Tuesday 23 August 2011

Comedy Night - 18 August 2011

TMWRNJ - s1e6 - Paul Putner, who plays the Curious Orange, is another one of those ever-present comedy actors, whose face you know, but name you don't.  Time was when people like him would have 20 Ealing/Carry On films under their belt.

Fast Show - s2e7 - With a character I'd forgotten by Charlie Higson: Sir Geoffrey Norman, who is so used to saying no in political interviews, it invades all his life:


Spaced - s1e5 - Featuring my favourite non-main character: Tyres.  Michael Smiley reprises the character in Shaun of the Dead, incidentally, look carefully amongst the zombies outside the Winchester.

Smith & Jones - s3 compilation - including the businessmen who go to a restaurant to eat like babies.  I vaguely remember the sketch, but it did have us giggling.  Oh, and this.  The Youtube subtitles are quite special, but I couldn't find a copy without:


Gimme Gimme Gimme - s1e4 - Dale Winton guests, but in a good way.

Flight of the Conchords - s2e8 - This week the boys get carried away with gel and revisit the 80s.  Musically.




Comedy Night 11 Aug 2011

TMWRNJ - s1e5 - What other show gives you TV's Kevin Eldon and Brian Cant?

Fast Show - s2e6 - My overdue realisation of the genuine that was Tommy Cockles continues, but this one also contains a gem of an Arthur Aktinson sketch.


Flight of the Conchords - s2e7 - apart from the shock appearance of Art Garfunkel in this episode, my man-love for Murray Hewitt goes on.  Looking forward to seeing Rhys Darby appear with Vic Reeves in The Fun Police.

Alas Smith & Jones - s2 compilation - I know it's the distillation of a whole series, but my goodness there are some gems in here.


Gimme Gimme Gimme - s1e3 - Although best known for Burke and Drayfus, the supporting cast in this is worth a mention.  Rosalind Knight's retired prostitute landlady is a hard centred piece of whimsy and Brian Bovell and Beth Goddard's sappy couple, who happen to be sex-mad are excellent as well.  Everyone has depth, no matter how cartoon like they appear at first.













Thursday 11 August 2011

Comedy Night - 28 July 2011

Still Game - s2e9 - one of the great advantages of this sitcom is that the characters feel real because you're not given a simple stereotype.  Although Jack's daughter lives in Canada, she's all too happy to invite him over, whereas Victor's son in S Africa obviously can't be bothered.  Result - no sentiment with the lovely children of the lovely OAPs, but not too much pathos with abandoned granddads.  Jack's different reactions to a bore and Victor both acting exactly the same way (from 5:50 on the clip) top off an excellent series.



Mongrels s1e8 - series finale with Bonfire Night.  With series 2 due to air soon, I keep having to remember the fine words (adapted) of Mr le Sac and Mr Pip: Thou shalt not stop liking a show just because it becomes popular.

Alas Smith & Jones Series 2 Compilation - more gems from the depths of my memory.



Fast Show s2e5 - is Rowley Birkin QC one of the greatest comedy characters of the last 20 years?

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace e6 - You do know that Matt Berry has made albums, plural, of this stuff, don't you?