Tommy Griff
Friday 31st January 2020 3:40pm
South
443 posts
I recently attended the preview screening in Cirencester - got lucky with the ballot. Last time I applied for a screening was for Not Going Out about 10 years ago. Drove all the way to central London to have a day-out and then queue to get in. We were refused entry due to the fact that it was a first come, first serve term and condition!
Anyway, lesson learned this time around.
This sitcom is that extra bit special to me since I live relatively close to the location of filming and the fact much of the language used and references to life in the west country is very familiar.
What I battle with internally with this show, is would it even exist without The Office? There are a number of comedies that are heavily influenced by The Office - and not just style of comedy but how it is filmed. Does it take the shine off from a show like This Country and People Just Do Nothing? Is it original despite being very funny with some touching storylines?
The number of times I've tried to come-up with an idea for an original comedy and it ends up being Office or Extras. How the feck do writers do it? What is left to create that has not been done before?
On a more positive note, Daisy and Charlie Cooper offer a great and honest insight in to the development of This Country and the journey they took in making this show - gives us all some hope as they really are not all that professional. They're just normal and average people with average backgrounds who wrote a funny show - regardless of what you think of it.