Television Shows Archives - Page 5 of 9

TV Review: Nurse

April 9, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Paul Whitehouse stars in a new comedy, based on his BBC Radio 4 series: Nurse, and I am given further reason to believe that 2015 is set to be a brilliant year for British comedy on television.

This heart-warming programme has a format similar to that of a sketch show but this is approached in a new way, intertwining the narratives through the use of community mental health nurse, Elizabeth (played by Esther Coles), who visits vulnerable adults in their homes. The group of service users, most of whom are played by Whitehouse, include an elderly man with schizophrenia who thinks he has received a letter from Ted Hughes and a morbidly obese man called Graham who seems to have an unhealthy relationship with his mother, as well as with food.

Nurse appears to be incredibly well-established from the very first episode, which is certainly worthy of credit, thanks in no small part to the years of writing experience Paul Whitehouse possesses, I’m sure. The humour is satisfyingly dark (note a moment where Liz, PC Dave (Doc Brown) and PC Terry (Colin Hoult) discuss a racist man, referring to him as “Ku Klux Kevin”) with a certain layer of bleakness reminiscent of Ricky Gervais’ Derek. But the aim of Nurse is certainly not to mock those who struggle with mental illness, but rather, Whitehouse wanted to “explore the world of a Community Mental Health Nurse with warmth, compassion and humour.” With excellent, sensitive writing from Whitehouse, Coles and David Cummings, this target is certainly met, and the programme revolves around the people, rather than their reasons for requiring extra support.

When we don’t talk about something, it makes us all so much more fearful of that thing, which is why I think this programme has come at a perfect time. Nurse is helping us challenge the stigma attached to mental illness in its own small way, and is a prime example of how important comedy is in today’s society as a means for getting a message across.

Its first series is quite literally short and sweet, being just four episodes long, but I hope for another, and perhaps longer, series of Nurse off the back of this one’s success.

CATCH UP WITH NURSE ON BBC IPLAYER

TV Review: House Of Fools, Series 2

April 1, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Reeves and Mortimer mature like a fine wine. They somehow manage to out-do themselves with every programme they create, and building on the foundations of shows like Big Night Out and Shooting Stars, that truly is some feat. Series one of House of Fools was a comical violation of the senses, in the most enjoyable way imaginable. A fool would assume it couldn’t get any better. But it has.

This second series has shown the group really cement themselves as a unit, if a rather dysfunctional one, which gives the comedy so much more meaning and vigour, and the addition of Julie’s Bistro downstairs provides an interesting new dynamic. Rachel, Erik’s straight-talking Norwegian girlfriend, is a new character and is played by Ellie White. She fits into the group effortlessly and the possibility of Rachel just becoming a reflection of Erik’s character is successfully avoided, as she is the centre point of jokes from her very first appearance (such as her fear of non-flat things, which Bob inadvertently brings to the surface).

BBC/Christopher Baines

Dan Skinner continues to bring elements of his hysterically funny stand up character Angelos Epithemiou to his performance as Vic’s younger brother, Bosh, and similarly, Matt Berry approaches the character of Beef in his typical smooth-voiced and flamboyant style. These talented actors have certainly worked out who they are in terms of performance and this is expertly picked up on by Reeves and Mortimer in the character development and sharp script writing. And then we have Julie. Julie is absolutely magnificent. She is bewildering, extravagant and outrageous yet has the depth of a wholly decent character at the same time. Morgana Robinson’s performances truly are a sight to behold, with her enthusiastic slapstick and unpredictable line delivery, particularly regarding her temporarily tiny hands.

From the strange interpretations of celebrities like Bruce Forsyth and Alistair McGowan, to the arrival of The Butcher Boys, a dance trio made up of Tom Davis, Tony Way and Romesh Ranganathan, to the appearances of Sally Phillips, Simon Farnaby and Rufus Jones, amongst others, it can’t be denied that this programme is diverse. As well as the new energy in the cast, the fact House of Fools is recorded in front of a live audience adds something extra special to the performance, especially as they are seen at the beginning and end of episodes when the camera pans out. Fans of Vic and Bob do not sound like your average laughter track; they are boisterous, enthusiastic and clearly having a bloody enjoyable time. This homemade feel is enhanced by the decision not to remove the frequent corpses and mistakes made by the cast, which often highlight how preposterous the plot is and remind us that a great deal of the script is semi-improvised.

