Ricky Gervais Helps Americans Understand "The Office" | Late Night with Conan O’Brien

(Original Air Date: 12/12/06) Ricky Gervais discusses the ethics of mermaid sexual relations, lazy gifts, instructions for American fans of "The Office", and Clint Eastwood's response to his Golden Globe win.
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ABOUT LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN
Running from 1993-2009, Late Night with Conan O’Brien is one of the most beloved late night shows in television history. Known for its absurdist humor, hilarious celebrity interviews and featuring the best stand-up comedians and musical acts of the ‘90s and early 2000s. Hosted by Conan O’Brien alongside sidekick Andy Richter and house band Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg 7, Late Night with Conan O’Brien featured unforgettable segments like “If They Mated”, “In the Year 2000”, “Desk Drive”, and made a breakout star of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

[@tylertyler82]

Extras is one of the best shows I’ve ever watched. Not just incredibly funny but also has a lot of depth and heart warming.

[@karenscigliano9787]

"Uncle Ricky, I didn't win 😢" LOL😂

[@rm3869]

I love that almost every interview they have Ricky start shaming and bullying Conan at some point

[@dannyfoster6848]

That’s how English men treat their friends

[@bobbrewer5182]

You don’t know what that word means!

[@ProudPapa26]

Our generation calls that Joking. 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@canag0d]

Ricky roasts everyone not just Conan…

[@deadinthebed963]

O'Brien can more than hold his own against Ricky

[@gt-gu7rb]

He was praising Hollywood when he first arrived. Who knew just about a decade late he terrified the whole room at that same Golden Glob ceremony as the host. The expressions on the faces of the audience, utter shock. Loved it.

[@dwocelot6913]

Gervais is one of the only voices of truth and hilarity left in modern comedy

[@ChristopherKelaart]

Mate, leave the UK ffs

[@seanwade8188]

You both need to go outside and get some fresh air

[@timothygraham4304]

Why? Is it because he slags off things you don't like? I enjoy his comedy, but he's taking the piss, and doesn't actually feel that way.

[@turolretar]

But he’s fat how can he be truthful?

[@henryburton6529]

If you think he has any relationship with the truth you haven't been listening to him. He says he will take literally ANY position to make a joke work.

[@chrisincamera]

I hadnt seen that Clip with David Bowie on Extras which was pretty amazing but still absolutely nothing beats Patrick Stewart seeing everything. Gervais should be required to bring that clip to every interview for the rest of his career.

[@cryalot378]

"And all of her clothes fall off, she is scrambling around to get them back on but before she can get her knickers on I've seen everything. I have seen it all."

[@peterlpool1387]

“Is there any nudity in it?”

[@ny3974]

Just curious how you have never seen "that clip"? If you have watched extras you can't miss it? Unless you have literally only watched the Patrick Stewart/harry potter episode. If you haven't watched all 13 episodes I would strongly recommend mate. Absolutely brilliant!!

[@chrisincamera]

@@ny3974 Admittedly only have seen the one with Patrick Stewart and another one with Ben Stiller. I have some good catch up watching to do for sure.

[@ny3974]

@@chrisincamera definitely! I encourage you to watch the 12 episodes and Xmas special. 👍

[@WittyScoop]

Pls upload more of Ricky and Conan ❤

[@wagenna]

Great clip! Both of them are exceptional at their differing entertainment crafts. Wonderful!

[@mackaytim]

Conan is such a great enabler - he is so quick to play along with wherever his guest starts going.

[@perpetual_bias]

3:55 "if an american hasn't heard of shakespeare they won't like the office. there's other barriers in the way" HAHAHAAHA

[@shyamnair9369]

That was the best joke and no one got it

[@moonscar119]

​@shyamnair9369 he was in a room full of Americans. What do you expect? 😆 Sadly went over their heads but not mine.... I chuckled delightfully lol

[@fionagregory9147]

​@@moonscar119yes I know what you mean.

[@leolindberg]

David Brent AND Bobby Baccala in the same show??? Those were the days...

[@katelesage]

Obsessed with Ricky!

[@Mr_Grimbley]

If you ever want to see a reverse mermaid, watch the Red Dwarf episode Better Than Life. Her name is Miranda.

[@jonahp03]

Two of the best to ever do it!

