Sitcom

TV Review: Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy, Series 2

5 Comments

I wrote a post towards the end of July reflecting on the first episode of Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy: Tales from Painted Hawaii (series two) but this series has been so dense with artistic talent and clear passion, that I couldn’t possibly not revisit it after all five episodes.

It’s no secret that I am a massive fan of Noel Fielding and his work, so was obviously hugely excited that the long-anticipated second series had finally arrived. These episodes have taken a long time to produce because they are one of a kind; the process of making them seems to be more rigorous than that of various other Sitcom style shows. Love Luxury Comedy or hate it, it is impossible to deny that the makers of this show have presented their audience with great innovation: with the bright and complex animation from Nigel Coan; an eccentric soundtrack from Fielding and Kasabian‘s Serge Pizzorno; along with brilliantly intricate set and costume design from James Dillon and Ameena Kara Callender.

As well as the obvious beauty and detail involved in the visuals of Luxury Comedy, the stories are also packed full of references to art and literary culture such as Andy Warhol (of course), George Orwell and Yoko Ono. This alone is proof for me that the makers of Luxury Comedy have not been lazy during the creative process: every scene is punchy, a little bit mad, but also intelligent.

Reality Man

© MoodyComedy

Watchers of series one who weren’t impressed may be pleased to know that this series is a lot more relatable for audiences, with occasional cynical statements that can catch you off guard.

Smooth: “What do you do to escape?”

Reality Man: “Panel shows. What’s funnier than five men in shiny shirts taking a side-ways look at the week’s news?”

In this way, I think this series is a lot more self-aware, in fact, one episode even focuses on the idea of the show only having one viewer (a Brummie named Terry, played by Steve Oram) and the fact that they must save him from certain death.

In addition to the lovely Noel, the show is full of immense comedic talents such as his Mighty Boosh co-stars (Dave Brown, Rich Fulcher, Richard Ayoade, Simon Farnaby and Tom Meeten) and of course, the delightful star of Doll & Em: Dolly Wells and Tom Meeten’s partner-in-crime: Steve Oram (Sightseers).

I would have to say that this programme is probably one of my favourites to ever appear on television, particularly this new series. It appeals to all of my interests: comedy, music and art (and Noel Fielding of course) but most importantly of all: Luxury Comedy is a source of inspiration to me. Every aspect screams quality and I sincerely hope the show and its creators flourish in the coming months as a result.

The whole of Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy: Tales From Painted Hawaii is available on 4OD.

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Revisited: S1E6, The Creeping Moss From The Shores Of Shuggoth

Leave a Comment

Episode: The Creeping Moss From The Shores Of Shuggoth

Air Date: 3 March 2004

Summary: Another mist has appeared over Darkplace but this time, it’s green! On this occasion, it gets through the air vents and the result is a young woman named Linda getting infected and turning into cosmic broccoli (of course). Unfortunately for Sanchez, he falls in love with Linda, who is now terminally ill, and this even results in him contracting the broccoli disease (much like an STD) and has to have emergency surgery. This episode is not only a commentary on the issues of AIDs in the world, but is also a story of love and loss.

broccoli

What Else? More new music is played in this episode such as Matt Berry’s song: One Track Lover which features some wonderful rapping from Thornton Reed. Somehow, the tapes that contained a part of the programme have been destroyed (under mysterious circumstances) which means that these must be explained through the use of photos of the events and a commentary from Dagless. There is also a brilliant and entirely not un-realistic fight scene between Dag and Sanchez.

Quote of the Episode:

Thornton Reed: “When I heard my wife died, I could barely finish my lunch.”

Familiar Faces: Julian Barratt appears for a third and final time as the priest. We also see Graham Linehan as a member of hospital staff and Kim Noble as a barman (as well as his usual role of Doctor Jim).

THE END:

So, that is the end of my revisit to Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace. I hope you enjoyed reading about them and maybe hearing about them for the first time (or just remembering how much you loved the show in the first place!).

