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James Acaster

Podcast Picks: Off Menu

September 29, 2019 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Podcasting has taken on a life of its own in recent years, with vast swathes of comedians coming forward with new interview, anecdotal and improv show formats. As this medium has grown, it has become saturated with assorted comedic content. Podcast Picks is a place for MoodyComedy’s comedy podcast recommendations.

Off Menu is a food-based interview podcast hosted by James Acaster and Ed Gamble. The two comics invite their guests to describe each of their favourite courses in a dream restaurant, which works as a vehicle for getting to know their guests on a deeper level.

Self-declared foodies, Acaster and Gamble are on a mission to learn more about the eating and drinking habits of their friends. Each guest is asked to explain (and sometimes defend) their choice of starter, main, side and dessert, which opens up the conversation for a more general discussion about food, as well as giving an insight into each interviewee’s past life experiences.

© Off Menu

Beginning in December of last year, Off Menu is now well into its second series. Their diverse set of guests have included comedian Aisling Bea, TV chef Tom Kerridge, actress Sian Clifford and the magician Dynamo.

It’s surprisingly eye-opening stuff, with the majority of the show’s guests being incredibly candid when sharing experiences from their childhood and adolescence. And it’s funny too – Acaster acts as the dream restaurant’s waiter (who is also a genie), which gives the whole show an air of surrealism. Not to mention the infamous ‘poppadoms or bread?’ question, which listeners attempt to prepare themselves for each week, but always seem to be caught out.

Off Menu is perfect for comedy fans and hungry people. What’s not to like?

CATCH UP ON ALL EPISODES OF ‘OFF MENU’ HERE.

Posted in: Comedians, Podcasts Tagged: Ed Gamble, James Acaster, Podcast, Podcast Picks

BBC Sitcom Season: The Pilots

October 19, 2016 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

Some of comedy’s hottest names have been busy working on new sitcom pilots for BBC iPlayer, airing in September, with the hope of these creative projects later being picked up for a television series.

First up is The Coopers Vs The Rest, a depiction of the turmoils of adopting within a modern day family, with its difficulties involving fitting in with other families, or getting along with other parents. This young family in particular has a very interesting dynamic, with mum Tess (played by Tanya Franks) and Frankie (Erin Kellyman) partaking in consistently sarcastic back and forth that has the warmness of love still beneath it. The dialogue is quick and often unexpected, with each character giving as good as they get, even little eleven-year-old Alisha.

Other pilots include Chris Fewtrell and Simon Crowther’s Home From Home, which follows the Hackett family as they move to their new lodge at Lake View Holiday Park. With Johnny Vegas playing the lead (father, Neil Hackett), supported by Joanna Page as wife, Fiona, this narrative is one of unspoken judgements and stupid faux pas, making for fraught and funny viewing. Next up is Julie Thacker Scully’s latest writing project, Our Ex Wife, which features Robert Webb’s trademark cutting and sarcastic narration throughout. Although a completely different concept to Peep Show, Webb’s idiosyncratic style of self-commentary still really works within the sitcom format, with the tensions between Jack (Webb), fiancé Sara (Melanie Lynskey) and Jack’s ex wife Hillary (Victoria Hamilton) providing relief from the gruesome slasher elements that punctuate the episode.

© BBC

Motherland

Co-written by Helen Linehan, Graham Linehan, Sharon Horgan and Holly Walsh, Motherland is a sitcom that is arguably concerned with the politics of parenthood rather than the essence of childcare itself. Every now and then there is something undeniably funny to be found from shocking or unexpected self-centeredness in human beings, and this feeling is epitomised in this pilot episode about ego-fuelled mothers who, understandably, want to rid themselves of responsibility whenever possible (and this is, of course, hardly ever possible at all).

From the opening scenes it is very much like a disaster movie, with working mother Julia (Anna Maxwell-Martin) frantically rushing to get her young children to school on time, only to realise it is half term anyway and she will have to take the day, and potentially the week, off work. Motherland is an excitingly stressful and busy watch, but Diane Morgan provides important relief from the tension, with her acerbic nonchalance ironically providing much of the drama.

We The Jury

We The Jury

We The Jury is the standout piece for me from this recent batch of sitcom pilots; written by James Acaster, it is reminiscent of his 2015 show Represent, which sees the comic share the ludicrous tales of a recent jury he claims to have taken part in (fictional, undoubtedly). This gradual development of an idea gives the programme a homemade, organic feel, therefore giving an audience the impression of far more depth to the narrative and the characters within it. Acaster has smartly captured his own comic voice within the script, without the need to be physically present (all bar a few unexpected seconds anyway). Visually, We The Jury is bright and snappy, reflecting the excitable energy of the characters, which, somewhat surprisingly, doesn’t grate. There are many interesting characters that Acaster has not had time to establish within a pilot episode alone, from Sophie Thompson who plays Jen 1 to Diane Morgan’s laid back Olivia, proving that this concept could easily develop into a series without any particular risk of stagnancy.

