I have NO respect for Ricky Gervais anymore, he has let me down with this latest offering and I don't think I can ever forgive the egotistical arse!
Life's Too Short Page 37
The consolidated (which I presume means plus iPlayer viewers etc) is apparently 2.5 million viewers per episode, which isn't exactly terrible.
So, although I think most people agree this series isn't very good, or at least hasn't worked as well as the others, it may not be the huge personal disaster some of us think it is/want it to be.
I'd say 2.5m is pretty good for today's fractured, bemused, messed around with and distracted TV (sitcom) audience.
Quote: rob2bking @ December 13 2011, 4:34 PM GMTI have NO respect for Ricky Gervais anymore, he has let me down with this latest offering and I don't think I can ever forgive the egotistical arse!
A one off one hour (maybe 75 minutes) Christmas special could potentially have been a wonderful thing.
There is some good stuff in LTS but I'm afraid it's too similar to previous offerings in structure to sustain a whole series.
But I'd be surprised if it doesn't get another series. And I think G&M would rise to the challenge of making it better, or even different. WD is the ace here, he clearly has a gift for comedy acting and deserves another series of something, so why not another of LTS? To start with.
Quote: chipolata @ December 13 2011, 3:47 PM GMTIt'll be interesting to see what HBO audiences make of it when it's broadcast in America. I don't think Ricky really cares what the Brits think of it, but will be more sensitive to what they think about it across the pond.
It does have that American sitcom wrote by a Brit feel to it. Some lovely stock footage of London, to please the yanks, pointlessly floating around as well.
Quote: swerytd @ December 13 2011, 1:04 PM GMTthe thing with the tablecloth was borderline comedy genius. Full marks to Warwick there.
Really? Wow. Our standards have been lowered enormously if that can be classified as comedy genius! Brilliant performance from Warwick rocking back and forth like that, before finally tumbling back - I agree. And funny, yeah, maybe not a massive hearty belly laugh but certainly amusing... But comedy genius? As you may be able to tell, I'm genuinely shocked by that!
Quote: zooo @ December 13 2011, 4:36 PM GMTThe consolidated (which I presume means plus iPlayer viewers etc) is apparently 2.5 million viewers per episode, which isn't exactly terrible.
So, although I think most people agree this series isn't very good, or at least hasn't worked as well as the others, it may not be the huge personal disaster some of us think it is/want it to be.
AFAIK the iPlayer figures are somewhat of a dark art, and as such are not publicised... I think (please correct me someone) that the consolidated figure is premiere + repeats. In which case it's still shit, because it should be expected to get closer to 2.5m on the first showing, not merely with everything else added. Other shows get repeats et al too, and if they start on 2.5...
iPlayer figures are released monthly for the top 20 or so shows. I haven't seen the actual numbers but it always seems to be quite high on the most popular section (going top on Thursday's after the latest episode shown).
However, even with decent iPlayer viewings, getting overnight ratings of just 1m is still very poor and I doubt the BBC will be bothered about another series.
Quote: Aaron @ December 14 2011, 3:35 AM GMTBrilliant performance from Warwick rocking back and forth like that, before finally tumbling back - I agree. And funny, yeah, maybe not a massive bhearty belly laugh but certainly amusing... But comedy genius? As you may be able to tell, I'm genuinely shocked by that!
Completely agree. Comedy should be about surprise, and there was no surprise there. The second he leant back in his chair, you knew what would happen. Some writers would set this up, and then not deliver, or toy with the audience a bit. But really, it sums up the utter gash of this series that that action is the denouement to that scene.
You would think it had been written by Miranda Hart, for gawd's sake!
Quote: alienep @ December 14 2011, 10:02 AM GMTthere was no surprise there. The second he leant back in his chair, you knew what would happen
Agree. IMO he should have fallen back almost immediately, to avoid semaphoring it to us.
Quote: alienep @ December 14 2011, 10:02 AM GMTBut really, it sums up the utter gash of this series that that action is the denouement to that scene.
Disagree, if you're suggesting that physical comedy can not be the equal of all others.
With nearly 10 times the amount of posts as its double bill partner, I think this proves what pulling power G&M have over everyone. Even at 1m first viewing, I think roughly the same as Rev, their ability to attract attention and comments will ensure a 2nd series. Their previous two got two series so I just think this one is likely to, too.
Quote: dennispennis123 @ December 14 2011, 5:48 AM GMTiPlayer figures are released monthly for the top 20 or so shows. I haven't seen the actual numbers but it always seems to be quite high on the most popular section (going top on Thursdays after the latest episode shown).
However, even with decent iPlayer viewings, getting overnight ratings of just 1m is still very poor and I doubt the BBC will be bothered about another series.
And I'd have thought it's probably a done deal to start with, tbh, 'A two series contract like usual, Mr Gervais? That's lovely.'
Quote: alienep @ December 14 2011, 10:02 AM GMTYou would think it had been written by Miranda Hart, for gawd's sake!
harsh
Watched 5 minutes of this last night which I suspect will be the sum total of what I will watch.
Quote: Timbo @ December 14 2011, 11:54 AM GMTharsh
Not harsh at all. And to the earlier poster, of course I don't mean physical comedy isn't the equal of other forms. Comedy is comedy, in my book old bean, if it makes me laugh it makes me laugh.
The problem with that scene, and many others, is that it was so obvious. The maitre 'd conversation, leading to him being very rude (I mean, who is ever that rude in a naturalistic setting?) to his date. If they think that falling off his chair somehow brings Davis's character down to earth, they have to first make me believe Davis's character is worthy of this. By making him do something I don't think he'd do doesn't achieve this. Through this series, I've never thought Davis is a bad man, really. The problem is that the writers haven't made the connection between what they write and the character they are writing.
A lot of modern comedy makes this mistake. Friday Night Dinner and Fresh Meat spring to mind.