Just watching Big Top and it seems an ok comedy but nothing that great. What's kept me hooked is the main and so well-known charcters in it, like Amanda Holden and Tony Robinson.
I have laughed and enjoyed it at times but I will be surprised if it does return for a second series, but I will continue watching it as it may grow on me and I may enjoy it after all.
Quote: Ming the Mirthless @ December 30 2009, 3:18 PM GMTan unnerving (almost pychopathic) disregard for the feelings of others = might be a Scouser.
Yeah cheers
Just watched the last episode on iPlayer. Best one I think. But I don't think it could be taken as a compliment.
I have a bad feeling it will get another series. Though I wouldn't mind too much as it could be better. Plus I hate it when things get axed after one series, then we get an equally bad show in its place, might as well keep the original bad one.
If Danny Peak's "Big Top" gets a second series, I'll refuse to pay my licence fee and I'll happily spend the rest of my life in prison as a protest against the BBC's abuse of licence-payers' money.
Since TV began, many sitcoms have met with initial critical dismissal only to become firm favourites over time but Big Top is unlike any other sitcom before it.
When one looks at the premise and the cast, the potential is clear but, sadly, not one ounce of that potential has been realised. It's the worst sitcom ever broadcast by any TV station anywhere in the world - ever!
Many BCG members will agree that none of the 6 episode scripts would have got past the Writers Room and that whoever submitted the script would have been advised 'Don't give up the day job'.
Daniel Peak has a talent for writing joke-packed scripts but, unless he can also create comedy from character and situation, he'd be well-advised to concentrate his efforts on very-young-children's TV.
Quote: Ming the Mirthless @ December 31 2009, 9:50 AM GMTIf Danny Peak's "Big Top" gets a second series, I'll refuse to pay my licence fee and I'll happily spend the rest of my life in prison as a protest against the BBC's abuse of licence-payers' money.
Since TV began, many sitcoms have met with initial critical dismissal only to become firm favourites over time but Big Top is unlike any other sitcom before it.
When one looks at the premise and the cast, the potential is clear but, sadly, not one ounce of that potential has been realised. It's the worst sitcom ever broadcast by any TV station anywhere in the world - ever!
Many BCG members will agree that none of the 6 episode scripts would have got past the Writers Room and that whoever submitted the script would have been advised 'Don't give up the day job'.
Daniel Peak has a talent for writing joke-packed scripts but, unless he can also create comedy from character and situation, he'd be well-advised to concentrate his efforts on very-young-children's TV.
This is a most sensible post. The worst of it to me (and that's saying something) is the complete and utter travesty that the part Ruth Madoc plays. She is a really good actress and I've seen her on stage in serious roles as well as Hi-De-Hi! of course but her part and that bloody dog! What drivel. Having said that, Peak's whole gag v storyline premise is wrong and quite frankly third...make that fourth rate.
The phrase 'I could do better' really does apply here. The thing is so could eight trained monkeys.
Quote: roscoff @ December 31 2009, 10:34 AM GMTPeak's whole gag v storyline premise is wrong and quite frankly third...make that fourth rate.
The phrase 'I could do better' really does apply here.
I already did 
Makes me so angry to think that Celador rejected my version of Big Top, yet went and made stuff like "All About Me" instead!
It makes you start to wonder if it's really worth bothering coming up with new stuff.....this is such a "It's who you know" industry, that crap like this gets churned out year after year
Anyway I've said my bit....Now I'm off to go and suck some more lemons.
I must be one of he few people that liked the show a lot then. IMO John Thomson and Tony Robinson were the standouts. If there is a second series they should explore why Erasmus hates Thomson's character Geoff 
Quote: peter gazzard @ December 31 2009, 11:23 AM GMTI must be one of the few people that liked the show
You're not suggesting there are others !!??
Quote: peter gazzard @ December 31 2009, 11:23 AM GMTI must be one of he few people that liked the show a lot then. IMO John Thomson and Tony Robinson were the standouts. If there is a second series they should explore why Erasmus hates Thomson's character Geoff
I found Thomson to be often the flattest of them all!
Anyway, post-series analysis... Mmm. Really wasn't all that good. I did laugh quite a lot in last night's episode, and in one or two others, with the odd titter during the rest - and usually, that's all I really ask for in a sitcom. But here, I dunno, something just didn't feel right, but I'm not sure what it was.
It was put to me before the series started that "it would have been good if they hadn't cast Amanda Holden", but I think she surprised everyone in putting on a pretty decent performance. Sophie Thompson was also very good I thought, very believable. But the standout performance - and source of most of my laughs - was Tony Robinson as Erasmus.
As for the prospects of a second series, well I wouldn't have thought so - but then they did recommission Life Of Riley which was of a pretty similar standard, so I wouldn't be willing to put money on it going either way. Whether I want another series is a different matter. As I've said before, I think they had a really good premise in the show, some great gags, and as Ming said above, a really good cast. I think, if given the chance, they could probably turn it around and make something really good of it - the potential is definitely there.
I'd quite like to see them actually going out on the road and showing us the trials and tribulations, the conflict of being forever on the go, setting things up and then dismantling them again. But I guess they've only not done that in this series because it was prohibitively expensive.
Maybe they should bring in a young Ben Elton?
I almost mentioned Blackadder myself.
Quote: Timbo @ December 29 2009, 8:48 PM GMTAgree about McKinnon's performance being misjudged, and I would add that Amanda Holden is insufficiently engaging in the lead.
I was gripped by her unaturally shiny, polished botox face - as was she.
Quote: Godot Taxis @ December 31 2009, 1:07 PM GMTI was gripped by her unaturally shiny, polished botox face - as was she.
I've just laughed my tits off at that! They should have included that in the show itself.
How about this for a new sitcom idea
'Nick of Time'
A man called Nick has a best friend who has made a time machine which Nick uses to fix any problems and regrets he has had in his life.
Just been looking for the rating for this (yes I'm that sad).
It seems that it's been getting an average of 2.5 million. I was surprised to see that epsisode 2 had a higher overnight rating than episode 1's official figure with 3.7 million, that's almost decent.
The final episode got 2.58 which has to be said is pretty dreadful, especially when the rest of the shows that night on BBC One were getting a lot higher figures.
All the figures are the overnight ones apart from the first episode which is the official BARB figure.
1. Boyfriend....3.3 million...(2nd dec)
2. Visa.........3.7 million...(9th dec)
3. Skydiver.....2.2 million...(16th dec)
4. Dad..........2.54 million..(23rd dec)
5. Clown........2.5 million...(28th dec)
6. Thief........2.58 million..(30th dec)
So it looks like after a bad start things just got worse, though it did steady out a bit.
Haha!
