Underrated comedy shows

[seany t]

As a kid I used to love TV Offal, quite a few clips of which are on YouTube. Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe is a rare gem amidst the drivel being served up at the moment.

Yes yes and yes. Great show. In fact, about the only thing I ever watch on BBC4? Which is maybe a mistake, given that Lead Balloon & The Thick of it are also shown on that channel and have turned out to be great when I caught them on BBC 2.

Haven't heard of either of your gems GlasgowSUFC - got any youtube links?

 

[Firestorm]

You're right, she was on Saturday Live! one week as part of this double-act if I seem to remember.

She lived a few doors down from a bar my mate used to manage in Clapham and used to come in giving it the full diva act on a regular basis (apparently one of her worst was after her cameo appearance in Series 1 of I'm Alan Partridge). All the staff thought she was one of the most odious horrible people they ever had to serve. I bet she was even worse at the height of Smack The Pony and probably felt "she" was the talent.

Makes her living from voiceover work these days & royalties from when they show The Day Today etc on Dave I should imagine!

Found this about a program called Wake up London which had a double act called Rabbitt and Doon

http://tv.cream.org/a-z/uvwxyz/index.htm

Dammned if I can find out who Rabbitt was though

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Haven't heard of either of your gems GlasgowSUFC - got any youtube links?

Nope, nothing on YouTube.

Here's the IMDB comments to prove I'm not dreaming up these shows

Blue Heaven
Sunnyside Farm

Searching for movie clips, also reminded me of the genius of John Shuttleworth's docusoap series 500 Bus Stops!!!

 

[OldBlueLady]

Found this about a program called Wake up London which had a double act called Rabbitt and Doon

http://tv.cream.org/a-z/uvwxyz/index.htm

Dammned if I can find out who Rabbitt was though

Not Katie Rabbett?

 

[Firestorm]

Not Katie Rabbett?

Not quite,
That was Rabette

I reckon its Anne Rabbitt, a bit of a comedy writer (Wrote Cry Wolf) but does not appear to have done much else.

Anyway time to leave work, and meet the mrs for a bite to eat before heading to the Ship

 

[OldBlueLady]

Not quite,
That was Rabette

I reckon its Anne Rabbitt, a bit of a comedy writer (Wrote Cry Wolf) but does not appear to have done much else.

Anyway time to leave work, and meet the mrs for a bite to eat before heading to the Ship

Have fun, see most of the others have already sloped off!

 

[pringlejon]

There was a programme on ITV about 5 years ago called "The Sketch Show". does exactly what it says on the tin. Awesome sketches, loads on youtube, starring 2 of my favourite again underated comedians, Lee Mack and Tim Vine.

Which leads nicely onto current sitcom, "Not Going Out". My favorite sitcom of modern days (apart from the office), starring the aforementioned comics.

 

[OldBlueLady]

There was a programme on ITV about 5 years ago called "The Sketch Show". does exactly what it says on the tin. Awesome sketches, loads on youtube, starring 2 of my favourite again underated comedians, Lee Mack and Tim Vine.

Which leads nicely onto current sitcom, "Not Going Out". My favorite sitcom of modern days (apart from the office), starring the aforementioned comics.

Quite like Not Going Out, first series was best though.

 

[loz]

I can't watch Lead Balloon, it just seems like a vanity project for Jack Dee (and a blatant, much less funny rip-off of Curb Your Enthusiasm).

 

[seany t]

I can't watch Lead Balloon, it just seems like a vanity project for Jack Dee (and a blatant, much less funny rip-off of Curb Your Enthusiasm).

Yeah I'd agree with that now I've actually watched CYE, but I saw Lead balloon first so perhaps give it more credit's than its due. I do love the cleaner though.

So with CYE, where do I start? Was it crap at first and then got good, or has it always been great? Never bought any or watched more than 3 episodes of it here and there. Seemed pretty good, but nothing amazing. But then, I once thought that about Spaced & Peep Show...

 

[Kenny]

Nathan Barley - another Chris Morris masterpiece. It played out to about 72 viewers late nite on Channel 4 but it still has somewhat of a cult following in my office. It was really well observed for 2005. The main character ran a website that had viral videos and he had a phone with "twin mp3 decks". Quite spooky given the birth of YouTube and the way mobile phones have evolved. The programme also took a swipe at media types who work in Hoxton. The Magazine offices in Barley had things like swings, pinball machines and tricylces which resemble that email about Google offices thats been doing the rounds in the last couple of weeks.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Outnumbered with Hugh Dennis last year was superb. Pretty much all ad-libbed and VERY funny! Roll on S2 :)

 

[Greenelk]

I've just got hold of the Absolutely dvd box set, and will spend many hours laughing at that.

Spaced was pretty fantastic, just a shame that Pegg & Co made it huge before they made the final series!

 

[Beefy]

Yeah I'd agree with that now I've actually watched CYE, but I saw Lead balloon first so perhaps give it more credit's than its due. I do love the cleaner though.

So with CYE, where do I start? Was it crap at first and then got good, or has it always been great? Never bought any or watched more than 3 episodes of it here and there. Seemed pretty good, but nothing amazing. But then, I once thought that about Spaced & Peep Show...

It's the best television show that has ever been written. Nothing less than complete comedic genius. The writing in it is just fantastic, and it's particularly impressive that that comes across so well considering that there's no script. Every episode every single loose end gets tied off, usually at the end where every one of those loose ends comes back to bite Larry in the backside.

I never thought any show would replace Partridge in my affections. Then Larry David came along.

 

[Alexis_SUFC]

I love The Inbetweeners and Flight of the Conchords, both quite underrated and hilarious.

 

[seany t]

The writing in it is just fantastic, and it's particularly impressive that that comes across so well considering that there's no script.

I think I follow you?! :)

So it's all improvised, but the actors / writers in it are so good that the dialogue almost seems scripted?

Well thats a pretty resounding accolade. Thats just moved up to numero uno on the birthday want-list...

 

[seany t]

Also, being pedantic: Nathan Barley was co-written by Charlie Brooker, and I get the feeling that show was more his than Morris' when you watch what they've repstecively done since. But I like it too, even if its very inconsistent

And alas, Spaced series 3 was never really on the cards. They have however, always considered doing a one off special. But it grows unlikier by the year. Which in a way, I think I'm glad about now...

FOTConchords is great. Series 2 just wrapped I believe. Need it now!

 

[Beefy]

I think I follow you?! :)

So it's all improvised, but the actors / writers in it are so good that the dialogue almost seems scripted?

Yeah there's no script, just a set premise behind each scene which the actors are aware of. They then film the scene three times and take the best one. If there's specific lines that need to be said then they will be but usually the actors just play off of eachother.

 

[seany t]

Yeah there's no script, just a set premise behind each scene which the actors are aware of. They then film the scene three times and take the best one. If there's specific lines that need to be said then they will be but usually the actors just play off of eachother.

Wow, thats pretty ambitious. And now I understand why they filmed the last 2 series of 'The Thick of it' like that too. Copying *******s...

 

[Sussex Shrimper]

Also, being pedantic: Nathan Barley was co-written by Charlie Brooker, and I get the feeling that show was more his than Morris' when you watch what they've repstecively done since. But I like it too, even if its very inconsistent

And alas, Spaced series 3 was never really on the cards. They have however, always considered doing a one off special. But it grows unlikier by the year. Which in a way, I think I'm glad about now...

FOTConchords is great. Series 2 just wrapped I believe. Need it now!

Nathan Barley is based on a fictional TV series featured on Charlie Brooker's old website, tvgohome, the name of which wouldn't get past the swear filter. It's no surprise that his should be the greater influence.