[@zerohuntr]

You mean sex?

[@steveeuphrates-river7342]

Hahaha... priceless Bowie song!

[@michaelhockus8208]

wow this is a deep cut

[@davidevans3227]

never heard that before if you don't know who Shakespeare is you won't like the office... 🙂 i love it

[@peterthornton2396]

My favourite fellow Brit and my favourite American

[@Moekoffee2001]

It’s great seeing Conan’s natural hair color

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

Clairol Natural Instincts Demi-Permanent Hair Color. A man fighting back the grays should only get the best.

[@andrewwhite3793]

The US has been taking UK shows for years. In the 60's we had "Till death do us part" that went stateside to become "All in the Family" "Steptoe and Son" = "Stanford and Son"

[@user-jn1ot1db5p]

Merchant was the true comedian in their writing

[@bobbyk9815]

At first when he said "ten pounds" of lottery tickets, I thought "Damn, that must have been expensive."

[@MyFavoriteDisease]

I guess you didn't refer to the glossary of British terms Ricky mentioned ;-)

[@fionagregory9147]

Don't you know anything?

[@bobbyk9815]

@@fionagregory9147 Me no understand

[@CoachingHigher]

You know the clip is old when he's wearing a blazer

[@markrenton8245]

" we don't have stars like you do in England" while playing on a show with David Bowie.

[@GM-fn3ku]

He means they aren’t put on a platform like you do in America. Not that we don’t have the talent

[@JoelJoel321]

I think he meant it's less of a big deal when Bradley Walsh is looking up from the audience.

[@da3855]

Battle of the pompadours

[@user-kh8vy4in2o]

Ricky James!

[@jesusmaryandjoseph6]

Hahahah the original office was the best

[@lew0]

We need a Karl and Steve reunion.

[@Tonedefdom]

The cat from Red Dwarf prefers the fish head human leg combo

[@Tonedefdom]

@totallybored5526 :) in this case, at least 2

[@markb20]

This interview is from 17 years ago, 2006! The American Office had premiered the year before; I always remember the legendary 2nd episode, "Diversity Day". Michael had been going around the office repeating the infamous Chris Rock monologue about living next door to blacks, and was then ordered to take racial tolerance training. It was unlike any other episode of tv I had ever seen. And it's why, in these times of Cancel Culture and racial sensitivity, you won't see this episode anymore in reruns. Our loss.

[@chuckhoover6819]

I've seen it in reruns...

[@markb20]

@@chuckhoover6819 Likely depends on the channel or streaming service. I know for a fact for some years after The Office wrapped, the episode was left out of the rotation; it really angered me. Again, probably depends on the channel or service. I would guess it wasn't due to the idea of Michael repeating Chris Rock's stand-up concerning blacks, but rather when Michael starts imitating an Indian convenience store owner (like Apu) to Kelly's face.

[@markb20]

@@chuckhoover6819 Tonight on Comedy Central, The Office episodes starting with the pilot (Season 1/Episode 1) and all episodes following it- except Episode 2. Comedy Central, supposedly a cutting edge cable channel for comedy, won't show an episode of The Office that passed the censors of Network TV (Channel 4) in 2005. Pathetic.

[@Randomonium66]

​@markb20 u gotta have a talking turd in a cartoon to get away with shit now lol

[@leonardshevlin7260]

Owning some DVDs isn't the worst idea. One episode of Fawlty Towers was nearly removed from all streaming services.

[@ZdenekLU]

Can someone tell me what was blipped around 5:00?

[@moonscar119]

The f-word

[@kayjay3690]

Conan is dressed for the office.

[@KieranLeCam]

Ricky actually looks like David Bowie!

[@KoreAmBear]

That’s what i thought

[@hamperionsma7218]

2002 conan chin vibes

[@j.p.9295]

Fish head with legs . 😅 o dear, nightnares.

[@RichD8man]

I have no idea how Conan is a celebrity. Ricky is a legend.

[@TonyEnglandUK]

I truly can't watch Conan, I didn't get through this because of his endless shouting and acting. Whereas I loved watching Letterman interview Ricky because they seem to have the same humour.

