The Inbetweeners... Hmmmmmm

[T89 Callan]

Well after everyone in my local repeating every line and laughing hysterically just thinking about the Inbetweeeners I have decided to give it another try and watched the second series.

Well the PH King of Comedy (TM) judgment is that The Inbetweeeeners is the most predictable comedy ever made. And almost completely unfunny.

I laughed twice at the entire second series, the episode were they were volunteering at the old peoples home was particularly painful to watch.

"Oh no I have no pubes, look a wig"
"lets have sex"
"Don't touch my cock"
"Oh dear you have a wig down your pants!!!!"

Really?!?!

The annoying thing is that the premise is quite good and it could be really funny if executed better but the story is predictable, the acting rubbish, the dialogue unbeleiveble and the attention to detail poor.... Nobody can have a conversation without shouting in a nightclub.

The Inbetweeeeeners = Very Poor.

[T89 Callan]

Maybe I've just seen to much comedy that is actually good. If I had been raised on a diet of My Hero, The Green Green Grass and Goodnight Sweetheart I might find it funny.

Compare it to something like 'Peep Show' 'The Big Bang Theory' 'It's Alway Sunny in Philadelphia' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' 'et 'al and it is very poor.

And before you all start, I'll laugh at anything that is funny, I have no prejudice when it comes to comedy and went in with a completely open mind.

[T89 Callan]

HRG. said:

T89 Callan said:

Maybe I've just seen to much comedy that is actually good. If I had been raised on a diet of My Hero, The Green Green Grass and Goodnight Sweetheart I might find it funny.

Compare it to something like 'Peep Show' 'The Big Bang Theory' 'It's Alway Sunny in Philadelphia' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' 'et 'al and it is very poor.

And before you all start, I'll laugh at anything that is funny, I have no prejudice when it comes to comedy and went in with a completely open mind.

Funny? Unless you were raised on a diet of Eric & Ernie, Dave Allen and Tommy Copper you wouldn't know funny if it bit you on the arse

Yes I would, how do you know I'm not a big fan of the above? Maybe growing up living with my Grandparents I have been able to see comedy greats from way before my time.

Personally I believe that Tommy Cooper is/was a genius and one of the funniest people who ever lived. Eric and Ernie are a little hit and miss for me. Dads Army, Porridge, Citizen Smith and Rising Damp are all well before my time but I love them.

So take your assumptions and take a look at your own comedy prejudice.

[T89 Callan]

XitUp said:

T89 Callan said:

Compare it to something like 'Peep Show' 'The Big Bang Theory' 'It's Alway Sunny in Philadelphia' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' 'et 'al and it is very poor.

I was about to call you a tit and say you had no taste till this post.

So I'll just say you're wrong about The Inbetweeners.

Now I'm confused because if the legendary 'hater of everything' Xitup likes it then.... well.... The world has gone mad!

[T89 Callan]

Oakey said:

T89 Callan said:

Maybe I've just seen to much comedy that is actually good. If I had been raised on a diet of My Hero, The Green Green Grass and Goodnight Sweetheart I might find it funny.

Compare it to something like 'Peep Show' 'The Big Bang Theory' 'It's Alway Sunny in Philadelphia' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' 'et 'al and it is very poor.

And before you all start, I'll laugh at anything that is funny, I have no prejudice when it comes to comedy and went in with a completely open mind.

You must have had the most boring school life if you can't relate to any of this.

I never said I couldn't relate to it, it just said that the Inbetweeeeeeners wasn't funny.

Many of the less stupid bits were like situations that happened to us at school, unfortuantely they were badly written, acted and executed which meant they weren't funny.

Now go back, read the OP preoperly and don't mis-quote me.

[T89 Callan]

sneijder said:

Are you the chap who always comes out with this 'PH King of Comedy' quite alot or are there are a few people doing it ?

Thats me, self proclaimed and it's true.

[T89 Callan]

wiffmaster said:

T89 Callan said:

Thats me, self proclaimed and it's true.

Wait, so you're the one who thinks 'King Of The Hill' is funny?

I'm the one who knows King of the Hill is funny.

Frankly I have no prejudice when it comes to comedy old/new, British/Yank/Aussie, Cartoon/live action/stand-up/sitcom etc/etc/etc. I approach all with an equally open mind and if I don't initially like it I come to it at a later date to make sure I wasn't judging it wrongly (as I pointed out in the OP) and try to watch a whole series before I make a judgement.

Aside from Cars, Comedy is my main passtime, I watch live stand-up regularly, watch a new comedy TV series nearly every week (it's 'Curb' series 7 and 'Frisky Dingo' series 2 this week) and have amassed a fairly hefty collection of TV comedy on DVD as well as all the streams and downloads on my computer.

Maybe my view goes against the grain but 'The Inbetweeeeeeeners' did not make me laugh and I don't apologise for that. It's not exactly hard to make me laugh either, I want every comedy I watch to be funny, it's far more likely (about 80%) that something will make me laugh than not.

