Friday Night Live
- TV stand-up
- Channel 4
- 1988
- 10 episodes (1 series)
Channel 4 stand-up series that followed on from Saturday Live. Most notable for furthering the careers of comedians like Jo Brand and Harry Enfield. Also features Ben Elton, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Lee Evans, Moray Hunter and more.
Press clippings
Friday Night Live to return to Channel 4
Ben Elton is to host a revival of Friday Night Live, the alternative comedy show that aired on Channel 4 in the 1980s. One-off special The Return Of Friday Night Live will "unite the hottest new wave stand-ups and character comedians alongside some original show legends".
British Comedy Guide, 22nd August 2022Most of the acts come as across as listless, overlong and - worst of all - not very funny. In fact, it's surprising to observe how little the audience actually laugh.
Jack Kibble-White, Den Of Geek, 9th June 2008Much, but not all, of the humour is rooted in the culture of 1980s Britain, the rise of the yuppie class, the dissatisfaction with Thatcher's Britain and other issues of the day. But the humour isn't all political: there's some broad physical humour courtesy of Lee Evans and Josie Lawrence provides some character-based monologues that satirise the world of television and celebrity.
A couple of the sketches fall flat, however, there are also some real strokes of comic genius too.
Paul Lewis, DVD Compare, 3rd June 2008