Mock The Week - Quality on the decline?
Discussion
I've been watching this series of MTW and am pretty disappointed.
It usually had a decent panel, but that new woman is bloody awful and Nish Kumar's act is "You're all racists" (I had the misfortune to see him live once - The reason, mate, the audience didn't laugh is because you're not funny...)
Milton Jones is Milton Jones (I like him, but I can see he's an acquired taste) and I quite like Romesh's Asian Frankie Boyle act, but they seem to be scraping the barrel with some of the panel this series.
Where's Catherine Ryan. why isn't Ed Byrne on every week, Rob Beckett? Chris Addison? Surely there are some FUNNY new comedians, too?
M.
It usually had a decent panel, but that new woman is bloody awful and Nish Kumar's act is "You're all racists" (I had the misfortune to see him live once - The reason, mate, the audience didn't laugh is because you're not funny...)
Milton Jones is Milton Jones (I like him, but I can see he's an acquired taste) and I quite like Romesh's Asian Frankie Boyle act, but they seem to be scraping the barrel with some of the panel this series.
Where's Catherine Ryan. why isn't Ed Byrne on every week, Rob Beckett? Chris Addison? Surely there are some FUNNY new comedians, too?
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Wednesday 5th July 10:36
It was never quite the same after Frankie left. Can't comment on the new series but I've enjoyed Rob Beckett, Milton, Gary Delaney, Ed Byrne, etc. on it in the past. Guess they're all touring or something. Romesh has become somewhat of a victim of his own success, whilst the ITV show he was a regular on - Play to the Whistle - was fairly amusing he was getting pretty predictable each week.
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
I think Milton is actually the only funny one. Hugh Dennis is just not funny in my opinion. Love him or hate him, Frankie Boyle was good on it but it was OK after he left but just recently it seems to have went downhill.
Have I Got News For You suffers from the Dame symptom of being on for too long, being predictable and having lazy writing.
I think Milton is actually the only funny one. Hugh Dennis is just not funny in my opinion. Love him or hate him, Frankie Boyle was good on it but it was OK after he left but just recently it seems to have went downhill.
Have I Got News For You suffers from the Dame symptom of being on for too long, being predictable and having lazy writing.
I listen to a podcast called Comedian's Comedian which has long-form interviews with various stand up comedians.
Recently they were talking about the fact that the style of MTW has changed to be less adversarial than it used to be. It used to be a bit of a lion's den for comedians, and there was fear that the other panel members would really go to town on you. However, now it seems to be more like a best-buddy love-in and one particular stand-up was saying how the producers regularly have to reign them in because it feels like hanging out with friends and they get too giddy. Maybe that has something to do with the perceived quality levels.
Recently they were talking about the fact that the style of MTW has changed to be less adversarial than it used to be. It used to be a bit of a lion's den for comedians, and there was fear that the other panel members would really go to town on you. However, now it seems to be more like a best-buddy love-in and one particular stand-up was saying how the producers regularly have to reign them in because it feels like hanging out with friends and they get too giddy. Maybe that has something to do with the perceived quality levels.
Most TV comedy is being strangled by political / emotional correctness and belly-laugh moments are becoming ever rarer. You have to go to private gigs, out of the public eye, to see "proper" funny comedy, nowadays. Romesh Ranga is funny on-stage, but average on-telly. He tones it down or gets edited out when on the Beeb.
You have to factor in the beebs insistence that comedy shows have at least one female comedian in the lineup too.
Sorry to say it - but aside from a few noteable exceptions, female comedians on the whole just aren't as funny or as numerous as their male counterparts.
By forcing the panels to include female comedians - you necessarily lower the quality, since they must cast the net pretty wide when the good ones aren't available.
Sorry to say it - but aside from a few noteable exceptions, female comedians on the whole just aren't as funny or as numerous as their male counterparts.
By forcing the panels to include female comedians - you necessarily lower the quality, since they must cast the net pretty wide when the good ones aren't available.
I think it's suffering the normal been going for many years problem, how to change the format to keep fresh at the risk of alienating the hard core fans. After years of enjoying I now get annoyed at certain 'speech patterns' every week. I started to turn over for the 1st round of what the initials mean & the 'if this is the answer what is the question' I often misjudge how long they will last & lose interest.
I call them the 'Is it is it' rounds because every f
king guest buzzes in to make their funny little response and the first words out of the bloody mouth will be 'IS IT'
Though as I get older I do find most programmes make me switch off because of this 'speech pattern' thing I notice which I didn't in the past the worst being 'guy' & 'guys' every other fking word, even old farts my age who didn't have it in their vocabulary as a child are saying it more & more, also the most infuriating being when one of the younger trendy type retard presenters shows you inanimate objects or animals & says - these 'liddle' guys I know my time is wasted & move on.
I call them the 'Is it is it' rounds because every f
king guest buzzes in to make their funny little response and the first words out of the bloody mouth will be 'IS IT' Though as I get older I do find most programmes make me switch off because of this 'speech pattern' thing I notice which I didn't in the past the worst being 'guy' & 'guys' every other f
king word, even old farts my age who didn't have it in their vocabulary as a child are saying it more & more, also the most infuriating being when one of the younger trendy type retard presenters shows you inanimate objects or animals & says - these 'liddle' guys I know my time is wasted & move on.I agree with much of what's been said here. The criticism that it's become too 'matey' is valid, but I think this is one reason I'd like to see less of Ed Byrne.
Perhaps it has just run its course though. It's a little bit like the News Quiz....it breeds/attracts a certain type of comedian.
Were I producing you'd see:
(more of) Simon Evans;
Andrew Lawrence;
(more of) Miles Jupp;
Rory McGraw; and
Lee Hurst
I think that would just mix things up a bit.
I also agree with other comments that certain comedians aren't suited to that type of show. Micky Flanagan is a prime example; not as good on MTW as he is on the circuit.
It's all subjective of course.
Perhaps it has just run its course though. It's a little bit like the News Quiz....it breeds/attracts a certain type of comedian.
Were I producing you'd see:
(more of) Simon Evans;
Andrew Lawrence;
(more of) Miles Jupp;
Rory McGraw; and
Lee Hurst
I think that would just mix things up a bit.
I also agree with other comments that certain comedians aren't suited to that type of show. Micky Flanagan is a prime example; not as good on MTW as he is on the circuit.
It's all subjective of course.
Certainly echo those comments already said previously. For me it changed once Frankie left, and then to a point Russell. Those 2 with Dara, Hugh and Andy seemed to have a good mix of different styles which all worked well and they where happy to go at each other.
Once the Frankie and Russell left the new guests weren't really that funny, and ended up being very bland middle of the road comedy.
Now it seems you get the same comedians appearing on tv 3 or 4 times a week and all repeat the same gags. Very difficult to find original material.
Once the Frankie and Russell left the new guests weren't really that funny, and ended up being very bland middle of the road comedy.
Now it seems you get the same comedians appearing on tv 3 or 4 times a week and all repeat the same gags. Very difficult to find original material.
I still enjoy it, but I agree that it is a little stale sometimes.
Ed Byrne is on often enough that he may as well be on every week, and I'd have no problems with that as his friendship & chemistry with Dara is very evident (I think he was Best Man at Dara's wedding?). Always good banter between them.
Miles Jupp is always worth watching, as are Milton Jones and Gary Delainey.
Ed Byrne is on often enough that he may as well be on every week, and I'd have no problems with that as his friendship & chemistry with Dara is very evident (I think he was Best Man at Dara's wedding?). Always good banter between them.
Miles Jupp is always worth watching, as are Milton Jones and Gary Delainey.
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