Stephen Merchant | 6 foot 7 and Co-created The Office | Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out Podcast

[@kathrynaston6841]

Merchant is a treasure. I could listen to his stories for days.

[@galesito1733]

Steve is great. I love to hear him talk about comedy because he understands it as a professional and a fan.

[@icetech6]

Thank you Mike :) If anyone is bored watch bloopers from Extras... the stuff they couldn't use with Stephen is soo good

[@Chris-im3ys]

I would but I can't stand his castmate's awful laugh

[@zomgbat]

@@Chris-im3ys Deliberately omiting Gervais?

[@KarlPilkington-c5v]

Freak of the Week

[@carlosburciaga6522]

He’s dun you again Steve!!

[@gmonz11]

Cheeky

[@ScottCalvinsClause]

Did you make this account just to make this comment?

[@colinsmith484]

When I see him I sorta do a double take. But I’ve gotten used to him…

[@mkmstillstackin]

Wow, thanks so much, Mike, for conducting this interview! Over the past few years, I've binge watched COUNTLESS hours of the original animated "Ricky Gervais Show" series via KZbin. Thank You, Stephen, for all the entertaining humor YOU, Ricky, and Karl provided over the years! The show was an absolute classic. Also, as an American, I must frankly say that I was a much bigger fan of The Office (British) TV series than the American one.

[@rosealee9367]

I picked this episode because I love Stephen (well, and Mike of course). It was great! I listened to podcast while grocery shopping but had to come find the you tube episode so I could comment! When Stephen had to explain to Mike what a “wash in the sink” was I knew instantly they grew up in totally different households!! There are other, more colourful names for this particular way of washing up too! lol!

[@mikemorgan4774]

Mike, I must say I have enjoyed your comedy since discovering you on my morning commute listening to the Bob and Tom show. I have watched all of your comedy specials and enjoyed them immensely. Just now the KZbin algorithm recommended this channel in my feed. It makes me so happy to know that this podcast exists and now I can connect with your storytelling approach to comedy any time I can. Thank you.

[@ponzee22]

You two have a great chemistry, could have listened to hours easily.

[@cmmmmmmmw]

Look at him, eyes bulging with imagined riches.

[@rangle_brammer]

There are so many mugs on that table

[@Kyle_Riel]

You're the only mug in this story

[@rootedandfree5262]

Mike Birbiglia: "I had one vain period when I was like....17." Every single thing on his wall: MIKE BIRBIGLIA 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Loved this and love you both!

[@Maman5880]

Loving this interview! In the outtakes story, which I’m referring to as “Good Country People” in my head, could Stephen address the people at home while he has the camera turned to the wall? “This is good stuff folks, as you can see, Hulga feels passionate about her astronaut. Now let’s look at a different angle.” The whole time, the cameras is facing the wall, people are commenting and criticizing him further, but he’s pretending not to notice. “Keep it up Stephen, let’s give the people what they want.” And, “Let’s let bygones be bygones. Don’t log off now, they’re just getting started.”

[@MrAdam8485]

Honestly one of my favorite episodes. The rapport between them is great

[@cloudbloom]

The Ricky Gervais show is one of the funniest things I've heard and Stephen is a fantastic part of it

[@cwg73160]

You should watch it.

[@cloudbloom]

@@cwg73160 I have! I listened to the series twice and watched the cartoon after that it's amazing. I'm glad everything is on youtube

[@ScottCalvinsClause]

Stephen and Carl definitely do a lot of the heavy lifting on that.

[@KeziaKez]

@@ScottCalvinsClause True. Weirdly Ricky is the side kick on it, with his main role being winding up Karl to get the funny out, with Steve mediating and holding it together enough it could be considered a show.

[@nemesisc8341]

I love Ricky seen him twice in the last year he’s brilliant,I listen to the podcasts daily and I’d have to say Steve just has the lead on funniest,very clever.

[@ryandunn5362]

Mike is the Best! This is my first time seeing the show. I'll be back! Oh, and Stephen is the Best too!

[@chaselepard]

Great conversation. Thanks!

[@jeremyschuh]

Morning, the swan's escaped.

[@ginagarciasharp8743]

Wonderful episode. So gratifying to hear such interesting stories from Stephen Merchant and getting to be fly on the wall as you process how to elevate those stories. Looking forward to his special and more collaborations between the two of you.

[@kmduarte2005]

I’ve had the biggest crush on Stephen for years. He’s so clever and self-deprecating. He’s a treasure.✨💖✨

[@bff2109]

This was a fabulous episode. More folks that think of Mike B. As some one to learn from. The “working out” part is the most interesting.

[@KachZz]

Can't believe how relatable he is 😂 that chewing gum when plumber comes around and hiding his cut hand in pocket especially 🤣

[@Nevernowaynope]

When you look up the word DELIGHTFUL in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Stephen Merchant's smiling, Muppet face. Such a lovable goon!

[@Jenny_Oblivion]

Regarding Stephen’s party incident, I fell into a pool once. Also, on a separate occasion, my dog fell into the same pool! 😂

[@cedarandsound]

"One of the greats"? He was a great mutant tracker if you've seen Logan. Side note: also check out his episode with Seth Meyers on Family Trips.

[@cloefauna]

I love that episode of Family Trips also!!😂❤😄

[@diannellel2417]

Great episode! I came away liking you both even more!! So glad I found this channel!!

