An Idiot Abroad

British comedy duo Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant send their simple and closed-minded friend Karl Pilkington on a trip around the world to experience a variety of people and cultures.

Genre: Documentary, Adventure, Comedy

Cast:Karl Pilkington , Ricky Gervais , Stephen Merchant , Richard Yee , Luke Campbell , Warwick Davis , Jamuna Mondal , Ganga Mondal , Ramy Romany , Seija Nurmi , Celso Maciel , Andrew Gee , Marty Raney , Benjamin Green , Jamie Jay Johnson , Sam Aaron , Chas & Dave , Ichirou Tamawashi

0Season 1

S1.E0 ∙ The Preview Show

Sun, Sep 5, 2010

A man, who sees the world as a photograph, is forced by his friends Ricky and Steve to go out to see the seven wonders of the world. What he does not know, is that he will be getting pranked the whole time.

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ China

Fri, Sep 24, 2010

Ricky and Steve send Karl to China to visit the iconic Great Wall but he struggles to fit in with the locals and adjust to the Chinese culture, in particular the local cuisine.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ India

Fri, Oct 1, 2010

Karl is sent to India to see the Taj Mahal but he gets an unexpected surprise when it turns out he's visiting during the Hindu festival of Holi, and he struggles to adapt to the Indian lifestyle.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ Jordan

Fri, Oct 8, 2010

Karl is somewhat excited at the prospect of visiting Petra, Jordan but first Ricky and Steve decide to send him on a detour to Israel, a place he's less excited about visiting.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ Mexico

Fri, Oct 15, 2010

Karl is sent to Mexico for what he expects to be a peaceful visit to Chichén Itzá but he soon finds himself in a number of dangerous situations on his way to the ancient city.

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ Egypt

Fri, Oct 22, 2010

Ricky and Steve send Karl to Egypt to see the Pyramids of Giza, a wonder he has little interest in visiting. His trip is made even worse when he discovers that he's staying in budget accommodation.

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ Brazil

Fri, Oct 29, 2010

When Karl is told that his next trip will be to Rio de Janeiro to see Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado, his first reaction is that it is akin to a pylon: something that is there everyday that people probably get tired of seeing. What Ricky and Stephen don't tell him until he arrives in Rio is that they want him to be more social on his trips. As such, they place him in a dorm room in a hostel. They do tell him that Carnival will be happening while he's there. He's not too excited about it as he hates crowds and he presupposes it's a gay event, which makes him feel uncomfortable. But he is thrown into the festivities, whether he likes it or not. His anxiety at crowds is heightened when he is told he is also to attend a block party. He remarks at the dichotomy between the Catholic nature of the statue towering over the city, versus the overt sexuality displayed by the people, especially at the beach. His discomfort increases with interactions with his guide, Celso, which includes excursions to make sure Karl looks his best at the beach, a stop at the particular section of beach, and an invitation to stay the night at his place. And much like his sights were overwhelmed in India, his sense of hearing is overwhelmed throughout his stay in the city. He searches for a sanctuary, which doesn't end up being what he expects. When he finally goes to see Christ the Redeemer, will he still liken it to a pylon? He is given a slightly different perspective when he is taken on a helicopter ride around the monument.

7Season 1

S1.E7 ∙ Peru

Fri, Nov 5, 2010

Karl is relieved that this trip is his last, but is worried that Ricky and Stephen will do something monumentally outrageous to end the series on a high note. Karl has never heard of the monument he is to visit next: Machu Picchu. He is also not aware of the potential of altitude sickness due to lack of oxygen. But he is not concerned about the eleven hour trek to get to Machu Picchu, as he likes camping, and even makes preparations for a makeshift toilet. When he gets to his Peruvian lakeside location to start his trek, he learns that Ricky and Stephen are making him trek through the jungle along the Amazon instead. Of his Amazon accommodations, Karl is unsure of what's worse: the first couple of nights staying deep in the jungle in a tent among all the nocturnal creatures, many which are deadly, or the last few nights staying with a native tribe who used to be cannibals. When he reaches his destination of Machu Picchu, where he does feel the effects of lack of oxygen, Karl makes a surprise announcement to Ricky and Stephen. They in turn talk to him about a potential second season of the series. Will Karl agree to such?

8Season 1

S1.E8 ∙ Karl Comes Home

Thu, Nov 11, 2010

Karl, now back in Britain after his "seven wonders" trips, sits down with Ricky and Stephen to discuss the experience. Stephen is confused by Karl's seemingly contradictory statements about not wanting to miss the many sights and sounds on his travels, but also being overly annoyed by them. Many of those sights center on food. Many of the situations Karl experienced he classifies as false fun, which he does not like in principle. They talk about the people Karl met. Karl tells them about what he thinks he's learned from these travels. They discuss the fact that many viewers believe Karl is an actor playing a buffoon and that the show is scripted, or that Stephen and especially Ricky are bullies to Karl. Stephen and Ricky talk about their favorite moment: the Israeli terrorist training, which Karl did not know was going to occur. Beyond that situation, Karl talks about what was perhaps his most difficult experience. Despite Karl's assertions that he won't do another, they talk concepts for a second series. Karl gives his thoughts on his general impression of the world. And he compares these recent travels to his favorite travels, those when he was a child to a holiday park in Wales, those travels which he recently recreated.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ Desert Island

Fri, Sep 23, 2011

Karl is sent to spend time on a desert island in the South Pacific. Along the way, he attempts bungee jumping, land-diving, and arseboarding, and he meets a tribe that worships Prince Philip.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ Trans-Siberian Express

