Image via Wikipedia
“If people are given a chance to appreciate more sophisticated things, then they would. I think that’s true in all walks of life. You know, it’s an acquired taste, and the best things are an acquired taste.”
– Ricky Gervais, The Ricky Gervais Show
I think this really sums up how comics (and all media) need to avoid the lazy out of pandering to the lowest common denominator, and instead strive to produce more sophisticated work that can both entertain and inform. (The webcomic Hark! A Vagrant is a terrific example of this; more on this soon.)
The success of South Park, The Simpsons, and Family Guy (among others) is that they appeal on several different levels: they can have ridiculously stupid humor while generating brilliant commentary. Charlie Chaplin’s genius was revealed in doing this in films like The Immigrant. Walt Disney and his animators did this in The Skeleton Dance and The Band Concert (and, later, Fantasia):
It’s easy to distract ourselves with mental junk food like sitcoms, TV sports, “reality” programs, and romantic comedies all day. But why waste time doing that? Life’s too short! When you’re on your deathbed, which do you want to be thinking: “I used the brain I was given to think, and have empathy for others, and understand the world around me, and make it a better place,” or “Boy, I’m sure glad I watched every episode of Two and a Half Men“?
Related articles
- PHOTO: Ricky Gervais, Johnny Depp Put Dwarf Friend In Toilet (huffingtonpost.com)
- How Ricky Gervais became an atheist (whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com)
- The Ricky Gervais Show animated TV series (lostateminor.com)
- Ricky Gervais Stops by ‘Late Night,’ Critiques Fallon’s Monologue (VIDEO) (aoltv.com)
- Ricky Gervais Dresses Dwarf Friend As A Frog (huffingtonpost.com)
- Ricky Gervais’ New Show Has TONS Of Guest Stars! (lukewilliamss.wordpress.com)
- Can We Please Stop With the Ricky Gervais Hate? (newsroom.mtv.com)
- Ricky Gervais: Golden Globes Asked Me To Host Again (huffingtonpost.com)
- I Will Watch the Hell Out of Ricky Gervais Live-Streaming Commentary for the Golden Globes [Comedy] (gizmodo.com)
- Ricky Gervais Defends His Right to Make Fun of Hollywood Actors on ‘Today’ (VIDEO) (aoltv.com)
- Ricky Gervais, Louis CK, Jon Stewart To Host ‘Alternative’ Golden Globes? (huffingtonpost.com)
- Ricky Gervais’ New Show Has TONS Of Guest Stars! (perezhilton.com)
- Ricky Gervais looks for next hit with show about dwarves (ctv.ca)
- Ricky Gervais Planning Comedy About Mentally Challenged (huffingtonpost.com)
All Day Comics 
Hi! I just came across this post because I’m a massive Gervais fan. Nice blog btw.
Thank you!