Quote: Michael Monkhouse @ 4th September 2017, 7:20 AMI love Melanie C's shoulderblades. Another series of The Wright Way comes fairly low on the list.
Right, but this is a forum about comedy, not about Melanie C's shoulder blades.
The Ronnie Barker Comedy Lecture Page 2
So, anyway. All we can hope is that the message is heard loud and clear by those who needed to hear it.
Yes, that.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ 4th September 2017, 8:07 AModious little champagne socialist trendy intellectual lefty shitehawk.
Brilliant.
Quote: beaky @ 4th September 2017, 9:59 AMWe're none of us perfect!
Perfection does not exist. The closest is Melanie C's shoulderblades.
Quote: Aaron @ 4th September 2017, 11:50 PMSo, anyway. All we can hope is that the message is heard loud and clear by those who needed to hear it.
I honestly don't think it'll make much difference.
Quote: Michael Monkhouse @ 27th August 2017, 9:32 AMBen Elton started to lose it with 'The Man From Auntie' - coincidentally, just as the 80s ended. It was fine by most people's standards, but didn't have the bite and energy he was known for. Compare s1 ep2 to 'Motormouth' and you'll hear what I mean. 'The Young Ones' was awesome and 'Happy Families' is a gem.
I f**king hate Blackadder.
Yes, Happy Families was much maligned and not shown enough!
Quote: Davida @ 27th August 2017, 3:42 AMI enjoyed it.
Now I'm wondering, did I judge Mrs. Brown's Boys too quickly?.....probably, but I still doubt that one is for me. S'alright though because I'm no where near at a loss for new comedy (and old) to explore and enjoy right now.
I am glad to hear a rallying call for studio sitcoms and a call for audiences not to write them off in this still-post-Office era, and for commissioners to give them their due, even though they're expensive to make compared to say a panel show, and even though it seems people think audiences don't want more studio sitcoms anymore, and that we want them to die off. I think we do want them though, don't we? Seems like that's something we've all been complaining about the lack of lately on here for ages. All this talk about modern comedy being rubbish always seems to come down to people yearning for good old studio sitcoms. There are only like 2 studio sitcoms out there right now (could be wrong on that one).
Twas a good lecture. Ben Elton knows what he's talking about, even if he is kind of awful half the time.
Mind you, Elton does have a vested interest in keeping the sitcom format going.
Quote: Davida @ 2nd September 2017, 7:53 PMSeems like this place is a common venue for whinging that there are no good new sitcoms. Here we have someone with a voice advocating for saving the art of the studio sitcom, and for commissioners and audiences to give new sitcoms a chance to flourish. He's speaking on all our behalf, isn't he? Fighting for what we love? This is a good thing, no?
He does have a vested interest however.
I found it interesting busy watching all the sycophants and people who had to be there to be seen. Elton was effectively preaching to the converted with its mass of left wing BBC and media types (Neil Kinnock ffs?).
Quote: gb901 @ 9th September 2017, 11:32 AMYes, Happy Families was much maligned and not shown enough!
Mind you, Elton does have a vested interest in keeping the sitcom format going.
He does have a vested interest however.
I found it interesting busy watching all the sycophants and people who had to be there to be seen. Elton was effectively preaching to the converted with its mass of left wing BBC and media types (Neil Kinnock ffs?).
You're not suggesting they should invite the hoi polloi?
Quote: beaky @ 9th September 2017, 1:54 PMYou're not suggesting they should invite the hoi polloi?
They did! Two recordings: afternoon, with the public; and evening, with industry people, celebrities, journalists, and me.
As long as they invited people in order.
Quote: gb901 @ 9th September 2017, 11:32 AMYes, Happy Families was much maligned and not shown enough!
.
Happy Families is lovely and made Ben the Youngest ever One (see what I did there?) to create a prime-time TV series. http://www.sitcom.co.uk/happy_families/about.shtml - I've never understood why this absolute jewel never got hyped, while the middle-aged comedy-by-numbers of Filthy Rich and. C**tflap or Bottom got full-on DVD releases.
It's strange that there is no greater crime in some people's eyes than to have been funny once and then disappointed some people with your subsequent output.
Blackadder is literally one of the best UK sitcoms ever written. Elton co-wrote it. Has everything he's done since been as good? Of course not. It's not all been bad either. And yet some people will always hate him.
A good speech from him anyway.
I've just realised it's a once a year lecture, would have liked more sooner! Really enjoyed this and the stand for studio sitcoms that was made.
Quote: Shandonbelle @ 10th September 2017, 8:39 PMI've just realised it's a once a year lecture, would have liked more sooner! Really enjoyed this and the stand for studio sitcoms that was made.
I come once a year too.
Quote: Chris Hallam @ 10th September 2017, 8:26 PMBlackadder is literally one of the best UK sitcoms ever written.
Didn't hear about this. Will seek it out
What is better written than Blackadder series 2-4?
Five solid UK sitcom examples please!
Number of times I express my opinions on forums: 19628532.
Number of people who give two hairy shits in a sink what I think: 0.
Number of people who both give said shits and let it influence their own opinions: -19628532.
Blackadder is overrated, overquoted and overly contrived.
PS The Office, Fawlty Towers, The Young Ones, Porridge, I'm Alan Partridge.