The Brits understand that the basic purpose of comedy is not to delight or entertain, it’s to punish and humiliate. It’s to “make sport” and get as close to getting punched in the face as possible. Despite the general squalor of that country, they are still kind of the experts on certain aspects of western culture. [ Robyn Marshal ]

.. commenting on Ricky Gervais, who began with this in 2010:

Given free reign in 2011:

More to be said on Gervais’ ability to humiliate & punish with restraint in near equal amounts.