'Life's Too Short': Ricky Gervais, Warwick Davis HBO Comedy Gets February Premiere Date

Ricky Gervais is returning to HBO. "The Office" mastermind's new show with Stephen Merchant, "Life's Too Short," has been scheduled for a Sun., Feb. 19 at 10:30 p.m. EST premiere.

Starring "Star Wars" veteran Warwick Davis, "Life's Too Short" is a fictional documentary about Davis's life as a struggling actor trying to get back into the spotlight. Davis plays a fictionalized version of himself and runs a talent agency for little people in show business. Merchant and Gervais also play themselves in supporting roles.

The show's first season will have seven episodes. Guest stars for Season 1 include Johnny Depp, Liam Neeson, Sting, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Carell and Cat Deeley.

HBO's description for the first episode:

For more than two decades, Warwick Davis was Britain's "go-to dwarf." Now, with his career on the slide, a massive tax bill caused by his useless accountant and a wife who's divorcing him, he decides to open his doors to a reality TV film crew. After interviewing a new assistant, he drops by unannounced to see old pals Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, but Liam Neeson already has an appointment to pitch himself as a serious actor who is serious about breaking into comedy. Written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

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Comments

[DianePVK]

01:12 PM on 01/15/2012

Can't wait to watch it!

[sippinatbells]

12:44 PM on 01/12/2012

Been a huge fan of Gervais and Merchant since the Office in 2001, and loved their radio show on Xfm, the podcasts and Extras. Love Warwick too, great actor and a funny, charming guy. But - Life's Too Short is absolutely terrible. Badly written, obvious jokes, lowbrow tasteless humour, crowbarred-in celebrity cameos that are boring and tasteless (with the one exception and saving grace of the Liam Neeson scene), and a complete lack of heart and warmth (previously Gervais and Merchant's strong point), together with an absence of plausible narrative. Oh, and the one concession to it being a mockumentary is everyone looks into the camera every ten seconds. Rubbish!

[Kathy Wolosiewicz]

11:04 AM on 01/12/2012

I'm a huge fan of pretty much everything Ricky Gervais does not only his contributions to the comedy world but his efforts to encourage scientific thinking and stop animal abuse. I truly hope this show is as well received as "An Idiot Abroad", "The Ricky Gervais Show", "Extras" & "The Office". 4 of my favorites:)

[jundooz]

07:00 AM on 01/11/2012

urgh, show is awesome but season 2 won't start before 2013 apparently... and yeah, half the world has already seen season 1.

[Bri guy]

11:02 AM on 01/10/2012

Networks need to get a clue. Half the world has watched this already. If they don't start airing programs within days of the country of origin, they might as well give up now.

[d-lo]

10:45 AM on 01/10/2012

I could hardly understand anything he was saying on that show 'Extras'.

[Adjective]

03:38 PM on 01/10/2012

You should take the lint out of your ears.

[falcon38a]

11:49 PM on 01/09/2012

Ricky Gervais is not funny. He's also a rude, hateful person. I would not support anything he stars in or produces.

[BryWaltQ]

05:46 AM on 01/10/2012

I echo everything you stated...except the complete opposite.

[Orphie]

11:31 AM on 01/10/2012

Appreciating comedy is always subjective. Along with Chris Rock, Louis, C.K., Eddie Izzard and Seinfeld, Gervais is widely considered to be among the best in the business. In each case, their success speaks to their ability. But there are plenty others in the field to choose among. Some would still attest that Jay Leno and Dane Cook are the gold standard. To each his own.

[stupid humans]

02:06 PM on 01/15/2012

who's jay leno?