Life's Too Short (TV series)
[3][4] In January 2013, it was announced that Life's Too Short would end later in the year with a special that would bring the series' closure.
The genesis of the show was when Davis worked with Gervais and Merchant in an episode of the second series of Extras, in which he co-starred with Daniel Radcliffe.
[7] Gervais and Merchant approached the BBC about developing a show centred on a character based on Davis.
"[9]In the programme, Davis runs a small person's talent agency and plays a twisted version of himself; quite conceited, arrogant and manipulative.
[8] 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.
[11]Gervais first mentioned Life's Too Short on his blog in February 2010, when he and Merchant were writing and casting the project.
While talking at the Banff World Media Festival in July 2010, Gervais described Life's Too Short as "the funniest thing we've done".
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.
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 the series.
[28] The teaser trailer released on the same day featured Keith Chegwin, Les Dennis and Shaun Williamson as well as the three main stars.
[29] 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 Davis filmed on the set of Life's Too Short.
[18] 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.
Life's Too Short was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 22 October 2012[34] in the UK, 7 November 2012 in Australia[35] and on 15 January 2013 in the US.
Rachel Tarley, of Metro, described the show as "tripe" while David Butcher of the Radio Times introduced his review of episode six with "another week, another queasy mix of comedy and unpleasantness.
"[37][38] Many reviews were deeply critical of the writing – Gwilym Mumford of The Guardian felt that writers Gervais and Merchant were "on autopilot", referring to the programme as "strikingly lazy stuff, comprised of little more than a predictable checklist of taboos and social faux pas",[39] and journalist for The Independent Robert Epstein likewise branded it "shoddily derivative" and potentially degrading.
"[41] However, Metro's review of episode 7 was slightly more positive saying "Life's Too Short bowed out tonight with an episode that was more than marginally better than the six previous offerings, not only was the plot stronger than in previous weeks, but there were some genuinely funny scenes too, most notably a discussion between Gervais and Merchant about charity.
"[42] More positive reviews could be found in The Telegraph, where Gerald O'Donovan praised the show for its "belly laughs and cringe-making moments.
"[43] Likewise, Caroline Frost of The Huffington Post applauded both the writing and the acting following the first episode, proclaiming that though it could easily have overreached, "Gervais and Merchant have pulled another one out of the hat.
He felt that Keith Chegwin, Shaun Williamson and Les Dennis were the funniest parts of the hour.
[50] On Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds a rating of 55% based on 33 critics, with the consensus reading: "Life's Too Short is enjoyably crass, but borrows heavily from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's previous work.
