Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Fallon's improv skills lead to a hilariously inappropriate Richard Gere joke

Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Fallon&#039;s improv skills lead to a hilariously inappropriate Richard Gere joke

(Image credit: NBC)

last updated 8 January 2015

Maybe more than any other of his celebrity parlor games, Jimmy Fallon's "Word Slip" relies on the talents of his Tonight Show guests. On Monday night's show, Fallon and Ricky Gervais managed one of those moments in comedy that you just can't plan in advance. The game works like this: Each contestant gets a list of words they have to try to inconspicuously slip into the conversation. There's some good improv here, but when Gervais gets "gerbil" followed by Fallon's "fanny pack," well, things get saucy very quickly. If you don't know the urban legend about Richard Gere, maybe read this NSFW explainer first. Either way, watch Questlove's face: He knows. --Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.