Episodes - Series 1 Page 8

Quote: Aaron @ January 11 2011, 3:23 PM GMT

Some of the criticisms levelled have been perfectly valid, but they needed to rush through the whole set-up of the American move - it could easily have made its own entire series, I'm sure. So there was a lot to set up, introduce and establish in episode one; yes there were more laugh opportunities that weren't taken, but I didn't think it was too bad, particularly given what it needed to do. Once they get into the actual production process, presumably next week, things should - with any luck - pick up pace a little.

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How about something like this?

SCENE - A couple are in bed

SFX - Phone rings

WIFE (answering phone groggily) - Hello? Yes, this is she, do you know what time it is? 3pm? I don't think so it's 2 o'clock in the morning... oh you're phoning from LA...(long pause) so let me get this straight, you want to do an American version of our sitcom, "Limon's Boys" and you want us to fly out to America to sort out the details?

HUSBAND - Who is it?

WIFE - Shut up and go back to sleep, we've got an early start.

WIFE (to the phone) - We'll be on the first flight tomorrow.

END SCENE

OPENING TITLES

NEXT SCENE IN L.A.

I'd watch that.

I don't have a problem with a whole episode of exposition, but there's no reason why it shouldn't be funny as well.

Quote: zooo @ January 11 2011, 3:13 PM GMT

I choose to believe you, Sir Mangan!

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You're the Patron Saint of Lost Causes, Zooo!

Quote: Aaron @ January 11 2011, 3:23 PM GMT

... but they needed to rush through the whole set-up of the American move

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If a sitcom is structured/paced correctly, there's no need for any of it to be 'rushed'.

Quote: Tony Cowards @ January 11 2011, 4:04 PM GMT

How about something like this?

SCENE - A couple are in bed

SFX - Phone rings next to a Bafta trophy, an empty bottle of champagne and some lines of cocaine.

WIFE (answering phone groggily) - Hello? Yes, this is she, do you know what time it is? 3pm? I don't think so it's 2 o'clock in the morning... oh you're phoning from LA...(long pause) so let me get this straight, you want to do an American version of our sitcom, "Limon's Boys" and you want us to fly out to America to sort out the details?

HUSBAND - Who is it?

WIFE - Shut up and go back to sleep, we've got an early start.

WIFE (to the phone) - We'll be on the first flight tomorrow.

END SCENE

OPENING TITLES

NEXT SCENE IN L.A.

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Exactly Tony.

One question: if Sean & Beverly are these successful and experienced TV comedy writers, surely they would have seen enough TV comedies and movies satirising L.A./Hollywood so as not to be so naively surprised when the people they encounter turn out to be shallow, insincere and duplicitous? I'm surprised they didn't have their agent or the production company negotiate a US development deal in order to protect intellectual rights during any transfer. You'd think that the writers might even have someone in LA with them, such as a producer on the original, in order to help them in the process?

All very odd...

What we saw of "Limon's Boys" was terrible. If we don't see the sitcom as good, what does it matter what the Yanks do to it?

Quote: Tim Azure @ January 11 2011, 7:43 PM GMT

What we saw of "Limon's Boys" was terrible. If we don't see the sitcom as good, what does it matter what the Yanks do to it?

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A 'show within a show' is almost always complete shite. See 30 Rock or Studio 60.

There are exceptions though, like Home Improvement's 'Tool Time'.

Maybe it will be revealed that Episodes itself is a show within a show, and the fact that it is really weak will be hilariously funny in context.

Maybe.

I didn't think it was too bad. Not hilarious and it came across more comedy drama than sitcom, but I'll happily watch it next week.

A lot of these scenes had a very forced feel to them, almost too self-consciously clever.

Tamsin's dialogue and acting in the car with the first gate guard scene just seemed hammy, and I wasn't feeling the chemistry between the couple. The kissing scenes just seemed like the sort of kissing a teenage lad and ladette does in front of their mates to show how mature they are. I was cringeing.

That said, I never get on with pilots, so I'll be charitable and give the next episode a go. If it doesn't get going in that, sod it.

I spent the first half thinking WTF this is awful, but I then really enjoyed it from the audition onwards. I liked the American stuff and laughed even though I expected it. I don't always like Daisy Haggard but her face made me laugh every time she was on screen in this. I too could have happily done without the kissing scenes though. (What was even the point?)

Quote: don rushmore @ January 11 2011, 7:56 PM GMT

A 'show within a show' is almost always complete shite. See 30 Rock or Studio 60.

There are exceptions though, like Home Improvement's 'Tool Time'.

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And Itchy and Scratchy.

Quote: Tim Walker @ January 11 2011, 7:20 PM GMT

One question: if Sean & Beverly are these successful and experienced TV comedy writers, surely they would have seen enough TV comedies and movies satirising L.A./Hollywood so as not to be so naively surprised when the people they encounter turn out to be shallow, insincere and duplicitous? I'm surprised they didn't have their agent or the production company negotiate a US development deal in order to protect intellectual rights during any transfer. You'd think that the writers might even have someone in LA with them, such as a producer on the original, in order to help them in the process?

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Quote: Anorak @ January 11 2011, 12:36 PM GMT

Trouble is you lot all have too much inside knowledge to judge this dispassionately. Watched this with the wife (who's not in the biz) and she loved it.

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