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Life's Too Short
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Life's Too Short
Format Situation comedy
Created by Ricky Gervais
Stephen Merchant
Warwick Davis
Written by Ricky Gervais
Stephen Merchant
Directed by Ricky Gervais
Stephen Merchant
Starring Warwick Davis
Ricky Gervais
Stephen Merchant
Country of origin United Kingdom
Language(s) English
No. of episodes 7
Production
Camera setup Single camera
Running time approx. 30 min. (regular episodes)
Broadcast
Original channel BBC Two
Original airing 10 November 2011 (UK)
Life's Too Short is an observational sitcom series, created and written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, from an idea by Warwick Davis, and is described by Gervais as about "the life of a showbiz dwarf", with Davis playing a fictionalised version of himself. Gervais and Merchant appear in cameos as themselves.[1] The show began airing on BBC Two on 10 November 2011.[2][3] Premium cable channel HBO, who co-produced the series with the BBC, has picked up the US rights and will air the series in 2012.[4][5]
Contents [hide]
1 Genesis
2 Development
3 Cast
3.1 Cameo appearances
4 Episodes
5 References
6 External links
[edit]Genesis

The genesis of the show came when Davis worked with Gervais and Merchant in an episode of the second series of Extras, when he co-starred with Daniel Radcliffe. During filming, Davis told them about the trials of life for a man of 3 feet 6 inches in height, such as having to use a broom handle to reach objects on the high shelves in supermarkets, and people touching him for luck as if he were a leprechaun. Gervais told reporters: "The real Warwick tells us these great stories. They're comedy gold." Stephen Merchant commented of Davis that "he helped create the idea and came to us with the story."[6] When asked by an interviewer if the title of the show offended him, Davis stated that far from being offended, he was in fact the person who had come up with it.[7]
Gervais and Merchant approached the BBC about developing a show centred on a character based on Davis.[8]
Gervais described it as "A cross between Extras and Curb your Enthusiasm and One Foot in the Grave but with a dwarf. That is out and out funny."[9] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly he elaborated: "It’s a single camera sitcom following the trials and tribulations of ‘Warwick Davis, showbiz dwarf.’ Warwick is playing a twisted version of himself. He’s quite conceited and arrogant and manipulative. And he runs a [small person] talent agency, which he does in real life. Me and Steve Merchant pop up as ourselves, just to add some realism. Warwick comes round and says, ‘Doing any more Extras? Got any work?’ And we go, ‘Ooh, no, not really.’ And we try to get rid of him. It’s fantastic. We did some casting today. I’m off to America for some shows and then I come back after that and we shoot a little pilot, just like we did with The Office ten years ago, and then we’ll see.”[10] In an interview with Jonathan Ross, Davis said that his character is egotistical and suffers from small man syndrome,[11] while Gervais said of the character "he refuses to live his life as a disabled person. We're making him empowered but also give him these foibles".[8] He also described it as "Third in our trilogy of TV sitcoms ... another naturalist observational comedy, dealing with everyday problems, human foibles and social faux pas ... but with a dwarf."[12] Gervais also said of the series and of Davis' character: "It's returning to our Office roots of fake documentary ... It follows the life of a showbiz dwarf, Warwick Davis, who's really a showbiz dwarf. He plays a twisted version of himself and he's doing this documentary to try to get his career back on track. He has a big tax bill, he's going through a messy divorce and he's trying to get back his Hollywood career. He's a conniving, back-biting little Napoleon."[13]
[edit]Development



