BCG Daily Monday 17th May 2021
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The Pursuit Of Love, episode 2 review
Little Miss Heartbreak, Mr Shouty and how to save this flimsy satire.
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail, 17th May 2021
Mark Watson's Carpool Comedy Club, Henley-Marlow review
Along side Watson were Jen Brister, Catherine Bohart, and Nish Kumar having some very strong words with a Conservative-supporting heckler.
Veronica Lee, The Arts Desk, 17th May 2021
Edinburgh Fringe venue announced with shows
Beyond The Joke can exclusively reveal that Live Nation is set to stage Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021 shows at Edinburgh Corn Exchange from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 August. The shows will be Craig Hill - Pumped!, Daniel Sloss: HUBRiS and Henning Wehn: It'll All Come Out In The Wash.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th May 2021
Mo Gilligan to play O2 Arena
Mo Gilligan is set to play the O2 Arena on 8th December.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th May 2021
TV preview: Inside No 9 - Simon Says, BBC Two
My time in various lockdowns over the past year has certainly not been completely frittered away. I may not have baked any banana bread or mastered a foreign language, but I did something much more fruitful. I watch every episode of Inside No 9 anthology forerunner Tales Of The Unexpected, the old ITV series - now available on Sky Arts - that took its cue from the twisted imagination of Roald Dahl.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th May 2021
Review: The Real Stanley Baxter
This authorised biography has generated headlines because in it 95-year-old Stanley Baxter comes out as gay, yet there is so much more to this account of the actor's life than that revelation.
Richard Bath, Scottish Field, 17th May 2021
Review: The very first comedy gig of 2021
Steve Bennett joins Angel Comedy's cheeky midnight gig as lockdown eases.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th May 2021
Trying 2 review
In an era of TV/streaming shows celebrating diversity, Andy Wolton's programme feels like something of a throwback to a Richard Curtis-style period when London was populated entirely by white people, i.e. never.
Dan Meier, The Upcoming, 17th May 2021
Ali G and Borat join Sacha Baron Cohen at MTV awards
The comic appeared in character during the ceremony.
BBC, 17th May 2021
A look at the first post-lockdown comedy club
Performing live to an audience again was "really quite moving", according to a comedian who put on a show as soon as lockdown rules were eased at midnight.
Ian Youngs, BBC, 17th May 2021
UK tour for Ignacio Lopez
UK-based Spanish/Welsh stand-up Ignacio Lopez is embarking on a tour of the UK starting on 7th August 2021 in Bridgwater and concluding in Peterborough at the Key Studio Theatre on 29th October 2021.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th May 2021
Live review: Angel Comedy, The Bill Murray, N1
Despite the fact that they had every reason to be rusty all the acts were on good form, running as much on adrenaline as lager and excitement.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 17th May 2021
Plotting my sitcom: how do I handle a series arc?
In the last post, I looked at the desire to have a series arc in a sitcom or comedy drama. I showed how comedies had overarching narratives decades before streaming services and boxed sets. And if your show runs for a long time, you can't avoid children becoming adults, adults getting married and growing old - and actors leaving or dying. But let's say your continuing story in your sitcom is a choice rather than a reality of the aging process. How is that best handled?
James Cary, Sitcom Geek, 17th May 2021
Improv corner - improv in the media - Hypothetical
I have high hopes for this show and keep my fingers crossed it does well because the world is needing a new and interesting panel show and this just might be it.
Phoenix Remix, 17th May 2021
Inside No 9: Simon Says review
If last week's Inside No 9, mixing heist movie with commedia dell'arte, flaunted Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton's inventive creative ambitions, the second episode in this sixth series is a more straightforward example of what they do best.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th May 2021
'Very little funny' about pandemic - Steve Royle
Today sees the return of live comedy across England, Wales and most of Scotland. But the material they have got to work with, well it's been a year to forget for many. So how do you find laughter in the misery? Comedian Steve Royle, who came third in Britain's Got Talent last year, joined us to talk about tackling comedy in the pandemic.
Jon Snow, Channel 4, 17th May 2021
Inside No 9, series 6 episode 2, review
Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton's black comedy turns its satirical gaze on obsessive TV-show fans *warning: spoilers*.
Ed Power, The Telegraph, 17th May 2021
Inside No. 9 series 6 episode 2 review: Simon Says
Inside No. 9 explores the dark side of the creator-fan relationship in a malevolent story of entitlement, arrogance and obsession. Spoilers.
Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 17th May 2021
Review: Inside No 9 takes a look at the power of fans
Rather like Misdirection from last series, Simon Says has an initial twist that regular Inside No. 9 viewers will possibly expect. However, Shearsmith and Pemberton still know how to surprise us, so the story goes on to deliver further twists and turns that will keep even the most seasoned viewers on their toes. The result is a thrilling episode that ranks up there with the show's very best.
Sophie Davies, The Custard TV, 17th May 2021
Rare Beasts review
Billie Piper's directorial debut boasts much to admire but is still hard to enjoy.
Emma Simmonds, The List, 17th May 2021
Rare Beasts review
Billie Piper makes her directorial debut with this acerbic romantic comedy.
Beth Webb, Radio Times, 17th May 2021Inside No. 9 review: Simon Says
Simon Says is another strong episode, and if the intention is to kick off a discussion on Creators Vs Fandoms then it succeeds as the episode never conclusively comes down on either side.
Nick Bartlett, Critical Popcorn, 17th May 2021Videos
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TV
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Podcasts
TV & radio
8:15am10 min
The Theo The Mouse Show
Episode 1 - The Five SensesWendy teaches Theo about the Five Senses through a new game, will Theo take it seriously?
6:30pm30 min
Nature Table
Series 2, Episode 3Joining Sue Perkins this week are zoologist, writer and presenter Lucy Cooke, entomologist Karim Vahed, and comedian Felicity Ward.
6:30pm30 min
Ignacio Lopez: Spain's Best Export
Ignacio Lopez, gives his unique and relentlessly funny insight into holidays, food, and childhood in Wales. Be prepared for an armada of sarcasm, sharp observations, and silliness!
9pm30 min
Motherland
Series 3, Episode 2 - Catchment AreaThe mums (and dad) join the merry-go-round of secondary school open days, as they face the choice of where to send their kids at 11. Julia panics about which catchment area she lives in and even considers a fake religious conversion to beat the system. As Kevin's divorce progresses, Liz helps him navigate the shark-pool of lawyers, and makes a worrying discovery about her own situation along the way. Meanwhile queen bee Amanda struggles with playing second fiddle to Meg's illness.
9:30pm30 min
Inside No. 9
Series 6, Episode 2 - Simon SaysEveryone says the season seven finale of fantasy epic The Ninth Circle was pretty disappointing - even show-runner Spencer Maguire is keen to move on to new projects. But not everyone thinks that it has to be the end of the matter. In fact, Ninth Circle obsessive Simon Smethurst decides to visit his hero to help put things right. Because that's what the fans would want...