Rarely has a show’s title so neatly conveyed the awkwardness of its central character: HBO’s “Hello Ladies, ” which premiered Sunday, finds British comic Stephen Merchant flailing in the LA singles scene. We spoke with the lanky 38-year-old Brit about his own humiliating source material and his better-known counterpart, Ricky Gervais, with whom he created “The Office,” “Extras,” “The Ricky Gervais Show, “An Idiot Abroad” and “Life’s Too Short.”
How closely does the show reflect your real life?
It’s fictional, but with elements drawn heavily from aspects of me over the years — the arrogance of youth, that awkward attempt at romancing in my twenties, but with a little bit more of the swagger of some success that I’ve had more recently.
Has your fame been helpful romantically?
People always say, “Surely if you’ve been in TV, that helps you with women.” My feeling is, it just gets me rejected by more beautiful women.
Does it feel strange to not be working with Ricky? Is it refreshing to strike out on your own?
I love working with Ricky. But he’s been in a relationship since his early twenties, so it didn’t seem a sensible fit for us to work on together. I began life as a solo performer, and then got drawn into this great partnership, so it feels more like a return to those days.
There seems to be a certain David Brent-y-ness [from “The Office”] about your character.
Yeah, it’s that avenue of British comedy, dating from Tony Hancock, one of the first great sitcom characters, who was misanthropic and selfish and petty. John Cleese’s character, Basil Fawlty, had that same sort of thing — funny and cutting and blind to his own faults. Alan Partridge, played by Steve Coogan. He’s always losing sight of what’s important because he’s craving access to the most exclusive clubs or to beautiful women.
On “The Ricky Gervais Show,” you told a story about disastrous clubgoing. Will that subject come up here?
I do dance later in the season. And I have been rejected from many clubs. I’m very intimidated by doormen. One of my first times in LA., my friend said he’d get me into this new club, and I went and said, “I’m on the list.” And the guy said, “Which list?” I said, “Would you check both?” and he said, “Nope.” So I just stood there like a f–king idiot. I should have walked away. But I was so furious, because I was on the list! I couldn’t persuade the guy to look at both lists and I eventually had to sheepishly walk away. Even when I’m on the list, I’m not on the list.