Top 10 Funniest Ricky Gervais Moments

Written by Richard Bush

Top 10 Funniest Ricky Gervais Moments

These Ricky Gervais moments had us in stitches. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Funniest Ricky Gervais Moments.

For this list, we’re looking at the most hilarious, brutal and cringe-worthy moments from Ricky Gervais’ career. Just to be clear, we’re only focusing on his comedy outside of TV shows and movies. So, think night at the Golden Globes rather than “Night at the Museum”.

#10: Intro Monologue
“77th Golden Globe Awards” (2020)

We kick things off with Gervais’ fifth shot as host of the Golden Globes - and no, this isn’t the only Golden Globes entry on here today, don’t panic. Whenever Gervais is playing host at the podium, you can always rely on him to get personal, and although this was his fifth time as guest speaker, his ferociousness didn’t wane. He took aim at DiCaprio and his penchant for younger women, he promoted his own Netflix show “Afterlife”. And of course, there was his dig at celebs’ educations - which in turn gave us this killer Tom Hanks meme. Thanks Ricky, and Tom - and Greta, we guess!

#9: Gervais on Adolf
“Late Night with Seth Meyers” (2014-)

Some people skirt around difficult topics. But Gervais has a tendency to jump right in with both feet. And the time Seth Meyers brought up the Hitler part of Gervais’ stand-up, he wasn’t afraid to shoot off on a tangent about how he definitely wouldn’t go back in time and take care of baby Hitler. Gervais goes on to tell Meyers about how he held a social media poll about whether Hitler’s baby picture was cuter than his own. He then says he finds it hilarious that sometimes the picture of baby Hitler he has on his phone, randomly appears on his smartwatch. Each to their own, huh.

#8: Bathtime Selfies

Gervais uses social media as an outlet for different things. One day he might be expressing his passion for animal rights - the next he could be making a highly contentious political joke. But sometimes, he just uses social media to let his stupidity flow freely - and his bread and butter is the bath selfie. Making weird faces, typically half submerged in water, Gervais’ bath selfies are legendary, further proving that the comedian really doesn’t care about what anyone thinks of his unusual humour, or his face. Seriously, flick through some of these as a do not laugh challenge. You will lose.

#7: Pretending to Win an Emmy
“67th Primetime Emmy Awards” (2015)

Our next entry is another hosting spot for Gervais, as he prepares to read out the winner of the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series award at the Emmys. But, before he does, he takes time to grab the spotlight and make light of the event by pretending to win an award himself. And for all of his mockery, you’ve got to admit, he shows some serious finesse in the acting department. His logic - if someone tweets a picture of him pretending to win, then people on social media will assume he’s won. You know, because he’s great, and knows Ryan Seacrest.

#6: Gervais on Animal Illustrations
"Animals" (2003)

Nine times out of ten, powerpoint presentations suck. It’s just slide after boring slide. That is, unless Gervais is doing it - and the subject of discussion is animal sexuality. In a section of his 2003 stand-up DVD “Animals”, Gervais provides a running commentary on the illusrations in a book on homosexual animals. After each slide pops up on stage, Gervais is almost lost for words, giving very brief but hilarious critiques on the different types of animal copulation. He wouldn’t make a very good biology teacher, let’s put it that way.

#5: Messing with Kate Winslet
“66th Golden Globe Awards” (2009)

You know what they say, certain roles and certain movies garner greater attention at awards ceremonies than others. And Gervais lets Kate Winslet know it. Upon receiving her Best Supporting Actress accolade for her performance in a movie about Nazi concentration camps, Gervais makes an ‘I told you so joke’, stating that a Holocaust movie will guarentee you an award. He also points out what Holocaust movies lack . . . And then goes on to show his internal monologue debating over whether or not to tell the aforementioned joke. What do you think?

#4: Gervais à la Ramsey
“The F-Word” (2005-10)

Just like certain types of wine, meat or fish, Gervais’ brand of comedy can be an acquired taste. But chef Gordon Ramsey certainly has an appetite for it. Starring as a guest on his cooking show “The F-Word”, Gervais riffs with Ramsey over naming pets - who you plan on eventually eating - and about some rather interestingly-named European snacks. A renowned joker himself, Ramsey and Gervais bounce off one another as they make fun of everything from chocolate bars to sexy bunny rabbits. And we even get Gervais’ hilarious take on a Swedish chocolate bar commercial. Anyone else want to go and buy some Plopp? Anyone?

#3: Gervais "Visits" Kenya
“Comic Relief 2007: The Big One”

Although Gervais has done some pretty wild jokes, this one is perhaps his most risqué to date. As part of the 2007 Comic Relief charity event, Gervais takes aim at the superficial idea of celebrities visiting poverty-stricken countries in order to raise awareness. In the sketch, he mocks up a hut from Kenya and comments on how faking it gets him just as good publicity. And he even has guest stars flooding in, each wanting to have their own taste of the limelight - including Jamie Oliver. Gervais can make pretty much anything satirical, it seems.

#2: Taking His Emmy Back
“60th Primetime Emmy Awards” (2008)

The debate over which version of the TV Show “The Office” is better - the UK or the US - will probably go on forever. Do you prefer Gervais’ David Brent, or Steve Carell’s Michael Scott? In this Emmy speech, Gervais let everyone know how he feels about the whole thing. Taking a dig at Steve Carell for excitedly accepting his Emmy on his behalf, he confronts him and asks Carell to give him his Emmy back. As an audience, we don’t know where to look - or whether Carell is in on it. It’s textbook cringe-comedy.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honourable mentions.

Equality Street

Gervais' Lonely Wife...

British Comedy Awards Acceptance Speech

Walking Off on Jonathan Ross

Here Lies Ricky Gervais...

#1: "I Like a Drink as Much as the Next Man..."
“67th Golden Globe Awards” (2010)

Although no celeb is safe when Gervais is around, there are some personalities that have fallen victim to his critique more than once - Mel Gibson being one of them. In this killer one-liner from the “2010 Golden Globes”, Gervais leaves us hanging and guessing for a moment, before coming out with this line. Clearly taking a dig at Gibson’s drinking habits, Mel enters the stage and playfully points towards Gervais - although we all know he was probably boiling inside. It may only be a one-liner, but it represents the best in Gervais’ wit, nerve and comic delivery.