Rickey Gervais' An Idiot Abroad: Egypt - On Demand → On Demand Weekly

Rickey Gervais’ An Idiot Abroad: Egypt - On DemandFebruary 24, 2011

Science Channel

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Every Thursday, ODW goes deep inside cable TV to reveal Video On Demand's Hidden Gems so even the busiest of our readers can get the most out of On Demand TV. Tell us what VOD shows you think deserves her attention. Filling in this week for Tara is our Premium Picks writer Jean Tait.

A LACK OF REVOLUTION IN EGYPT (VOD Hidden Gem)
By Jean Tait

If you’ve seen “The Ricky Gervais Show,” you are already familiar with the comic trio that is Ricky Gervais, Steven Merchant and Karl Pilkington. In "An Idiot Abroad" (Science Channel), it is all brotherly love/abuse (emphasis on the abuse) between Gervais (with assistance from Merchant) and the long-suffering Pilkington in the naïve little brother role. This is basically a Skipper/Gilligan relationship except Skipper is a little more devious and enjoys making fun of poor, hapless Gilligan. Pilkington accepts his assignments with deadpan ennui.

An Idiot Abroad (Science Channel)

It is all brotherly love/abuse (emphasis on the abuse) between Gervais (with assistance from Merchant) and the long-suffering Pilkington in the naïve little brother role. This is basically a Skipper/Gilligan relationship except Skipper is a little more devious and enjoys making fun of poor, hapless Gilligan. Pilkington accepts his assignments with deadpan ennui.

Gervais and Merchant take great delight in putting Karl in uncomfortable situations. They put him into a run-down hotel, arrange for him to ride out to the pyramids on a camel, not in a car, and arranging for him to meet up with all sorts of oddball characters. All of which is completely unnecessary, as Pilkington is completely capable of getting himself into difficult situations, as when he starts to over-promise his patronage to every bar and restaurant shill he passes.

An Idiot Abroad (Science Channel)

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An Idiot Abroad is available on Science Channel On Demand

- Jean Tait

Jean
Jean Tait is a contributing writer to On Demand Weekly. Currently the Director of Programming for the Connecticut Film Festival, Jean has programmed for the Jacksonville Film Festival and Sundance Channel.