BBC/Christopher Baines

House of Fools is a microcosm of insanity and childishness. When Beef announces that his black cape is “made of the nighttime,” nobody bats an eyelid. When Vic proposes to save Bob’s underwear from a giant moth by shooting it dead, Bob dismissively sighs: “Vic, I don’t want my panties covered in shot.” It always has been and always will be an absolute joy watching these two fantastic comedy minds working together, and seeing them have so much fun in the process. Vic and Bob have unlocked a door to a phenomenally wacky and unsettlingly funny parallel universe, and I want to stay there forever.

CATCH UP WITH SERIES TWO OF HOUSE OF FOOLS ON BBC IPLAYER

TV Review: Alan Davies As Yet Untitled, Series 2

March 25, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Last July, a trial-run series of a new chat show hosted by Alan Davies was broadcast on Dave, and frankly, I was over the moon. The programme aims to recreate the atmosphere of a green room at a comedy gig, inviting four guests for a chat with a minimal agenda. The format is truly up and running now and a full series was broadcast, starting in January.

With the series spanning ten episodes, and four guests each week, As Yet Untitled presents a large number of guests, comedians in particular, including some that we haven’t heard from in a while. The legendary Ricky Tomlinson (Royle Family) and writer Grace Dent both feature, as well as some true comedy greats including Sarah Millican, Ross Noble, Julian Clary and David Baddiel.

As Yet Untitled also promotes a new ‘wave’ of comedians that appear to be taking over the British comedy scene, including Nish Kumar, Angela Barnes, Elis James, James Acaster, Roisin Conaty and Tom Wrigglesworth. As this show grows it would be nice to see it gather more and more attention for the younger generation of comedians coming through which would help them get a solid grounding earlier on and enable audiences access to some incredible talent. It also features fantastic comedy talent from different parts of the world, some possibly making their debut on British television, including Aussie stand up Felicity Ward and Catastrophe‘s Rob Delaney.

The chat is often awkward and stunted in places, possibly due to editing, but this can be expected when a group of people who don’t necessarily know each other are asked to entertain themselves and a live audience; it can’t ever appear one hundred percent natural. In my opinion, this honesty add to the authenticity of the programme and also enables us to see another side to some comics that may have seemed (understandably) distant. Jimmy Carr especially appeared to settle into the informal atmosphere as the first episode wore on, showing a more natural side to him that his job, as panel show host in particular, hasn’t often allowed in the past.

We also get to see a kind and sensitive side to Alan Davies that isn’t necessarily catered for in other panel shows purely due to the format. He shows himself to be very inclusive and supportive of all the guests, though it is hard to judge that when watching the televised cut, and is skilled at nurturing the conversation which seems to help all the guests relax into the strange format. The discussion is more structured this series, with each guest starting with a strange fact about themselves, or a suggestion of something obscure that once happened to them, and then taking their turn to explain in more detail. The transitions are occasionally disjointed, but often the guests are relaxed enough to continue the conversational feel despite a swift subject change.

I think we have a programme here that is very much a niche type of entertainment programme, but I hope its audience continues to grow as it truly is a very enjoyable and interesting watch.

CATCH UP WITH ALAN DAVIES: AS YET UNTITLED ON DAVE ON DEMAND OR ON YOUTUBE

TV Review: Uncle, Series 2

March 22, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Uncle, starring Nick Helm, is back and stronger than ever, with a new set of relationship, career and general life problems awaiting the uncle in question, Andy.

Admittedly, Uncle is not what it used to be, but that doesn’t mean it is anything less than the comedy it began its life as. Errol (Elliot Spencer-Gillott) has grown up considerably and is now thirteen, so less of the adorably nerdy kid he used to be and more of an awkward and self-conscious teen. Though this has been used by others to criticise, I don’t think the fact that Errol is older lessens the comedic value of the programme, but rather, it moves the sitcom onwards to a new place. In this way, series two of Uncle has shown us that here we have a naturally evolving comedy that doesn’t feel manufactured or forced.

Nick Helm and Esther Smith (Cuckoo) make a wonderful pairing and I’d love to see them create something else together, perhaps a pilot of their iPlayer comedy short, Elephant. In addition, Daisy Haggard plays Errol’s well-meaning but hopelessly self-centred mother which enables an interesting brother-sister dynamic between herself and Andy as well as her slightly dysfunctional mother-son relationship with Errol.

Photo: BBC/Chris Brock

The denouement of each episode is usually accompanied by an emotional, and often very funny, ballad which allows Helm himself to bring, in his words, “a little bit of creative input” to the proceedings. These songs are admirable in their own right and showcase this comedian’s undeniable musical talent, providing an interesting interlude from the full narrative.

