Swindon Music

Because my sky box is down this week I have been forced to limit my viewing to the terrestrial channels and have caught a few shows I wuldn't normally be subjected to. Last night I saw a new BBC sit com called Big Top which had quite a few names in it Amanda Holden, John Thompson and the legendary Tony Robinson. Unfortunatley it came across like one of those sketches they used to make contestants do on The Generation Game, or a Blue Peter Pantomime. Predictable, poorly acted and amateurish. Anyone else sit through this without wanting to shoot themself in the face.

Last week I also caught Miranda, which was better, had a touch of Eric Sykes in it's asides to the camera but really revolves around someone falling over a lot.

British comedy...were did it all go wrong?

Miranda is great! Just pure utter silliness from start to finish.

It's got Amanda Holden in it; I'd expect nothing less.

There's still plenty of great British comedy, just not much of it is on the Beeb.

so what should I be watching?

just having a read up of what people on other forums I frequent think of "Big Top". It's getting a universal slating...




on telly at the moment? or via DVD?

really talking about new comedy, so current shows I guess....if I need a guarenteed laugh I just reach for DVDs of Black Books....I'm just interested to see what people think has emerged in the last few years that seems to have longevity.

See, I find Black Books on par with recent BBC sitcoms (my family, the only fools and horses "spinoff" with Boycey etc etc) - pile of shite.

The Thick Of It. Best comedy I've seen in years, it's Yes Minister meets The Office with the most profanely hilarious consequences.

Then you, sir, are a fucking madman.

knew I could count on you Mr B....

so what about shows launched in the last few years. Man/Woman? Not Going Out? does anyone remember the woefully unfunny Tittybangbang? Any others?

I can't think of any recent shows really. I haven't seen a single ep of The Thick Of It (I'll get there and I know I'll love it). The last series of Peep Show was a massive return to form, albeit with a bit of a lame final episode that left things annoying up in the air. If I need a good laugh, I also hit the DVD collection. I'd never tire of these:

Spaced
Black Books (burn the heretic above who doesn't like it )
The Day Today
Brass Eye
Fawlty Towers (the Comic Messiah's finest half hour)
Black Adder (all of them, yes, even the first series)
Joking Apart (best. sitcom. ever.)
Big Train (sketch show on acid)
The Robinsons (BBC2 obscurity starring Martin Freeman that only I seem to love)

I was just talking to a friend a couple of days ago at how shocked i was to see this comedy on air.
I was shouting at the screen why Sally Phillips who i loved in "Smack the Pony" has reduced herself to this ahem "comedy"
The only way i can explain it is It's like watching the scenes of Andy Millman's character in "Extras"
I know people have different tastes but i thought the writing was lazy, predictable and very dated.
I'm actually quite fond of light hearted comedy but it has to be done well and I'll admit It's probably the hardest type of writing to get right and please a massive audience.
But miranda even does that Allo Allo "you have been watching" ending which worked in 1986 but not now.

British comedies I'd recommend over the past few years

Peep show
It crowd
Snuff Box
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
Outnumbered "Hugh Dennis"
Black Books
The thick of it
Absolute Power "Stephen Fry"

There are more obvious one's but some people may not have head of these

I'm actually just about to watch AD BC The Rock Opera!

"told in rock", of the birth of Christ, this time from the point of view of the Innkeeper starring Matt berry and many others from the same series he's worked on.

I know exactly what you mean. Miranda, on paper, is the worst series ever. Yet, for some reason, it just works for me (and a lot of other people I know). I can't explain exactly why I like it, I just do.

The Inbetweeners is another one. On paper, it's a REALLY crude show with lots of swearing and revolting teenage brats trying desperately to get laid and act all cool. I should really hate it yet somehow it gets away with it and I bloody love it so much it's also in the DVD collection and I've yet to meet anyone I've shown it to who doesn't like it.


Sheer genius from start to finish. Even the DVD extras are "in character".


never seen it but intend to...

Mention of Sally Phillips above reminded me of one I forgot. To me, one of the finest comedy shows ever made is the first series of "I'm Alan Partridge". Comedy gold from start to finish and Sally P is absolutely priceless in it..