An Idiot Abroad

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are names that are pretty much synonymous with great television. The Office speaks for itself and Extras is one of my all time favorites. So I was quite looking forward to their new venture An Idiot Abroad.

An Idiot Abroad features Karl Pilkington, a friend of Gervais and Merchant, being sent around to the 7 Wonders of the World to find out what all the fuss is about. The nicest description given of Karl is "a typical little Englander" who doesn't like to step outside of his comfort zone. Merchant hopes that by forcing him to travel Karl's outlook will change while Gervais just wants to torture Karl for his own amusement. As Karl journeys to each location, Merchant and Gervais make sure he experiences the life in that country - trekking through in the Amazon in Peru, Holi in India, Easter celebrations in Mexico, riding camels in Jordan - and Karl is certainly not enamored with his experiences.  Check out the trailer here:

There are certainly moments in the series where Karl's misery is so clear that it's uncomfortable to watch. However, it's an understandable misery. Gervais is set against giving Pilkington a soft bed and a nice bathroom, which can cure so many ills after days of traveling. Karl is certainly preoccupied by the less-than-ideal toilet situations as well as the wide weird array of cuisine to which he's exposed. But you almost can't blame him for complaining.  Gervais and Merchant really put him through the ringer and while stepping outside of your comfort zone is a wonderful thing to do, I can't say that I'd be pleased to eat a scorpion on a stick or goat's eyeballs.

Despite Pilkington's whinging, the show is quite entertaining. His off-kilter observations (about the pyramids: "Looks like a game of Jenga that got out of hand") are hilarious. There is beautiful cinematography, both sweeping helicopter views and street shots. Through Karl, we meet interesting characters and see down the back alleys of the places he visits, instead of just the tourist spots. It's great viewing for the armchair traveler.

Each episode of An Idiot Abroad focuses on a different wonder: Great Wall of China, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, Petra in Jordan, Machu Picchu in Peru, Chichen Itza in Mexico, the Taj Mahal in India and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. The first season of An Idiot Abroad has already aired on Sky1 in the UK and the Science Channel in the US but you can get your fix here:

• Highlights can currently be found online on the Sky1 and Science Channel sites. 
• There is an official podcast which accompanies the show.
• There's also a book version of An Idiot Abroad.
• If you can wait, Karl Pilkington has confirmed that there is a season 2 coming soon.