Gavin and Stacey - good?
Discussion
Salgar said:
So, one of the problems (Although I may be wrong) Is that you really shouldn't have started watching the third season. It's like watching 24 from the middle of the season. The characters have already been established and if you don't understand their quirks, it would not have been funny because that is what the writers are now playing on.
prand said:
I guess coming into it now, you will miss some of the running jokes and references to previous events.
Junior Bianno said:
Suppose each to their own, but I can't believe the number of people who don't "get" Gavin & Stacey. Think it is genius personally - definitely the best comedy on British TV since The Office. The new series is as good as last ones IMO. One thing you have to do though is watch the whole series from the first episode - you just won't get the characters and the running jokes otherwise.
I'm sorry, but the "you should have watched it from the start" thing is a very weak argument. If it was indeed "genius" then surely I could start watching it at any point in the series and still "get" it? You could, for example, watch the last episode of The Office, without having seen any other episodes, and still find it very funny. Good comedy should be instantly accessible. Los Palmas 7 said:
You could, for example, watch the last episode of The Office, without having seen any other episodes, and still find it very funny. Good comedy should be instantly accessible.
Ooh, i dunno about that. Did you ever watch the office and belly laugh to begin with, or did you watch it in some quiet fascination whilst feeling quite uncomfortable? 
Tiggsy said:
But this time round (in fact, since the xmas special) it feels soooo weak.
I agree. I did like first 2 series', and I'm fairly fussy. I liked the gentle subtlety, with not too much slapstick. It is now looking a bit tired, with excuses for the families meeting now being shoe-horned in. They should have stopped at series 2, but I imagine that the BBC were offering a lot of cash -that could be difficult to turn down...
[quote]They have also dumbed it down a lot with gag explanations added in for idiots....
[quote]In contrast i have never seen the Thick of It and caught a show the other night, the gag that made me go out and buy every episode up till now was - as a lightweight TV reporter leaves their office, someone says to him "say hi to dexter fletcher for me" ...... and that was it, so much better for the fact those whe get it dont have it spoilt with extra lines.
MC Bodge said:
Tiggsy said:
But this time round (in fact, since the xmas special) it feels soooo weak.
I agree. I did like first 2 series', and I'm fairly fussy. I liked the gentle subtlety, with not too much slapstick. It is now looking a bit tired, with excuses for the families meeting now being shoe-horned in. They should have stopped at series 2, but I imagine that the BBC were offering a lot of cash -that could be difficult to turn down...
[quote]They have also dumbed it down a lot with gag explanations added in for idiots....
[quote]In contrast i have never seen the Thick of It and caught a show the other night, the gag that made me go out and buy every episode up till now was - as a lightweight TV reporter leaves their office, someone says to him "say hi to dexter fletcher for me" ...... and that was it, so much better for the fact those whe get it dont have it spoilt with extra lines.
If so, why is that? Is that so those who are 'in the know' can feel smug, but smug about what, exactly?
But i do agree, G&S has been 'mainstreamed', but it's still very good imo.
heebeegeetee said:
Is that how good comedy works then? The fewer people who get the jokes the better?
No, but subtle humour and having to think about it makes it better.Maybe I'm just incredibly sophisticated, but holding up a metaphorical sign that says "joke" detracts from comedy.
heebeegeetee said:
If so, why is that? Is that so those who are 'in the know' can feel smug, but smug about what, exactly?
I've never felt smug watching comedy, although I have felt amused.Edited by MC Bodge on Monday 7th December 11:39
MC Bodge said:
heebeegeetee said:
Is that how good comedy works then? The fewer people who get the jokes the better?
No, but subtle humour and having to think about it makes it better.Maybe I'm just incredibly sophisticated, but holding up a metaphorical sign that says "joke" detracts from comedy.
[quote]If so, why is that? Is that so those who are 'in the know' can feel smug, but smug about what, exactly?
