An idea that was a joke just a few months ago will soon be a reality in London.

The Office: The Opera will hit the stage for a one-night only engagement at London's Proud Galleries Wednesday, August 19. The concept of an operatic version of the Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant classic was used as a spoof for the pair's contribution to this year's U.K. Comic Relief.

In the sketch, Gervais is such an ego-maniacal weed that he wouldn't allow the then-fictional opera to proceed unless a male model portrayed his old role of David Brent. But, Gervais is actually very charity-friendly, so I imagine this was an easy call for he and Merchant.

The Office and Extras star Ricky Gervais might be looking to give up acting to focus more on writing and directing.

As talented and naturally funny as Gervais is, it could be said that he never really took up acting in the first place. While relaxed on camera, he's essentially played himself (or enhanced aspects of himself) in most TV shows or movies he's appeared in so far -- including his starring role in Ghost Town last year.

According to The Daily Star, Gervais is so in love with directing that he'd rather invest his time there, rather than take on more lead or supporting roles (as in the Night at the Museum series).

Karl Pilkington, longtime friend and podcasting costar of Ricky Gervais, has a head like an orange. He possesses very little education, an extremely pessimistic take on life, a sad obsession with insects and a perpetually confused world view.

But, even with all that going against him, he holds a share of the Guinness Book of World Records title for most popular podcast with Gervais and Stephen Merchant -- and he's about to star in a new animated series on HBO.

According to Variety, The Office creator will bring The Ricky Gervais Show to TV in a series of 13 animated half-hour episodes. In audio form, the Gervais, Merchant and Pilkington formula features Gervais throwing a vast variety of topics at the intellectually challenged Pilkington to see what sense he can make of them.

If there were a way to completely stop people on the Internet from saying, "Why do you keep watching this? Saturday Night Live hasn't been good since the days of Gildaphil Belushikroyd Normfeyrrell!", I would punch that button (or that person). Thinking a little more optimistically, there can always be better days ahead, for SNL is forever renewable, with an ever changing cast and crew. The thing that gets the fastest turn-over is the host, who has the opportunity to bring something new and exciting from week to week.

Now that the so-so 33rd season is over, I like to pretend everyone at SNL has kicked aside all the beach time and BBQ invites to plan something exciting for their return. Picking good hosts is an important part of having a successful season, so I've compiled my own list of nine people that must host, just in case SNL decides to re-work the entire show based on blog responses. I'm just covering all my bases, all right?

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