Extras

[Jamier-Host]

I'm a big fan but must admit I was disappointed by the episode last night as well.

However I do think Steve Merchant's character has got better this series - he's certainly responsible for a lot of the laughs.

[AndrewT]

I'm a big fan but must admit I was disappointed by the episode last night as well.

However I do think Steve Merchant's character has got better this series - he's certainly responsible for a lot of the laughs.

I agree with this - Steve is a very very funny guy. We were on the same student radio station back about 12 years ago and he was so much better than everyone else, it was clear he would go far.

[tantrum]

AndrewT,you are raising very valid points.  

IMO the episode would be perhaps better without the fizzy water scene as well as the toilet scene (but then of course there would be nothing so obvious to laugh at)
I suspect that the whole construction of the story has departed from the sitcom genre, and therefore it makes very difficult to judge this programme on those merits. Unless of course we will assume, that he is trying to stick to the pretty rigid constrains of the genre therefore the programme has to fail.


Whether it is intentional or, as you say he has run out of steam, has to be decided if the discussion about the programme can be continued.

Depending on our assumptions, we (me and you) will have different perceptions of the programme.  

The context has to be agreed before the discussion can began.  Nice post AndrewT.


 

[AndrewT]

I think I can sum up my thoughts like this.

If it's a sitcom, then it fails because it's not funny.

If it's something else, then it fails because the characterisation is poor.

Going off on a tangent, are there any actual funny British comedy programmes at the moment? I had high hopes for The Mitchell & Webb Look, but that has been very patchy (nowhere near as good as Peep Show) and I can't think of anything else.

[happybhoy]

Yeah Mitchell & Webb has been a bit hit and miss, quite where the humour is in the Numberwang sketches is beyond me. The last great British comedy I can think of was Spaced.

[AndrewT]

Yeah Mitchell & Webb has been a bit hit and miss, quite where the humour is in the Numberwang sketches is beyond me. The last great British comedy I can think of was Spaced.

Oddly, I thought I'd tired of Numberwang, but last night's German version had me laughing. Also the Numberwang idea was done before by Adam & Joe - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtInUep_24g.

Spaced was the first great sitcom of the 21st century, despite the fact it was made back in the nineties.

As for other sitcoms in the past 6 years, I did like The IT Crowd and Nathan Barley, though both had their flaws. Black Books was great, as is Peep Show. Anything else?

[tantrum]

think I can sum up my thoughts like this.

If it's a sitcom, then it fails because it's not funny.

If it's something else, then it fails because the characterisation is poor..

What if it is neither of that what you have suggested?

But I will stop here, as the whole theory of alternative genres would take up a lot of space on this forum. 

P.S
Curb your enthusiasm is the one.

[AndrewT]

think I can sum up my thoughts like this.

If it's a sitcom, then it fails because it's not funny.

If it's something else, then it fails because the characterisation is poor..

What if it is neither of that what you have suggested?

But I will stop here, as the whole theory of alternative genres would take up a lot of space on this forum. 

P.S
Curb your enthusiasm is the one.

What lies outside the group of sitcom/something else?

Curb is superb. Did anyone see Jack Dee's Curb rip-off programme on BBC Four last week - a sorry mess.

[tantrum]

What lies outside the group of sitcom/something else?

Plenty, give me  some time and I will provide you with some info. 

I need to collect my thoughts in order to reply to your quesiton.

[boldie]

think I can sum up my thoughts like this.

If it's a sitcom, then it fails because it's not funny.

If it's something else, then it fails because the characterisation is poor..

What if it is neither of that what you have suggested?

But I will stop here, as the whole theory of alternative genres would take up a lot of space on this forum. 

P.S
Curb your enthusiasm is the one.

What lies outside the group of sitcom/something else?

Curb is superb. Did anyone see Jack Dee's Curb rip-off programme on BBC Four last week - a sorry mess.

yes I'm afraid I did...what people don't remember is that Jack Dee is not funny unless he's doing stand up (and even then it's rather patchy sometimes)

I quite like extras but it's beginning to get on my nerves a bit now. Stephen Merchant is still very funny though.

[matt674]

I agree with this - Steve is a very very funny guy. We were on the same student radio station back about 12 years ago and he was so much better than everyone else, it was clear he would go far.

Given the standard of your puns squire it wouldn't be too difficult now would it?

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[AlrightJack]

I agree that Mitchell and Webb has been poor. Most of the sketches are laughter free. The only memorabe ones have been the Green Clarinet Man and the Pin and Cushion/Fish and Chip sketches.