British Comedy Guide

Grandma's House - Series 1 Page 5

Quote: chipolata @ August 5 2010, 9:48 AM BST

Which may well be a legitimate point. However you first phrased it was in a small minded and nasty way.

Not at all, it's not my quote but one taken from a BBC sitcom, one of their better ones in recent years. To leave that Gervais/Merchant line in either showed a sense of humour from the bigwigs, or a self regarding indulgence; I'm not too sure which, possibly it was both.

The only niggling thing I had against the show was that it was set in the world of TV, and this is not only insular but it had been done a fair bit before and it almost legitimises the continued use of it, as I suspect we may find out from Grandma's House, as Amstell is clearly playing himself in all but name.

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ August 5 2010, 10:32 AM BST

Not at all, it's not my quote but one taken from a BBC sitcom, one of their better ones in recent years.

And the quote was designed to paint the "Keith Chegwin" character as an out of touch monster.

You weren't just telling us the quote though, you were saying it was true!
Which Gervais even wasn't, he was taking the piss out of people who say things like that.

Anyway. I think the show seems quite original. But I'm sure there has been an English comedy show where the star plays himself in a semi imaginary world, but can't think what it is.

Quote: zooo @ August 5 2010, 10:36 AM BST

You weren't just telling us the quote though, you were saying it was true!
Which Gervais even wasn't, he was taking the piss out of people who say things like that.

Anyway. I think the show seems quite original. But I'm sure there has been an English comedy show where the star plays himself in a semi imaginary world, but can't think what it is.

Sean Hughes in Sean's Show? For one.

What about Rhona?

Quote: zooo @ August 5 2010, 10:36 AM BST

You weren't just telling us the quote though, you were saying it was true!
Which Gervais even wasn't, he was taking the piss out of people who say things like that.

Anyway. I think the show seems quite original. But I'm sure there has been an English comedy show where the star plays himself in a semi imaginary world, but can't think what it is.

Haven't seen it, but did Lead Balloon follow that premise?

And doesn't this new Coogan/Brydon show follow a similar premise?

Quote: zooo @ August 5 2010, 10:12 AM BST

You haven't SEEN any of it yet!

How can you justify getting this angry about it when you have absolutely no idea of its quality?

Yes Zooo I have, not much admittedly, but enough to genuinely hate what I saw. If these clips were unrepresentative of the show then why would they use them as publicity trailers? So I have SOME idea of its quality. Of course if the first episode completely surpasses my low expectation of it, I will change my view and say so, and I'll watch the series. So far though, from two preview clips, one so-so, and one appalling (to me) I am not impressed with any aspect of the sitcom, creative or political. But I will soon have a better idea.

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ August 5 2010, 10:51 AM BST

If these clips were unrepresentative of the show then why would they use them as publicity trailers?

As I said before, Pulling had terribly offputting trailers, yet it was a genuinely great show. As for these, I've only seen one of Amstell talking to Rebecca Front. It lasts about ten seconds, so hardly enough to build an opinion on.

And as all the above examples of similar type shows suggest, the formula has been done to death, IMO. But if many other viewers love this celeb biocom stuff then so be it, I'm in the minority and there would seem to be a market for it. But personally, I'd prefer sitcoms to get back to being about more common characters in more common situations. :)

Homosexuals and Jews are quite common characters though, aren't they?

Very common in the BBC yes.

And are well represented in public life, high commerce and the Arts.

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ August 5 2010, 11:10 AM BST

Very common in the BBC yes.

Do you have facts and figures to back this statement up?

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ August 5 2010, 11:10 AM BST

Very common in the BBC yes.

It's like a damned JewTube!

I think some are willfully missing and misrepresenting my point, which was about one successful sub sector making sure that those of the same persuasion or in the same community get handed opportunities to join them at the top, where many other outsiders with just as good or better talents are ignored. That is nepotism, fellow members, and yes I have suffered from it and yes it makes me angry to see it in such (alleged or perceived) use.

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