Uncle is an endearing sitcom with likeable characters and a hugely talented cast. It’s a slow-burner, which only increases its impact, making it one of the most enjoyable sitcoms I’ve seen for a while. Before watching the final episode of this series, I would have told you that I couldn’t see much scope for development within a third series, but I have been well and truly swayed. There is still so much space for plot and character relationship growth, and I am excited for the potential of Uncle‘s return. But regardless of whether a third series is made, I rest assured that the stars of this programme will shine through in any further projects they undertake. In particular, I look forward to seeing what future productions Elliot Spencer-Gillott gets involved in as he has shown himself to be a great and exuberant young comedic actor.

Comic Relief 2015

March 17, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Every year, countless celebrities dedicate time and effort into creating original and funny material in aid of Comic Relief, and this year was no different. There has been an array of exciting new programmes over the past few weeks and I’ve picked a few of my favourites to share.

Let’s Play Darts For Comic Relief was a new and innovative way that celebrities were able to get involved within a refreshing and entertainment format. From Roisin Conaty’s shock double-20 which saw her through the preliminary round, to Bob Mortimer’s “we hate laminate” carpet chant, this competition was full of laughter. Lee Mack was eventually crowned the winner after a tense final against his good friend Tim Vine.

Photo: BBC/Pete Dadds

Like most people, I adore The Great British Bake Off, so was delighted to hear the charity version was to return this year. Featuring the cream of the celebrity crop including Joanna Lumley, David Mitchell, Jennifer Saunders, Jameela Jamil and Jonathan Ross, there was some average baking and some very big blunders (but that’s what we all wanted, right?).

The pinnacle of the charity entertainment for most comedy lovers would have to be Mark Watson’s 27 hour live comedy show. Watching the whole affair felt very much like a dream to me, with its countless celebrity contributors, world record attempts and crazy challenges. Tuning in every couple of hours really highlighted the vast array of people and activities the organisers incorporated into the show and it was clear to see how exhausted those who had stayed awake for the entire time. From a game of ‘Animal Verbs’ with Stuart Goldsmith to a competition with a chant off “OFF WITH THE CARDBOARD HOY HOY” which involved the likes of Horrible Histories writer Greg Jenner and Tracy-Ann Oberman, using only their mouths to pick up a cardboard box. The extravaganza also starred some of my favourite people in comedy including Tim Minchin and Sarah Millican which made for incredibly funny viewing, as well as contributing to the impressive grand total raised.

Photo: Comic Relief/Tom Dymond

But lest us forget the biggest event of them all, Friday 13th March’s live Comic Relief show. Highlights of the evening for me would have to be the debut performance of No Direction, a One Direction tribute band made up of Vic Reeves, Johnny Vegas, Nick Helm, Jack Dee and Patrick Kielty. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jack Dee enjoy himself so much. David Walliams appeared in a hilarious new Little Britain sketch featuring Stephen Hawking and Catherine Tate as well as Richard Ayoade popping up to interview Dawn French in The Vicar of Dibley and Rowan Atkinson brought us a brand new Mr Bean sketch.

YOU CAN STILL DONATE TO COMIC RELIEF BY TEXT OR ONLINE

TV Review: Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, Series 3

March 14, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe may just be the smoothest comedy programme on television. It is also one of the bleakest satirical programmes I have ever seen, but I am well and truly addicted.

Here we have a programme that makes me hate so many aspects of the world, but then laugh at them and regain control. Charlie Brooker expertly exposes everything that is wrong with humanity but also shows that we’re not the only ones who are disheartened by it all. Stick with it, and you can find the positive message.

With comment on topical media-related things as well as politics, this programme doesn’t spare many people from the mockery. Jake Yapp regularly relays various programmes like The One Show and The Voice in a matter of seconds, flawlessly encapsulating their most irritating elements and imitating an array of presenters and celebrities in the process. Brooker also scrutinises over phenomena like Eastenders, Broadchurch and Fifty Shades of Grey, aided by comments from Philomena Cunk and Barry Shitpeas.

A common downfall that I have found with shows like Weekly Wipe is the quality and originality of the sketches used to break up the larger proportion of denser comedy. However, this programme is truly unique in its creation of innovative and hilarious weekly sketches, from the wonderful Philomena Cunk and her “Moments of Wonder”, to the arrival of Morgana Robinson. Robinson (House of Fools) proved a fantastic addition to the Weekly Wipe team with a scarily faultless YouTuber-parody and humorous impersonations of Russell Brand. Yet again, the great minds behind this show have proven such specific observational skills as well as, in Morgana’s case, a talent for impressions (which was already common knowledge for those who watched Very Important People, I’m sure).

