Press clippings Page 7
This new impressionism show started on Channel 4 this week as part of a big comedy line up on the channel (along with 8 Out of 10 Cats, Alan Carr: Chatty Man and Stand Up For the Week).
It features Morgana Robinson and Terry Mynott impersonating a certain range of people. In this first episode there's heavyweight political figures but instead that particular class of usually pointless celebrity - the likes of Gordon Ramsey, Amy Childs and Danny Dyer.
Now for me impressionism usually has one big problem, which is trying to get the performer to look like the person they are pretending to be as well as getting to sound like them. That's why I think the best impressionism shows are Spitting Image and the radio version of Dead Ringers, because in both shows you don't see the performers, only the image in your head, or the rubbery visage.
In terms of this show, I'm not the best to judge the quality of the impressions, although that's because I tend not to watch most of the shows that those particular people perform in. I've never watched The Voice or Embarrassing Bodies, so I don't really know what Jessie J or Dr. Christian Jessen sound like.
However, in terms of the ideas that were generated, I found them to be good. I liked the sketch in which David Attenborough was observing Frankie Boyle in his natural habitat, and Fearne Cotton's children's game show in which kids try to act like celebrities.
If I were to be more critical I'd say that the satire isn't as hard hitting as it could be. It's not as vicious as Spitting Image was, so it's more akin to Dead Ringers in that respect. But still, it's a decent enough programme and should do well in my opinion...
Ian Wolf, Giggle Beats, 30th April 2012Brilliant impressions by ace mimics Morgana Robinson and Terry Mynott on Channel 4's passable new comedy offering Very Important People.
But the dazzling duo's alleged all-out attack on celebrity culture was about as hard hitting as Daybreak.
Therefore, it wasn't very funny.
How mortified must Gordon Ramsay be that Terry has noticed he swears a lot? Wow!
And Danny Dyer will be reeling after Morgana depicted him as a bit of a Cockney. Who knew?
Why spoil Mr Mynott's seamless Bear Grylls with far-fetched tosh about him doing a George Michael in the Gents? Hee hee.
What VIP needs to do is hit 'em where it hurts. Below the hypocrisy belt.
Eg... Gord Almighty pretending he was a crack-spear fisherman when he couldn't catch a cold.
Or born contriver Grylls tucked up in a warm hotel when he was supposed to be braving the harsh conditions of the wilderness.
In fairness... don't suppose Frankie Boyle enjoyed being portrayed as a nasty little troll. And Jonathan Woss's ongoing midlife "kwisis" showed potential.
Go for jugular. Simply copying self-satisfied stars is pointless...
Kevin O'Sullivan, The Mirror, 29th April 2012You can't help being trepidatious about this new impressions show. It's focused on the trashier end of celebrity, it stars Morgana Robinson and Terry Mynott, who received mixed reviews for The Morgana Show, and the fact that it's a new impressions show is worrying in itself.
Much of Very Important People is indeed cheap and derivative, leaning heavily on gaps filled with swearing and, in the case of doing Brian Cox as a preening fop, jokes that were dead and gone 12 months ago. But I must admit that Robinson's takes on Frankie Boyle, Danny Dyer and Natalie Cassidy had me spluttering merrily.
Jack Seale, Radio Times, 27th April 2012Mongrels was one of my favourite shows from last year. Mind you, I'm a sucker for just about anything anthropomorphic. The fact that this and Radio 4 comedy Warhorses of Letters is on at the same time's made me a rather happy man this past week...
This show, often viewed as an animal puppet version of Family Guy, is always enjoyable to a certain degree. It's full of jokes, most of which seem to work, both in the main dialogue and the cutaway scenes. The characters are entertaining, from metrosexual fox Nelson (Rufus Jones) to it-bitch Destiny (Lucy Montgomery), to the f***ing foul-mouthed fox Vince (Paul Kaye).
The second series started with a double bill - which to me felt wrong, primarily because the second episode was a "Horror special" which really should have gone out on Halloween. What on Earth the BBC Three schedulers were thinking of I have no idea.
Still, both episodes were entertaining, with their jokes and musical numbers, especially with a guest appearance from Richard O'Brien as a zombie dog singing a Rocky Horror Show-style love song. The one problem I have with Mongrels is that because it's on BBC Three, it has a very BBC Three idea of what a celebrity is. For example: Clive Anderson - great. Ainsley Harriott - could be worse. Jeff Brazier - never heard of him. Danny Dyer - oh f*** off (as Vince might say).
Still, this is good show on the whole. Certainly one of the better comedies on BBC Three, which probably means it'll be axed...
Ian Wolf, Giggle Beats, 14th November 2011Filth was set around a lads' mag. Filled with clueless idiots who don't exist in real life and a nastily juvenile approach to sexual politics, it made Two Pints seem like The Likely Lads. When Danny Dyer is the best thing in a show, you know it's time to move on.
Robert Epstein, The Independent, 25th April 2010The Comedy Lab strand showcases up-and-coming comic talent, allowing comedians the chance to experiment and the right to fail. But, my goodness, it's a hit-and-miss affair. Take tonight's two sketch shows. You would be well advised to give iCandy a wide birth, but the second, Happy Finish, is a much funnier affair and showcases show fresh new comedic talent. On Wednesday the Flight of the Conchords star Kristen Schaal stars in the very silly Penelope Princess of Pets, before Jack Whitehall carries out a Secret Census to find out how honest Britain is. Filth (Thursday) is a crude comedy set in the offices of a lads' mag and stars James Buckley from the The Inbetweeners and Danny Dyer. On Friday, MovieMash spoofs film magazine programmes, while Hung Out follows four friends newly arrived in London from Bristol.
The Times, 19th April 2010Danny Dyer: 'Mat Horne is a rubbish actor'
Danny Dyer has hit out at Gavin & Stacey star Mathew Horne, describing his performances as "rubbish".
Daniel Kilkelly, Digital Spy, 13th April 2009