Conan O'Brien and Ricky Gervais Yuk It Up at the TV Academy; Plus: Here's Something You Didn't Know About Conan

Quite possibly the greatest thing I learned at the TV Academy on Tuesday night? Conan O'Brien's assistant is on a dodgeball team named "The Arsenio Balls."

O'Brien was at the TV Academy theatre in North Hollywood to interview Ricky Gervais on stage and screen an episode of Gervais' Netflix comedy "Derek." I came to see two modern-day comedy legends riff with each other. And while much of the conversation was a serious dissection of the state of comedy (fascinating to hear as well), the two did indeed manage to crack each other up numerous times.



Gervais: "I'm surprised they pay me format fees for The Office. it's just an office!" Conan: "You don't have to take the money."

Gervais to Conan: "I can't wait for your breakdown!" Conan: "I just got picked up through 2018, I can start now."

The two also had some laughs at the audience, which had some typically bizarre questions and observations. One guy, who had freelanced frequently for O'Brien's TBS talk show "Conan," told the host he brought a gift of a six pack every time he worked there. Did O'Brien ever get the beer? "No!" O'Brien then riffed on his assistant, who had left the screening early to, yes, play a game with the "Arsenio Balls."

L.A.'s First Congregational Church Tries to Save Ricky Gervais

Spotted tonight on my drive home: The First Congregational Church of Los Angeles would like a few words with noted atheist Ricky Gervais.

UPDATE: Looks like this photo is going viral, via Rainn Wilson and Will Arnett. Too bad no one's crediting Franklin Avenue! Grr.

Extra With "Extras" Star Ricky Gervais

One of the cool things about my day job? Occasionally getting on the phone and riffing with talent like Ricky Gervais. I talked to him soon after he was nominated for a Golden Globe, and even cracked him up at one point (he told me he'd thank "Dog," rather than "God," at the podium, and I quickly added, "Well, do be fair, you are dyslexic." OK, it was funny at the time.)

Here's what I wrote after speaking to him:

Even as critical acclaim and award recognition pile in for "Extras," Ricky Gervais -- nommed for both best TV comedy actor and best comedy series -- remains steadfast that the series has run its course.

"It's not coming back, there's nothing to add," he said. "It's done and dusted. We've told a story as well as we could. You don't want to overstay your welcome or repeat yourself. I don't want to do TV just for the sake of doing it."

Gervais said TV execs don't even ask anymore about extending its run (or the run of predecessor "The Office").

"They know deep down that it's the right thing to do," he said.

Gervais said he "couldn't be prouder" of the recognition he's received in recent years, including Thursday's noms.

"You want to be respected by your peers and be respected in your field," he said. "To be nominated for a Golden Globe or an Emmy, they'r eht ebiggest awards in the world. Well, there's the Nobel Peace Price. But I haven't been doing anything good for the world, so I am at a disadvantage."

Gervais just finished shooting the movie "Ghost Town," and is in pre-production on a second one. Next year, he'll tour the U.S. for an HBO special and DVD. Beyond that, Gervais and frequent collaborator Stephen Merchant are developing an hour-long for television.

"What's excited us lately is drama," he said. "We've pretty much been as successful as we can be with comedy. I don't know if there's any point in doing it for a third time."

Drama would revolve around a group of twentysomethings in the 1970s, who live in small town Britain and work for an insurance company.

Gervais said he's been inspired by series like "The Sopranos" and "The Wire," which "are beating movies when it comes to emotional content and dramatic content.

"That reality grips you every week for an hour," he said. "I want to see if we can do that."

Have you caught the final "Extras" special yet? BTW, Stephen Merchant shoulda been nominated as well.