The BEST episodes of The Ricky Gervais Show

Every episode of The Ricky Gervais Show ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Ricky Gervais Show!

Based on the series of podcasts that Gervais did with longtime partner Stephen Merchant, this comedy team convenes to bring HBO an animated series about their hilarious friend Karl Pilkington.

Last Updated: 9/26/2024Network: HBOStatus: Ended
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The Year
star
8.47
240 votes

#1 - The Year

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 7/13/2012

Topics include Karl’s thoughts on the insect world; and Stephen’s embarrassment when buying condoms. Also: entries from Karl’s diary about cutting avocados, dating twins and visiting his parents. Series finale.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:Amazon
World Cup
star
8.37
277 votes

#2 - World Cup

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 7/6/2012

Ricky and Stephen reminisce about watching the World Cup in a hotel room, and the awkward situation of sharing the bed. Karl, Ricky and Stephen discuss the problem of overzealous sports fans, as well as cheating in sports and life. Ricky shares the story of when he tried out for soccer as a kid; Karl recounts how he recently tested how much saliva he could produce.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:Amazon
Natural History
star
8.16
462 votes

#3 - Natural History

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/18/2011

Topics include the value of discovering new species; Ricky's idea for a future car; Karl's speculation about alien involvement in the invention of the computer chip; and a documentary about a pregnant man.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Law & Order
star
8.12
274 votes

#4 - Law & Order

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/1/2012

Topics include Karl's views on capital punishment; Ricky's observance of the Ten Commandments; and how Karl would deal with a hostage situation.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:Amazon
Noises
star
8.06
352 votes

#5 - Noises

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 5/14/2010

Stephen asks Karl questions posed to guests on "Inside the Actors Studio, leading to a discussion of organ donation. From Karl's diary: A news report from India about an elephant who had a giant pair of slippers, and Karl's belief that scientists should give up trying to kill germs because it will only make them stronger and bigger.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Armed Forces
star
8.02
381 votes

#6 - Armed Forces

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/4/2012

Karl explains why he'd like to join the Army and recounts his most harrowing acts of bravery.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:Amazon
Earth
star
8.02
282 votes

#7 - Earth

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/15/2012

Topics include the origins of the universe and the evolution of creatures other than humans. Also: Karl discusses the downside of recycling; world travel; and restroom encounters.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:Amazon
Dolphins
star
7.97
519 votes

#8 - Dolphins

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/12/2010

Karl admits he's getting a face rub at a spa, but frets he'll end up getting an enema as well. Also: A discussion about the customs of undocumented tribes in New Guinea. Ricky and Karl's recent trip to an antiquities store, where Karl wondered, "What's the newest thing you've got?" An e-mail from an Australian fan insisting there are dangerous armed dolphins ready to do battle. In "Monkey News," Karl recounts the marital regrets of a sympathetic zookeeper who brings home a lonely monkey.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Clive Warren
star
7.94
611 votes

#9 - Clive Warren

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/14/2011

Topics include Karl description of his recent pitch to a movie studio and, from Karl's diary, reasons why he wouldn't like to travel to Australia, the story of the last time he went camping and a recent visit to his girlfriend's parents.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Society
star
7.91
363 votes

#10 - Society

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/22/2012

Topics include the laws of society and what Karl would do if he were in a position of authority. Also: Stephen asks Karl how he would have reacted had he been on the bus with Rosa Parks in Alabama in 1955.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:Amazon
The English
star
7.91
359 votes

#11 - The English

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/25/2012

Ricky, Stephen and Karl share their definitions of what it means to be an Englishman. Also: Karl explains why, if he wasn't English, he'd rather be Italian.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:Amazon
Medicine
star
7.89
327 votes

#12 - Medicine

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/8/2012

Topics include Karl's thoughts on medical advancements; sickness; and an idea for a machine that would enable physicians to feel their patients' pain.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:Amazon
Comic Relief
star
7.89
394 votes

