An Idiot Abroad.

I just love this show I'm watching on Netflix right now, An Idiot Abroad. It's a show where Ricky Gervais basically sends his buddy, the billed-as-ignorant yet deceptively brilliant Karl Pilkington, to various wonders of the world. On its surface, the purpose of the trips are to expand Karl's "typical little Englander" perspective by experiencing other cultures, sites, etc. but Gervais also adds the stated purpose of making Karl miserable around the world. He says in the intro that it's the most elaborate and expensive practical joke he's every played, at times getting hilariously annoyed when Karl actually enjoys something (though its usually off-topic).

See, I have this sneaking suspicion that Karl is actually quite an enlightened sort, putting on for the show as a vehicle for his own stardom (with Gervais providing the forum). Karl plays ignorant, but some of the observations he makes are downright breathtaking. I particularly enjoyed the Jordan episode, not just because of my own fond memories (Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003) but because it seemed the first episode where Karl's brilliance started to shine.

I won't give any more away, but I could literally go on and on. The show is fucking hilarious. I frequently find myself laughing so hard I have to press pause, and watching this (allegedly) ignorant bloke discover the world is worth every second.