THE REVISITED SERIES

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Revisited: S1E5, Scotch Mist

Leave a Comment

Episode: Scotch Mist

Air Date: 26 February 2004

Summary: This episode really sums up what Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is about. It is dark and mysterious, but most importantly: radical. A mysterious mist has been looming over Darkplace and claiming various victims who happen to be wondering around outside. Doctor Rick Dagless knows something about the mist: it is, in fact, Scotch Mist. Dag, Liz and Sanchez decide to go outside into the cold to try and find out more about why the Scotch Mist is there, armed with miniature handheld fans to keep the mist away. Meanwhile, someone has given out Thornton Reed’s number as a massage parlour and it is causing him considerable distress…

Scotch Mist

What Else? There is some new music in this episode which is interesting for us to hear but we also receive some life lessons. For example, we learn that you should never buy cheap batteries from a dodgy market stall because your handheld fan won’t work for very long at all. Another lesson we are taught is that you should never be racist (which apparently, not a lot of people know). This is because Rick Dagless has said many racist things about the Scots when he spent the night in Glasgow: he had to learn the hard way.

Quote of the Episode:

Rick Dagless: “I ran. Ran like my life depended on it. Which it did.”

Familiar Faces: Kim Noble is featured a lot in this episode as Doctor Jim as he is one of the first victims of the Scotch Mist.

THE REVISITED SERIES

TV Review: Green Wing

1 Comment

I know I’m late to the party with this one, with Green Wing having first been broadcast in September 2004 (though you could say I’ve chosen the best time to watch it: on its ten year anniversary).

IMDB describes the show as a “funny hospital-based sketch-comedy-drama type show,” which I think is very accurate, but if I had to describe Green Wing in just one word, I would probably say it is ‘dense’. This is neither a negative nor positive judgement of the show, though I do like it very much. I think my feelings stems from a few core values it holds throughout: firstly, the episodes are physically very long (each around 50 minutes) and there are nine of them in the series. As well as this, however, I think this feeling of density comes from the vast amount of quality acting, writing and directing throughout.

The cast is thriving with young (therefore not so young and very well known now) British comedy talent, including Tamsin Greig, Mark Heap, Stephen Mangan, Michelle Gomez and Olivia Colman (a few of my favourites, though there are more than ten big roles). I admire the cast of this programme because they aren’t afraid to look foolish: the writers make it clear that this is not a serious drama from the offset by scripting in surreal situations along with extremely childish behaviour.

green wing

There is a great deal of slapstick comedy with an almost Mr Bean-like quality to add to the entirely strange experience of watching Green Wing. The use of camera and soundtrack will often accentuate this in cases where everything will speed up at times and then slow right down to less-than-natural levels.

A stand-out performance for me would have to be that of Michelle Gomez, who plays Sue White, an actress who recently appeared in a recent episode of Doctor Who: Deep Breath and is also recognised as Bad Education‘s Isobel Pickwell. She captures the insanity of Green Wing effortlessly with her deadpan delivery of lines like: “I could put a spell on you” in the middle of a mature conversation.

Although Gomez is a particular favourite of mine, it would be impossible to pick an overall ‘best’ performance because they are all incredible and devoted actors. The insanity of Pippa Haywood and Tamsin Greig’s characters teamed with the typical almost-character-tropes of Stephen Mangan, Olivia Colman and Karl Theobald’s roles makes for truly excellent viewing.

This is obviously a show for every comedy-lover out there and I regret being so late to the party.

TV Review: Siblings

1 Comment

It’s always a great feeling to discover a new Sitcom on a popular television channel that surprises you with its innovation and originality. Siblings is one of those programmes for me.

