Get A Grip (Ben Elton's new ITV1 show) Page 6

My flabber is really gasted. Ben Elton has been a comedian I've respected from his early days on Friday Night Live, his books are really enjoyable, even the standup shows on the BBC.

But, I watched "Get A Grip" tonight, and literally my mouth was hanging open. My eyes were wide open and i started to dribble trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Comedy as I understand it, it wasn't. I'm still trying to work out if it as parody of old Communist style presentation linking back to his earlier politics, or if its a comment on the new media influenced by the American style of presentation.

I don;t know it its the best satirical comedy of what todays television and comedy is like or really bad. Can anyone help ?

I like the bit where he made an original social comment.

Quote: Rob G @ April 25, 2007, 10:43 PM

Comedy as I understand it, it wasn't.

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Hi Rob G, welcome to the site and thanks for sharing your view.

It becomes clear that things are really bad when even long-term fans can't find any positives to say!

Lets hope his next TV appearance (Teenage Kicks on ITV1 later in the year) will be better! (It was ok on the radio)

I missed that bit Leevil - well that's because I missed the programme - but that's not to say I "missed" it because I didn't.

Quote: Mark @ April 25, 2007, 11:29 PM

Hi Rob G, welcome to the site and thanks for sharing your view.

It becomes clear that things are really bad when even long-term fans can't find any positives to say!

Lets hope his next TV appearance (Teenage Kicks on ITV1 later in the year) will be better! (It was ok on the radio)

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One thing I found, and it wasn't really an issue with Teenage kicks, it was that in principle radio is mainly for new ideas / developing new writers. TV is too restrained to take too many chances. I was a little agrieved that two such successful / commerically viable comedians made this first on the radio. Nothing against the show, nothing against the people, I just sometimes wonder what got shunted...

And I think it's on BBC3, isn't it? Certainly the Beeb bought the format for teh radio, I can't see them passing it up for TV

Quote: Ed Parnell @ April 25, 2007, 11:41 PM

And I think it's on BBC3, isn't it? Certainly the Beeb bought the format for teh radio, I can't see them passing it up for TV

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ITV nicked it off them. They've commissioned eight episodes. The reason ITV managed to snatch it is that their new head of comedy is Paul Jackson (producer of The Young Ones etc) - obviously he's pretty good friends with Elton, Edmondson etc.

Last nights episode not as good as last weeks, but still very enjoyable. I am quite a fan.

I still think it needs a lot of improvement, but some parts are quite good, how long does it run for?

There are two more episodes left in this series. Hopefully it will get another series, but probably not as the critics have disliked it.

And the ratings have dropped and dropped.

Ben Elton hasn't been funny in ten years. Remember Blessed? It hasn't been re-commisoned thank goodness!

He stole the idea for Blessed from me - I'm sure of it. Mine was much better though.

Couldn't reeeeeally have been any worse. ... Could it?!

I hope he took the idea for Blessed and not the material!

Quote: hotzappa11 @ April 26, 2007, 8:51 PM

And the ratings have dropped and dropped.

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There *has* to be a reason for that...

Yes - the idea - not the material. Mine is muuucch better.

I can't really believe they'll recommission Get a Grip. He has been good in the past to be fair to him and I don't believe he can be too thrilled with the outcome.