Yeah I agree with Dolly. Webb is the more versatile actor. I think Mitchell is funnier on panel shows but Webb is by far is best in Peep Show. I had to act in something a few months back and so I was studying the acting on the Peep Show and I realised that he is almost in a different league to Mitchell.
The vagaries of acting technique are so much hot air a lot of the time though. Yes, Webb is the more "layered" (spits!) actor, but Mitchell brings subtleties to his performance as well. Doesn't really matter as they both inhabit their characters fully and brilliantly.
Not actually seen a lot of Peep Show (I know, I know...), but I can't imagine Mitchell holding a sitcom together the way Webb did with The Smoking Room. Mitchell is brilliantly effective in sketches, but I am not waiting with baited breath for his Lear.
And Webb completely dominated Dancing with the Stars Comic Relief special.
Quote: Griff @ July 11 2009, 11:40 AM BSTDo you see Webb as the straight man? I seem them as a comedy duo of two funnymen. Balancing out the Little and Larges of the world, who had no funnymen.
I suppose he seems more likely to play the "straight character" but not exclusively.
Quote: Timbo @ July 11 2009, 12:15 PM BSTNot actually seen a lot of Peep Show (I know, I know...), but I can't imagine Mitchell holding a sitcom together the way Webb did with The Smoking Room. Mitchell is brilliantly effective in sketches, but I am not waiting with baited breath for his Lear.
Mitchell is a far better (or one might concede, naturalistic) actor in Peep Show than in the sketch show.
In interviews he kinda says he's playing himself in Peep Show.
I think Webb is more versatile in that he can play different characters, whereas Mitchell can do himself and his Dudley Moore 'Dud' cockney. Though he does them very well. I think they're both great, but people here identify more with Mitchell/Mark and have seen Mitchell being very witty and clever on panel shows. I have known many Jez-type characters and Webb has got it spot on.
I like them both.
Quote: Tim Walker @ July 11 2009, 12:05 PM BSTThe vagaries of acting technique are so much hot air a lot of the time though. Yes, Webb is the more "layered" (spits!) actor, but Mitchell brings subtleties to his performance as well. Doesn't really matter as they both inhabit their characters fully and brilliantly.
I agree that it doesn't really matter as they both are brilliant in Peep Show. But in a debate for 'who's better' then I'd have to choose Webb - though it would be interesting to see Mitchell starring as the lead in his own sitcom, like Webb did in The Smoking Room.
Oh dear, reading through this thread the score is something like 15-2 to David. I'll make that 16-2. David Mitchell is one my comedy heroes - great at everything he does, from panel shows to newspaper articles.
Webb was great in The Smoking Room, yeah.
The Smoking Room was mediocre at best. 
It was a bit dated and stagey, but I liked it.
I'd say it was above mediocre, though it couldn't be considered great cos The Royle Family and Early Doors were so good. But nontheless, Robert Webb was brilliant in it - still keeping to his acting style but being nothing like Jez.
Well I'd say at its best it was mediocre, so where does that leave us? 