RickyGervaisShow

Fans of good television can rejoice, because it's beginning to look like HBO is back. And leading the charge? Ricky Gervais, of course.

Not that HBO ever left, exactly, but in recent years the network had gained a reputation for prematurely canceling critical and fan favorite shows. 'Rome,' for example, bit the dust after two seasons, as did 'Flight of the Conchords' and 'Carnivàle.' And if you really want to get people's blood boiling, just mention 'Deadwood' to a television enthusiast.

Now, though, the network appears to be in the midst of a creative resurgence. Case in point: According to The Hollywood Reporter, HBO has decided to renew 'The Ricky Gervais Show.' The animated series, which features voicework from Gervais and his pals Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, is based on the pudgy comedian's popular podcast.

'The Ricky Gervais Show' (9PM, HBO) series premiere
They've been downloaded more than 8 million times, so we're guessing you may already be familiar with 'The Ricky Gervais Show' as podcasts. But those gems, which originated with 'The Office' creators Gervais and Stephen Merchant and their pal Karl Pilkington in 2005, are being adapted into an animated comedy series that highlights all the humor of the originals and makes them all the more charming, what with the goofy little animated versions of Gervais and company. In tonight's premiere, the fellas wax goofily on everything from 20th-century inventions and supernatural happenings to population control and prehistoric days, while in the "Monkey News" segment Karl tells the story of the origins of space travel, as only Karl can.

Good news, Ricky Gervais fans. HBO has announced that 'The RIcky Gervais Show' -- an animated series based on the Brit's hit podcasts -- will debut on the cable pay network on Feb. 19. For those of you keeping count, this is just one short month after the comedic actor hosts NBC's broadcast of the Golden Globes Awards ceremony on Jan. 17.

The 13-episode show will feature the voices of Gervais, longtime collaborator Stephen Merchant (with whom Gervais created BBC's 'The Office', from which the American version was based) and radio producer and friend Karl Pilkington.