Quote: darnall42 @ May 1 2013, 8:57 AM BSTIf it didn't have the Ben Elton name it wouldn't even have got made.
It wouldn't have had that name if he hadn't written it.
The Wright Way Page 16
I still maintain it's a steaming pile of excrement, and anyone who liked it is soft in the head!
Quote: gb901 @ May 1 2013, 10:41 AM BSTI still maintain its a steaming pile of excrement, and anyone who liked it is soft in the head!
I'm soft in the head then 
Quote: Pingl @ May 1 2013, 10:45 AM BSTI'm soft in the head then
That's a surprise! 
Touche, hoist by my own petard
Quote: Pingl @ May 1 2013, 10:45 AM BSTI'm soft in the head then
And me. 
Anyway.
Overnight figures saw 2.35 million viewers tune in for episode one.
Episode two slumped to ... 2.07 million. Very respectable performance
Contrast Series 2 of The Matt Lucas Awards, broadcasting in the same slot for the 6 previous weeks, and averaged 1.9 million viewers.
I reckon if they moved The Wright Way to 9:00 or 9:30 pm, they could add at least another million viewers.
I don't exactly dislike it, but then I don't like it either - having just watched the first two back to back, I think I probably won't be bothered much about watching the others, but I might. The thing that puts me off most is Haig's delivery - to be fair to him, though, I think it's more that the script invites only a kind of constant histionic. It wears me down a bit, like there's no variation in pace or tone. The daughter's accent also wears on me - is it Essex? I don't know, but I find it hard to listen to for long. But that's just me. I know there's a bit of a fashion for sitcom to be retro these days, but this feels more dated than retro - in fact, a lot of Wright's rants are just like Elton's 80s stand up, going on about bins and shops and stuff. Overall, I find that after seeing two together I feel tense and have a migraine coming on. And I'm not really enjoying that.
I also find I can't laugh at Wright inadvertently humping inanimate objects while his daughter's girlfriend (who I think actually gives the most watchable performance) films it for YouTube and says things like 'hashtag' more than once. And even that first time was only a smile, rather than a laugh.
I think as an idea for a situation, it's a good one, but I'd like it to have been written and performed with more nuance and variation in pacing.
A very good article for both lovers and haters, but particularly hating writers, from James Cary: http://sitcomgeek.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/how-did-this-rubbish-get-on-my-tv.html
Quote: Pip Bond @ May 1 2013, 1:09 PM BSTThe daughter's accent also wears on me - is it Essex? I don't know, but I find it hard to listen to for long.
The series is set in Essex, yes.
Well I'm soft in the head also because I really like this sitcom.
Still better to be soft in the head than miserable
Quote: Richard Wells @ May 1 2013, 1:35 PM BSTWell I'm soft in the head also because I really like this sitcom.
Still better to be soft in the head than miserable
I like it too. Shame it's been so mauled by critics. They're hating on Vicious now, though. Critics are like children, they have short attention spans and need something to keep them occupied.
Quote: Dave @ May 1 2013, 1:55 PM BSTI like it too. Shame it's been so mauled by critics. They're hating on Vicious now, though. Critics are like children, they have short attention spans and need something to keep them occupied.
I don't listen to critics, as long as I like it then I'll watch it and I like The Wright way, Vicious and The Job Lot.
Quote: Aaron @ May 1 2013, 1:18 PM BSTA very good article for both lovers and haters, but particularly hating writers, from James Cary: http://sitcomgeek.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/how-did-this-rubbish-get-on-my-tv.html
This article needs to be in its own (sticky!) thread...
Quote: johnny smith @ May 1 2013, 2:07 PM BSThttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoE0SRHwIak
Yeah, I hate it when people do things that have been done before....
https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/post/974636/
Quote: Pingl @ May 1 2013, 10:45 AM BSTI'm soft in the head then
Is there a sitcom with any form of added audience laughter you don't like?