Friday Night Dinner - Series 1 Page 17

Quote: AngieBaby @ April 9 2011, 10:06 AM BST

I really don't like the Mark Heap character, and the shit on a stick was a new low. As Buster says the conclusion was signposted from the beginning, it was like watching a train smash in slo-mo. The show just seems to be made up of people repeating each others names at each other, 'Martin', and 'Brilliant'. The dinner guests dialogue was appaling, I'm surprised they found an actress to say them.

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I dread to think what would happen to the film and TV industry if actors started turning down parts on the basis of poor writing.

I watched this for the first time and didn't find it funny until near to the end. I thought it a gentle entertainment but not sitcom. Also, when someone says a line, the other/s repeat the last few words of it, as an example.....'I'm going out tonight'......other actor...'you're going out tonight?'....a no-no in writing IMO

Quote: AngieBaby @ April 9 2011, 10:06 AM BST

I really don't like the Mark Heap character, and the shit on a stick was a new low.

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Made me laugh!

I really like Mark Heap and the character he plays in this

After a series of variously moderate to disappointing episodes, I thought this one was the best yet; it seemed to really come together.

Still can't understand why this gentle humour is given such sledgehammer incidental music though.

Watched the date episode. Utterly unbearable in every possible way, especially the Johnny character. And as if, really AS IF, his Mum would get out naked baby photos if her son found it embarrassing. Just about more unbelievable than the fact that Adam would be so put out at being set up with a good looking girl.

Still, Robert Popper wrote it, and Look Around You was good for one series. We won't mention the abysmal Series Two though.

Quote: Millsy @ April 10 2011, 10:40 PM BST

And as if, really AS IF, his Mum would get out naked baby photos if her son found it embarrassing.

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Have you seen a sitcom before?!

Quote: Millsy @ April 10 2011, 10:40 PM BST

as if, really AS IF, his Mum would get out naked baby photos if her son found it embarrassing. Just about more unbelievable than the fact that Adam would be so put out at being set up with a good looking girl.

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By contrast I thought those elements worked particularly well, *because* they were so familiar and believable; albeit in an exaggerated form.

I liked it from the start, but thought the series got better as it went on. I caught up with episodes 5 and 6, and found them a lot more enjoyable than the rest. Especially the Mercedes stuff in the restaurant.

The stick stuff in episode 6 was a bit weird though.

The last episode of the series was verging on Ray Cooney "you've invited the vicar to tea" farce. Story was pathetic, along with the unfunny script.

It was alright, the last episode, I suppose. I agree that Johnny was just plain annoying in this episode and what's the deal with Dad being hard of hearing? It doesn't bring any humour at all, just him saying 'What?!' and people having to repeat lines, which is infuriating in a sitcom: just get on with it!

Dan

Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 11 2011, 9:02 AM BST

Have you seen a sitcom before?!

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I thought this was meant to be vaguely realistic, am I right in thinking it was based on Popper's home life? If so, did his Mum embarrass him in that way if he was clearly totally hating it?

I also don't know a single pair of brothers who act like the way they do in this show.

Quote: Millsy @ April 15 2011, 12:40 PM BST

I thought this was meant to be vaguely realistic, am I right in thinking it was based on Popper's home life? If so, did his Mum embarrass him in that way if he was clearly totally hating it?

I also don't know a single pair of brothers who act like the way they do in this show.

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Neither of the things you point out there make it not realistic, though. There will be brothers out there who enjoy playing tricks on each other, and parents who embarrass their uptight kids.

The show is obviously not meant to be a documentary about a family, it, like every sitcom, stretches and builds upon the truth.

I really liked it, but Jim Rosenthal's son was just plain odd in the last episode.

It definitely deserves a 2nd series.

But, how is Tamsin Greig old enough to have two 20-something kids?

She's acting.