This show follows the lives of sibling housemates Hannah (Charlotte Ritchie) and Dan (Tom Stourton) as they go about their days attempting to do as little work as possible and spend their time having a good time instead. Hannah has a regular office job where her manager is a ‘functioning alcoholic’ which means it is incredibly easy for her to escape responsibility on a daily basis, and generally spend less than five hours at work each day. Dan, on the other hand, spends all his time at home being bored out of his dim-witted brain. This results in him doing the most moronic things yet somehow avoiding the consequences (due to luck, rather than skill), a rather over-used concept but approached in an entirely new way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soMOeO_7Mdk

This is a Sitcom set in an entirely normal environment, yet what makes Siblings so insane is the characters within it. It’s a familiar habit of mine to allow my brain to tick over and get distracted while watching these kind of programmes but this one is an exception because of the wacky dialogue and actions of the brother and sister duo. As well as making many stupid decisions throughout, Hannah, in particular, is actually quite a horrible person (though I love her, but maybe that says a more about me than it says about anything else). For example, in order to make a good impression on her new boss in Episode One, Hannah makes it her duty to prove that the other office workers are not a patch on herself. Whilst in conversation with her new boss, Annette (Tracy Ann Oberman), and co-worker, Kevin, she suggests rather loudly:

“Kevin, what was that thing you were saying the other week about how gay people shouldn’t be allowed to live by the seaside?”

Siblings is a true breath of comedy-fresh-air and I look forward to watching the rest of the series over the coming weeks. You can catch up with the episodes so far on BBC iPlayer and watch Episode Three on BBC 3 at 10.30pm tonight.

TV Review: Friday Night Dinner

1 Comment

Friday Night Dinner is a fast-paced and brilliantly written sitcom about the slightly dysfunctional and entirely deranged Goodman family. Although the brand new series three has recently been shown on television (Channel 4), I have been catching up on all of the previous series as well as this one, with each being equally as strong as the last.

The format is relatively simple: it follows the family every week, where the boys visit their parents for Friday night dinner. The true skill here is evident in the excellent script writing (the programme is written and produced by the insanely talented Robert Popper) for the conversations are utterly insane but have been injected with a surprising amount of wit. The characters in the programme are consistently getting themselves into terrible situations, often involving difficult grandparents, girlfriends and troublesome neighbours.

Friday Night Dinner is one of the rare television programmes that has a solid cast through and through, with the four recurring characters consisting of two grown-up sons, Jonny and Adam (played by Tom Rosenthal and Simon Bird respectively) and unlikely married couple: Martin and Jackie (Paul Ritter and Tamsin Greig). As well as this, the fantastically talented Mark Heap plays the family’s sinister neighbour: Jim Bell, a character that has had me crying with laughter on multiple occasions.

My favourite character would have to be Jim. With his seemingly irrational fear of his Belgian Shepard, Wilson, and obvious lack of social skills teamed up with the fact he clearly fancies Jackie, every encounter with this tricky neighbour is absolutely hilarious. Mark Heap is a very talented comedic actor and this is made apparent through his uncanny ability to generate a laugh from the viewer purely from a facial expression or body stance. Heap has been given the role of a very typical comedy trope but has managed to make it his own, whilst demonstrating originality and skill.

It is hard to single out any other stand out actors in this programme because they are all undeniably outstanding, with Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal effortlessly filling the role of annoying, immature, and yet somehow loveable young men and Tamsin Greig and Paul Ritter adding an interesting twist to their parenting personas. The character of Martin (Ritter) triggers many of the biggest laughs in each episode with his absurd catchphrase: “Shit on it!” and generally stupid and disgusting antics whereas Jackie (Greig) has expertly mastered the art of suggesting her emotions through her facial expressions, which has amusing consequences.

Friday Night Dinner deals with multiple recurring jokes that the viewer can never tire of, such as the way Jim always gets confused between Adam and Jonny:

Jonny: “Jim have you seen Adam?”

Jim: “I thought you were Adam?”

Jim is also ignorant regarding the family’s Jewish heritage, but not necessarily Jewish faith. He often tries to join in on their ‘Jewish traditions’ such as fashioning himself a “Jewish hat” and presenting them with a Schmoigle which is an offering of a basket of fruit.

This is easily one of my favourite sitcoms of all time and I hope there are many more series to come. You can catch up on all previous episodes from the past three series on 4OD.

