I'm half watching it at the moment.
It's a very good premise, but it's not grabbing me.
The Gemma Factor Page 2
Quote: Aaron @ March 10 2010, 2:02 PM GMTYou either did not watch The Gemma Factor or have never seen any of the above three programmes. Ok, I'll accept a few similarities with Lunch Monkeys in tone, but not the others. Not even close.
For me, there are a lot of similarities between all four programmes:
1. Predicatable storytelling with no surprises.
2. One dimensional characters drawn in Crayon.
3. A predominanantly young cast.
4. Simple, unsophisticated humour.
5. Lots of jingly-jangly music on the soundtrack.
6. Essentially crap.
Obviously there are variations in the formula, some are cruder than others, some filmed in front of a studio audience, but they're all much of a muchness.
Didn't feel anything like Two Pints to me.
The other two, perhaps a tiny bit.
Quote: zooo @ March 11 2010, 11:23 AM GMTDidn't feel anything like Two Pints to me.
The other two, perhaps a tiny bit.
Two Pints established the genre. Two Pints is The Godfather of those type of shows. Besides, you've been nobbled by Mr Two Pints Himself! 
...Ralf Little?
If you think that Two Pints' characters are one-dimensional, you've never watched the programme. Coming Of Age, arguable based on Series 1 and the pilot, but definitely not the case in Series 2.
And to throw the age of the cast into it, you may as well say that The IT Crowd is a carbon copy of Peep Show.
As for predictable storytelling, FFS, if you think any of the shows are predictable then that's fine, but to imply that it singles them out from every other sitcom ever is just plain ignorant.
Now get your brain in gear before returning to this thread!
Quote: Aaron @ March 11 2010, 1:07 PM GMTIf you think that Two Pints' characters are one-dimensional, you've never watched the programme. Coming Of Age, arguable based on Series 1 and the pilot, but definitely not the case in Series 2. And to throw the age of the cast into it, you may as well say that The IT Crowd is a carbon copy of Peep Show. As for predictable storytelling, FFS, if you think any of the shows are predictable then that's fine, but to imply that it singles them out from every other sitcom ever is just plain ignorant. Now get your brain in gear before returning to this thread!
I've angered you with my truth! You'll be shutting the radio thread any second! Like X Factor winners songs and chic lit novels, the shows are all very much the same.
To be honest I can't remember the last time I flipped on BBC Three and watched a well written, daring, original sitcom.
Well since Boosh that is.
They don't even do those slick, team written, soul less ones the US excel at. These days it feels like some of the output is pleading to be liked.
Horne and Corden's sketch show was a prime example.
Quote: Aaron @ March 11 2010, 1:07 PM GMTComing Of Age, arguable based on Series 1 and the pilot, but definitely not the case in Series 2.
I suppose I feel a certain degree of sympathy for BBC Three. In the golden days of the 70s/80s they were competing with one independent channel (and later 2). With an audience of millions on tap, the ability to relax and take chances was greater. Now they have to match production costs and fight tooth and nail for an audience of less than a million. Often with cable channels able to buy the best from abroad for I suspect not that much. It's no surprise that popular, familiar and crowd pleasing wins the day.
It may be more of an example that both the digital revoloution and endless variety may not be so great.
It's also worth noting how little original content other digital channels produce.
All true, but I am not sure it justifies the BBC devoting an entire Channel to a misguided attempt at wooing working class teenagers by spooning them the sort of shit they assume people like that like.
If they want to woo young viewers they could learn a lot from E4. There is not much new comedy and drama, but what there is original and unpatronising.
I haven't had the chance to see this yet but I have it recorded and will give it ago.
Quote: Timbo @ March 11 2010, 3:37 PM GMTAll true, but I am not sure it justifies the BBC devoting an entire Channel to a misguided attempt at wooing working class teenagers by spooning them the sort of shit they assume people like that like.
If they want to woo young viewers they could learn a lot from E4. There is not much new comedy and drama, but what there is original and unpatronising.
True Skins et al are models of exiting popular stuff.