Rockbusters
Rockbusters was conceived by Pilkington and was played on Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's long running XFM radio show in between 2002-5 and brought back in 2006. It debuted on 12 October 2002 as a phone-in but converted to an e-mail competition the following week. Despite punning in its title, the game has very little in common with Blockbusters. It is played by Karl giving three clues, which he considers "cryptic" but are in reality convoluted colloquialisms which often depend on the answer being mispronounced. Steve once aptly referred to them as "craptic" clues. Along with the "clue", Karl includes the initials of the answer. The winners of Rockbusters would win a selection of prizes known simply as the usual tat.
Podcast Rockbusters
In the second series of The Ricky Gervais Podcast, Karl brought back Rockbusters as a replacement for Monkey News where the winner each week would recieve a signed photograph of himself.
Episode 1
Initials - B. Well, i don't want a house that far away from the water. I want to be right on top of it.
Beyonce (Be on sea)
Initials - B. That part of my leg is English.
Britney (Brit knee)
Initials - KW. The fitness teacher has got a speech inpediment.
Kanye West (Can we rest?)
Episode 2
Initials - RP. Steal that womans flower.
Robert Plant (Rob her plant)
Initials - B. Keep whacking the cooker with a stick. (It doesn't have to be a stick)
Beethoven (Beat oven)
Initials - M. Venice. Its all water innit? So how would you describe it?
Morrissey (More is sea)
Episode 3
Initials - ND. That Jamaican doesn't want anything.
Neil Diamond (Nil demand)
Initials - E. I ask them to pass me the ball by using their head.
The Editors ('ead it us)
Initials - R. Hes got the wooley ones but I've got the ones that run and charge at you.
The Ramones (The ram ones)
Episode 4
Initials - SC. I went to the restaurant on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Saturday and Sunday if you want), and the fella making the food was there each time.
Sam Cook (Same cook)
Initials - C. Go into that womans store and rip her off
Cornershop (Con her shop)
Initials - E. You've had a go at laying down a track, but it ain't perfect.
Euruthmics (Your rough mix)
Episode 5
Initials - CK. You know that bloke who sings songs at Christmas? Hes brilliant at it.
Carole King (Carol King)
Initials - MG. I told the homosexual man that the grape tree was mine.
Marvin Gaye (My vine, gay)
Initials - S. I ask you [Ricky Gervais] if you believe in Father Chirstmas. What would you say?
Santana (Santa? Nah)
External Links
- XFM.co.uk Play Rockbusters Online