Fri, Sep 30, 2011

Karl takes the Trans-Siberian Express from Moscow to China. On the trip, he experiences a Russian steam room, undergoes Cosmonaut training, meets a magnetic man, gets buried alive, competes in a wrestling match, and visits a dwarf village.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ Swim with Dolphins

Fri, Oct 7, 2011

Karl travels to Australia to swim with dolphins, but the trip doesn't turn out as expected. On the way, he stops in Thailand, where he meets some ladyboys and gets attacked by monkeys. In Australia, he swims with sharks instead of dolphins.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ Whale Watching

Fri, Oct 14, 2011

Karl sets off to Alaska to go on a whale-watching cruise. Before heading out to sea, he journeys across a frozen landscape on foot, by snowmobile, and by dog sled. The cruise aboard a working deep-sea fishing boat proves difficult for Karl.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ Meet a Gorilla

Fri, Oct 21, 2011

Karl travels to Africa to see wild gorillas. Prior to visiting the gorillas, Ricky and Steve send Karl to teach at a school, rebuild a hut, go bungee jumping, visit a domesticated hippo, cook for a king, and go animal tracking.

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ Route 66

Fri, Oct 28, 2011

Karl travels U.S. Route 66. Along the way, he participates in a high school production, a "snuggle party", gold mining, monster truck driving, Amish farming, and wing walking.

7Season 2

S2.E7 ∙ Climb Mount Fuji

Fri, Nov 4, 2011

Karl visits Japan where he trains to be a sumo wrestler, stays in a capsule hotel, decides to invent something, eats fermented Japanese fish, studies with a Zen Buddhist master, participates in a Japanese tea ceremony, and climbs Mt. Fuji.

8Season 2

S2.E8 ∙ Karl Comes Home

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

Karl returns home from the 'Bucket List' of adventures Ricky and Stephen have sent him on and the guys discuss the highs and lows of his trip

1Season 3

S3.E1 ∙ The Short Way Around: Venice

Sun, Jul 14, 2013

For the latest proposed travel adventure of Marco Polo's route from Venice to China, Karl wants to take along a mate for support and companionship. Who Ricky assigns is Warwick Davis, who Karl believes will be more of a hindrance than an asset if only because of his dwarf stature. But as their stay in their first locale - Venice - progresses, Karl realizes that the biggest problem with Warwick as an adventure travel partner is their total incompatibility in terms of what they want to do and experience. Their first Warwick chosen event is to attend a masquerade ball, which is a ritual of the area dating back centuries. Their choice of costumes reflects what they want to portray of themselves, although Karl feels less inclined to partake in the masquerade portion of the costume selection. This Warwick chosen activity is balanced by a Karl chosen activity: using a jet pack to fly over the canals. This activity ends up being a little less fun than Karl had anticipated. They then take a short cut from Marco Polo's route to go to Macedonia, first to hang out with Romani gypsies. Then on Warwick's suggestion for both their enjoyment, they go to see practitioners of Sufi Islam, they who perform mystical exercises. Karl is surprised that he himself enjoys participating in the ritual of the exercises, until... Finally, on Ricky's want, Karl goes up in the air attached to over-sized helium balloons. But Karl figures what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, which doesn't sit well with either Ricky or Warwick, if only for Karl's rationale.

2Season 3

S3.E2 ∙ The Short Way Around: India

Sun, Jul 14, 2013

Karl and Warwick arrive in Mumbai, India, the country which Karl hated on his last visit. Warwick, who is immediately taken by the sights and sounds, hopes Karl will appreciate it this second time around, while Karl wants to expose Warwick to the down and dirty side of life in India. They partake in the morning activity of laughing yoga. Ricky manages to get both Warwick and Karl parts in a Bollywood movie, which is right up Warwick's alley, but in which Karl wants to do his own improvisation. Next, Ricky gets them on a train to Varanasi, specifically so that they can watch the sun rise over the Ganges after they camp overnight by the riverside. That once in a lifetime activity is jeopardized specifically by Karl's reaction to some neighbors and on the sun in general. It is the life and death daily activity that fascinates both Karl and Warwick. They hop back on a train to head to West Bengal for the next activity chosen by Warwick, performing in the Olympic Circus, which is challenging if only in choosing what they will do that will impress the crowds. It's what Karl chooses next to see that could threaten his friendship with Warwick.

3Season 3

S3.E3 ∙ The Short Way Around: China

Sun, Jul 14, 2013

Still in India, Karl and Warwick are still clashing over Karl's want to be part of the Spider Sister's "act", as Warwick feels it's solely to capitalize on his dwarfism and the old mentality of him and the Spider Sisters being sideshow freaks. Once in China and on a Yangtze River cruise, Warwick believes that Karl's experience on the cruise is some retribution. They next travel to a panda reserve, and are required to get up and close and personal with one in what Karl considers a less than safe way. They decide to do some people watching on a down Sunday in Chengdu, with them being the ones watched at a food fair. This experience demonstrates how far Karl has progressed in what he is willing to do as a regular tourist. They next plan to scale Mount Emeishan to visit a Buddhist temple atop. This experience shows to the other how much they have relied on the other on this trip. They finally reach what is supposed to be their final destination of Hong Kong. Ricky, however, wants to provide them with what they think is a special side trip to Macau, but what is meant for their adventures to end on a high.

4Season 3

S3.E4 ∙ A Commentary

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

A commentary track for The Short Way Around: China (2012).