If you weren't aware, Vic and Bob have followed Steve Coogan in producing small internet-only sketches for Fosters. Coogan based his around Alan Partridge (now working for North Norfolk Digital Radio - I pass their portakabin every morning on the way to work), possibly as a test bed for the long wanted, now awaited Alan Partridge movie.
So what is Vic and Bob's contribution to the possible revolution of internet-as-comedy-provider model? It's a series of 3 minute sketches with all new characters, all seemingly filmed on the same overgrown corner of an industrial estate. Five episodes down, the content is, well, variable.
Now, I've long been a fan of Vic and Bob, I remember watching the trailers for Big Night Out ("Britain's top light entertainer") on Ch4 as a student and thinking, who's this big head then? (Irony was still on ration in 1990 Britain). From the first episode, I got it, at last here was someone to inherit Monty Python's truly surreal take on comedy. I've enjoyed The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Bang Bang It's R&M (and even The Weekenders in places) and the BBC3 underrated sitcom Catterick (well worth getting on DVD), but especially when they've trodden the obscure path.
When they hit it, they really hit it.
Shooting Stars has formed most of their output over the last few years and, well, often they don't appear to be really trying, repeating gags that wear after a couple of viewings (THAT song about Ulrika, anyone?) The highlights of the quiz for me have been the filmed questions, concentrated Vic and Bob.
The new material on the internet appears to be much of the same. Often they seem improvised and under rehearsed, Vic and Bob just busking it and hoping for the best, but when they concentrate, hit on the concept and hone a script it works again.
Filming on a new series of Shooting Stars has just finished, but I can't be alone in hoping they get a new sketch show commissioned, can I?
No comments:
Post a Comment