Sitcom popularity

Copied and pasted from Mr Jacob's blog:

"My Family is approaching the recording of its 100th episode - in a series to be broadcast next year - so there will be celebrations. Few British sitcoms get to the hundred mark, and it's a considerable achievement to run for nine series, maintain sizeable audiences, and contradict the critics who hate it.

Indeed, My Family, along with 2 Pints, are the two most excoriated yet successful sitcoms in recent years."

For me, My Family does the job it's there for, and does it very well indeed. Writing family-friendly sitcom is always going to be f**king difficult, and though it's not the first thing on my Sky+ list, I totally respect the writing and the reason why it's there. And, goddam it, it makes me laugh sometimes too.
As for Two Pints, I've never really understood the critical backlash. It's unashamedly bouncy, young and fun, completely unpretentious, and stuffed with gags which can only be a good thing in my book.

I know I'm probably in for a mauling, defending the most vilified sitcoms of recent times, but I'd genuinely like to hear your views on them, plus your take on just why these shows are so phenomenally successful.

I'll join you Perry before the backlash. I quite enjoy both shows and whilst neither are up there with my favourites, I believe they definatly have a place on our tv sets. I think the reason they are so popular is because they are easy. I in no way mean in terms of the writing or the production of the shows, but it is possible to sit and watch an episode without having to work too hard for the entertainment.

I know there are many on here who are less than keen on these shows but they obviously have a good following amongst those who perhaps are less concerned with the components of producing a comedy show, and are purely interested in the final piece.

If I remember correctly, people on here have claimed that the majority of viewers for My Family, in particular, are too lazy to look for anything else, and this may be true but perhaps they dont have the interest in comedy to pursue anything else. Maybe they are the equivalent of those who only watch footy on the BBC such as the FA cup final and England internationals, who, whilst happy to watch the odd game, have no interest in looking for games every weekend on Sky or the dreaded Setanta!!!

No backlash from here either. I don't watch either show but I have seen episodes in the past, and they seem to achieve what they set out to do. The fact they've lasted so long is surely testamanet to good writing, acting, production, etc. It's just that I'm not part of the audience.

Quentin and Perry have together hit the nail on the head here (and the football analogy is beautiful). Both shows are beyond excellent in hitting their target audience, and Badge is spot on in his praise of the production.

I, like Quentin, enjoy both My Family and Two Pints. They're great shows to sit back and just watch. I've said numerous times that after a day's work and the bitch of a commute into London and back, often the last thing I wanted was to have to think about what I'm watching; I just want to be entertained. And shows such as these fit that bill perfectly.

Professional critics have lost touch with the public here. The percentage of the population who watch TV to be entertained far outweighs that whose primary intention is to be challenged, or to be challenged AND entertained. They (the critics) just don't seem to be able to grasp that concept. And in comes the football analogy.

Similarly, a number of perfectly good programmes in the 2000s have suffered through no fault of their own. Critics - be they professional or the viewers who are most damning and most vocal about their opinions - in particular have been spoiled with a whole range of new, exciting dramas and comedies. The bar of expectation has been unfairly raised. This is particularly evident in programmes like My Family and Two Pints which the aforementioned critics attack with every opportunity, and yet are adored by the viewing public.

To summarise, critics are now too far detached from Joe Public. Be they professional or bedroom, the modern critic seems to analyse programmes far more deeply and nit-picky than at any other point in television's history - and compare them against 'better' shows which are the exception, not the norm.

Not a big fan of either show to be honest. Not because I dislike the "type" of show, but because I do not see them as particularly good examples. My Family has too much glued on wackiness for my taste, and Two Pints has degenerated into a kind of Last of the Summer Wine for the yob generation.

But they do cater for a neglected audience: people who don't have their head wedged up their own rectum.

I agree with Aaron (SHUDDER), I want to switch off my brain and be entertained when I get home from work. The programmes I actually watch, rather than recording and never getting round to looking at, are effortless to watch because the makers have put a lot of effort into achieving that effect.

Most of us have jobs that we would rather not be doing and that leave us physically and/or mentally knackered. Critics don't; watching TV is their job, so they need it to be challenging and stimulating. Programme makers and commissioners can be similarly fixated on producing a product that will impress their peers rather than the audience.

Time was when shows like Steptoe or Porridge were enjoyed by audiences of 20 million. Obviously we will never see that sort of demographic again, but I would love to be involved in a show with that sort of broad appeal. The sort of show, I suppose, that Ricky Gervais satirised in Extras, though popular does not have to be dumb (see the examples with which I began this paragraph). In Critique recently I saw a comment from one of our more self-confident members, asking if he should put more swears in his script to ensure that it was not seen as BBC1 primetime fodder...

What are their most recent viewing figures? I honestly don't know what they are.

I don't watch either show. I catch the odd episode every now and then. I guess they tick all the boxes for the audience it's aimed at.

I thought I hated Two Pints for ages (a year or two ago), then I realised I was sitting watching it every week.

My Family is aimed at the type of people who sit in the studio audience on Children Need night. It is shite.

I don't mind either, but don't go out of my way to watch or record them. That means I rarely watch either.

When I've watched My Family, I've been entertained. I empathise with the characters but don't really like any of them (I don't hate them, just don't particularly like them). I've never thought 'this is awful', but then I've never thought 'this is brilliant' either.

Agree that the footy analogy is correct: it's sitcom for people who would rather watch soap then comedy. (I think I've made my feelings on that subject clear many a time before!)

