‘The Ricky Gervais Show,’ the animated comedy series based on the record-breaking podcast, returns to HBO for its 13-episode third season Friday, April 20 (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT), with other new episodes debuting subsequent Fridays at the same time. The voices are recorded by Ricky Gervais, his longtime collaborator, Stephen Merchant, and Gervais’ colleague and friend, Karl Pilkington, whose offbeat musings inspire many of the storylines.

‘The Ricky Gervais Show’ animates the podcast that first appeared on the Guardian website, subsequently earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloads. In March 2011, the podcast reportedly passed the 300 million download mark. Topics covered in season three include: Karl ruminating on museum collections, his invention of the mug coaster, a movie pitch, and Karl, Stephen and Ricky shedding new light on charitable causes.

April’s episodes

Episode #27: “Bryan’s Brain” — Friday, April 20 (9:00-9:30 p.m. ET/PT). Ricky, Stephen and Karl discuss Karl’s theory on how museums procure items for their collections (stealing), his invention for a special mug coaster, and his disappointment that the pocket tie never caught on. Also, Karl pitches his new idea for a film about a man whose brain is transplanted into Tom Cruise’s body.

Episode #28: “Comic Relief” — Friday, April 27 (9:00-9:30 p.m.). Karl discusses why he believes a will is a form of charity, and how his attorney suggested he marry his girlfriend for tax purposes. After Stephen recalls being the only kid in his school to dress in a costume for Comic Relief Day, Karl shares his idea that there should be one, and only one, charitable cause per year.

‘The Ricky Gervais Show’ has inspired critical praise, with the New York Times saying the series is “proof that big laughs can come in small doses,” while the New York Post described the show as “crazy fun,” and the Houston Chronicle observed that the show’s “pointless conversations will keep you in stitches.”

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Cruelty Free International, a new global non-profit organisation spells out vision to end product testing on animals worldwide.

Ricky Gervais, Ambassador for Cruelty Free International, states: “I am delighted to support the launch of Cruelty Free International, the exciting global campaign to end the use of animals in product testing. Animal testing for cosmetics is still allowed in most of the world. That means thousands of animals can continue to die for the sake of a new shampoo. We urgently need a worldwide ban on this cruel and unnecessary suffering.”

Ricky, who stars in a campaign video for the new global NGO has launched a worldwide appeal:

“It’s time to close the door on testing products on animals. Get involved. Please join me in supporting Cruelty Free International in its global mission to consign animal testing for cosmetics to the history books.”

There is no worldwide ban on animal testing for cosmetics. Despite progress with some countries and companies, over 80% of the world still allows animals, including rabbits and guinea pigs, to be used in cruel experiments. In a global market it is important that all countries ban the practice to avoid testing simply moving around the world to those countries with no effective laws.

Established by the BUAV, one of the world’s longest standing and most respected animal protection organizations, Cruelty Free International will work with governments, regulators, companies and partner organizations worldwide. It will place the issue of animal testing on the agenda of many governments for the very first time as part of a global strategy to tackle product testing. An internationally coordinated campaign will be launched with national campaigns run from regional hubs.

Cruelty Free International Chief Executive, Michelle Thew, stated: “We are delighted to receive the backing of Ricky Gervais for this exciting and dynamic organization. The time has come for a concerted effort to finally end animal testing for cosmetics worldwide. Cruelty Free International will lead this global effort.”

Traditionally, cosmetics have been tested on animals, although in the majority of the world such tests are not specifically required by law. To market a product a company must demonstrate its safety but this can now be done using approved non-animal tests and combinations of existing ingredients that have already been established as safe for human use.

There is an increasing awareness of the pain and suffering inflicted upon animals for product testing as well as growing pressure to replace out-dated animal tests with superior non-animal methods, which are scientifically more valid and relevant to humans.

Image Courtesy of   Featureflash  / Shutterstock.com

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The Ricky Gervais Show, the animated comedy series based on the record-breaking podcast, returns to HBO for its 13-episode third season on Friday, April 20, with other new episodes debuting subsequent Fridays at the same time. The voices are recorded by Ricky Gervais, his longtime collaborator, Stephen Merchant, and Gervais’ colleague and friend, Karl Pilkington, whose offbeat musings inspire many of the storylines.

The Ricky Gervais Show animates the podcast that first appeared on the Guardian website, subsequently earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most downloads. In March 2011, the podcast reportedly passed the 300 million download mark.

Topics covered in season three include: Karl ruminating on museum collections, his invention of the mug coaster, a movie pitch, and Karl, Stephen and Ricky shedding new light on charitable causes.

The Ricky Gervais Show has inspired critical praise, with the New York Times saying the series is “proof that big laughs can come in small doses,” while the New York Post described the show as “crazy fun,” and the Houston Chronicle observed that the show’s “pointless conversations will keep you in stitches.”

The Ricky Gervais Show is produced for HBO Entertainment by Media Rights Capital in association with Wildbrain Entertainment; executive producers, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Karl Pilkington, Glyn Hughes, Bob Higgins, Lisa Ullmann and Steve Patrick; supervising producers, Margaret M. Dean and Shannon Nettleton; producer, Pamela J. Arseneau and director, Dan Fraga.

The article The Ricky Gervais Show Returns to HBO appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.