Steve Bennett (I)
- Journalist and reviewer
Press clippings Page 93
All Round To Mrs Brown's preview
This probably isn't going to be the saviour of Saturday night TV - and is less appealing than Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway - but it's a natural progression of the Agnes Brown 'brand' and, perhaps surprisingly, not as dire as the sitcom that spawned it. Is that progress?
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 25th March 2017Cardinal Burns present Dean and Murf review
For those in the know, there are lots of in-joke pop-culture references along the way, from Lou Diamond Phillips to a Snow Patrol spoof, but the adventure is entertaining and enjoyable on its own terms, while being probably the most interesting and distinctive of this season's pilots.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 22nd March 2017Is that... Chris Ramsey? review
At 30, he remains the archetype of the upbeat, cheery lad of a comedian, despite being a husband and a dad. But behind all the trappings of being a modern young 'personality' - flashing up all his social media addresses before the show and performing on an inflatable set that looks like a leftover from a kids' TV game show - Ramsey is certainly maturing as a stand-up.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 20th March 2017Simon Amstell: Carnage review
There's no doubt that Simon Amstell's Carnage is a film with a very heavy message.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 19th March 2017Count Arthur Strong: The Sound Of Mucus review
[The finale is actually a bit of an anticlimax,] but by then we've enjoyed so many moments of laugh-out-loud absurdity, subtly slapstick in both word and deed, from this perfectly-realised fool, that to grumble would be churlish.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th March 2017Parental Guidance review
The school reunion is not the only cliché in the script, from BBC radio comedy staff writer Max Davis, which is set firmly in Sitcomland with its often formulaic exchanges.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 14th March 2017Harry and Paul Present: The Gentleman's Club review
The characters are certainly very funny, thanks to their social isolation and self-certainty in their out-of-touch attitudes, cheerily referring to a 'frightfully dapper Chinaman', for example. But there's really only so many variations on the theme, and this world doesn't offer Harry and Paul the chance to have fun with myriad characters as they have done in later work like The Story Of The 2s or Down The Line.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 14th March 2017Barbara Nice review
Audience sitcoms are notoriously hard to get right, but this pacy, funny and feelgood hits all the right notes. TV commissioners ought to be taking notice.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 14th March 2017The Gentleman's Club review
The characters are certainly very funny, thanks to their social isolation and self-certainty in their out-of-touch attitudes, cheerily referring to a 'frightfully dapper Chinaman', for example. But there's really only so many variations on the theme.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 14th March 2017Jonny And The Baptists: Eat The Poor review
Eat The Poor may wear its heart on its sleeve, but - anatomy be damned - that is also in the right place.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 13th March 2017