MOTHERLAND HAS ALREADY BEEN COMMISSIONED FOR A SERIES FOR BBC2

Posted in: Comedians, Television Shows Tagged: BBC, Diane Morgan, Graham Linehan, Helen Linehan, Home From Home, James Acaster, Johnny Vegas, Motherland, Our Ex Wife, Robert Webb, Sharon Horgan, Tanya Franks, The Coopers Vs The Rest, We The Jury

A Guide To Edinburgh 2015

August 7, 2015 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment
That time of year is upon us once more; thousands of performers, reviewers and audience members are preparing to visit the holy grail of comedy that is the Edinburgh Festival. Here is a quick run through of everything MoodyComedy would be attending if only I could get there this year. Do get in touch if you attend any of these shows, or see something else that you think should be featured. You can also catch up with the past week’s exclusive MoodyComedy interviews.

Stuff That’s Gold

2015KATHERI_SV

Katherine Ryan

Katherine Ryan is performing her latest show, Kathbum, currently riding high on her phenomenal rise to fame in recent years and showing no signs of stopping any time soon. With every new show, Katherine only increases in her wisdom, experience and cutting sass, similar to that of Irish charmer Aisling Bea who brings her second show, Plan Bea, to the festival. Another name to watch out for is that of Luisa Omielan, who will perform a very limited run of her second show Am I Right Ladies?!. Omielan is a performer that cares about her audience to an extent I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed before: her show is empowering, lively and not to be missed.

James Acaster presents another whacky hour of surreal yet surprisingly dramatic story-telling stand up in his show Represent and Joe Lycett returns, with possibly the best show title of the year: That’s The Way, A-Ha A-Ha, Joe Lycett. And it would frankly be a mistake to miss out on seeing Bridget Christie‘s latest show, A Book For Her, which sees the launch of her debut novel, and showcases her trademark blend of feminism and spectacular comedy.

Stuff That’s Odd

Tony Law, the king of surreal comedy, is performing his new show Frillemorphesis where he explores ideas such as shouting, moving and talking, absolutely standard. A live show from the Tone Zone is an opportunity not to be missed, or forgotten in a hurry, and his being in this category is by no means a suggestion that this show will not also be Gold.

Shouty extraordinaire Bobby Mair brings another dark and bitterly funny show off the back of his recent television successes, entitled Filthy Immigrant; Tom Allen performs Both Worlds with his signature sinister calm and endearing flamboyance and Harriet Kemsley, who spent the first part of this year supporting Katherine Ryan on tour, also performs her debut hour, Puppy Fat, which has got the critics excited. If you like a bit of audience interaction, Jonny Awsum’s show Everything Is Awsum will be another unforgettable experience, as will Patrick Monahan’s seventies-inspired show The Disco Years.

Stuff That’s Free

Now any Edinburgh Festival-goer will be able to tell you that ticket price does not necessarily dictate quality; free shows are on the rise as they are a great way of ensuring the trip is more affordable for comedians and fans alike. There are some real gems performing shows this year that rely on kind donations alone.

lou

Lou Sanders

Rob Auton has prepared another delightfully off-kilter, poetical concept show entitled The Water Show where he considers everything surrounding the theme of water, much like his previous shows which have centred around themes such as Yellow, Sky and Face. Elf Lyons‘ Being Barbarella is a high-octane adventure, discussing science fiction, liberation and sharks. This lady is a true one-off, who’s surreal form of comedy is often likened to The Mighty Boosh. And Lou Sanders, being the wonderful shambles of a performer that she is, brings her insane show about her efforts to get accepted into Eton College For Boys, of course entitled: Excuse Me, You’re Sitting On My Penis Again.

Stuart Goldsmith will also be recording episodes of The Comedian’s Comedian Podcast where he interviews everyone that is anyone in the world of comedy, delving deep into the psyche of the performer and having many laughs in the process. The line up for this year is stellar and although the recordings are free to attend and non-ticketed, the venue will undoubtedly fill up quickly on the night so plan ahead.

You can purchase tickets for all shows mentioned on the Edinburgh Festival website.

READ EDINBURGH PREVIEWS HERE

Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, News Tagged: Aisling Bea, Bobby Mair, Bridget Christie, Edinburgh Festival, Elf Lyons, Harriet Kemsley, James Acaster, Joe Lycett, Jonny Awsum, Katherine Ryan, Lou Sanders, Luisa Omielan, Patrick Monahan, Rob Auton, Stuart Goldsmith, Tom Allen, Tony Law

Edinburgh Preview: James Acaster – Represent

June 15, 2015 by Becca Moody 1 Comment

James AcasterJames Acaster is quite undoubtedly one of the strangest stand up comedians currently working on the circuit in a way that truly delights any audience who is accustomed to seeing a more regular stand up style. Arriving on stage at the MAC in Birmingham to the sound of To Be a Pilgrim and remaining silent for an uncomfortably long period time, Acaster immediately proved his commanding presence.

What is most remarkable about this comic is his ability to craft a (presumably) entirely fictional story from a few disparate elements. He conceals his observations in make-believe anecdotes, such as eating fortune cookies in the cinema, which gave the show an otherworldly feel despite the events and people within the stories being regular, everyday and (predominantly) earth-based. The personalities in the stories are varied and detailed, and even the specific elements of “celebrity gossip” James includes are unusual to say the least.

