Count Arthur Strong was a bit racy last night. Lap dancers! 
Current radio comedy Page 30
Quote: chipolata @ May 21 2010, 10:50 AM BSTCount Arthur Strong was a bit racy last night. Lap dancers!
I think I must be getting old and tetchy but I've tried to find Count Arthur Strong funny, God knows I've tried, but can you really stretch one joke (a man mixing up his words) into a whole radio series?
Quote: Tony Cowards @ May 21 2010, 12:09 PM BSTI think I must be getting old and tetchy but I've tried to find Count Arthur Strong funny, God knows I've tried, but can you really stretch one joke (a man mixing up his words) into a whole radio series?
I sort of agree with you, but it's worn me down over the years. Now I don't mind it.
I mean "Only Fools and Horses" did it with Del Boy but at least that wasn't the only joke in the whole thing.
Quote: chipolata @ May 21 2010, 12:26 PM BSTI don't mind it.
It's probably that sort of listener enthusiasm that they were hoping for.
Quote: Tony Cowards @ May 21 2010, 12:31 PM BSTI mean "Only Fools and Horses" did it with Del Boy but at least that wasn't the only joke in the whole thing.
Again, I agree. I think part of why it's grown on me is that it seems so out of sync with modern comedy.
Quote: Tony Cowards @ May 21 2010, 12:09 PM BST... one joke (a man mixing up his words)
No, there's much more to it than that. For example, all his misdirected anger is genius. It's surely the best ever portrayal of angry, paranoid, pompous senility.
Quote: Nogget @ May 21 2010, 12:50 PM BSTNo, there's much more to it than that. For example, all his misdirected anger is genius. It's surely the best ever portrayal of angry, paranoid, pompous senility.
Strangely enough, I agree, the characterisation is masterful, Steve Delaney is brilliant, but I just don't find it funny, just repetitive and slightly annoying.
Nice to see so much chat about radio comedy! I think the 'same old' guest thing is an interesting discussion - Radio 4 does tend to stick with people like David Mitchell as they're "safe" in that laughs are guarenteed... but there is perhaps room for giving other people a try (Heresy is quite good at getting people on from outside the normal list)...
Trouble is it is a risk getting new people on. Look at Have I Got News For You: they give people chances, and often they don't manage to say much (Kevin Bridges, and David Threlfall spring to mind)
As for Twitter, you should obviously all follow @UKComedyNews if you're not already!
Quote: Mark @ May 22 2010, 12:11 PM BSTTrouble is it is a risk getting new people on. Look at Have I Got News For You: they give people chances, and often they don't manage to say much (Kevin Bridges, and David Threlfall spring to mind)
But is that at least as much to do with the programme makers, and what they choose to include in the edit?
Do we have any testimony from people who've attended a recording?
Quote: Nogget @ May 22 2010, 12:41 PM BSTBut is that at least as much to do with the programme makers, and what they choose to include in the edit?
I can't imagine why programme-makers would edit a show to make a guest look bad. They want the best show possible and will wang together the best bits.
With regard to "Heresy" can I just say that Victoria Coren is absolutely awful, she doesn't appear to have a funny bone in her body.
John Finnemore's lines are funny enough but by the time they exit Victoria's mouth, any comedic value in them has been sucked out, she's like a humour Dyson or a laughter vampire.
Having said that though, Grayson Perry and Rufus Hound were quite good value on last week's edition.
Quote: Tony Cowards @ May 22 2010, 7:11 PM BSTWith regard to "Heresy" can I just say that Victoria Coren is absolutely awful, she doesn't appear to have a funny bone in her body.
Yes. I don't think she's awful, but she lacks that spark a proper comic would bring to the proceedings. She just reads from her sript, bu can't bring it to life.
MASH - No. I couldn't get into it. I tried, but it just left me cold. Struck me as an acquired taste.
Just found out that one of the worst stand ups it's been my misfortune to work with wrote for this week's News Quiz, this has made me quite angry.
An act who thinks that "jokes" about dying whilst wanking and people who get their sexual kicks from shitting on each other is "pushing the boundaries of comedy" (and then berates the audience for not "getting it") and now he's writing for Radio 4!
Amazing what a few contacts in TV and an agent will get you...