An Idiot Abroad

[hdaniel82]

You left??

[Beate]

Goody bags with Sky mugs and fortune cookies in them? I think it's fair to say that the evening had a slightly surreal note to it. It started with us filing into the big big screen at Greenwich O2 and being told to sit in the front bit, the one without any incline, where the huge screen is about 2 inches away from your nose. To which we all said no way. "But I have been told to fill up from the front." I said if that's so then I will turn round out and go out and only come back in again when they start filling the back rows! Lots of people were voicing their disbelief, saying it's free seating, and while they were arguing, we simply slipped past them and made our way to the back rows. No one held us back and other people then started doing the same, until the front bit was totally deserted. Never have I seen ushers so thoroughly ignored! They gave up then, LOL. The screening wasn't full by any means anyway.

Then we had a seemingly endless introduction (10 minutes at least) from someone who just couldn't shut up about the film and told us anecdotes "and then Karl did this and it was so funny, ha ha, he really is like that, it's not an act". A_person came and sat next to us but the goody bags bored her and she left before it even started! Of course 2 minutes later they read the 10 names of the people having won a book and guess what? EXACTLY. Had to text and tell her to come back and claim her book! I hope I get a glimpse of it for my troubles, I really want to read it.

It finally started at 6.45pm and I liked it very much. Karl isn't an idiot at all, and I actually think that it is hugely offensive to call a programme with him in it like that. He is a very likeable lad, and if it was me stuck in the situations the patronising Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant had put him in, I would have moaned exactly the same things! He had a unique take on things and was actually quite insightful at times. He also was never rude to anyone, very chatty and tried his best to interact with all those weird people thrown his way. I wish I could see the rest of the programme! The first part was Karl in China, the second in India, which, let's face it, can be a very strange place. I think I know now where Ricky Gervais has his "You're having a laff. Is he having a laff?" from. And yes, Ricky's laugh is irritating.

We now are the proud owners of 12 Sky mugs. The OH went a bit overboard...

7.5/10

[EthanRunt]

Annoyed by the delay at the O2 for the beginning, and I was one of those who sat at the front at first.

Most infuriating was the people who chose to sit next to me in my nearly empty row were talking and texting the whole time, and during the India episode were loudly complaining about the level of genetalia on show.
This is why I hate people...

Still, loved the show, poor Karl, he's such a great presenter/subject, can easily watch him for days on end.
Had my fingers crossed on the raffle, but no avail. No luck, me.

[yogi]

Just watched this at The Lowry in Salford only about 100 people there when it would hold about 500. The 2 Producers/ Directors gave us a talk about what the documentary was about and the thoughts behind it, 10 of us won a book about the series - I was one of the lucky ones (thank you a_person for getting the tickets for me - I almost forgot what name I'd used )
It was really funny and Karl is such a likeable character, I didn't think that it would really be my thing but that's what previews are all about and I was pleasantly surprised. Must admit Ricky Gervais' laugh did irritate me.

Ooh forgot to mention the goody bags, I have just 2 Sky mugs not 12 like Beate

Congratulations, thought I'd heard a Diane read out and instantly thoughtly it might be a fellow FMUKer.

You did better than me, I didn't even get a fortune in my cookie!!

Loved the show, wasn't sure about seeing a TV show at the cinema, but glad I did.

Karl has a unique outlook and is an engaging character to follow on his travels, its worth looking up the old XFM and Guardian radioshows and podcasts if you enjoyed this.

[hdaniel82]

We have had a few return tickets for tonights preview to An Idiot Abroad with Ricky Gervais TONIGHT in Leeds and Birmingham – to download tickets go to www.SEEfilmfirst.com and enter code: 513737

[weliveandbreathewords]

after messaging SFF about my ticket error, theyve sent me a ticket to print :)
i shall be seeing it in brum tonight with my bf! fingers crossed i get a book!

[steve9872]

Saw this tonight, I wouldn't call him an idiot, perhaps a bit naive but plenty of his observations were intelligent, inciteful and funny. I bet he was well pa*d to do this.

PS. I also won the book.

[opas]

I enjoyed this, wasn't sure what to expect but unlike The Pacific, I wasn't put off by this preview. I'll definitely try to watch the rest of the series. Like others said, Karl wasn't a complete idiot/dimwit. Some of his observations were funnier than others but generally it was worth watching. And Ricky Gervais' laugh is fairly annoying! 7/10.

I didn't really bother collecting the mugs, was looking forward to some goodies to eat but was sorely disappointed! I do enjoy watching things on that massive screen at the O2, but I'm not wowed by it any more. This preview wasn't well attended with many empty seats which was a shame.

Congrats to those who won the book - is it any good??

[jmbblue]

Just discovered this programme after watching re-runs on sky and it is hilarious - how does that man come up with such witty, straightfaced observations - a must watch.