#13 - Comic Relief

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/27/2012

Topics include Karl's thoughts on wills and suggestion of marriage as a tax shelter. Also: Stephen recalls a costume from his childhood; Karl pitches an idea for charitable pursuits.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:Amazon
Doppleganger
star
7.88
494 votes

#14 - Doppleganger

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/21/2011

A listener's e-mail asks what Karl would do with his doppelganger; Ricky gives Karl a logic riddle to solve; entries from Karl's diary; Stephen discusses his recent trip to Rio de Janeiro.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Art
star
7.86
400 votes

#15 - Art

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/8/2011

Topics include art; and suggested adaptations of literature and film featuring the Muppets.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Knob at Night
star
7.86
795 votes

#16 - Knob at Night

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/26/2010

Stephen shares a news story about 42 midget warriors who were mutilated by a single lion in a Cambodian ring fight, as well as the latest email from a fan, Paul "The Party Animal" Parker, who describes a Serbian man who invented a sex machine for women. Karl ponders how to avoid being conned into donating to charities. That conversation segues into a discussion of sex and butt plugs. A dialogue about America's first nudist organization leads Ricky to critique naked gym jocks, inspiring a revelation from Karl. The guys debate if there is ever a good time to eat the penis of a kangaroo? In Monkey News: A pair of chimps are shot to death after viciously attacking a male visitor to an animal sanctuary, targeting his nose, limbs and genitals.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fight
star
7.85
361 votes

#17 - The Fight

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 4/30/2010

Topics include: school curricula; physical altercations; human anatomy; whistling and happiness; birds and flight; Karl's thoughts on doppelgangers and the Big Bang; and the origins of the universe. Also: a "Monkey News" segment about eye surgery.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Future
star
7.83
550 votes

#18 - Future

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/11/2011

Topics include Karl's thoughts on academics' predictions for the future; and what the guys would do on the day the world ended.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Charity
star
7.82
608 votes

#19 - Charity

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/5/2010

Adding to his wish list of improbable inventions, Karl offers up a serum that ages dead people backwards. Also up for discussion: Do African families really want goats as charitable gifts? Is a space flight worth the money and effort? If you could have any super power, what would it be? How rare is it to see a Chinese homeless person? In "Monkey News," a Moscow network fired so many employees it had to hire a chimp to host a talk show, with Cher as one of the guests.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Munchies
star
7.81
391 votes

#20 - Munchies

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/15/2011

Topics for the second-season finale include virtual reality, happiness and Karl's wish for the British TV show "Jim'll Fix It."

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mrs. Battersby
star
7.81
430 votes

#21 - Mrs. Battersby

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/1/2011

Topics include the two sides of the brain and ESP; Karl's childhood encounter with a ghost named Mrs. Battersby; and an entry from Karl's diary about his mother's request to find a UFO magazine.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Insects
star
7.81
435 votes

#22 - Insects

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/11/2011

Topics include Karl's encounters with insects; optimal animal sizes; "Inside the Actors Studio"; and entries from Karl's diary about a new sea creature and a poem about moths.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Glass Houses
star
7.81
430 votes

#23 - Glass Houses

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/19/2010

Karl answers questions from fans; Karl deciphers the true meaning of sayings; Karl’s New Year’s resolution; “Monkey News.”

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fly
star
7.79
505 votes

#24 - The Fly

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/28/2011

Ricky reads little-known facts to Karl; Karl recounts medical news; entries from Karl's diary including his observations on the Congo, mishaps when ordering takeout and his visit to a gadget shop.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Kidneys
star
7.78
429 votes

#25 - Kidneys

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/18/2011

Topics include Karl's bout with kidney stones; living things that resemble other things; Noah's Ark; romantic advice from Karl; and an entry from Karl's diary about a trip to the Cotswolds with his girlfriend.

Directors: Dan Fraga
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV