Michael Hogan
- Reviewer
Press clippings Page 38
This priest-com is a surprise hit, scoring 2.2 million in the ratings and receiving rave reviews. Rightly so, as it's neatly observed and superbly played. In this fourth episode, our inner-city dog-collared hero Rev Adam Smallbone (the fine Tom Hollander) gets jealous when, in a neat bit of Beeb cross-fertilisation, he hears a rival on Thought for the Day. Adam promptly gets on The One Show himself but his self-publicising plans backfire when he makes an unwise remark about homosexuality.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 19th July 2010Well, we said it was light entertainment silly season. First in a double bill of new gameshows is this, hosted by Bradley Walsh. The "Home Team" of professional nice guy Peter Andre and likeable One Show recruit Jason Manford, plus an "Away Team" of two guest celebrities (first up are Coronation Street's Katherine Kelly and daytime dandy Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen), try to pick the person with a skill or secret out of a line-up by asking probing questions.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 17th July 2010The terrestrial debut for this Bafta-winning and imaginative comedy-drama first shown on E4. Five inner-city delinquents doing community service get struck by lightning and gain strange superpowers. Its premise of teenage outsiders thrown together as punishment recalls cult high school film The Breakfast Club. The reluctant superhero plot echoes US drama Heroes, while its hormonal, hard-partying cast draws inevitable comparisons to E4 stablemate Skins. Yet Misfits is very much its own beast, combining horror shocks and sci-fi special effects with sharp humour. Provided you're not put off by its occasionally self-conscious "yoof" sheen, it's really rather superb.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 10th July 2010The smart adult puppet show gets even more post-modern when Beeb stablemate Springwatch starts filming on the Isle of Dogs and urban fox Nelson is shocked to discover that all the animals are, in fact, actors. There are even knowing cameos from Terry Nutkins and Chris Packham. Meanwhile, "It-bitch" Destiny tries guide-dogging and Kali the pigeon admits that she used to nest in Amy Winehouse's hair.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 6th July 2010A welcome return for the Bafta-winning sitcom set in a corporation's dingy computer department. This is the start of series four. Many would have wielded the axe after a patchy debut run. The show's stay of execution was largely down to affection for writer/director Graham Linehan - the man behind Father Ted and Black Books, Chris Morris collaborator and recipient of comedy's Ronnie Barker Award last year. His creation is now worthy of those credentials, going from strength to strength. Tonight's opening episode is entitled Jen the Fredo, after the weak Corleone brother in The Godfather, and is crammed with knowing nods to the revered Mafia movie. Desperate to escape IT, Jen (Katherine Parkinson) is made Entertainments Manager by unreconstructed boss Douglas (Matt Berry) - a man given to pronouncements such as, "I like my women how I like my toast. Hot and consumable with butter." Jen's new job means showing braying businessmen a good time - and a theatre trip to The Vagina Monologues isn't quite the ticket. Back in the bunker, geeky Moss (Richard Ayoade) is devising Dungeons & Dragons-style role-play games and heartbroken Roy (Chris O'Dowd) keeps weepily guzzling white wine at his desk. All these plot strands come together ingeniously. Most laughs come from Berry and Ayoade's more cartoonish characters, but Linehan isn't too proud to write in the odd pratfall and it's so well-acted, one scene is genuinely touching, despite its silliness.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 25th June 2010Mongrels: new BBC Three comedy is a shaggy dog story
Michael Hogan on how a risque new BBC Three comedy is trying to do for puppetry 'what The Simpsons did for animation'.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 18th June 2010Who should win what at this year's Bafta TV awards
Michael Hogan gives the Telegraph's pick of who should go home with a gong.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 4th June 2010Found at last: the lost gems of Morecambe & Wise
Radio 4 is to air early sketches that had been thought missing for 60 years. Michael Hogan reports.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 29th April 2010Good news: The Now Show's back
The Radio 4 comedy sketch show in which Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis offer their satirical take the on the week's news returns.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 27th February 2010The ten funniest ever Yes Minister moments
Michael Hogan salutes Margaret Thatcher's favourite TV show, 30 years to the day since it began.
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 24th February 2010