'Green Wing' - Real Comedy Alert!

J.N
Ditto - a breath of fresh air, very good.
Martin

Has The Office moved to a hospital? not sure yet but a good start never the less.

As someone who works in a hospital, the real thing is much, much funnier.

Tim

It's got Tamsin Grieg in it. Surely that's enough in itself?

She was great in 'Black Books' too.

I thought it was crap.

opps

What a pisser, I fell asleep and missed it.

I must be getting old.

Steve B

I've been recording them on video, which is just as well cos I fell asleep and missed the end of tonight's episode

Dr Caroline Todd makes a fascinating contrast with Tamsin Grieg's alter ego as Debbie on the Archers! That voice is just a dream and undoubtedly her best asset, although comic timing has to come a very close second!

David

Turns out that even the lovely Tamsin couldn't save it. I thought it was much more hit than miss and frankly I think I'd rather have canned laughter than that silly music.

Had to play an episode of "Black Books" (the one where Manny makes teh shop into a Starbucks) to re-aquaint myself with Tamsin as Fran.

Matthew

I actually liked the music and the overall 'feel' of the show. And it made me laugh.

But it was 30 mins too long.

After watching I was comparing it to Scrubs (a US show also set in a hospital). While the characters from both shows can be pathetic, egoist, sexist, sexy or stupid, in Scrubs, I really felt I understood why they were that way and thus emapthised with them.

There seems to be a lot more pathos and emotion in the best US comedy than the current 'embarassment and disgust' comedy trend in the UK. Unfortunately, I thought the second series of Black Books went this way too.

But at least Green Wings was actually funny!

Roll on The Mighty Boosh on BBC2.



PS What is it with The Archers and comedy? With Hayley in The Office and debbie in GW what next? Joe Grundy in Dead Ringers?



Stephen

I have to agree with Stephen 1/2 would have been fine, perhaps an hour starter episode.I think it is OK mind you watching the second episode, then the first after finding the previously lost recording, was a bit strange.
Is one of the female Docs the actress who played Gordon Brittas' wife?

Howard

quote:

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Originally posted by BigH47:
Is one of the female Docs the actress who played Gordon Brittas' wife?

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Yep.

quote:

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I think I'd rather have canned laughter than that silly music.

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Why Matthew? I detest canned laughter - it treats the viewer as an imbecile with a 'laugh now' cue.

If it's funny, you'll laugh. I like the music anyway.

As ever, when one recommends a programme - I thought the second episode was not as good as the first.

Episode 3 is supposed to be really funny. I shall stick with it.

The canned laughter reminds me of the situation with M.A.S.H.

IIRC it was always shown here in the UK with all canned laughter removed.

However I remember watching it in New York years ago, replete with canned laughter throughout!

Make of that what you will.

Regards,

JonR

Howard another one of the female docs could have been seen coupling in the just ended bbc2 Friends/Cold Feet look alike "Coupling".

I was half way through the first episode when it dawned on me that it was really Very Poor Indeed.

-- Ian

J.N. -- I didn't mean it quite that literally. I just found found the music intrusive and annoying. As was the speed up, slow down thing which was like an ITV/Under-5s rip-off of Jam and althogether a clear case of trying to hard to cover up poor material.

Stephen -- There is more pathos and emotion in the small pile of toenail clippings I am about to throw in the bin than in the average episode of Scrubs. "Black Books", by contrast, is a wondrous comedic joy of an althogether different class.

Matthew

Whilst watching, I was sure the music was by The Egg - sounded very 'Travelator'. But it wasn't - doh!

quote:

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Originally posted by Matthew Robinson:
Stephen -- There is more pathos and emotion in the small pile of toenail clippings I am about to throw in the bin than in the average episode of Scrubs. "Black Books", by contrast, is a wondrous comedic joy of an althogether different class.

Matthew

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Matthew, please...this is a family forum.

I might agree with BB series 1. The second was crass, relying on disgust and pathetic caricature for laughs. If that rocks your boat, fine; I prefer comedy to be funny.



Regards

Stephen

What's wrong with disgust and pathetic caricature? They're my favourites!

I liked Black Books mostly because it's always entertaining watching people pretend to be drunk. And Bill Bailey is, obviously, excellent.

-- Ian

quote:

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Originally posted by sideshowbob:
What's wrong with disgust and pathetic caricature? They're my favourites!

I liked Black Books mostly because it's always entertaining watching people pretend to be drunk. And Bill Bailey is, obviously, excellent.

-- Ian

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Agreed Bill B whatever he is in.

I've known too many people whose lives have been ruined by drink to find it funny.

You must love Johnny Vegas then - or is it only pretend drunks?



Stephen

I saw Dylan Moran's stand up act years ago in a pub in North London (very funny) and got the strong impression that he wasn't pretending very much on the drinking front. He drank at least a bottle of wine during his 45 min set and was obvisouly veh, veh, drunk.

I saw him again earlier this year at the Palace Theatre (now he's a big star) and he wasn't nearly as drunk or as funny.

Matthew

quote:

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I've known too many people whose lives have been ruined by drink to find it funny.

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I thought that people ruined their lives rather than drink. A different story for the people around them perhaps

quote:

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And Bill Bailey is, obviously, excellent.

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Hear hear. I used to not find him funny at all. Then came Black Books.

How can anyone watch "Three Blind Mice" (first episode of series two) and not laugh out loud. It is inspired. I'll grant you that all three series have been extremely patchy indeed but nevertheless...

Mike

Mike: Yeah, semantics, brilliant - that makes a difference.

It used to be that comedians used to just say f*c* a lot to get laughs. Now all they need to do is get pissed.

Ho har har my sides are splitting.



Stephen