Life's Too Short 2013 Special Page 5

Quote: gappy @ April 1 2013, 12:18 PM BST

It was far better than I ever expected it to be. Not perfect, by any means, but enjoyable. I think sweet-natured Warwick makes a lot more sense: "nice man surrounded by idiots" works as a set-up. It used to be "monster surrounded by idiots", and you just can't care about any of them in that mix.

I agree the accountant was still atrocious, and seemed only to exist so that Davies could make the "Martin Freeman face" to camera. The cabaret show was excellent, and all three turned in outstanding performances: I fully agree that the whole series could have been about these 4 trying to get back into showbiz in their different ways, and it would have been much better.

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Yes I agree, gappy. I think that if the Beeb were to give it a second run, Ricky & Steve could improve the scripts and make it a bit better. But I think they could easily do some more! I loved it, every episode was very funny but ah well, it was a very nice ending to a cult comedy mockumentary.

I thought this was great. I probably laughed out loud 5 or 6 times, which is pretty good going for an hour long show.

Val Kilmer reminded me of one of those Simpsons cameos like Mark Hamill or Jasper Johns. I almost expected him to run back into the restaurant and shout "yoink!" whilst grabbing some of the left food, and running out again.

Quote: Snafu @ April 1 2013, 12:41 PM BST

I thought this was great. I probably laughed out loud 5 or 6 times, which is pretty good going for an hour long show.

Val Kilmer reminded me of one of those Simpsons cameos like Mark Hamill or Jasper Johns. I almost expected him to run back into the restaurant and shout "yoink!" whilst grabbing some of the left food, and running out again.

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Yes, same here! It was funny, I was quite sad at the end though because I really wanted them to do some more episodes!

It was very good however I thought they weren't going to make anymore series.

Is now not the time to say I thought it was cruel and nasty?
Sometimes I think Gervais is just a bully with a budget.

Cruel to whom?
Not Les, Shaun and Cheggers surely? It made it clear they were actually very good at what they do. (Both in the world of the show and in reality.)

Quote: zooo @ April 1 2013, 3:42 PM BST

Cruel to whom?
Not Les, Shaun and Cheggers surely?

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Do you think they'd do this if they could get real work, if their careers weren't in ruins?
Gervais plays off the fact that they're thankful to get anything to make them do anything.
It's his schtick - cruelty.
He's like a circus ringmaster making people jump through hoops - it's a power trip.
Dwarves falling over, has-beens being humiliated, laughing at the mong...

Bully with a budget.

But it made them look good. They have now got a much higher profile, and been paid well. I'm sure they're gutted...

Quote: Lazzard @ April 1 2013, 3:51 PM BST

Do you think they'd do this if they could get real work, if their careers weren't in ruins?
Gervais plays off the fact that they're thankful to get anything to make them do anything.
It's his schtick - cruelty.
He's like a circus ringmaster making people jump through hoops - it's a power trip.
Dwarves falling over, has-beens being humiliated, laughing at the mong...

Bully with a budget.

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If you really think that though, do remember that he didn't create or write this alone; it's a joint effort.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 1 2013, 3:59 PM BST

If you really think that though, do remember that he didn't create or write this alone; it's a joint effort.

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Always had a sneaking suspicion that Merchant is the one that reins him in slightly with a smudgen of compassion.
But I could be wrong though, he might be the speccy coward goading the big bully to do his dirty work *analogy begins to collapse*

Quote: zooo @ April 1 2013, 3:58 PM BST

But it made them look good. They have now got a much higher profile, and been paid well. I'm sure they're gutted...

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I'm sure they're fine - I'm not really concerned with them.
It's more the cruelty it engenders in the audience - I just think it's mean-spirited.

Rosamund Hanson as Cheryl is extremely funny but I agree about the manager guy is too badly written to be remotely plausible and is a poor man's Rhys Darby.

Wasn't struck on the series but enjoyed this special. Warwick Davis's character works much better as a hapless nice guy optimist. Yes the material smacked of Gervais and Merchant recycling but the Dennis, Barry and Cheggers trio were very funny. Many venerated comedy favourites recyled their material on TV for over 30 years.

And whatsmore Gervais and Merchant could have settled for Cleese's post Fawlty Towers career of flogging shit and doing tiresome cameos.

Quote: youngian @ April 1 2013, 4:14 PM BST

And whatsmore Gervais and Merchant could have settled for Cleese's post Fawlty Towers career of flogging shit and doing tiresome cameos.

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Or, they could have aspired to Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais....

Quote: Lazzard @ April 1 2013, 3:38 PM BST

Is now not the time to say I thought it was cruel and nasty?
Sometimes I think Gervais is just a bully with a budget.

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Well , you must like the show enough to comment on a thread about it! Lazzard

Quote: G180e @ April 1 2013, 4:24 PM BST

Well , you must like the show enough to comment on a thread about it! Lazzard

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A lot of people agreeing on how much they liked it would be a fairly dull affair, don't you think?
If I start watching something I tend to watch it all the way through, even if I'm not much enjoying it - there's usually something to be learnt.

Quote: Lazzard @ April 1 2013, 4:28 PM BST

A lot of people agreeing on how much they liked it would be a fairly dull affair, don't you think?
If I start watching something I tend to watch it all the way through, even if I'm not much enjoying it - there's usually something to be learnt.

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Fair Enough. What don't you like about it? I loved it when it was in 2011 and really enjoyed the special on Saturday Night.