Two Pints: I've said before and I will say again -- it's either utterly, utterly shite or utter, utter genius and I don't know which! I guess because I don't often watch it, it must be the former, but again, I've never thought it's either awful or brilliant and have been entertained. It seems to have no plot at all a lot of the time, which I think is why I don't watch too often -- probably out of disgust that everyone tells us plot is everything and then you watch a half-hour of wanking gags.

I hope that makes everything clear

Dan

Quote: Winterlight @ June 29 2008, 10:38 AM BST

What are their most recent viewing figures? I honestly don't know what they are.

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Check the BCG's episode guides. Where available, we list audience figures.

Quote: swerytd @ June 29 2008, 12:11 PM BST

Two Pints: I've said before and I will say again -- it's either utterly, utterly shite or utter, utter genius and I don't know which! I guess because I don't often watch it, it must be the former, but again, I've never thought it's either awful or brilliant and have been entertained.

View original

Definitely the latter. No matter what one personally feels about it, there is no other programme which I can think of which has hit its target audience so well and so consistently - and over 7 series' and the loss of at least one major character, the quality of the programme has, if anything, improved. It's an unashamed, unpretentious roll of gags. It doesn't try to be anything that it's not. If its humour isn't to one's taste then that's fine, but it's not trying to resonate with everyone, and what it does attempt it succeeds.

Quote: swerytd @ June 29 2008, 12:11 PM BST

It seems to have no plot at all a lot of the time, which I think is why I don't watch too often -- probably out of disgust that everyone tells us plot is everything and then you watch a half-hour of wanking gags.

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No, there's always a plot to Two Pints. It's just generally linear, rather than encapsulated in each episode.

And of course, I thought of another few absolutely cracking points to make in this thread whilst lying in bed last night, but haven't got a clue what they were now.

Quote: Perry Nium @ June 29 2008, 12:59 AM BST

For me, My Family does the job it's there for, and does it very well indeed. Writing family-friendly sitcom is always going to be f**king difficult, and though it's not the first thing on my Sky+ list, I totally respect the writing and the reason why it's there. And, goddam it, it makes me laugh sometimes too.
As for Two Pints, I've never really understood the critical backlash. It's unashamedly bouncy, young and fun, completely unpretentious, and stuffed with gags which can only be a good thing in my book.

I know I'm probably in for a mauling, defending the most vilified sitcoms of recent times, but I'd genuinely like to hear your views on them, plus your take on just why these shows are so phenomenally successful.

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My Family: It's more to do with the fact it could be so much better. But it's not. It's uninspired and always has been. Perry, does it not frustrate you as an obviously talented writer, to think what YOU could do given the chance to write a My Family script? It's not the fact it's on at 8.30 or something that bothers me, it's the fact it's so badly written. The producers insistence on using the same tired writers had lead to the show being totally dull.

Sure, it's popular. But imagine a better written series? You can still do 'family' and mainstream AND funny. But people don't seem to think so, so instead aim for much lower. The Americans do it so much better.

2 Pints: It's lowest common denominator stuff, and incredibly lazy. Again, give me some good jokes and I'm there. Not lazy nob gags. I find the totally insulted and patronising. That believe that most TV viewers are slack jawed idiots who need sex gags spelt out for them to get laughs.

I truly think if the BBC put out an 8.30 well-written, funny, mainstream sitcom - US style - that it would be a big hit. But they seem to think they have to aim low to win ratings. They don't. Give viewers a bit more credit!!

Just because you're aiming at the masses, doesn't mean it can't be clever and funny. I'm sure if they aimed higher and made something a bit, well, less badly written it would get just as bigger ratings.

Quote: Quentin @ June 29 2008, 1:19 AM BST

possible to sit and watch an episode without having to work too hard for the entertainment.

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But Friends is the ultimate in that - 'comedy chocolate pie'. But it still managed to be sharp and funny and not resort to cheap gags. It can be done! Given how loved Friends is over here, you'd have thought they'd have tried to make an 8.30 British-style version.

Quote: Aaron @ June 29 2008, 2:39 AM BST

I've said numerous times that after a day's work and the bitch of a commute into London and back, often the last thing I wanted was to have to think about what I'm watching; I just want to be entertained. And shows such as these fit that bill perfectly.

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But look at previous shows in that style - like Fools and Horses. Surely the ultimate in mainstream, well loved sitcom? But at the same time it was warm, clever, witty, silly - and much, much better than MF.

Neither Two Pints nor My Family work for me - never found anything remotely funny in either. But I know a four-year old who likes MF and After You're Gone (or whatever it's called with N. Lyndhurst). She likes the OTT characters and laughter track in MF and the fact that Tracey Beaker is in AYG and both are very easy to follow. Maybe the fans of these shows have similar criteria?

I also don't think it's do with these shows being mainstream; I liked Only Fools from childhood. It was funny and likeable and had pathos at times.

Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.

My Family is quite amusing - and very funny at times.

I think it's disliked at times because it is a bit formulaic - it's a team thing and sometimes the cosy middle-class family urritates people a bit.

Also it doesn't help when the two lead actors have publicly slagged it off themselves.

2 Pints is just a bit tooo young. There is no real mix of characters.

I can see what Seefacts means. There's no reason why something 'family orientated' can't up the quality stakes.

Only Fools and Horses is a good example. I'm assuming that's family orientated anyway.

And things that do the job are all well and good, but I certainly wouldn't swap my 'gillette m3 power' for a disposable Bic razor.

Does a razor analogy make any sense?