Quote: Griff @ December 14 2009, 5:09 PM GMTHas he never heard of science-fiction conventions?
Comedy and sci-fi are probably the most passionately loved forms of TV, yeah. They attract the obsessives.
Big Top critical and forum reaction Page 11
Quote: Griff @ December 14 2009, 5:13 PM GMTI guess this explains the degraded, dismal nature of Red Dwarf fans.
*Looks at self in mirror and cries* *Then masturbates over a picture of Starbug*
Quote: Matthew Stott @ December 14 2009, 4:59 PM GMTYeah, the level of bile is a bit weird sometimes. If I don't like a show, I don't really get angry about it, I just don't like it.
As a typically frustrated aspiring comedy writer, it is difficult not to become angry when my obvious genius (aka self deluded incoherent scribblings) gets overlooked and badly written shows keep getting commissioned.
As the BBC is publically funded and doesn't need to chase ratings or advertising revenues, it should be a level playing field. MJ has destroyed this notion completely by playing favourites with a group of writers who would have been turned down by Writers Room.
The reason we're 'snobbish' about pre-watershed comedy is because it's usually very lazy, unimaginiative and unfunny. I'm not sure how many of you remember This Morning With Richard Not Judy but that was shown on Sunday at lunchtime and it kicked all kinds of comedy ass.
So there is quality out there, even for a pre-watershed timeslot.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ December 14 2009, 5:11 PM GMTComedy and sci-fi are probably the most passionately loved forms of TV, yeah. They attract the obsessives.
This is rather a categorical mistake. A large number of friends and family, none of whom I would describe as "obsessives" (about anything, in fact), will bring up a sitcom character to describe someone, or fondly reference a sitcom moment (either directly or indirectly). They are not comedy/sitcom "fans", just people who enjoy them. And they do so in a way that they would never do with a TV drama or film.
Before Danny Peak gets too dispirited, it's worth saying his ability to churn out funny lines is an example to us all.
The man has a considerable and very enviable talent in that field and under no circumstances should he consider getting a proper job, changing genre or hitting the bottle.
If I can borrow an analogy from the world of cookery, a cake is made from flour, eggs and sugar and in making (baking?) Big Top, it's as if the BBC has tried to make the cake using only sugar. It just cannot be done.
A sitcom needs more than funny lines - no matter how good they are or how many of them you cram in - and Big Top just doesn't have anything else.
Danny Peak will recover from this and go on to better things but the BBC will not survive if it continues to feed stuff like this to adult viewers.
Quote: Tim Walker @ December 14 2009, 5:16 PM GMTThis is rather a categorical mistake.
Not really, those to forms do attract the obsessives more than other forms. They also attract non-obsessives too, obviously.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ December 14 2009, 5:15 PM GMTAs the BBC is publically funded and doesn't need to chase ratings or advertising revenues, it should be a level playing field. MJ has destroyed this notion completely by playing favourites with a group of writers who would have been turned down by Writers Room.
I don't quite understand this, but if you're suggesting that there isn't a level playing field, then you're wrong, and I resent the damaging implication.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ December 14 2009, 5:21 PM GMTNot really, those two forms do attract the obsessives more than other forms.
Apologies if I misinterpreted what you were saying, but I certainly wouldn't call myself, for example, a comedy "obsessive". I love comedy, sitcom particularly, but the word "obsessive" implies some degree of irrationality. This gives networks a convenient stick to beat the vast majority of comedy lovers who don't have a screw loose about the subject. It's a easy defence to say, "Well, these comedy obsessives, they don't understand what the ordinary viewer wants. Whereas we do."
Comedy fans simply want more good comedy, wherever they can find it. 
Quote: Griff @ December 14 2009, 5:25 PM GMT*cough* James Bond *cough*
For some of us, Bond counts as a comedy character.
Quote: Griff @ December 14 2009, 5:33 PM GMTHow many posts do you need on a comedy forum to be classed as an obsessive?
As many as Aaron.
Quote: Griff @ December 14 2009, 5:33 PM GMTHow many posts do you need on a comedy forum before you accept your destiny and your true self?
You just got burned Walker!
Quote: Matthew Stott @ December 14 2009, 5:36 PM GMT
F**k off, nerd. 
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ December 14 2009, 5:15 PM GMTI'm not sure how many of you remember This Morning With Richard Not Judy but that was shown on Sunday at lunchtime and it kicked all kinds of comedy ass.
I used to looooove that show.
Green Jelly?
Indeed. Goodness, yes.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ December 14 2009, 5:41 PM GMTGreen Jelly?
Nerd.
Quote: Tim Walker @ December 14 2009, 5:42 PM GMTNerd.
Geek, if you please.