I thought it was interesting...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/lets-ditch-the-boring-sketch-shows-1667815.html
New Graham Linehan Interview....
I read that, good interview.
Really good 
thanks for the link
We are a self-lacerating society but I don't think America has produced anything as good as The Office for a while.
Erm, how about...The Office?
Good interview though. I totally agree on the sketch show stuff.
Thanks for the link. I agree 100% on the sketch show stuff, I hate the call and response laziness of the repeat sketches on things like Little Britain and Catherine Tate.
It was also a relief to realise I'm not the only one who's a bit 'meh' about Curb Your Enthusiasm'. I can now start my arguments with "As Graham Linehan says...".
Have to agree with his take on lazy repetitive sketch shows. I have been saying this for quite some time.
Six ideas stretched wafer-thin over 6 weeks. Money for old rope IMO.
Stating obvious facts to try a claim some sort of higher ground.
Ever since the IT crowd started I've been getting more and more annoyed with him, his ever increasing ego has been damaging the quality of his shows too which is a real shame when he's hilarious in interviews and such.
Quote: sardines @ April 14 2009, 1:04 AM BSTStating obvious facts to try a claim some sort of higher ground.
Or just stating his own opinions.
Quote: Martin H @ April 13 2009, 10:53 PM BSTErm, how about...The Office?
Maybe he doesn't like the American version.
I agree with Linehan; I think in Little Britain he helped create a monster....
In defence of Catherine Tate, I think she did go some way to varying things, she didn't go for blanket overkill like certain other shows, she has killed off a character that was becoming cliche'd, and she's stopped doing her show.
Perhaps he should do another series of Big Train.
Quote: Maurice Minor @ April 14 2009, 9:45 AM BSTI agree with Linehan; I think in Little Britain he helped create a monster....
In defence of Catherine Tate, I think she did go some way to varying things, she didn't go for blanket overkill like certain other shows, she has killed off a character that was becoming cliche'd, and she's stopped doing her show.
I get the feeling with Tate she was an actress who just stumbled into a sketch show. And now it's made her a star, she's not really that interested in comedy. Which is good, because some of her sketch shows were bloody awful.
I agree; its like the BBC, after Little Britain, have a template for any new sketch/character thing that comes along: series after series, guest spots on everything, plugged on everything, merchandised, aim some of the marketing at kids 'cos they'll buy *anything* rude, DVD releases, stage shows... Tate seems to have sidestepped the treadmill somewhat. In many of her sketches she held out for longer before plunging in with the catchphrases, or twisted them somehow. Little Britain really does just repeat the same script over and over and over.
There's nothing wrong with any one part of the 'template' particularly, its just that if its forced its just plain annoying and a backlash starts. Whether we like it or not I think Horne & Corden will go down the same route.
Quote: Maurice Minor @ April 14 2009, 10:41 AM BSTWhether we like it or not I think Horne & Corden will go down the same route.
They could well go down that route, and it's probably the plan. Although I'm not sure their stuff is even as strong as Tate's.
Quote: Ben @ April 14 2009, 9:50 AM BSTPerhaps he should do another series of Big Train.
Or perhaps we should. Different name though, Small Automobile, or something like that.
I get wistful whenever I think about Big Train, as each year passes and with it another succession of sketch offerings not up to it's standards. It's the benchmark for me and I try to have it in mind as a kind of litmus test whenever I write a sketch i.e. 'would it get on Big Train'. I do realsie that even when I say 'yes' I'm possibly deluded but you gotta try.
Re Small Automobile....now there's a thought Matthew!