[@moonscar119]

​@TonyEnglandUK letterman was/is a bully and a dick. He brought people down rather than being them up

[@kevinaldrich5862]

Oh my god that was funny. Amazing. Funny little fat man. hahahahaha

[@phendrix3876]

If you haven't watched his series After Life, you're missing out enormously.

[@frank9367]

it’s a pretentious mess. entertaining the first time around but definitely not a must watch.

[@pauloshea5483]

Loved the office not so much afterlife

[@phendrix3876]

Aw... i thought it was amazing. But maybe it depends on what you've been through?

[@phendrix3876]

@@frank9367 how many times do you watch shows. I liked it for what it was, but I'm not going back.

[@deadinthebed963]

O'Brien can more than hold his own against Gervais

[@MrUmandMrEr]

Clint hasn't heard of Shakespeare...

[@user-kh8vy4in2o]

On wiggle

[@redred9882]

Who else refuses to watch the US version of the Office? You cannot never beat the original basically I feel 😁

[@stevenicol1]

me, i watched one episode and it was terrible.

[@susanmurray7654]

Me

[@shazanali692]

Im gonna start this xmas. I will finally watch usa version

[@CommunityFan]

​@@stevenicol1Which episode?

[@cesnav7593]

I attempted to watch the UK version and it was HORRIBLE. So dry and not one bit funny. Someone told me @thats British humor.” Well then British humor sucks, cause it was bad.

[@DigitalDaffodil]

0:36 stealing Karl pilkingtons material again

[@jilldavies7094]

Conan O'Brien was yet to learn not to try to hog the interview, and that the guest is the star. I don't know if he's acquired that skill since this clip.

[@fionagregory9147]

British is best.

[@neilbarkeraswell]

Conan? What a……..answer here.

[@TonyEnglandUK]

pain?

[@iconoclad]

This must have been aired years ago.

[@moonscar119]

Late 2006 or early 2007

[@jordieag]

That was weird when yer man starts feelin himself . Proper strange

[@kenneth6707]

I did not know that haven’t heard of William Shakespeare was a question now. Or is it Jimmy

[@couchbuddha]

This is not my real head

[@5VHIB5VHIBE5VHgb3tp]

He then looked like current Russell Crowe

[@lucabrasi3964]

Conans cpu just shortcircuted because ricky said a bad word

[@psycho8927]

Americans

[@user-kh8vy4in2o]

Bah

[@fionagregory9147]

Why don't they understand British things?

[@leonardshevlin7260]

Because we have lived in the United States.

[@gmdhargreaves]

Buying lottery tickets in the for under 18s is illegal

[@m.c4210]

I love Conan but can we acknowledge that his set in the 2000’s was absolutely disgusting. Everything on it is disgusting.

[@Randomonium66]

I've tried to get through the pilot of the original several times, but I can't understand what the hell they're saying. The British accent is thicker than Guinness, and I hate subtitles 😅

[@fionagregory9147]

I don't like yank accent

[@daniellarge9784]

I can read

[@fionagregory9147]

No it's not! I hate some American accents. I think British is best but you are entitled to your opinion.

[@thomsboys77]

I felt the same way when I first watched The Godfather and Rocky

[@James_Sins89]

Conan used to be a bit of a suck up. After the tonight show thing, he changed

[@lydialanata8714]

Sorry but zBrittish is not yhe best in my book, entertaining yes but still lucky to have a spot in the US!

[@brian.7966]

conan is not funny, he tries though.

[@WJB1872]

Americans sense of humour is bad 😂😂

[@bernieseth5115]

I Love Ricky he's amazing but.. Steve did the office boss better. I get it was Ricky's idea and he did it first.

[@collingwoodartdolls634]

Nope!

[@dopy8418]

Am i the only one thinking Conan is not funny at all ?

[@KennedyIvy]

Hes a lot better now. Back then he was too much in his head

[@CheckThisOut77]

This interview is dull.

[@user-xk8gm3xn4o]

The British office looked crap seriously I does really

[@TonyEnglandUK]

Yeah right. So "crap" your country couldn't wait to copy it, lol. It's one of the most-successful TV comedies of all time.

[@michaeljohn1978]

How to say "I'm an idiot" without saying "I'm an idiot". Whether it's the opinion or the inability to form a legible sentence

[@user-lm2vs1sl3v]

Which shows you didn’t understand it