The day the laughter* died...
https://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000643/caroline_quentin_life_of_riley_cancelled_no_series/
(*Caroline Quentin's bank manager's laughter)
Life Of Riley - Series 3 Page 6
A dark dark moment for British TV.
I thought this very unfunny and boring, but a lot of viewers liked it.
Too much like 'My Family' and 'Outnumbered' very popular with the masses, or the 'non discerning' viewers.
DennisP, I note you like all these and 'Mrs. Brown's Boys', the very antithesis of great comedy.
Quote: dellas @ October 13 2011, 7:17 PM BST
A lot of viewers watched it but is that the same thing? All famcoms seem to get good viewing figures, but I feel this might have more to do with the parents wanting to unite the family in a family bonding session, watching other families on TV, than pure sitcom enjoyment. From most of the ones I've seen, I can't really come to another conclusion.
Great, another one gone. Didn't mind it to be honest.
Another one added to the BBC's list of 3 series and kill it.
On The Up
Next of Kin
After You've Gone
Life of Riley
Where has The Old Guys got to? Axed as well I'm assuming.
Well, let's be honest, most British sitcoms have pretty short lives.
I thought this was pretty poor... just like My Family. No idea why they would consider having 2 sitcoms with identical formats on the same channel.
I'm surprised Extras didn't just kill shit like this off with When The Whistle Blows.
Terrible critic ratings but still 6 million viewers. As long as it's on after EastEnders and it doesn't make you think...
Quote: Scartledge @ October 31 2011, 2:06 PM BSTI'm surprised Extras didn't just kill shit like this off with When The Whistle Blows.
Terrible critic ratings but still 6 million viewers.
You've just countered your own surprise. Mainstream shows remain popular with the mainstream of viewers, no matter what the likes of Gervais tell them they should watch.
And IIRC it was broadcast before before EastEnders' time slot, and on the one day a week the soap didn't pollute schedules anyway.
I thought Extras would allow the people who commission this drivel to take a step back and focus their energy into making a quality family sitcom that can stand the test of time... OFAH was mainstream, but good enough to be enjoyed by everyone.
Maybe that's what they're doing now.
Quote: Aaron @ October 31 2011, 2:31 PM BSTno matter what the likes of Gervais tell them they should watch.
When does he actually do this?
Quote: Scartledge @ October 31 2011, 2:06 PM BSTwith When The Whistle Blows.
But Gervais said he would watch that if it was on. He made it good on purpose.
So I don't actually understand what point any of you is making with that. Are you saying you think it was meant to just be shit?
Quote: zooo @ October 31 2011, 7:39 PM BSTBut Gervais said he would watch that if it was on. He made it good on purpose.
So I don't actually understand what point any of you is making with that. Are you saying you think it was meant to just be shit?
When the Whistle Blows was intentionally shit with stupid catch-phrases.
It really wasn't.
I would have watched it.
Quote: zooo @ October 31 2011, 7:53 PM BSTIt really wasn't.
I would have watched it.
When the Whistle Blows was the sitcom in Extras that Gervais' character ended up doing.
Quote: Aaron @ October 31 2011, 2:31 PM BSTYou've just countered your own surprise. Mainstream shows remain popular with the mainstream of viewers, no matter what the likes of Gervais tell them they should watch.
For 'mainstream' read 'mediocre'. Can you counter your own surprise? If you're surprised the same time as being surprised, you're still surprised. He could counter his own argument, maybe that's what you meant.