He’s a very physical performer, often meaning that he doesn’t always need words at all, his gestures and facial expressions are enough to force laughter from everyone. The constant, erratic movements gave the show an unpredictable feel and James’ intentional jitteriness was reflected in his material as well; he was able to throw in spontaneous lines throughout so much so that some of the funniest moments were completely impulsive ones.

It is easy to see how well-rounded and effective this show will be when it reaches a stage nearer completion, but the amount of love in the room for James was clear and his preview was better than some completed shows I’ve seen in the past. The levels of self-depreciation were somewhat disappointing seeing as James is clearly such a capable performer, but this provided humour nonetheless.  And as an audience, of course, it was nice to be commended for being “useful”.

James Acaster is currently performing preview shows of Represent across the UK and will be taking the completed show to Edinburgh in August.

MORE EDINBURGH PREVIEWS

Posted in: Comedians, Edinburgh, Live Comedy, Previews, Reviews Tagged: British Comedy, Comedy, Edinburgh Preview, James Acaster, Live Comedy, Represent

James Acaster: Recognise (2014)

October 25, 2014 by Becca Moody 2 Comments

Jack Barry

Jack Barry

Thursday night saw Artrix Arts in Bromsgrove welcome James Acaster and Jack Barry to the stage. It was a pleasure to see Jack, a comedian I was previously unaware of, supporting James on his tour, with relevant and relatable material that had a subtle hint of madness that could be detected only in his straight-faced delivery of subjects involving suicide and, strangely enough, super powers.

Despite a frosty start for Acaster, as a result of an adamant audience member on the front row refusing to move his drink off the stage (which I’m surprised isn’t picked up on more often by comics due to it’s disregard of any form of ‘fourth wall’ or downright respect for the performance), he comfortably dived straight into the confusing world of loopholes, demonstrating wonderfully complex and creative thinking from the outset.

This peculiar comedian has a remarkable ability to weave together the most absurd stories, such as his adventures as an undercover cop, through his use of well thought-out call backs, but was also able to fall back on instinct as a result of the audience not being very enthusiastic at all, which was certainly observed by James, to say the least. As a result of being a member of a disappointingly unsupportive, bordering on selfish, audience, the show took on a very different feel to what it would normally, with a great deal of tension (that ended up working in Acaster’s favour as he expertly turned the gig around).

James Acaster

James Acaster

Hidden within the whimsical story-telling, James is clearly an excellent observational comic as well, in a way similar to that of Noel Fielding. It has been said, and I too believe to be true, that Fielding would make an outstanding observational comedian due to his compelling way of noticing and conveying minor details within people and situations alike. The cleverest part, regarding both Fielding and Acaster, however, is that they don’t rely on their observational skills alone. These two comics evidently work very hard at developing a multi-layered aspect to their routines, and that is something to be appreciated and congratulated.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing both Jack Barry and James Acaster perform their routines and look forward to seeing them again in the future, maybe with a more encouraging audience that can give this excellent comedy the platform it deserves.

Posted in: Comedians, Live Comedy Tagged: British Comedy, Comedy, Jack Barry, James Acaster, Live Comedy

March: Comedian Of The Month #2, James Acaster

April 1, 2014 by Becca Moody Leave a Comment

james acaster

Each Comedian of the Month on MoodyComedy is a comic who has never previously featured on the website. Reasons for selection can include various current projects the comedian is involved with, or perhaps recent appearances on television programmes or podcasts. There is no strict criteria however, as Comedian of the Month simply stands as a collection of recommendations, highlighting interesting and original aspects of certain comedians and their work.

I’ve known who James is for quite a while but only seen him on the odd panel show here and there so this month I made a conscious effort to check out some of his work. I decided to do this after seeing his recent appearance on 8 Out of 10 Cats where he was absolutely hilarious- a complete weirdo, but a brilliant one. He really stood out during this episode as he seems to carry a strange kind of energy with him that is really refreshing to a panel show as they can get tedious very easily if the panel isn’t rotated regularly enough.

I think I like James because he reminds me of Paul Foot, one of my all time favourite comedians, though of course he has his own quirks that make him so original. They both have brilliant confidence that is hidden behind an apparent shyness, so it is surprising when they come out with something either quite profound or very shocking. His presence on panel shows is a powerful one: he just needs to give a certain look and everyone will be laughing and I think that must be a really hard skill to master.

James is young-looking, wide-eyed and innocent but also incredibly quick-witted and wise for his age. I thought his material about the apple in the orchard, featured in the clip below, was very clever yet didn’t feel self-indulgent in any way. With complicated material, many comics get caught up in the selfish side of it: of appearing clever or superior, but James doesn’t do this at all. He remains charmingly simple but we can see he has a sharp mind.

I definitely recommend you check James Acaster out as he is gaining more and more fans with every passing week. His twitter is here so follow him if you’re into that twitter malarky.

For more information, visit James Acaster’s website and follow him on Twitter.

FEBRUARY COMEDIAN OF THE MONTH

Posted in: Comedian Of The Month, Comedians Tagged: British Comedy, Comedian Of The Month, Comedy, James Acaster
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