Underrated comedy shows

[seany t]

Following on from the current 'Battle Poll', I've noticed a few names cropping up for shows I'd never heard of before. And checking them out on Youtube, I see that many of them look really promising. So as my 6th season 'South Park' boxset is only 4 episodes from the end now and I didn't really ought to watch 'Peep Show' yet again for fear of DVD erosion, I thought this thread could be a place where people recommend programmes we might have missed and deserve more coverage.

For example;

Big Train

Big Train was a surreal, Python-esque British sketch show created by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, who also wrote Father Ted together. It was first shown in 1998 with a (weaker) second series - possibly due to Linehan not being involved - shown in 2002. Many of the actors have since gone on to star in many other highly rated comedy shows, including Simon Pegg (Spaced / Shaun of the Dead), Mark Heap (Green Wing / Spaced), Kevin Eldon (Hyperdrive / I'm Alan Partridge), Julia Davis (Nighty Night / Brass Eye / Gavin & Stacey) & even a very early appearance by Catherine Tate.

Some highlights:

World Staring championship:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWgg20IqibM

'Relieving oneself sexually' in the office:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn6Z9djh8eA

Jesus & Satan the office prankster
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtUM3IF6rvk

Prince stalking the jockeys (now a TV advert predictably):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcMuTsBFQTE

Evil tyrant's day off:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5xqukXdkmY

Bee Gees vs Chaka Khan wild west shootout:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQZDFv0aTlk

Available on DVD for the normal price of 1 series if you shop around (which is good, as Series 2 definitely isn't as good)

For fans of: Sketch shows like Python and Mitchell & Webb or those who like their comedy not too serious and with a touch of the surreal

 

[Mad Cyril]

Big Train was fantastic.

My favourite sketch was when Hall and Oates were sent in as troubleshooters on a rough inner city high rise estate.

 

[Ulysses]

Nightingales with Robert Lindsay, which ran in the early 90's for 2 series on channel 4. Very good at the time and centred around 3 bizarre night security guards and there antics. Favourite episode involved them finding a werewolf. Blinding!!

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I remember when Big Train was first aired i absolutely detested it .. but actually watched every episode just to see if it really was as unfunny and cringeworthy as the weeks before

Thing is about 4 or 5 years ago i stumbled across a repeat on UK gold or something and thought it was excellent ... all very surreal :tumbleweed:

 

[MK Shrimper]

Absolutely? Morwenna Banks as the young kid, the Scottish sketches. STONYBRIDGE!

Kevin Turvey... Rik Mayall early 80's thing.

Smack The Pony.

Loads of them!

 

[Mad Cyril]

The Larry Sanders Show was another classic 90's comedy but was only ever given late night slots on TV.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Absolutely? Morwenna Banks as the young kid, the Scottish sketches. STONYBRIDGE!

I loved Absolutely, especially their Stonybridge sketches. The missus and I still have a good chuckle about the Stonybridge Olympic bid... brilliant.

:)

 

[Mad Cyril]

Absolutely? Morwenna Banks as the young kid, the Scottish sketches. STONYBRIDGE!

She is also the voice of Peppa Pig's mum!

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Big Train was fantastic.

My favourite sketch was when Hall and Oates were sent in as troubleshooters on a rough inner city high rise estate.

I concur...Big Train was very good, as was Smack The Pony

The I.T Crowd also has me in stitches

 

[fatshrimp]

"Stonybridge! A Bridge.. of Stones..."

Lee & Herring Fist of Fun was another classic around that time.

 

[seany t]

"Stonybridge! A Bridge.. of Stones..."

Lee & Herring Fist of Fun was another classic around that time.

As was their "This morning with Richard (not Judy)" sunday show, that got scrapped due to all the scathing religious attacks and BBC criticism shown before 12pm

 

[fatshrimp]

As an aside for all the Richard Herring fans (probably about 6 people!), the Andrew Collins & Richard Herring podcasts are very funny, well worth a listen.

 

[seany t]

I remember when Big Train was first aired i absolutely detested it .. but actually watched every episode just to see if it really was as unfunny and cringeworthy as the weeks before

Thing is about 4 or 5 years ago i stumbled across a repeat on UK gold or something and thought it was excellent ... all very surreal :tumbleweed:

My taste in comedy has changed loads as I've gotten older. I'm finding some things I loved just 2 years ago (The smell of Reeves & Mortimer, Game on, That Peter Kay thing) a bit embarrassing to watch now, and other shows I didn't think much of (Nathan Barley, Kath & Kim, Thick of it) taking up all my waking hours now.

A bit like olives. Sucked at first, pretty damn addictive now...

Other shows I loved:

Adam & Joe show, Perfect World (starring Paul Kaye), Look around you (series 1), Saxondale (series 2 ruled)

 

[MK Shrimper]

Adam & Joe are great, as is their BBC6 Podcast!

 

[Firestorm]

Whilst we are on comedy, can anyone help me jog my memory. I am sure Doon Mackichan first appeared on TV as part of a female double act , but I can't recall who with or the mame of the show. It was long before Smack the Pony etc..

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

A bit like olives. Sucked at first, pretty damn addictive now...

What ?? Olive from "On The Buses" ?? :stunned:

Ooh Arthur !!!!!

 

[Clinton Baptiste]

Arrested Development is brilliant. Would reccomend to anyone who likes Curb, Seinfeld, Frasier.
Also Early Doors.

 

[seany t]

Arrested Development is brilliant. Would reccomend to anyone who likes Curb, Seinfeld, Frasier.
Also Early Doors.

I watched an episode of that on the way to Japan last month. 3 times in a row. Liked it a lot too.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I like Malcolm in the Middle.

It's not just for kids.

 

[Napster]

Adam & Joe are great, as is their BBC6 Podcast!

This is true.

Text the nation! What if I don't want to?