Quote: Tim Walker @ January 15 2010, 9:38 AM GMTDidn't he work for British Rail in some sort of press office capacity?
Complaints Departnent I think
The Persuasionists Page 7
I thought the show was alright actually.
There were a couple of cringy moments, but overall it wasn't as bad as I was expecting having read a couple of opinions on here.
I thought Iain Lee was quite good. Overall I thought the acting was pretty poor - but that's what happens when you tell a load of stand-ups they're actors. 
Quote: AngieBaby @ January 15 2010, 10:21 AM GMTOverall I thought the acting was pretty poor - but that's what happens when you tell a load of stand-ups they're actors.
Yes, the preformances were not what you would call nuanced.
I think using stand-ups can work if they are able to draw on comic personas that have been developed over a period of time. Dermot Morgan in Father Ted is the classic example.
Quote: peter gazzard @ January 15 2010, 10:18 AM GMTComplaints Departnent I think
Ah yes, maybe that was it. 
Quote: Timbo @ January 15 2010, 10:30 AM GMTI think using stand-ups can work if they are able to draw on comic personas that have been developed over a period of time. Dermot Morgan in Father Ted is the classic example.
Dylan Moran in Black Books is another.
Ok well it's not as bad as Big Top (but what is) and I preferred it to Miranda (oh my God what have I said!). That's because I actually laughed out loud which I think I did once in the complete series of Miranda. However foreign guy was completely over cooked and Cockney Cheese, pish poor. So was the whole cockney theme actually. Still it made me laugh at times and that is basically what I'm looking for.
It could have been so much better but you could say that about all BBC comedies at the moment. It seems to me there's no longer any depth to the characters. They're just stand up routines which are then put into a flimsy story line with equally flimsy characterisations.
Quote: roscoff @ January 15 2010, 11:31 AM GMTOk well it's not as bad as Big Top (but what is) and I preferred it to Miranda...
Really? I didn't find 'Miranda' especially funny but at least it had some heart.
'The Persuasionists' is pretty much what you would expect from somebody whose career is in advertising. If your day job involves pointlessly ripping off old movies and YouTube clips then it's hardly a surprise when you produce unfunny derivative drivel as your first sitcom.
I'm predicting 'Angry German Kid' to turn up as a cameo in episode three.
Quote: john lucas 101 @ January 15 2010, 9:49 AM GMTMe and My Girl
Aaron said that one aaaages ago.
Quote: Jinky @ January 15 2010, 12:13 PM GMTReally? I didn't find 'Miranda' especially funny but at least it had some heart.
It sure did!
Quote: Timbo @ January 14 2010, 7:12 PM GMTGiven the Beeb's track record of showing sitcom episodes out of sequence so as to start on a 'strong' episode, that was very probably the case.
This was the episode shown at the press launch, and they didn't mention anything about it being out of intended sequence.
Quote: Nil Putters @ January 14 2010, 8:08 PM GMTIt amazes me that something like this can premiere of BBC Two when something tried and tested like Ideal can't escape from the clutches of BBC Three to be viewed by a bigger audience. Shame.
I'm not sure that any other BBC channel would be interested in the murky world of druggies. You're quite lucky that Three is still going with it really.
Quote: peter gazzard @ January 14 2010, 8:54 PM GMTJust checked on IMDB looks like Keaton was played by Kevin Bishop in the pilot. Can anyone else remember what Chris Barrie did he was listed as a cast member. Adam and Daisy seem to be the only 2 to stay from the pilot episode
If only there was somewhere you could go to find out such things!
https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_persuasionists/episodes/0/1/
Quote: Marc P @ January 15 2010, 8:57 AM GMTWell off the top of my head - the Bewitched film and SItcom, So Haunt Me, The thing with him out of the goodies and him out of Doctor in The House and Man about the House. The film with Richard E Grant, Mad Men, The Mel Gibson film What Women Want... and others I am sure.
You're so late.
Quote: Aaron @ January 14 2010, 4:04 PM GMTThe husband/father in So Haunt Me was a freelance ad man. The film Crazy People. Richard O'Sullivan's Me & My Girl.
Quote: Griff @ January 15 2010, 5:19 PM GMTWhat careers are acceptable for writers to come from, in your opinion? Just so we all know and can make any necessary adjustments.
Coal mining.
Quote: Aaron @ January 15 2010, 5:30 PM GMTI'm not sure that any other BBC channel would be interested in the murky world of druggies. You're quite lucky that Three is still going with it really.
Well, it's not just about drugs to be fair, in fact it's hardly about drugs at all. And as things like Psychoville deal with much more sensitive subjects (murder & incest to name two) I'd have to disagree.
And to say we're lucky that it's still going? It's a well written and acted sitcom that some of the BBC's other shows could learn a thing or two from. Nothing lucky there, just talent on behalf of the Mr Duff and the actors.
I had pretty low expectations so I quite enjoyed it.
I'm a fan of Iain Lee, Adam Buxton and that girl anyway.
I'm kidding I know her name, it's Daisy Donovan or something.
I liked the Cartoony world & the sillyness, and I did laugh a few times.
I don't think it will turn out to be a classic, but I liked it more than anything I saw in the Comedy showcase.