British Comedy Guide

Walliams & Friend

New Sketch comedy on Christmas Eve. I have a feeling this will be pretty crap and a rehash of old Walliams sketches. Sketch shows are pretty much dead now. No new ideas. What do you guys think?

It does sound a bit cringeworthy. I guess it all depends on whom his co-writers and co-stars are. You never know, it could be another 'It's Ulrika'?

I've now seen it advertised in the seasonal Radio Times. It looks like a substandard version of Little Britain, but I'm prepared to give it a go to prove myself wrong.

A full series commission is expected to follow if this special tonight is successful.

I saw the opening intro skit because I couldn't find the remote to turn the unbearable twat off. Absolutely disgusted that the Beeb allowed him to recite about 30 brandnames when all these years they've demanded that no one say them.

Does this now open the floodgates for everyone on beeb airtime to promote brandnames? The BBC have become such a confused bunch of liberal tossers you don't know what to expect next from them.

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ 25th December 2015, 7:27 AM GMT

I saw the opening intro skit because I couldn't find the remote to turn the unbearable twat off. Absolutely disgusted that the Beeb allowed him to recite about 30 brandnames when all these years they've demanded that no one say them.

Does this now open the floodgates for everyone on beeb airtime to promote brandnames? The BBC have become such a confused bunch of liberal tossers you don't know what to expect next from them.

Did you not get the joke? Huh? I thought that one was actually quite a good concept.

This was thankfully not a Little Britain rehash, it was a proper sketch show, but it was, alas, a sub-standard one. I've seen worse, though.

Family fare. Better than some Little Britain sketches (though some of the adult sketches were very good).

Well, I just watched my recording and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it, with sharp new material that got me off in a good mood with the quiz skit that I thought was brilliant, and Joanna Lumley was superb throughout.

It did surprise me as I was convinced, with my jaundiced eye, that was going to be a load of cack - how wrong I was.

Well.

That was an oddity. I loved the first sketch, with the product placement. But if this show needed anything, it was a script editor. My God, some of those sketches went on. And on. And on. And the 'Moneyforyou!' spoof advert thing? One of the unfunniest skecthes I have ever seen. But the liar's workshop? I liked it, despite the payoff being unsatisfying because the same gag was used earlier in the sketch.

I would at least watch one more episode should it be commissioned, but it needs work.

Quote: Sitcomfan64 @ 26th December 2015, 12:37 AM GMT

But the liar's workshop? I liked it, despite the payoff being unsatisfying because the same gag was used earlier in the sketch.

Certainly wouldn't call it the same gag - it was a double bluff gag and I thought worked very well.

No, no can't agree with you at all there.

That's fair enough. It reminded me of a similar skecth from The Sketch Show, an imaginary friends workshop, which I thought worked a lot better.

I did like the room full of Lumleys though, good impersonations.

I thought it was brilliant and was laughing out loud. Yes some of it was predictable but Walliams' expressions make it funnier. Also I watched it with my 87 year old mother and felt there was nothing embarrassing until maybe the last sketch.

The quiz was hilarious. The product placement could've been done by Ronnie Barker and everyone would've said it was genius.

I love Joanna Lumley and she proved what a great actress she is. The only weak sketch I thought was the James Bond one where Walliams allowed her to take centre stage.

Well worth a series I think.

Quote: Sitcomfan64 @ 26th December 2015, 12:57 AM GMT

That's fair enough. It reminded me of a similar skecth from The Sketch Show, an imaginary friends workshop, which I thought worked a lot better.

I did like the room full of Lumleys though, good impersonations.

Don't remember that one from The Sketch Show, but do this one.....I think - I thought there was a paranoid workshop one, but perhaps I am getting it mixed up with this:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koNwUeG-iKE

How young they all look - the only thing that grates with me is when Lee says A A G HAITCH......Grrrrr Angry ....can't stand anyone saying that phonetic pronunciation.

Yes, the room of Lumleys was very good. :)

Quote: Chappers @ 26th December 2015, 8:17 AM GMT

II love Joanna Lumley and she proved what a great actress she is. The only weak sketch I thought was the James Bond one where Walliams allowed her to take centre stage.

well worth a series I think.

Oh, I thought the James Bond was one of the better ones and very clever - second your "worth a series". Have never been a massive fan of Walliams, but he has shone in this I think.

Quote: Sitcomfan64 @ 26th December 2015, 12:37 AM GMT

if this show needed anything, it was a script editor.

It had one!

Quote: gappy @ 25th December 2015, 11:14 AM GMT

Did you not get the joke? Huh? I thought that one was actually quite a good concept.

This was thankfully not a Little Britain rehash, it was a proper sketch show, but it was, alas, a sub-standard one. I've seen worse, though.

I feel, on reflection, "sub-standard" was a little harsh. "Average" woudl be about right: strong performances, and some very nice concepts, but I also felt that even the best sketches tended to go on too long. If commissioned, I'd give it another chance - would be interesting if the friend were different each week.

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