Views: I (heart) Gervais

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I blame the following on Benny Hill. My dad let me stay up late and watch his show when I was very little.

More than 30 years later, I’m still a huge fan of the comedic exports of the UK. (Chubbiness seems to be a factor.)

So I will be seeing “The Invention of Lying,” opening today, co-written by and starring Ricky Gervais, despite the fact that I very rarely go to the theater. Our movie critic gave it 2-1/2 stars in this section yesterday. I don’t know if I could be so unbiased.

If you love Gervais (platonically) the way I do, you’ve probably seen his David Brent character from “The Office,” whose antics epitomized every ugly impulse humans have – cowardice, deceitfulness and the grotesque narcissism that manifests from total insecurity. He co-produces the American version starring Steve Carell.

You’ve probably seen him on HBO’s “Extras” as the perpetually unlucky thespian who proves there really are small roles and small actors.

You’ve probably heard his podcast, checked out his Web site, Netflixed his standup specials ... and well, let’s not get ourselves a restraining order here.

A few more Gervais gems for you:

• Ricky and Elmo: Gervais visits the set of “Sesame Street” and asks Elmo if he knows what necrophilia is. It’s not as sordid as it sounds. Go to YouTube and type “Gervais” and “Elmo.”

• Seona Dancing: Gervais is almost unrecognizable as an earnest, unsmiling pop star in the early ’80s. No, it’s not a joke. Go to YouTube and type in “Seona Dancing,” the name of his group. He’s prettier than David Bowie.

Local girl has model behavior

“America’s Next Top Model” is as ever, must-see TV.

Tyra Banks and her crew are nutty fodder for “The Soup.” The weekly elimination rounds are getting weirder. And in this cycle we have a local resident to root for, Erin Wagner of Spring Grove.

I have high hopes for Erin. Her photos have gotten high praise from the judges, and the ANTM editors have their tells. Girls they know will make it to the end seem to get more camera time, especially if they make waves with the others.

Wednesday’s episode spent a lot of time painting Erin as being a tad aggressive; she edged out several other girls in a fashion “race” – possibly with unnecessary roughness – and some of the models gave her a hard time about it.

WhatEVER! Get ’em, Erin!

Erin argued that it’s a competition, and she’s just trying to win it.
I agree.