Warwick Davis, the star of Life's Too Short
Gervais first mentioned Life's Too Short on his blog in February 2010, when he and Merchant were writing and casting the project.[14]
The pilot for the comedy was commissioned by the BBC in April 2010.[15] Gervais reported on progress in his blog. In April 2010 he stated: "Some reports are saying that the "Life's Too Short" pilot we are shooting in the summer will be aired. It wont [sic]. It is a non-broadcast pilot. We will shoot the whole series before anything is aired. We're not sure how many eps [episodes] we will record (probably 6) and not sure when the series will air."[14]
Gervais wrote on his blog in June 2010 "Found the last location today for Life's Too Short. It feels great doing this project. Just like The Office and Extras. Starting from scratch, just me and Steve in a room crafting a brand new show. It doesn't get better than that for me." He later wrote that filming of the pilot was undertaken in June and July 2010. Gervais commented in July 2010 "Finished the pilot for Life's Too Short too. Just have to write the series now".[14] The series will be produced by Charlie Hanson, who previously produced Extras, and Michelle Farr.[16] The series is executive produced by Gervais and Merchant along with Mark Freeland.[8][17] On 17 September 2010 the BBC announced, via the BBC Two Controller Janice Hadlow, and the Controller of BBC Comedy Commissioning Cheryl Taylor, that the six-part series has been commissioned and will be filmed in 2011.[12]
In June 2010, while talking at the Banff World Television Festival, Gervais described Life's Too Short as "the funniest thing we've done."[8] Gervais told The Hollywood Reporter "We're having so much fun working with Warwick. Pound for pound he is one of the funniest men I know."[8] Stephen Merchant said of Davis: "Warwick is very funny, a very physical comedian which we really made use of ... He's very charismatic, very charming in it ... I was really pleased. He's a real comic star in waiting."[6]
Gervais reported in his blog on the progress of writing Life's Too Short throughout November 2010: "Had a great week writing Life's Too Short. It's the hardest bit, the most important bit and the most invigorating bit", and in a later entry "Wrote one of the funniest sketches we've ever done for Life's Too Short. Six hours hard labour for a potential two minutes screen time."[14] In January 2011 he reported that he was still working on the scripts for the show, and in February that he and Merchant were trying to finish writing Life's Too Short.[14]
The owner of a house used as a location for the pilot commented on the BBC Radio 4 programme Broadcasting House on 30 January 2011 that a scene filmed there had involved Davis and a dog-sized pet flap,[18] and in a February 2011 filmed conversation with American comedian Jerry Seinfeld, Gervais told him that he wanted him to appear in Life's Too Short as a version of himself, playing "quite a whiny Upper East Side Jewish guy".[19]
In March 2011 Gervais reported on his blog "Getting ready to film Life's Too Short."[14] Stephen Merchant confirmed that filming would begin in May 2011.[20] Confirmed cast members include Jo Enright, who played Warwick Davis' wife in the pilot,[21] Shaun Williamson, who played himself (known as "Barry off Eastenders") in Extras,[22] Cat Deeley,[7] Rosamund Hanson,[23] Kiruna Stamell[24] and Jamie Dodd.[25] Boxer Mike Tyson also asked Gervais to consider casting him in a role.[14]
On 31 March 2011 Gervais confirmed on his blog that "We've basically got first drafts of all seven episodes of Life's Too Short now. Yes seven!". As the pilot has already been filmed, the series will comprise eight shows. On 1 April he stated "Started casting Life's Too Short this week too. So much fun."[14] On 29 April he wrote "Did the last of the casting today on Life's Too Short. Some amazing cameos too. You know about the [Johnny] Depp one, but hopefully we might be able to keep a couple of the other really big ones under wraps. Not just because of the surprise factor but because it takes the focus away from the real meat of the show."[14] On 11 May the cast had their first read-through of all seven episodes, and rehearsals started on the week beginning 16 May 2011 with Gervais commenting "We've put together an amazing cast so it should be a joy."[14] Filming started on Monday 30 May 2011.[14]
On 22 June 2011 it was announced that Sting and Steve Carell would be filming cameos for the series.[26] The teaser trailer released on the same day featured Keith Chegwin, Les Dennis and Shaun Williamson as well as the three main stars.[27] On 11 July Gervais hinted on his blog that a Doctor Who-related cameo would be in the show, as well as posting a link to a YouTube video of him and Warwick Davis filmed on the set of Life's Too Short.[14] Earlier in that week he had blogged about how "Matt Groening's favourite character from The Office will make a cameo in Life's Too Short", along with an on-set photograph of actor Ewen MacIntosh who played Big Keith in The Office.
Principal filming ran for eight weeks, ending on 22 July 2011.[14]
Gervais and Davis attended a question and answer session to discuss the making of Life's Too Short at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2011.[28]
A half-hour long documentary, The Making of Life's Too Short, aired on BBC Two on 5 November 2011, prior to the start of the seven-episode series run on BBC Two on 10 November 2011.
[edit]Cast