There's room for everything in my book though. Some stuff i like or 'get' and some stuff i just don't and so move on. I like G&S though, i must say. It's the little trivial things we like most i think, and we like Alison Steadman too. She's put a bit of weight on though but.
Tiggsy said:
the subtle humour is not about smugness...as gervais said, he'd rather have 4m that love his work than 10m that like it.
Did he? Hmm, he's working very hard on both sides of the atlantic. Sounds like he's sold out.He's a clever bloke though, i like him. I like his karl pilkington stuff.
Tiggsy said:
I think he was always pretty open that he saw the US as being where it was at. I dont think going to the states is selling out....i think his only problem is when he works with USA money it's affects show (ala This Side of the Truth)
I haven't seen any of his american stuff tbh, i'm one of those who never seems to see anything first time round - though i am now with the current series of G&S, whatever that says. I was just thinking though that gervais will be having a darn sight more than 10m people liking his stuff now.
I like gervais though, i think he is a huge talent, even if he did dry up like a fish at that Diana's-Still-Dead concert when he had to keep the audience amused for 5 mins while Elton John was having a hissy fit backstage.
T'was funny when he said "they're having another huge concert here next week, for global warming" (picture his big grin).
And they did! Another big bunch of planet-killing pop stars put on yet another huge concert 'cos they thought we needed telling about global warming (with no thoughts to the furtherance of their careers of course).
heebeegeetee said:
I was just thinking though that gervais will be having a darn sight more than 10m people liking his stuff now.
All relative though...his point was that he wouldnt adjust his comedy for a wider market, and that's still the case. He's landed on his feet in the US as they seem to have adjusted their attitude to comedy to fit him! His yank films all have the mark of yank money though and theres nothing he can do about it.An interesting read are the office scripts...so much in there that gets missed and would never get in a current show (remember the office was pitched over 10 yrs ago now) "Slow down, you move too fast. Solomons here" not dialogue that would get in many sitcoms today but a treat anyone after more than Two Pints and their knob gags.
Agree...much better.
Only down side was the rather weak cuts....first we had nessa's great line about "got to go, i've come to s steep incline" but instead of ending there they ran the scene on to lead of the last line of that into the first line of the next scene.
Only worse cut was bryn "you'll never get me out on the town" cut to bryn out on the town....in comedy writting thats up with "rant about a chacter" followed by "he's behind me isnt it"
Only down side was the rather weak cuts....first we had nessa's great line about "got to go, i've come to s steep incline" but instead of ending there they ran the scene on to lead of the last line of that into the first line of the next scene.
Only worse cut was bryn "you'll never get me out on the town" cut to bryn out on the town....in comedy writting thats up with "rant about a chacter" followed by "he's behind me isnt it"
TheDetailDoctor said:
WTF is Owain Hughes all about?????
nothing, its a non joke. imagine you write a TV show and stick in some nonsense no one gets....how funny when the whole world starts talking about it trying to work it out when you know its just rubbish. Side splitting hey! (writers equivalent of a hoax email and see how many muppets send it on) IMOTiggsy said:
TheDetailDoctor said:
WTF is Owain Hughes all about?????
nothing, its a non joke. imagine you write a TV show and stick in some nonsense no one gets....how funny when the whole world starts talking about it trying to work it out when you know its just rubbish. Side splitting hey! (writers equivalent of a hoax email and see how many muppets send it on) IMO
I knew Ph would have the answer to this. Me and the OH have been wondering what the hell that was about..Tiggsy said:
TheDetailDoctor said:
WTF is Owain Hughes all about?????
nothing, its a non joke. imagine you write a TV show and stick in some nonsense no one gets....how funny when the whole world starts talking about it trying to work it out when you know its just rubbish. Side splitting hey! (writers equivalent of a hoax email and see how many muppets send it on) IMO'Owe Wayne Hughes?'
'Before you ask, no i dont!'
Not that funny really!
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