It seems that the BBC loss at the hands of ITV’s vote rigging at the 2005 Comedy Awards has caused a bit of a backlash from the press
Friday’s papers saw ITV receive universal condemnation in after it’s fine of a record £5.68m for improperly awarding the People’s Choice comedy award to stars Ant and Dec, when in fact the winner was Catherine Tate.
The Independent describes it as “a grotesque betrayal of viewers’ trust”, adding that there has been “something rotten in the ethics” of broadcasting.
The Daily Mail calls the channel “the cheats’ choice” and asks, “Can you believe a thing you see on ITV?”
While the Sun’s editorial simply says: “ITV should hang their heads in shame.”
It’s a horrible business, but lessons need to be learned rather than fingers being pointed.
I think a bit of praise for One Foot in the Grave is long overdue. Sadly Victor Meldrew won’t be coming back, but that doesn’t mean we can’t rewatch some classic comedy moments between Richard Wilson, Annette Crosby and Angus Deayton.
The David Renwick-scripted series about a terminally miserably pensioner and his wife is one of those comedies that you just don’t forget, possessing a superb lead character, cleverly observed supporting cast, marvellous writing and something you don’t often find in sitcoms - either a slightly dark twist or some scathing social commentary.
In fact the series really should have been a stronger contender for the top British sitcom on the BBC a few years back.
More to the point, however, watching One Foot… now shows us exactly how far we’ve come in terms of comedy sophistication. As far as prime time comedy goes, we’re headed out the fire exit, screaming in embarrassed rage.
The question is, how did things get so bad that we went from One Foot in the Grave with the odd dark theme at 9.30 on BBC One to the fluffy My Family in the same time slot?
There’s an interesting interview with Brendan Burns on the Grauniad website, in which the if.comedy award winner of last years Edinburgh Festival talks about straight acting, taking time to develop a comedy pilot, and the difference in performance technique depending on the size of the venue, which is worth reprinting here:
In a small club, you can’t do Chris Rock-level performance shtick. You can’t have that level of polish. You can see every face and smell every breath - there’s no sense of occasion when you walk on stage. You’re basically commanding a conversation. If the venue’s bigger, you’re working the room, which is physically taxing. You use every corner of the stage; you sell every bit like you’re singing it.
Fascinating insight there - standup on bigger stages in larger venues is less standup and more walkaround.
It of course wonderful to see Mitchell and Webb back on our screens in the BAFTA award-winning Peep Show, the unique Channel 4 sitcom in which we hear the innermost thoughts of the protagonists, and see things as they see them.
Written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam BainPeep Show is hilariously consistent, and really is Channel 4’s comedy jewel.
However what I didn’t know is that one of the men behind the idea is Andrew O’Connor - remember him? Described as an “actor, comedian, magician, television presenter” O’Connor is behind a great deal of Channel 4’s comedy output. A long way from No 73 with Sandi Toksvig. He also directed Mitchell & Webb’s 2007 movie The Magicians, as well Ricky Gervais’ brown nose exercises with Christopher Guest and others.
There’s definitely a case for Mitchell & Webb to be on the TV 52 weeks of the year, as long as the quality of their own series and that of Peep Show continues. Last nights second of the new run was excellent, and easily the second funniest show of the day (after, naturally, Have I Got News For You, hosted this week by Bill Bailey)!
The 2005 British Comedy Peoples Choice Award has been returned by presenters Ant and Dec following the result of an inquiry into the practices of ITV phone voting.
The Catherine Tate Show had in fact received more votes, it has been revealed, with the deception emerging following media watchdog Ofcom’s audit of ITV phone voting and subsequent £5.68m fine over its misuse of premium rate phone lines.
It is believed that singer Robbie Williams had been guaranteed the opportunity to present and award to Ant and Dec, with the report stating:
“Robbie Williams was invited to present an award. It was understood that he would be happy [to do so] if the recipients were Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly.
“In order to ensure his attendance, this assurance was given.”
So if anything good can be taken from this, it is that Tate at last has the opportunity to receive the award (although whether she would want it now after all that has happened is a different matter).
The truth is, ITV have irreparably damaged the Comedy Awards to fulfill their own self interests.
Rural parishes unable to find permanent members of the clergy have been forced to bring in supply vicars whose inexperience and lack of authority has made them vulnerable to disruptive parishioners, says a new report.
One temporary priest was reduced to tears with heckling and catcalling during his sermon, and when he looked up he saw that all the church-goers had turned their pews round to face the opposite direction. ‘These young supply vicars do not have the experience to be able to hold the attention of wayward Christians,’ admitted the Archbishop of Canterbury. ‘The moment they turn their back they are pelted with screwed up service sheets and Alpha Course leaflets made into paper planes, and many of them just don’t know what to do.’
Reading the title brings a sense of dread to it, but Mong and Bint hack James Corden has been rumoured to be working with frog mouthed daughter of the Sheriff of Nottingham (Sit down?! No!) Lily Allen.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I’d personally rather she stuck to singing and taking it up the bum-bum, rather than cloud the digital airwaves with a Paula Yates impression.
Apparently - and I don’t think there is a hint of sycophancy here:
“James loves her ideas and shares her sense of humour. He reckons the humour from Lily’s first album Alright, Still will come across on the small screen. If they can recreate the hilarity they have together at the pub it should be interesting to hear how their stuff turns out.”
Still, it’s preferable to another series of Mong and Bint, and will keep Hack Corden off the streets long enough to prevent him from pissing in the letter boxes of his doubters.
Laura Solon starred with Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse in last years Ruddy Hell! It’s Harry and Paul, and has a super audiobook release of her Radio 4 series available for purchase in the traditional CD manner (www.bbcshop.com) as well as via the magic of the download (see www.bbcaudiozone.com, Audible, Audioville, Audio-Read, Overdrive, Mediabay, iTunes, 7 Digital, Simply Audiobooks, Spoken Network, TuneTribe and Plays on the Net)
In 2005 Laura Solon became only the second woman in 25 years to win the prestigious Perrier Comedy Award. She was quickly snapped up by BBC Radio 4 to create this sketch and character comedy series which is now being released for the first time on Audio. Laura Solon: Talking and Not Talking features talking, not talking, some stories and a lion made out of china. Aided by the voices of Ben Moor, Katherine Parkinson and Ben Willbond, Laura Solon is an award winning talent with an astonishing eye for detail and ear for voice.
There’s three hours of comedy here, for £15.99 on CD or £10.80 download.
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