Ricky Gervais on how his comedy offends without being offensive

In an interview and photo shoot with Howard Schatz for the December issue of Vanity Fair, comedian Ricky Gervais described how and why he takes risks.

An excerpt:

"I don't want a predictable story. If you see something coming, it's not as exciting. So I, I like being made to jump in a horror film. I like someone saying the unexpected. I know how embarrassed I am in a situation and that's all we're doing, really, isn't it? We're trying to evoke an emotion in someone else. We're trying to make a connection. The terrible thing is, I don't know whether I'm trying to do that, or just please me."

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Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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