Show Me The Funny
- TV factual / stand-up
- ITV1
- 2011
- 7 episodes (1 series)
Reality show presented by Jason Manford in which 10 aspiring comedians travelled to different parts of the country to perform stand-up. Also features Alan Davies, Kate Copstick, Alfie Moore, Cole Parker, Dan Mitchell and more.
Press clippings Page 5
'Show Me The Funny' falls flat with 2.6m
The launch of Jason Manford's Show Me The Funny failed to excite viewers on Monday night, and was trounced by New Tricks, according to the latest audience data.
Andrew Laughlin, Digital Spy, 19th July 2011Why didn't Show Me The Funny show us the funny?
Their main problem appears to be that the producers did not take the advice of their own title: Show Me The Funny.
John Fleming, Chortle, 19th July 2011Show Me the Funny review
Monday 18th July 2011 saw a new reality show arrive on our screens, Show Me the Funny on ITV1 aims to create the next big name in comedy.
David Myerscough, Suite 101, 19th July 2011Show Me The Funny review
You forgot to show me the funny...
R. Green, Comedy Critic, 19th July 2011Though the prospect of Jason Manford hosting an X Factor-style competition for 10 amateur standups sounds more like Saturday night light entertainment, this turns out to be a meatier proposition, not least because watching people cold-sweat their way through a sudden attack of the unfunnies makes for painfully gripping television. Alan Davies and Kate Copstick are the fairly devastating judges; now that The Apprentice is over, get your fix of schadenfreude here.
Rebecca Nicholson, The Guardian, 18th July 2011For better or worse, the comedy circuit gets its own X Factor - but the contestants who will be battling it out by gigging their way round the country have already been whittled down to ten. They include experienced hands such as Patrick Monahan and people who have never had a paid gig. The winner gets £100,000, a multi-date tour and their very own Christmas DVD. Cheeky QI chappy Alan Davies is a judge, while jovial Jason Manford, presumably hoping for a big-league bounce-back after his short-lived stint on The One Show and that 'sexting' to-do, hosts.
Sharon Lougher, Metro, 18th July 2011Here's a show to cheer up anyone feeling bereft after waving farewell to Lord Sugar and his swaggering apprentices. For this series promises to be every bit as amusing and nail-bitingly compulsive, with the added bonus of a few decent jokes. Most of those are courtesy of host Jason Manford, who puts ten fledgeling stand-ups through their paces in an attempt to find the next Michael McIntyre. Each week the hopefuls will perform new material for a tricky audience, including hospital patients, secondary school pupils, tipsy Welsh rugby players and a squadron of Scots Guards. Tonight they face a roomful of Liverpudlian ladies. Cue lamentable gags about scousers and even dodgier impersonations that soon have judges Alan Davies and crimson-lipped critic Kate Copstick - who clearly intends to be the Cowell of comedy - wincing. Even tonight's guest judge, jolly Jimmy Tarbuck, can't crack a smile. Fortunately, if there's one thing more entertaining than first-rate stand-up, it's watching wannabes bomb. There's no need for Michael McIntyre to watch his back just yet.
Claire Webb, Radio Times, 18th July 2011Show Me the Funny - and the unfunny
A contest between 10 jobbing standups is more MasterChef than The X Factor bringing as much awkwardness as laughter.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 18th July 2011TV review: Show Me The Funny
Show Me The Funny? You get a lot more laughs from Karren, Nick and Lord Sugar.
Stuart Jeffries, The Guardian, 18th July 2011Jason Manford: TV heaven & hell interview
We fired some quick Qs at Jason Manford earlier this year to find out his ideas on TV heaven and TV hell...
Alex Fletcher, Digital Spy, 18th July 2011