"a shame, especially since it was much better than the other one from the gervais-stable, 'derek'"
^
wildly incorrect.
derek was filled with heart.
it was never meant to be non-stop laughs.
it was a bitter-sweet and well thought out plot, the laughs were endearing and meant something
because they were juxtaposed between emotional moments.
the reason you didn't like it was because you were uncomfortable being made to feel emotion.
(and karl did a great job)