[@CleverNerdPun]

Another great, interesting conversation!

[@TheCount1-2]

I always find him genuinely funny, hes so comfortably awkward 😂

[@JoanneWhitlock]

Loved this thank you

[@deadpool8340]

Karl vs Steve great you tube video

[@nicholascolello3158]

great episode

[@multifaceteduser3405]

oh, he's done you again! PLAY A RECORD!

[@LordOfElderon]

MECHANT!

[@lexnellis4869]

Hey! That's the guy from Big Bang Theory who dated Amy!

[@Wellwellwell489]

They are so frikkin' good

[@grantparke2690]

Great episode! Hope you get to work together one day.

[@kevinjordan6677]

I think this is the only time iv heard the Sara Silverman glass window story

[@tanyahudson2156]

Wow, that glass story 😅

[@chadromney]

53:53 i remember him telling this story on the podcast years ago

[@multifaceteduser3405]

I remember watching a training video years ago and the bloke showing us says he thinks this is the guy they copied to get the idea for Brent. I think he might have been right, he was similar although i think Brent is an exaggerated version of him.

[@Agent-wn7le]

He’s soooo funny

[@stereotypea123]

“I crave demons” is a great title for something

[@ajtowle6]

The best part of this episode is watching two great comedians try to work through how to make a joke land.

[@chillmusic637]

I wasn't unpopular. Other people just never thought about me.

[@rottensquid]

I love that story about interviewing porn stars, but I think Stephen's punchline is the problem. It's a funny as hell reaction, but what also happens, for me at least, is the impression he's being a poor sport. It seems like, on some level, he knows that, but I don't think he quite understands how it lands. He needs to acknowledge that he was the heel in that situation. These nice people invited him in, shared their stories, and even offered him a taste of their world, which to them was a gesture of generosity. His reaction was to kind of crap on it. They can't help that the internet is, well, the internet. People like that infest every corner of it. There's no escaping them. By pointing the camera at the wall, he was being rude to his hosts, not just the nameless asses watching. One of the things I love about Mike's brand of storytelling comedy is that it finds its gold in the deeper examinations, not just the one-offs (though some of his one-offs are genius too). Obviously, Mike has made it clear time and again that he withholds certain details. Information is cherrypicked to make the story more focused, and more funny. His first thought was to remove the true set-up, and replace it with something more generic. But I feel like the authenticity of how Stephen ended up in that absurd situation helps sell the bit. So cutting the show-business aspect seems like it would undercut the humor even more. I personally think the best thing to do is lean even further into Stephen's authentic reaction, and how he was feeling. As Ira says, tell the story, and then relay the emotions that came up. To me, the most interesting thing about the story so far is how it's falling flat for audiences, how he loses them at some point. There's something missing, and if he wants to mine the gold out of the story, he needs to look inward to figure out what it is. To me, this is a story about how the pursuit of showbiz got Stephen into that ridiculous situation, yet he betrayed the golden rule of showbiz in the end, because he'd bombed with the audience. That's funny.

[@ericfrisbee]

Karl Dilkington

[@peopletimepodcast1790]

If they don't start working on some project together soon, it will be a real shame.

[@ChadToney]

Is Mike aware Stephen’s already had a comedy special?

[@colinsmith484]

Oye- Lanky

[@Agent-wn7le]

He’s soooo tall

[@Pickyjonez]

Tractor sale

[@ifiwasanelectrician2802]

I love Steve Merchant. I'd love to hear a version of the porn house story where there isn't irony. There must be a point of view that he was all gung ho to get there and it was a bit of a let down to him or something that they were afraid of their neighbors. Lol

[@withershin]

Connecticut - Connect, I Cut. Don't mess with this state. Used to have a decent Hockey team too.

[@readventurekids]

The height 'observation' must be endlessly tiresome for Steve, and to open an interview with it I feel probably doesn't put him in the best frame of mind from the off? Meh, what do I know, they seem like good chums. Anyway, love Steve! Thanks for making this.

[@backelie]

You're telling me an albino yoda on stilts was at a porn shoot but no one put them *in* the scene? I think that's what the audience finds unbelievable.

[@SunburntHands]

Al-bi-no watching that

[@JRLink13]

Rick Glassman when?

[@erikweston209]

Ahh! The porn story!😂 ace

[@blackjackx95]

Haunted pencil

[@joshsteele5701]

Great guest bad interviewer

[@Shmew455r]

Worst part of a great movie called logan

[@nmichave]

Your short little theme song depresses me. It’s depressing for some reason.

[@berbank]

Regarding the porn story, here's another perspective about why people don't laugh when Stephen turns the camera away: You've already set yourself up as feeling superior to them with the "how am I the loser?" situation when the fans comment on your looks. Then it's funny all the way up to you are turning the camera away. When you turn the camera away it comes across as you being mean and cruel and even more superior, which isn't so funny in that framing, so it's hard to find funny. You're punching down too much. It would be funnier to finish on more on the quandary over what to film and how. And then maybe add some made up comments from the fans of how bad it is, even though you, as a filmmaker, think you framed it well and fixed up some lighting issues.

[@HappyCandyManClown-z8j]

STEPHEN SYRUP MEERCHANTT WOOO! He has such a syrupy voice. Keep up the good work at whatever this was.