I will leave you with the words of Jim: “Thank you all for the lovely evening. Well, except for everything that happened.”

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Revisited

2 Comments

Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is a wonderfully stupid but very sinister cult comedy classic. It aired in January 2004 so celebrated it’s tenth anniversary at the start of this year. Sadly, the show only ran for one series but I want to relive the chaos of Dark Place with you. This new weekly feature will see a short analysis of an episode each week and I hope it will either help you to remember the things you loved about the show or even introduce you to something you may never have watched.

Darkplace is a medical drama based in Romford; talked through to the audience by the writer of the show’s screenplay, Garth Marenghi. It features a cast full of wonderful comedic actors, many who have also worked on The Mighty Boosh and The IT Crowd.

dean and garth

The immediate cast include Matthew Holness as “author, dream weaver, visionary, plus actor”, Garth Marenghi, who plays the part of “maverick doctor”, Rick Dagless M.D; Richard Ayoade as Garth’s manager, Dean Learner and also as his role of Thornton Reed, Dagless’ boss and Matt Berry as horror film star, Todd Rivers and his character, “hot shot surgeon”, Lucien Sanchez. Finally, Alice Lowe has the part of Madeleine Wool, a mysterious actress who later disappeared, who plays the part of Liz Asher, psychic lady doctor.

In addition to this, there are many other familiar faces that pop up, including Noel Fielding, Julian Barratt, Kim Noble, Stephen Merchant and Graham Linehan.

Many shocking and disturbing things happen in Darkplace Hospital, including a portal to Hell being opened underneath the building, a contaminated water supply resulting in people turning into apes and the arrival of Skipper the Eyechild. Is any further explanation needed? Stay tuned for a look into each episode of this brilliant show with Garth Marenghi, Revisited.

The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E8, Hitcher

Leave a Comment

Episode: S1E8, Hitcher

Air Date: 6 July 2004

Summary: This episode has elements of the Boosh stage show from many years before the television series was made, with the iconic scene where Howard and the Hitcher are in the car being recreated. Ivan the bear has got too violent as a result of constant bullying from Fossil and it’s time for him to be sent to Animal Prison. Vince and Howard are sent on a road trip to get rid of the angry bear but they are soon arguing and Vince decides to “vacate the vehicle”. This leads to Vince having a wonderful time meeting the adoptive parent from his childhood, Brian Ferry, in the forest while Howard is in a spot of trouble with a strange hitch hiker with a large thumb.

The Hitcher © Baby Cow

The Hitcher © Baby Cow

 

What Else? We get a big insight into Vince’s Gary Numan obsession and yet further insight into Howard’s love of Jazz Funk, which Ivan the bear hates, that sounds very similar to Old Gregg’s song from series two. There is another animation sequence where Vince explains his childhood that was spent in the forest being raised by Brian Ferry. The storyline of this animation is very much like a warped and twisted Jungle Book. Vince’s excellent turtle impression comes in handy when passing the hours on the road with Howard and the brilliant song from the Hitcher and the Piper Twins is sung, before the hitch hiker manages to do his back in again.

Quote of the Episode:

Bob Fossil [to Naboo]:  “Technically, you’re not a Peeping Tom if it’s one of your relatives.”

Familiar Faces: Noel Fielding as the Hitcher and Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown as Jim and Jackie Piper, the Piper Twins. Julian Barratt has the role of Brian Ferry.

THE END:

So, we have reached the end of The Mighty Boosh series one and I have thoroughly enjoyed revisiting every episode with you. MoodyComedy will soon be revisiting one of the most criminally underrated British comedies ever: Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace. The first, and only series, of the programme aired January-March 2004.

