It's just that this show has been on for many years and has always had it. Feels very odd and unsettling, not to mention distracting for there to be such a big change.
Red Dwarf - Back To Earth Page 11
Enjoyed the second and third episode and it made up for the lacking first episode, the scene with Craig Charles and Simon Gregson was hilarious and the scene with Lister and the typewriter. It was nice to see Chloe Annett and like Craig Charles and DJJ, she hasn't aged at all.
I think a series is unlikely though specials or possibly a film is likely. I wouldn't be surprised if BBC Two picks up the rights to Back to Earth and show as a 60-70 minute episode at Christmas.
Quote: garyd @ April 14 2009, 6:47 PM BSTAlso, I really don't get the need for a laughter track to make something more watchable. (well, maybe Eastenders)
Is it so one knows when something funny has happened/been said so it's time to laugh along?
Explain!
Er...please?
No, it's because certain types of comedy suit laughter tracks. Not Going Out, for example, wouldn't have worked at all without the audience I think.
Now these eps contained a very uneasy mixture of very traditional sitcom jokes and dramatic scenes. The dramatic scenes worked much better which is why thye would have been better off cutting a lot of the over the top jokes in my opinion.
From today's Sun;
Dwarf's Red Hot
Red Dwarf's return pulled in 2.4 million viewers for telly minnow Dave - Ten times it's usual haul.
The digital station screened three new episodes of the sci-fi comedy over Easter.
Good Friday's opener bagged 2.4 million. But ratings fell to 1.6 million and 1.2 million for the later shows.
Normally only 260,000 watch the channel. The three part special featured the original cast.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 14 2009, 5:13 PM BSTSeries 7. *slaps self for being an arse and pointing out this error*
Yeah, I knew that. I have no idea why I put 8.
Quote: garyd @ April 14 2009, 6:47 PM BSTAlso, I really don't get the need for a laughter track to make something more watchable. (well, maybe Eastenders)
Is it so one knows when something funny has happened/been said so it's time to laugh along?
Explain!
Er...please?
Traditionally-written upbeat comedies with big characters and visual gags sit much more comfortably with a laughter track. Red Dwarf is just one of those comedies. Even though this latest outing had a more cinematic feel to it, the absence of a laughter track was painful for a lot of people because the general tone of the humour remained the same as it ever was.
Some comedies can make the transition easily. For instance a lot of people don't remember that the League Of Gents series 1 had a raucous laughter track, then they dropped it for subsequent series. That worked. I didn't really miss the laughter that much, probably because the League has a very dark edge to it that lends itself well to a non-audience soundtrack.
Maybe they could release a random laughter track for dreary TV in need of a pep?
The News, Royal funerals.
Then maybe a CD of swanee whistles, trombones and maybe Schindler's List with Yackety Sax?
Watching classic Red Dwarf today just made me realise how much better it used to be, even at points in the later series, and especially in the earlier ones. And Back to Reality and the episode with the Despair Squid fit in so much better now imho! Really get your mind working, despite the various plot holes we found!
Yes, it didn't do the new episodes any favours by having good episodes shown afterwards.
Quote: Lee Henman @ April 15 2009, 9:08 PM BSTSome comedies can make the transition easily. For instance a lot of people don't remember that the League Of Gents series 1 had a raucous laughter track, then they dropped it for subsequent series. That worked. I didn't really miss the laughter that much, probably because the League has a very dark edge to it that lends itself well to a non-audience soundtrack.
I'm pretty sure they had a laughter track in the 2nd series. Will have to check DVD. Laughter tracks don't bother me. It only becomes a problem if you hear people laughing and you don't find it funny. The best example of this personally speaking for me was the last series of Alan Partridge.
Quote: Yellows 586 @ April 16 2009, 1:19 AM BSTThe best example of this personally speaking for me was the last series of Alan Partridge.
That was brilliant. I'll never understand peoples problem with that final Partridge series, people see this huge drop off in quality that I just don't see at all.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ April 16 2009, 8:48 AM BSTThat was brilliant. I'll never understand peoples problem with that final Partridge series, people see this huge drop off in quality that I just don't see at all.
Agreed. I thought Alan Partridge got better with each series!
Flogging. A. Dead. Horse.
Watched a bit, just out of slight curiosity and turned it over after not too long. Didn't expect much at all anyway. Rimmer and Cat were OK, but Lister isn't remotely as great as he was. Not a surprise that I didn't like it, for me they should've called it quits after series 6 and I'll always maintain that as a sentimentalist.
Quote: Jackson Neil @ April 16 2009, 10:20 AM BSTFlogging. A. Dead. Horse.
This phrase seems to follow me round wherever I go!
Quote: Tom G @ April 16 2009, 10:14 AM BSTAgreed. I thought Alan Partridge got better with each series!
The 2nd series of I'm Alan Partridge was very good, if a little strained in parts, it is underrated and still very good, but definitely a notch below his other work as Alan.
The 1st series was almost as great as comedy can get. KMKY, both the radio stuff and chat show remain his crowning achivments IMO.