The BEST Episodes of The Ricky Gervais Show
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Feb 6, 2021
Network: HBO
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.
#1 - The Year
Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired Jul 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.
8.50 
#2 - World Cup
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired Jul 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.
8.36 
#3 - Natural History
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired Mar 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.
8.16 
#4 - Law & Order
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired Jun 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.
8.14 
#5 - Noises
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired May 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.
8.10 
#6 - Earth
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired Jun 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.
8.05 
#7 - Armed Forces
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired May 4, 2012
Karl explains why he'd like to join the Army and recounts his most harrowing acts of bravery.
8.02 
#8 - Dolphins
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired Mar 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.
8.01 
#9 - Clive Warren
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired Jan 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.
7.95 
#10 - The English
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired May 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.
7.94 
#11 - Society
Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired Jun 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.
7.92 
#12 - Doppleganger
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired Jan 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.
7.92 
#13 - Comic Relief
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired Apr 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.
7.90 
#14 - The Fight
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired Apr 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.
7.90 
#15 - Medicine
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired Jun 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.
7.89 
#16 - Knob at Night
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired Feb 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.
7.86 
#17 - Art
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired Apr 8, 2011
Topics include art; and suggested adaptations of literature and film featuring the Muppets.
7.85 
#18 - Insects
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired Feb 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.
7.85 
#19 - Wartime
Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired Jun 29, 2012
Topics include Karl's thoughts on the importance of historic artifacts and how his book will be viewed in the future. Also: Karl ponders the meaning of popular wartime expressions and what life is like for a soldier's spouse.
7.84 
#20 - Future
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired Mar 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.
7.84 
#21 - Charity
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired Mar 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.
7.84 
#22 - Munchies
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired Apr 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."
7.82 
#23 - Glass Houses
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired Mar 19, 2010
Karl answers questions from fans; Karl deciphers the true meaning of sayings; Karl’s New Year’s resolution; “Monkey News.”
7.81 
#24 - Mrs. Battersby
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired Apr 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.
7.81 
#25 - Kidneys
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired Feb 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.
7.80