British Comedy Guide

Current radio comedy... Page 31

Electric Ink was an interesting listen for me because of my media-based education, so I listened to it seeing what it would attack. I found it good but predictable in its targets. I did like some of the characters through, especially the street-talking youngester who is secretly posh.

I thought that The News Quiz was a bit flat yesterday, but was probably because all the news about the elections cannot be mentioned. They only managed to include it in a segement at the beginning where Toksvig covered the stories before the show began. That segement is not included in the podcast.

Just listened to Newfangle. An interesting conceit and a great cast, but the script seemed unispired and monochrome, with no laugh out loud moments. A real disappointment.

Quote: chipolata @ June 8 2009, 12:04 PM BST

Just listened to Newfangle. An interesting conceit and a great cast, but the script seemed unispired and monochrome, with no laugh out loud moments. A real disappointment.

Well that's a shame. The producer of that has a decent list of work to his credit, Hut 33 and Double Science amongst them.

Quote: john lucas 101 @ June 8 2009, 1:42 PM BST

Well that's a shame.

And no one feels that shame more than me. :(

(Although even the great Armando Ianuuci has Lab Rats on his CV)

Yes, there was something missing from today's episode of Newfangle.

Sad to see The Museum of Curiosity filling it's second gallery. However, there is now a new matter to discuss. What should the English call the "@" symbol.

Quote: Ian Wolf @ June 8 2009, 7:10 PM BST

Sad to see The Museum of Curiosity filling it's second gallery. However, there is now a new matter to discuss. What should the English call the "@" symbol.

Yes, it was a good series. I still miss Bill Bailey, but Sean locke's a pretty good replacement. And I enjoyed hearing Phillip Pullman in last nights show. It's good when Radio 4 goes outside it's normal pool of panel guests.

It was the first time I've had a chance to listen to The Secret World properly yesterday, and I enjoyed it. It has a nice skewed take on the world. My only complaint is that it doesn't feel like a 6:30 comedy. Not enough laugh out loud moments. It seemed better suited to its original 11:00PM slot.

I enjoyed the Rob Brydon documentary on Tommy Cooper last night. I didn't learn anyuthing new but it's always a pleasure to hear Tommy Cooper. One of the most naturally funny people there has ever been. Fact.

And always nice to hear from Barry Cryer. Not least because he has lovely white hair. :)

Yes, I remember hearing it when it first went out - quite an interesting documentry.

Concerning yesterday's radio comedy - I thought that Electric Ink was very good, while The News Quiz was so-so.

Quote: Ian Wolf @ June 13 2009, 9:14 AM BST

while The News Quiz was so-so.

To be honest, it's a very average show all round these days. Sandy Toxpig oozes self-satisfaction, and it's always the same line up of guests (Jeremy Hardy etc) trotting out variations of the same jokes we've heard countless times before.

On the subject of Newfangle, it intrigued me that such an ordinary show managed to get such a starry cast including the likes of Maureen Lipman, then I discover that it's co-written by her son, Adam Rosenthal.

Also, I'm really looking forward to I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue tonight. Hopefully whoevers in the chair will have the same caustic script that Humph did.

And excellent news about series 3 of Bleak Expectations. Although why aaron felt the need to start a new thread for it when this one is perfectly adequate is beyond me.

Quote: chipolata @ June 15 2009, 11:48 AM BST

And excellent news about series 3 of Bleak Expectations. Although why aaron felt the need to start a new thread for it when this one is perfectly adequate is beyond me.

I read on Twitter that David Mitchell attended a recording of that.

Mixed feelings about I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. It was great to have it back, and Victoria Wood was a good guest, but Stephen Fry just didn't cut the mustard as chairman. Far too jovial and affable, laughing along with everybody. He needed more bite. More distain. I agree with others in looking forward to hearing Jack Dee as chairman, as he seems a far more natural fit. And Brydon can probably do the required contempt pretty well too.

That said, it is early days and everybody must have been very nervous during last nights show.

Yes, as I've mentioned elsewhere on the forum, it was good but not great. I felt that Brydon did very well at the recording that I attended.

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