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There have been reports recently in the press stating that British comedy is dead -I personally couldn't agree more. There doesn't seem to be anything original anymore, nobody is willing to push the boundaries and do something new.
Smack the Pony might have had critical success but it rarely manages to raise more than a snigger -most sketches are just infantile. Trigger Happy TV started off great but became unbelievably repetitive (did ANYONE find those painting sketches funny?). My Hero is terrible, as is Sam's Game, Bob Martin, The Savages and Perfect World.
The League of Gentlemen is the only recent comedy series that I have enjoyed (though last years Christmas Special was nothing like as good as the previous series). Ali G is another example of good comedy that wore thin fast.
In the modern climate of ratings obsession, it seems that as soon as something good comes along it is milked for every last drop of money. Comedians like the League of Gentlemen and Sacha Baron Cohen need to expand their repertoires rather than sticking to ratings winners.
American comedy is (in most cases) even worse. Shows like Friends are written by teams of writers. Every joke is tested on audiences in advance. It takes no risks and is purely used as a ratings winner. Even shows like the Simpsons have gone down hill lately.
Malcolm in the Middle breaks the mold -it may not be highly original but it is very entertaining. I just hope the producers have the sense to pull the plug before it loses its freshness.
What does anyone else think?
Smack the Pony might have had critical success but it rarely manages to raise more than a snigger -most sketches are just infantile. Trigger Happy TV started off great but became unbelievably repetitive (did ANYONE find those painting sketches funny?). My Hero is terrible, as is Sam's Game, Bob Martin, The Savages and Perfect World.
The League of Gentlemen is the only recent comedy series that I have enjoyed (though last years Christmas Special was nothing like as good as the previous series). Ali G is another example of good comedy that wore thin fast.
In the modern climate of ratings obsession, it seems that as soon as something good comes along it is milked for every last drop of money. Comedians like the League of Gentlemen and Sacha Baron Cohen need to expand their repertoires rather than sticking to ratings winners.
American comedy is (in most cases) even worse. Shows like Friends are written by teams of writers. Every joke is tested on audiences in advance. It takes no risks and is purely used as a ratings winner. Even shows like the Simpsons have gone down hill lately.
Malcolm in the Middle breaks the mold -it may not be highly original but it is very entertaining. I just hope the producers have the sense to pull the plug before it loses its freshness.
What does anyone else think?
I suppose British comedy is slowly dying. Harry Enfield's new series on Sky was no where as good as his old ones. Smack the Pony and various other sketch shows and My Hero are dull to watch at times.
But Trigger Happy TV repetitive? I can see why you say this but the reactions of people are never repetitive and that is the whole point of the show. The expressions on some people's faces is hilarious. How about when they told a man to go on a trolley dash and he did and they ran off. The person who came out of the Sex Shop as 1 millionth sex shop user. Repetitive NO! Everyone has a different way of reacting to things.
Ali G was very funny. However he is currently making a film with his Julie in it (who was going to be played by Melanie from Eastenders but the bosses wouldn't let her) and I'm sure this film is going to be very good and very funny to watch. We may be lacking on good tv shows but look at the comedy films we are starting to make. The Full Monty was a box office smasher, a comedy homegrown in England. East is East, another British film also did reasonably well. Harry Enfield was very funny and received some praise from many people with hilarious jokes. Now Ali G the movie? Who cares if the tv shows are rubbish the movies we are making is great. For tv shows we have great comedies like Friends and The Simpsons (no way is that getting bad - it's as strong as ever). I think it's great we are spending more money on making comedy films in England and if it means costing us some decent people that make me laugh for 2 years to make the film I don't really care as I know it will be worth the wait.
But Trigger Happy TV repetitive? I can see why you say this but the reactions of people are never repetitive and that is the whole point of the show. The expressions on some people's faces is hilarious. How about when they told a man to go on a trolley dash and he did and they ran off. The person who came out of the Sex Shop as 1 millionth sex shop user. Repetitive NO! Everyone has a different way of reacting to things.
Ali G was very funny. However he is currently making a film with his Julie in it (who was going to be played by Melanie from Eastenders but the bosses wouldn't let her) and I'm sure this film is going to be very good and very funny to watch. We may be lacking on good tv shows but look at the comedy films we are starting to make. The Full Monty was a box office smasher, a comedy homegrown in England. East is East, another British film also did reasonably well. Harry Enfield was very funny and received some praise from many people with hilarious jokes. Now Ali G the movie? Who cares if the tv shows are rubbish the movies we are making is great. For tv shows we have great comedies like Friends and The Simpsons (no way is that getting bad - it's as strong as ever). I think it's great we are spending more money on making comedy films in England and if it means costing us some decent people that make me laugh for 2 years to make the film I don't really care as I know it will be worth the wait.
There have been reports recently in the press stating that British comedy is dead -I personally couldn't agree more. There doesn't seem to be anything original anymore, nobody is willing to push the boundaries and do something new.
Smack the Pony might have had critical success but it rarely manages to raise more than a snigger -most sketches are just infantile. Trigger Happy TV started off great but became unbelievably repetitive (did ANYONE find those painting sketches funny?). My Hero is terrible, as is Sam's Game, Bob Martin, The Savages and Perfect World.
The League of Gentlemen is the only recent comedy series that I have enjoyed (though last years Christmas Special was nothing like as good as the previous series). Ali G is another example of good comedy that wore thin fast.
In the modern climate of ratings obsession, it seems that as soon as something good comes along it is milked for every last drop of money. Comedians like the League of Gentlemen and Sacha Baron Cohen need to expand their repertoires rather than sticking to ratings winners.
American comedy is (in most cases) even worse. Shows like Friends are written by teams of writers. Every joke is tested on audiences in advance. It takes no risks and is purely used as a ratings winner. Even shows like the Simpsons have gone down hill lately.
Malcolm in the Middle breaks the mold -it may not be highly original but it is very entertaining. I just hope the producers have the sense to pull the plug before it loses its freshness.
What does anyone else think?
Smack the Pony might have had critical success but it rarely manages to raise more than a snigger -most sketches are just infantile. Trigger Happy TV started off great but became unbelievably repetitive (did ANYONE find those painting sketches funny?). My Hero is terrible, as is Sam's Game, Bob Martin, The Savages and Perfect World.
The League of Gentlemen is the only recent comedy series that I have enjoyed (though last years Christmas Special was nothing like as good as the previous series). Ali G is another example of good comedy that wore thin fast.
In the modern climate of ratings obsession, it seems that as soon as something good comes along it is milked for every last drop of money. Comedians like the League of Gentlemen and Sacha Baron Cohen need to expand their repertoires rather than sticking to ratings winners.
American comedy is (in most cases) even worse. Shows like Friends are written by teams of writers. Every joke is tested on audiences in advance. It takes no risks and is purely used as a ratings winner. Even shows like the Simpsons have gone down hill lately.
Malcolm in the Middle breaks the mold -it may not be highly original but it is very entertaining. I just hope the producers have the sense to pull the plug before it loses its freshness.
What does anyone else think?