Quote: Renegade Carpark @ November 10 2009, 11:48 PM GMTBizarrely, it does.
Miranda - Series 1 Page 11
Quote: Tim Walker @ November 10 2009, 11:53 PM GMT
Why do you think I strangle it several times a day? 
Anyway guys, less of the mocking of the ridiculous please. Let's get back to the excellent Miranda.
I thought it was rather an odd thing of Andrew Billen in The Times to say that he wasn't very comfortable with a sitcom which is "predicated on the idea of a young woman's ugliness" and feelings that she must get married. He then goes on to say that it probably marks some progress in the fact that, a few years ago, Miranda Hart would have just been a writer for Sally Philips, who'd be the star.
I think he's a little out-of-touch with that comment. Certainly in regards to British sitcom. He also misses the whole silly, fun, light tone of the show by making such a politicised observation. I certainly don't think Miranda is in any way seriously proposing that old idea of marriage-to-avoid-lonely-spinsterhood. The theme is being used very knowingly and tongue-in-cheek. It's a retro-theme (if that phrase didn't sound so shit). Or a post-modern-pseudo-theme (even shitter). Pseudo-cream (used for eczema-like skin conditions). 
Does it have a Mary Tyler Moore feeling to it?
Yep, sort-of, crossed with a small dollop of Lucy and some early French & Saunders.
She's very knowingly playing the "always the bridesmaid" type of character. It's done at such a (literally and metaphorically) big scale that it's not trying to really do much more than be silly and funny. Though it probably has something in it for every woman (or indeed man) who feels that they are just a fish-out-of-water when it comes to relationships, being attractive, or just being "normal". 
I'm sure I'd like it, if I could watch it!
Damned computer problems! 
Like most TV viewers, I've seen Miranda in several roles over the years but I first suspected she might be an exceptional talent when I saw her presenting 'Have I Got News For You?' with a sense of fun and an air of confidence rarely (if ever) witnessed since the days of Angus Deayton himself.
Also, as the photo above shows, she's an attractive woman when not busy getting laughs by exploiting the widely-held view that only 'smaller' women can be sexy.
I think her current TV show may be a vehicle by which the masses are weened away from laughing at Miranda (the character)'s size and gawkiness and come to appreciate Miranda (the performer)'s considerable array of talents.
In time, I expect to see her in a show in which her size plays no significant part and we appreciate her solely for the talent she undoubtedly is.
Miranda Hart I remember appeared in series 3 of Smack the Pony in the dating video sketches, but this is going off the topic a bit.
This show I think could easily make a move to BBC One.
There are small things from the episode that still stick in my mind, like Patricia Hodge replacing a photograph of Miranda with a cow, and Sally Phillips saying "bear with" several times while texting.
Criticising this feels a bit like macing a seal, since everybody involved is very likeable and they have the best of intentions with this show. However...
I struggled to stay interested. Miranda Hart was funny, as ever, and the show was well written. Her asides to camera also worked well. But I found my attention wandering after only ten minutes and I wonder if in today's cut-throat media environment, there's enough in Miranda to find an audience? And the fact that all the action centres around Miranda makes its job doubly hard. An A and B storyline might have worked better, and given us another strand to get interested in.
I have just written in another thread how Miranda marks a return to big silly sitcom of Hancock's Half-Hour (though, not yet as accomplished); perhaps part of that is the lineal storylines favoured by Galton & Simpon and their immediate successors in the 60s and 70s (even an extended cast show such as Dad's Army is short on sub-plots). I might be wrong, but I suspect that the multi-storyline approach only really began to dominate with the success of US ensemble shows such as Taxi.
Quote: Timbo @ November 11 2009, 10:39 AM GMTI have just written in another thread how Miranda marks a return to big silly sitcom of Hancock's Half-Hour (though, not yet as accomplished); perhaps part of that is the lineal storylines favoured by Galton & Simpon and their immediate successors in the 60s and 70s (even an extended cast show such as Dad's Army is short on sub-plots). I might be wrong, but I suspect that the multi-storyline approach only really began to dominate with the success of US ensemble shows such as Taxi.
My concern is that when Hancock was dominating our screens there were 3 channels, tops. In today's multi-channel, DVD boxset, Internet world, can one character still hold our attentions? Especially when the nature of the comedy is so gentle and easy going? I hope it finds an audience, I really do, but already I fear for it's health.
Well, it's had a lot of love thrown at it on here at least, who knows what the wider public will think.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ November 11 2009, 10:51 AM GMTWell, it's had a lot of love thrown at it on here at least, who knows what the wider public will think.
Me, Chipolata Wider Public.
I thought it was a bit daft but good fun. Also sometimes contrived and predictable. The baby stuff in the flat was a good surprise but you knew when she was at the dress shop that the guy would walk past.
I least liked the falling over bits as they seemed a bit OTT. But there are some nice ideas with the cut-away sketches - very 30 Rock et al. Probably not something that I will get really into but I can see why people like it so good luck to it.