Warwick Davis as himself
Ricky Gervais as himself
Stephen Merchant as himself
Jo Enright as Sue
Rosamund Hanson as Cheryl Wilkins
[edit]Cameo appearances
Helena Bonham Carter (Episode 3)
Sandra Bullock
Steve Carell (Episode 4)
Keith Chegwin
Cat Deeley
Les Dennis (Episode 4)
Johnny Depp (Episode 2)
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Sylvester McCoy
Liam Neeson (Episode 1)
Right Said Fred (Episode 4)
Sting
Shaun Williamson a.k.a. "Barry off EastEnders" (Throughout)
[edit]Episodes

# Title Cameo(s) Guests Original air date Viewers
(Inc. HD)
(millions)
[29]
1 Episode 1 Liam Neeson
Shaun Williamson Javone Prince
Steve Brody 10 November 2011 3.477
2 Episode 2 Johnny Depp
Shaun Williamson Tim Key
David Fynn 17 November 2011
3 Episode 3 Helena Bonham Carter Kerry Shale 24 November 2011
4 Episode 4 Steve Carell
Les Dennis
Right Said Fred Steve Brody
Matthew Holness 1 December 2011
5 Episode 5 Will Ferrell 8 December 2011
6 Episode 6 15 December 2011
[edit]References

^ "Ricky Gervais plans Life's Too Short film". The Guardian. 24 August 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
^ Sykes, Jaine. "BBC Blog". [link]
^ "Tweet That! - Life's Too Short". YouTube. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
^ "Ricky Gervais, Steven Merchant, And Warwick Davis Tease Life's Too Short". Cinemablend.com. October 17, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
^ Published Thursday, Jun 23 2011, 11:46 BST (2011-06-23). "Ricky Gervais 'Life's Too Short' heads for HBO - US TV News". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
^ a b "EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Merchant on The Office and Life's Too Short". Movieweb. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
^ a b Blanks, Brad (6 April 2011). "Warwick Davis talks Ricky Gervais, Life's Too Short and Cat Deeley, with Brad Blanks". YouTube. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
^ a b c d e "Ricky Gervais previews next project Talks up 'Life's Too Short' at Banff TV festival". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
^ "BBC to screen Ricky Gervais sitcom about life of a dwarf". The Daily Telegraph. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
^ "Ricky Gervais bigs up his new sitcom, 'Life's Too Short.'". EW.com. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
^ "Warwick Davis talks working with Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant". The Jonathan Ross Show. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
^ a b "'Green-Light' from BBC". Warwick Davis. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 05 October 2010.
^ "A mad session with Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington". The Telegraph.com.au. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Blog!". Ricky Gervais. Various entries between February 2010 and May 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
^ "Ricky Gervais comedy gets BBC green light". BBC. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
^ "'Life's Too Short' BBC Pilot". Warwick Davis. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
^ "BBC greenlights Gervais sitcom 'Life's Too Short' centers on Warwick Davis". Variety. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2010.
^ "Radio 4 Programmes - Broadcasting House". BBC. 2010-08-29. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
^ February 4, 2011 (2011-02-04). "Ricky Gervais is 'The Marriage Ref' | Extra". Extratv.warnerbros.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
^ "Beanpole funnyman Stephen Merchant hopes stand-up lines will help him bag a girlfriend". Daily Record. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
^ "Birmingham comic Jo Enright's the short star with a big future". Sunday Mercury. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
^ Gill, Josh (15 March 2011). "An interview with…Shaun Williamson". Josh Gill's Blog'. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
^ "Rosamund Hanson". IMDB. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
^ "Kiruna Stamell". Debi Allen Associates. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
^ "Jamie Dodd". IMDB. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
^ "Life's Too Short: Big casting SPOILERS". BBC. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
^ "Life's Too Short Trailer". BBC. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
^ Steve Saul (2011-06-08). "Comedy Blog: BBC Comedy hits the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011". BBC. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
^ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
[edit]External links


This article's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive and inappropriate external links. (October 2011)
Page about Life's Too Short on Gervais' website
Life's Too Short at BBC Programmes
Life's Too Short at the Internet Movie Database
Warwick Davis talking about Life's Too Short on The Jonathan Ross Show
[show]v · d · eRicky Gervais
[show]v · d · eStephen Merchant
[show]v · d · eHBO Network programming (Series)
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Categories: 2011 British television programme debuts2010s British television seriesUpcoming television seriesBBC television sitcomsHBO network showsSatirical television programmesMockumentary television seriesFictional versions of real people
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