Brooker is undeniably a very intelligent man and has a mysterious ability to articulate what millions of us seem to be feeling, even if we hadn’t realise it yet. Weekly Wipe is a perfect example of a programme taking control over political matters that we can’t seem to change in a valiant attempt to regain power, by laughing at it. And there are many laughs indeed.

SERIES THREE OF CHARLIE BROOKER’S WEEKLY WIPE IS AVAILABLE ON BBC IPLAYER

TV Review: The Last Leg, Series 6

March 7, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

The Last Leg is the kind of popular satirical television show that our world really needs to watch because it enables all of us to understand and appreciate major social and political events a little better. The show is presented by Australian comic Adam Hills, with help from his co-hosts: stand up comedian Josh Widdicombe and journalist and presenter Alex Brooker.

It talks about increasingly pressing topics, such as misogyny, discrimination, terrorism and war but to an ever-growing Channel 4 audience, meaning people are continuing to talk about these massive issues that affect us all. If anyone needed proof that The Last Leg is influential in this sense, you would only need to check the hashtags trending worldwide on Twitter while the show is live on air, such as #page3no which trended on Friday 23rd January this year.

The Last Leg enables audiences who are disillusioned with world politics and our own government here in Britain to take control over the global situation by simply making fun of it. A fantastic addition to the show is the awarding of “Dick of the Year,” where past victors have been Vladimir Putin and Nigel Farage. As well as all this, the comedians even managed to convince Nick Clegg to make an appearance and the fantastic results are below.

Another topic made open for discussion is that of disability in today’s society. With host Adam Hills having only one foot due to a birth defect and Alex Brooker being born with hand and arm defects as well as having to have his leg amputated when he was a baby, not only does this programme show us disability, but it allows us to laugh about it, to laugh with Adam, Alex and Josh and not feel bad about the fact we might be talking about something ‘taboo’.

A great sense of freedom is gained from watching The Last Leg as politics is opened up to the wider public in a way that, for once, isn’t entirely depressing. I hope it continues to work its stupid magic for years to come.

CATCH UP WITH SERIES SIX OF THE LAST LEG ON 4OD

TV Review: Count Arthur Strong, Series 2

February 28, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

The beginning of a new year saw the return of a much-loved sitcom to our screens: Count Arthur Strong, a television adaptation of Steve Delaney’s long-running radio show. Despite only watching a few episodes of series one, I really did enjoy watching the entirety of it this time round.

What appeals to me about this programme is that there is always an unexpected twist to the plot of each episode, which makes it entertaining viewing despite following the seemingly well-trodden path of the popular sitcom. The storylines are never too airy or ridiculous because the show has a continuous plot, with ideas carried on throughout the series, which seems to give the whole programme a reason for existing; the stories never become entirely redundant.

With Delaney having teamed up with one of my favourite comedy writers, Graham Linehan, this show was probably destined to have a hilarious script. They skilfully build the hilarity and stupidity of the situations Michael and Arthur get themselves into, but never rely on laughs that are that bit too easy. These writers have proved that they’d rather go the long way round, and have created a more effective comedy as a result.

There have been criticisms of Count Arthur Strong and I hadn’t fully invested in it from the beginning so was anticipating that I would not enjoy this series. However, my doubts were unfounded because I laughed throughout every single episode, because of Arthur’s lines like “all work and no play makes Jack… and Jill went up the hill…” and his overall persona. I felt no hint of cynicism at all.

This programme is a thoroughly enjoyable piece of comedy thanks to Steve Delaney and Rory Kinnear’s wonderful on-screen relationship and a fantastic script. I look forward to a third series if and when it comes.

TV Review: Catastrophe

February 24, 2015 by Becca Moody 1 Comment

Photo: The Guardian

Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan have written and starred in a hilarious new Channel 4 sitcom about a couple expecting a baby despite only knowing each other for a few months. Here we have a comedy that is truly innovative; it is upbeat, contemporary and bold.

Doll & Em-like in its tone, Catastrophe is one of those programmes that warms the heart as well as making you laugh, which is a wonderful quality to have. Rob and Sharon’s onscreen relationship is endearing and it is a joy to watch the characters blossom into a well-rounded comedy unit. The episodes build in tension as Sharon and Rob and their various family members and friends often miscommunicate and keep things from each other, but the reactions of the characters are never what we expect. The typical format is entirely reversed.

