish Best Served Three Times" (FOX)
Season Premiere King of the Hill: "The Peggy Horror Picture Show" (FOX)
New Family Guy: "Road to Rupert" (FOX)
New American Dad: "American Dream Factory" (FOX)

Live Comedy Watch:



1/22: Michael Showalter at the UCB Theater in NYC
1/22: Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, and Doug Benson at the UCB Theater in LA
1/23: Patton Oswalt and Sarah Silverman at the UCB Theater in LA
1/24: Zach Galfianakis at the UCB Theater in LA
1/25: Nick Swardson, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Marc Maron at the UCB Theater in LA
1/25: Jim Gaffigan at the Indiana University Auditorium in Bloomington, IN
1/26: Jerry Seinfeld at the Wharton Center in East Lansing, MI
1/26: Jim Gaffigan at the Victory Theatre in Evansville, IN
1/27: Fred Armisen at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA
1/27: Jim Gaffigan at the Lied Center of Kansas in Lawrence, KS
1/28: Jim Gaffigan at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, IA
1/28: Free ASSSSCAT at the UCB Theater in NYC
1/28: Free ASSSSCAT at the UCB Theater in LA

This Week in Funny - 1/15/07 - 1/21/07

Monday, January 15:



The cast of Little Miss Sunshine on The Ellen Degeneres Show
Amy Sedaris on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)

Tuesday, January 16:

New on DVD: Mike Judge and Don Hertzfeldt’s The Animation Show 1&2 Box Set (click here to buy)
New Campus Ladies: “Safety First” (Oxygen)
Tracy Morgan and Jim Gaffigan on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (NBC)

Wednesday, January 17:



Series Premiere The Naked Trucker & T-Bones Show: “Demo Tape” (Comedy Central)
Tina Fey on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
Naked Trucker & T-Bones on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)

Thursday, January 18:

New My Name is Earl: “Kept a Guy Locked in a Truck” (NBC)
New The Office: “The Return” (NBC)
New Scrubs: “My Musical” (NBC)
New 30 Rock: “The Head and the Hair” (NBC)
Harry Shearer on The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
Chevy Chase on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)
Tony Shalhoub on Live With Regis and Kelly

Friday, January 19:



Season Premiere Monk: “Mr. Monk Meets a Friend” w/ guest star Andy Richter (USA)
Season Premiere Psych: “Forget Me Not” (USA)
Sarah Silverman on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)

Sunday, January 21:

New Extras: Episode 2.2 with David Bowie (HBO)

Live Comedy Watch:



1/15: Rob Corddry at the UCB Theater in LA
1/16: Zach Galifianakis and Matt Besser at the UCB Theater in LA
1/16-1/19: Tenacious D in Australia
1/17-1/19: Ricky Gervais at Festival Theater in Edinburgh, UK
1/17 Fred Armisen at the UCB Theater in NYC
1/18 Human Giant at the UCB Theater in LA
1/19 Jim Gaffigan at Lyric Opera House in Baltimore
1/20 Jim Gaffigan at Taft Theater in Cincinnati
1/20 The Tomorrow Show at the Steve Allen Theater in LA
1/21 Free ASSSSCAT show at the UCB Theater in LA
1/21 Free ASSSSCAT show at the UCB Theater in NYC

HBO Gives Something Extra

The new season of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's award-winning Extras is coming to America on January 14th at 10pm EST. The second season, which has already had its full run in the UK, features a staggering number of big guest stars playing themselves to full comic effect, including Orlando Bloom, David Bowie, Daniel Radcliffe, and Ian McKellen.

An extra-long clip of the season premiere with Bloom can be seen here.

It was recently reported that Gervais was going after some massive names for the upcoming third season of the show, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, and his Night at the Museum co-star Dick Van Dyke.

The first season will be released on DVD this coming Tuesday and can be pre-ordered here. That one features Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, Samuel L. Jackson, and Patrick Stewart.

The first season will be released on DVD this coming Tuesday and can be pre-ordered here. That one features Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, Samuel L. Jackson, and Patrick Stewart.

Office Reunion Party Tonight With Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

Tonight's episode of NBC's The Office is written by original creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. This is only a behind-the-scenes return, separate from the recent rumor that the original cast will be showing up in a future episode to interact with their American counterparts.

If you normally avoid watching rip-off television, tonight should probably be an exception. Also keep in mind that NBC now hosts recent episodes of their hit series on their website where you can view it at your leisure.

In addition to working with Merchant on their new show Extras, as well as a series of podcasts, Gervais will also be appearing this Christmas in the family comedy Night at the Museum, and also has a new live act in the works called Fame. He can also be seen on screens now (albeit briefly) in For Your Consideration. Visit his official site for more info.

The first season of Extras, which features some pretty amazing cameo appearances from Ben Stiller, Kate Winslet, Samuel L. Jackson, and Patrick Stewart, will be released on January 9th and can be pre-ordered here: Extras - The Complete First Season