Supermallet

I did a search and didn't see any threads for this. For those who don't know, Karl Pilkington is the round-headed buffoon that Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant were given as a producer when they did radio shows. They loved his bizarre, lop-sided way of looking at the world so much that they included him when doing podcasts. With Gervais' help and urging, Karl has written books, and now is doing a travel show called An Idiot Abroad for Sky TV in the UK.

I'm watching the first episode now and it's fantastic. Gervais and Merchant open the show and make no bones about the fact that this is basically to make Karl uncomfortable for their own amusement. He goes to China and the results are brilliant. His musings on China are hilarious. "Everything we've done, they've gone and done it weirder," he says as Gervais and Merchant laugh uncontrollably.

Seeing Karl experience China, and hearing his musings about it, is truly hilarious. He cannot fathom what he's seeing, but he thinks he's the only sane one there. A true highlight is seeing him react to Chinese public restrooms, and his discovery that the Great Wall of China has been--GASP--restored!

Any other Pilkington fans out there watching this?

Boba Fett

I've been meaning to search it out, since a US release might not be a possibility.

Supermallet

It seems a little niche for US release, yes.

dino88

I'd love to watch this, but I have no idea how I can do that. I heard about the show from the podcast, but didn't think I'd be able to see it until a dvd release.

Bill Needle

Would love to watch this.

starman9000

I'll get this as soon as it's on DVD.

Supermallet

I found this on Ricky's blog:

So there's a chance it could come to the US. I could see it on IFC or BBC America. I hope it does, as everyone should be able to see this. It's pure, unadulterated Karl Pilkington.

dan30oly

Thank you for reminding me about this.

Looking for it now...

JohnSlider

I've seen the first episode and enjoyed it quite a bit, but there's so much on right now I don't know if I'll keep up with it or wait and get the rest of the episodes sometime in the summer when there is less on.

Bill Needle

Karl describing all of China in one word: Dreadful.

kantonburg

Has anyone watched the first two episodes on The Science Channel? It's been pretty funny so far.

whotony

I saw the first ep with China and no doors, paper or actual toilets in the public bathrooms.

It's also on demand from comcast including a 55 minute pre episode that has these guys talking about the series.
This series is going to be brilliant.

dan30oly

Fixed.


I've seen the whole series and it was great. I would definitely pick it up on blu ray should it become available.

By the way, as per Ricky's blog (http://www.rickygervais.com/thissideofthetruth.php), there's a series two in the works.

Count Dooku

So in India the Honeymoon Suite is stocked like a Home Depot --basically the message is "Now that you're married, get ready to do a lot of home improvements."

Tommy Ceez

I have an en suite shed

bcd

If you follow the blog of Ricky Gervais, apparently Karl is on board for a second series of this show! Which is great news!

dino88

I'm patiently awaiting next week's episode. I had previously seen the first 3 episodes and they were great.

This took me back to my time living in Southeast Asia. Strangely enough, you actually get used to it. Some places would sell a tiny bag of tissues outside the toilets for Westerners. I always kept a roll on me, just in case. The showers are an experience as well. No running water, just a tub filled with water and a bucket to pour over your head.

whotony

How does that work without getting too ugly, just squat, pinch it out and pull up your pants and go?
Does someone come in and hose down the floor?

dino88

There's a bucket of water next to toilet. You just pour that water into the toilet and it flushes.
A lot of places have a spray hose which works as a replacement for toilet paper. I actually grew to prefer that over toilet paper. If you're using paper, you don't put it in the toilet. They have a waste basket next to the toilet for the used paper. Now that's something I never got used to...pretty gross.

Found this video:
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WtHbBAai0bM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

mike7162

Thank God I'm an American.

whotony

Someone said that 2 posts before yours.

None of that in that episode, just a hole in the floor, no water no raised seated thing or anything else

Jordan/Israel, Ricky, "tonight you're sleeping in a cave." Carl. "what for?" "Ricky, "Because it's funny."

Nefarious

It is a fantastic series. I downloaded the episodes when it aired on Sky. Glad it made it to the US viewers.

Boba Fett

Hopefully the US DVD release will be uncensored, if only for Karl's rants. I know the British version was uncut in both content and language.

CreamyGoodness

I've been catching this on The Science Channel. Great show!

Next week is the finale (episode seven), which says it's about Karl coming home. It looks as if the only "new" Seven Wonders of the World that Karl didn't visit was The Roman Colosseum in Italy.

DaveNinja

yeah they went to the pyramids instead of the Colosseum.

the wrap up episode is number 8, i believe. number 7 was machupichu, peru