TVSquad

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.

For example, Pilkington has theorized that see-through skin on humans would be a time-saving medical idea, some fire departments hire monkeys to put out high rise blazes, and stick insects originated when a bug had intercourse with a twig. Pilkington's mind-boggling stupidity spawned a cottage industry for the Manchester native, including a series of bestselling books.

The HBO show will follow the same format as the podcast -- adding visuals to the trio's conversations.

Look for the series to arrive in early 2010 because everything these three men have touched so far has turned to legitimate comedy gold. And, even with the rigors of animation, it's the easiest show HBO will produce all year. All they need to do is stick a microphone in front of Pilkington and he'll do the rest. It's a show to look forward to and an odds-on success with a pre-built audience.