Karl Pilkington's An Idiot Abroad [DVD]

After the podcasts this was definitely the next step, seeing the orange headed man out there seeing parts of the world he doesn't really want to go to. The comedy here is the naivety of how other people live and how it relates to Karl's life, he picks out comedy where others wouldn't find it and is fantastically unique in that respect - it is hard to tell what is coming next.

Peru is the pinnacle, meeting a tribe and he considers teaching them a bit of dancing but of course, it may render them all useless.

Series 2 has to come, just pay him whatever he wants. I'd get him going to meet some more indigenous tribes or crazy people like a comedy version of Louis Theroux. That would be awesome.

I'm used to the idea that Englishmen are infamous for taking their Englishness with them to foreign cultures, and thereby remain outsiders. I remember lectures on post-colonialism at university and thought the world had got that - and moved on - what's funny about a Philipstine? I was so wrong. It was utterly hilarious and I laughed so hard I could hardly draw breath. One scene in Brazil - he stays at a flat and in the kitchen says - 'I wonder where the garlic is?' and he acts out a mini-drama - 'Is it in the fridge? Is it over here? No - it's on the shelf with the dead cockroach - of course!' Utterly brilliant at debunking some of the tourist brochures that make places look romantic and exotic, yet not so much that he isn't touched by the off-beat way of discovering the places. e.g. seeing the Taj Mahal from a quiet river trip; the philosophical view, looking out from the cave in Jordan was a change of pace too.
I couldn't physically bear to watch more than one episode at a time, my ribs couldn't take it.

I feel that the ones who have written such negative reviews may be missing the point of the series completely, in what could possibly be the best series of 2010. The series is not intended to provide a deep insight to the 7 wonders of the world; if you are wishing this sort of insight then you'd be better off watching Michael Palin. The premise of this series is that it is about a man who hates traveling, hates "being outside of his comfort zone", combined with the fact that he is extremely ignorant of other counties and other cultures.......THIS is what makes it so funny! A lot of people have criticisms on the show, claiming that it is scripted....it's not. Each episode, Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant send him to visit a different wonder of the world and set arrange some visits and extra activities along the way. The countries he visits, in order, are China, India, Jordan, Mexico, Egypt, Brazil and Peru. It's hilarious seeing Karl give his own unique insights into the cultures and the customs of the people he meets along the way, along with his moans and gripes with each place (Ricky and Steve deliberately want him to experience the sites as "authentically" as possible in an attempt to make him more cultured). His observations and opinions are at times genuinely hilarious and fans of the Ricky Gervais show and podcasts will already be familiar with his unique views on the world in general. I find it quite bemusing how certain reviewers will dismiss the entire 7 episodes based on such insight as they don't like Ricky Gervais' laugh...grow up. My only criticism is that it is only 7 shows. I really do hope for a 2nd series, where perhaps Karl can visit some other countries and cultures, maybe even Ricky and Steve can go aswell to provide their own insights. I would describe the series as educational and funny. If you are expecting Michael Palin, then go and watch Michael Palin! Let's please have another series!