Sharon Horgan brings her charming personality to the character of Sharon, effortlessly slipping into a much darker humour throughout which is a fiendish delight (like muttering “I hope he hits her” when the pair encounter a young arguing couple). Rob’s character borders on socially inept in some respects which, paired with his almost-freakish height (note his constant ducking through door frames) means he frequently looks and presents himself as comically awkward, but not slapstick, which is skilfully avoided.

Photo: Tim Bret Day

The incredible Carrie Fisher stars in a smaller role as Rob’s straight-talking American mother, along with the actresses very own dog (who is, by the way, brilliantly named Gary Fisher). Catastrophe has an excellent cast that fit together well, with Mark Bonnar and Ashley Jensen playing interesting and often antagonistic roles that create a hilarious dynamic. The show also picks up on many awkward communication difficulties faced within families, which adds to the personal feel of the programme as a whole.

I adored watching the first series of Catastrophe and the critical response has been incredibly promising. I’m confident that the second series will be even better than the first and look forward to watching the characters develop and their relationships evolve.

Catch up with this fantastic sitcom on 4OD now.

iPlayer Preview: Funny Valentines

February 13, 2015 by Becca Moody 1 Comment

If you watched the BBC iPlayer shorts from June 2014, you’ll have seen for yourself how these miniature comedy installations really do open up a new style of viewing. Last year’s six hilarious bitesize programmes allowed us to sample a whole range of funny creations from the likes of Matt Berry, Reece Shearsmith, Micky Flanagan and Meera Syal, and it’s no surprise that the news of a brand new set this month was more than welcome.

Rom Com is the increasingly popular Romesh Ranganathan’s Valentine’s-related short, starring Aisling Bea. Together they make up the world’s seemingly most awkward first date ever. The episode follows Romesh as he is rigorously prepared for his evening with this quite mysterious young woman by his very own verbally abusive relationship guru, who also happens to be a figment of his own imagination. Rom Com is a dark and oppressive comedy, and is made bitterly funny thanks to both of its stars.

Katy Wix’s Dear Jean Pierre is a silly story of a quaint French romance, as it reaches its emotional final moments. In this remarkable tale, Wix relives the moments where the relationship began to decline, and brings her wonderfully childish humour along for the ride. With her trademark hopeful and innocent nature, and a knack for surprising us with various twists and turns along the way, Dear Jean Pierre is a complete comedy delight.

Matt Berry’s Wild Love is certainly wild, shockingly funny and crude. In the sequel to last year’s Lone Wolf, Berry narrates the mating antics of various creatures ranging from golden frogs to “colonial hopping dogs”. This undiscovered world is absolutely crazy, and even our beloved narrator himself seems to get carried away by the absurdity of it all, which makes for hilarious listening. Writer, Bob Mortimer, and Berry have come together yet again, to create something fantastic, and it’s not too difficult to visualise this becoming a series one day. Watch out David Attenborough!

Bill Bailey brings his brilliant song-writing skills to present a parody of the romantic-rock music industry by remaking one of his own songs, Love Song. It is bleak, harshly funny and typical of Bailey’s hilarious comedy. It also really made me want to watch his ’96 live show Cosmic Jam again as this man’s material is absolutely timeless. Music Lovers is Sara Pascoe’s surreal comedy short about a Norwegian band, Monozygotic, who are promoting their new album, but it turns out there is much more going on behind the scenes that are revealed throughout. I loved this because it’s completely different from anything I’ve seen Sara do before (and because I got to hear Elis James’ Norwegian accent.

Elephant, starring Nick Helm and Esther Smith, is the sweetest little comedy I’ve seen in a long time. It follows a very clumsy yet likeable pair of young almost-lovebirds as they embark on the world’s cheapest almost-date ever. The visuals of this one are absolutely beautiful, with bright natural lighting and smiles all round and the over all effect is a slow-burning, lovely episode that really warms the heart. The Lady and the Fly from Modern Toss is very different from the rest of the episodes due to its animated format. A fly has fallen in love with a human woman and her apparent rejection has made him feel like ending it all and becoming a “self-netter” by flinging himself into a spider’s web, ready to be eaten. Modern Toss have created something that is cleverer than most observational comedy, as the ideas are implied through the fly’s narrative, rather than in explicit statements.

These iPlayer shorts are such a great new development in online viewing and I look forward to a third batch at some point in the future.

Watch all of the fantastic comedy shorts on BBC iPlayer