THE REVISITED SERIES

The Mighty Boosh Revisited: S1E7, Electro

1 Comment

Episode: S1E7, Electro

Air Date: 29 June 2004

Summary: Bad memories are stirred up for Howard when Vince is asked to join a band called Kraftwork Orange. Vince upsets one of the members of his new band, Johnny Two-Hats, who storms off when Vince criticises his fashion sense and this means the band are one person down for their important show that night. Vince asks the only person he can, Howard, but jazz-loving Howard Moon cannot play any instrument any more as a result of a meeting with the Spirit of Jazz many years ago. He was tricked into signing his soul away ‘in blood?’ no, ‘biro’s fine’. The concert has to go ahead with the Spirit of Jazz on the loose inside a vacuum cleaner and this causes chaos.

What Else? The conversation between a young Howard Moon and the Spirit of Jazz is obviously an iconic part of this episode, with the brilliant snippet of: “Yorkshire? What is Yorkshire?” “Yorkshire is a place. Yorkshire is a state of mind”. We get to see the Spirit of Jazz’s hat go up in flames, because apparently it wasn’t part of his “look”, but also a mini crisis when Vince gets angry about the Zoo and there is a lot of out-of-place bleeped out swearing as well as: “Vince, I thought you said you wanted to help the animals?” “I do, I want to help them all to die”.

Quote of the Episode:

Vince [to Howard]: “Science teachers and the mentally ill, that’s what Jazz is for.”

Familiar Faces: Sue Denim and Dee Plume (Robots in Disguise) play the parts of the girls in the band Kraftwork Orange. Fielding has the role of the Spirit of Jazz and Simon Farnaby pops up as NOT the manager of PieFace Records. Johnny Two-Hats is played by Dan Clark.

THE REVISITED SERIES

BBC iPlayer: Original Comedy Shorts

2 Comments

A wonderful thing happened on BBC iPlayer on June the 1st: six comedy shorts were released exclusively online with input from many of the most brilliant people in comedy right now. This kind of thing is so vital for keeping comedy on television and online alive as we need to keep pushing the boundaries of comedy in order to keep it successful and influential.

Each comedy short is around five minutes long and they are all completely stand alone episodes (though it would be great if someone could pick them up for series in the future). My favourites were Micky Flanagan’s Foxageddon, Matt Berry in Lone Wolf and Bob Mortimer and Frankie Boyle’s Cookery Show mainly because of the comedians they involved, but I also thought Morgana Robinson’s impressions Channel M were wonderful, as always (her Amy Child impression is spot on).

I can imagine Micky Flanagan’s episode evolving into some kind of Lead Balloon–esque series in the near future as Flanagan’s comic delivery is very unique, which you’ll know if you’ve seen any of his stand up. His character here has the same comic voice as his stand up which I thought really aided the episode because there was less ground work that needed to be done to set the scene. The episode was funny because it is entirely stupid, which I guess is just refreshing for an audience who are used to satire etc. Also, the fact it featured Kerry Godliman (Derek) was a brilliant thing as I think she is very talented.

Frankie Boyle and Bob MortimerBob Mortimer is a hero of mine and I was very looking forward to seeing what he could produce in a five minute time frame. I wasn’t disappointed; it was a whimsical, nonsensical cookery world and it was a beauty to watch, as Mortimer always is. I also noted that Bob was involved in almost all of the other comedy shorts: sometimes as producer and sometimes as writer and this proves what a clever, hardworking genius he is. It was also interesting to see Frankie Boyle playing a slightly different role, as a television presenter who hates peas:

“What is it, Frankie, is it the peas, or the thought that the knife might be on the brink of extinction?”

I can picture Frankie working on some kind of childrens’ show in the future and before watching this, I would never have thought so (for obvious reasons). I think Boyle and Mortimer are both incredible comedic talents, with an interesting partnership on screen and really hope something comes from this comedy short, as with many of the other episodes, but especially the cookery show.

I also love every show Matt Berry is involved with as the man is undeniably a fabulous comedic actor. Lone Wolf is an extremely funny mini-documentary that follows a wolf pack as they hunt their next meal but the voiceover is Berry-style: foulmouthed and hilarious. Again, I can see this making a fantastic feature in a sketch show or even a show on its own.

You can watch all the comedy shorts on BBC iPlayer here and I definitely recommend you do!