Steve Coogan: The Inside Story Page 2

As you know, I'm a massive Coogan fan (even comparing him to Peter Sellers on one occasion) but this documentary did little to give the viewer any kind of insight into the man and his work.

And as great as it was to see a cavalcade of his greatest characters, it felt a bit 'going through the motions' like in those Comedy Connections shows. And as expected, there was no mention of the controversy that has surrounded Coogan in his private life or any mention of his musical career (apparently he was in Courtney Love's Hole at one point).

I did enjoy the early clips of Coogan, especially the Julia Roberts impersonation and his appearance on Clive Anderson but this 'inside story' was all puff and no piece.

It was painful to watch, really couldn't wait for the end. I'm not a fan of Coogan, but I don't dislike him - could do without Saxondale, mind. But this ... just lacked. I think he wants a bit of the nostalgic recommissioning that Shooting Stars enjoyed this year.

Quote: Aaron @ December 27 2009, 11:41 PM GMT

I think he wants a bit of the nostalgic recommissioning that Shooting Stars enjoyed this year.

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I don't agree there, I'm certain that if Coogan really wanted his own show on TV again, he'd be able to get something through Baby Cow commissioned. The fact he doesn't appear on TV much these days has nothing to do with not being able to get on, it's down to him wanting to appear in movies. Unfortunately that hasn't quite taken off as well, so far, as many thought it might have done.

I don't know why Coogan didn't take the Bryn role in Gavin & Stacey. It would have refreshed him and brought him to the attention of the straw-sucking f**kwits that make up modern TV audiences.

Quote: Joey Moose @ November 29 2009, 12:00 AM GMT

"Steve Coogan – The Inside Story
BBC TWO

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Presented by his bowel specialist?

I enjoyed this as spoof type docus go, but being a Coogan fan I would have liked a bit more as in more footage of him talking as himself. Was great to see Tony Ferrino again, and his hilarious eurovision entry. Vic and Bob looked like they were enjoying themselves doing their sketches, thought the Irish aunts was funny, and well charactised, with the head shaking, repeition and mumbling! but them going in for a snog at the end.. thought that was a bit yuk and didn't see how that fitted in at all.

Well, a bit of a lone voice here maybe, thought it was nearly fantastic, gave us new Coogan characters as well as reminded us of some unsung ones. The fan stuff was okay, but at least it was quite cleverly done and different. Didn't mind the fact it didn't give personal insights, he probably wants to remain a bit of a mystery, and I think he probably has that impressionist's curse thing that Sellers and Cook had, in that he doesn't know who he really is. This prog reinforced the view I had of him as a perfectionist workaholic. One or two snippets showed that he doesn't always have great judgment about what material will work on TV - the Dr Terrible series bemused many - but much else just reaffirmed him as the greatest British comedian of our time, imo, but v probably in many others' too. Really enjoyed the prog.

I wasn't really interested in seeing Coogan: The Man, but I wished we'd seen more footage of old clips and/or live performances.

Enjoyed this but felt the Vic & Bob bits totally surplus to requirement and not remotely funny in the least.

There were too many of them (1 would have been too many IMO) and before the end of the hour their irritating intrusions, into something I actually wanted to see, nearly made me switch off.

Just noticed a bit about the 30 minute mark where a Julia Davis character claims credit for creating Partridge.

A dig at Lee & Herring?

Ooh, probably!
I didn't see that bit.

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ December 28 2009, 5:45 PM GMT

Well, a bit of a lone voice here maybe, thought it was nearly fantastic, gave us new Coogan characters as well as reminded us of some unsung ones. The fan stuff was okay, but at least it was quite cleverly done and different. Didn't mind the fact it didn't give personal insights, he probably wants to remain a bit of a mystery, and I think he probably has that impressionist's curse thing that Sellers and Cook had, in that he doesn't know who he really is. This prog reinforced the view I had of him as a perfectionist workaholic. One or two snippets showed that he doesn't always have great judgment about what material will work on TV - the Dr Terrible series bemused many - but much else just reaffirmed him as the greatest British comedian of our time, imo, but v probably in many others' too. Really enjoyed the prog.

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No, not a lone voice as I also really enjoyed this. The Vic and Bob bits were fantastic.

Steve Coogan - The Inside Story (2009)

Is available on iTunes TV to download

'the Cop With the Sofa' sketch was on You Tube but it's been taken down.