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Comments (9)
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Save/ShareWhat happens when a man who hates to travel is sent on a journey around the world? Better yet, what happens when a man who hates to travel and has no social filter is sent around the world with a bevy of cameramen? The result is an absurdly popular (and vaguely offensive) television show called "An Idiot Abroad."
Ricky Gervais, best known for his role in the British version of "The Office," came up with the idea along with his friend Steve Merchant and Karl Pilkington (both are former colleagues from his 2001 London radio program "The Ricky Gervais Show").
The concept is this: Karl (the "Idiot") doesn't like to venture too far outside of his comfort zone. He loathes that which is unfamiliar and when it comes to vacations, he prefers a quiet weekend at the beach.
Knowing this, his pals Gervais and Merchant sign him up for a whirlwind tour of the world—China, India, Egypt, Jordan, and more—which plays out over eight episodes on the Science Channel (the series aired for the first time on Jan 22; for run dates check the channel schedule). The duo enlist their friend for activities ranging from tasting toad in China to experiencing the religious celebration of Kumbh Mela in India.
"I knew he'd hate it and that's why I did it!" Gervais gloats and calls the show "the most expensive practical joke I've ever done."
Pilkington didn't want to participate, but his girlfriend convinced him it was a good idea. "I blame her for this," he told CNN. "She said I'd regret passing this up, and I can't say no to her."
Watch the trailer for the show:
Plenty of television personalities have explored these attractions before, but what makes "An Idiot Abroad" different is Pilkington's completely unfiltered, off-the-cuff take on what he's experiencing. He asks the kinds of questions children voice and adults wonder silently like "Am I missing something here?" when told that the Great Wall of China was recently renovated. "So the old stuff's gone? Then it shouldn't be a wonder. It's not the great wall of China, it's the all-right wall of China." When offered a steaming bowl of toad he points out "if I eat that and I start gagging, you'll think I'm rude!"
So far the series is a blockbuster hit. Since it's premiere, 4.3 million viewers have tuned in to watch Pilkington's adventures, making the program one of the Science Channel's highest rated TV shows ever.
It's an extreme perspective for sure, but anyone who has traveled to a foreign country can relate to at least some form of culture shock. In fact, one of the joys of traveling is experiencing that which is different, unknown—and sometimes the unknown can be downright frustrating, sometimes hilariously so. I lived in France for a time—it was my first time out of the U.S.—and I remember being regularly confounded by the toilets. Every toilet had a different way of flushing and sometimes it would take me an embarrassingly long time to figure out how this particular brand functioned—did I need to pull a string from above? Push a pedal on the floor? Touch a button on the wall? It was always an adventure.
Karl has a similarly laughable toilet experience. Watch it:
So my question to you is—can you relate to Karl or do you think he's just downright offensive?
If you can relate, what is the most hilarious cultural misunderstanding you've had abroad? I'm dying to know!
See more from Budget Travel:
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Not only do I relate to him, I think he's adorable. I wish they wouldn't take out the cuss words, though. They are screwing up some of the funniest moments.
Posted By LP22 on February 3, 2011, 4:37 PM
i do believe, much like his pontification about the beautiful sculptures known as the Great Pyramids, that his brain is actually quite like a game of Jenga that has gotten out of hand!
thanks from the depths of my wee American heart to Ricky and Steve for bringing this lovely, little orange-headed bloke into the media spotlight so many years ago and keeping it going....what a comedic gift, you bastards!
Posted By katie on February 3, 2011, 7:43 PM
The pyramids are not "scuptures", they are technically buildings.
Anyhow, Karl Pilkington's got a head like a Fu#king orange! I can't help but have mixed feeling about him going so main stream now, used to be somewhat of a best kept secret, now he's being shared with a much larger group. Oh well he wants to buy another house, so..
Posted By Crystal on February 4, 2011, 1:14 AM
Love this show so much. I've been a Gervais fan for years and one of my favorite things he's done has been the Podcasts and the animated series on HBO it lead to, but this cannot be far behind. It's awesome seeing all these exotic places in brilliant HD...as a DISH customer/employee I have access tot he most HD in the industry...and seeing just how palpably uncomfortable Pilkington is just makes the show that much funnier.
Posted By Elias on February 4, 2011, 1:00 PM
King Poo Chicken?
Posted By kimd on February 4, 2011, 3:35 PM
dear karen,
actually the Great Pyramids are technically not "buildings"...the Great Pyramid of Giza is actually a tomb is you wish to be "technical."
definition of "to sculpt": to create by shaping stone or wood or any other hard material..."
forgive me for taking poetic license and calling them "sculptures"...but hey, at least i know how to spell "sculpture."
now i'm done being a petty c**t. ok, head like a f***ing orange!
cheers!
Posted By katie on February 4, 2011, 9:17 PM
I used to drive ricky when i was a limo driver in nyc i never knew who he was cause i was always working.He's a genius!this is the funniest show since benny hill
Posted By Paul on February 6, 2011, 3:29 AM
Pilkington has such a narrow perspective on life that he filters whatever he experiences get sifted through it. This is a very funny series while giving us, the viewers, a taste of places that some of us have not been to (yet). That his brain runs on external speaker without much editing is what is so funny about him. He doesn't mean to be rude, but his ability to think outside his own perspective is amusing.
Posted By AnalogJeff on February 25, 2011, 1:06 PM
I caught my first episode this evening. I am not a fan of reality shows, but this is by far the best show on TV. There are times when you feel uncomfortable laughing at the comments and situations, but you can't help it.
Excellent concept.
Posted By Mr Ugly on February 26, 2011, 10:52 PM