It's my opinion, I made it based on my usual single criteria (did I laugh at it) with no prior prejudice. If you don't agree.... furry muff but comedy is a passion of mine and I stick by what I say.

[T89 Callan]

adycav said:

Art_Vandelay said:

fk you, you car wash !
mods, this is a quote from Curb, don't ban me

Ah, the infamous Restaurant scene. I laughed so much it hurt at that.

I think thats a different scene.

My favourite bit is still the episode with the mentally handicapped car washers, I love the fact that Larry actually finds some people who he can get on with.

[T89 Callan]

adycav said:

T89 Callan said:

adycav said:

Art_Vandelay said:

fk you, you car wash !
mods, this is a quote from Curb, don't ban me

Ah, the infamous Restaurant scene. I laughed so much it hurt at that.

I think thats a different scene.

'King of Comedy' my arse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsRJYPr1Dnw

Very NSFW due to language, you have been warned...

I only said "I think" I thought there was a scene at a car wash were Larry is shouting at the operator???

Anyway... Classic scene.

[T89 Callan]

Mx_Stu said:

T89 Callan said:

wiffmaster said:

T89 Callan said:

Thats me, self proclaimed and it's true.

Wait, so you're the one who thinks 'King Of The Hill' is funny?

I'm the one who knows King of the Hill is funny.

Frankly I have no prejudice when it comes to comedy old/new, British/Yank/Aussie, Cartoon/live action/stand-up/sitcom etc/etc/etc. I approach all with an equally open mind and if I don't initially like it I come to it at a later date to make sure I wasn't judging it wrongly (as I pointed out in the OP) and try to watch a whole series before I make a judgement.

Aside from Cars, Comedy is my main passtime, I watch live stand-up regularly, watch a new comedy TV series nearly every week (it's 'Curb' series 7 and 'Frisky Dingo' series 2 this week) and have amassed a fairly hefty collection of TV comedy on DVD as well as all the streams and downloads on my computer.

Maybe my view goes against the grain but 'The Inbetweeeeeeeners' did not make me laugh and I don't apologise for that. It's not exactly hard to make me laugh either, I want every comedy I watch to be funny, it's far more likely (about 80%) that something will make me laugh than not.

It's my opinion, I made it based on my usual single criteria (did I laugh at it) with no prior prejudice. If you don't agree.... furry muff but comedy is a passion of mine and I stick by what I say.

I personally think you've ruined it by thinking about it too much. Its full of schoolboy humour which ticks all the boxes for me.

I do also find king of the hill funny.

Definately not, I love peurile humour, I just sat and watched it and it didn't make me laugh. Simple fact.

If you want puerile Humour then something like "It's Always Sunny in Philladelphia" is a perfect example of how to do it.

[T89 Callan]

Halb said:

Mx_Stu said:

T89 Callan said:

Definately not, I love peurile humour, I just sat and watched it and it didn't make me laugh. Simple fact.

If you want puerile Humour then something like "It's Always Sunny in Philladelphia" is a perfect example of how to do it.

Possibly an age thing then? I'm 27 and find I have a mate that you can relate each character to.

I'll have a look at your suggestion, however I find that American comedy is often so set up you can see it coming a mile off.

I agree with that. Most US comedy is predictable, and very popular. A reason that it is funny is that you can telegraph the punchline. When it is done well, it is good, like Big Bang.

WHAT! the Inbetweeeeners is about the most predictable comedy I have ever seen, I detailed this in the OP.

"Lets go to London"
"there's nowhere to park"
"lets park in this clamping zone it'll be fine"

I wonder what will happen when they return to the car?

What a shock!!!!!!!!!!! It was clamped and the birds they were trying to pull just happened to walk past....

"Lets go on a boat"
"I'm going to stand-up"
"lets rock the boat"

I wonder what will happen?

What a shock!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's fallen in and the bird he was trying to pull has just happened to walk past.

I actually found myslef watching and hoping that something unpredictable would happen but every single situation without fail ended in the most obvious way with the girl they were trying to pull just happening to see.

[T89 Callan]

XitUp said:

T89 Callan said:

Halb said:

Mx_Stu said:

T89 Callan said:

Definately not, I love peurile humour, I just sat and watched it and it didn't make me laugh. Simple fact.

If you want puerile Humour then something like "It's Always Sunny in Philladelphia" is a perfect example of how to do it.

Possibly an age thing then? I'm 27 and find I have a mate that you can relate each character to.

I'll have a look at your suggestion, however I find that American comedy is often so set up you can see it coming a mile off.

I agree with that. Most US comedy is predictable, and very popular. A reason that it is funny is that you can telegraph the punchline. When it is done well, it is good, like Big Bang.

WHAT! the Inbetweeeeners is about the most predictable comedy I have ever seen, I detailed this in the OP.

"Lets go to London"
"there's nowhere to park"
"lets park in this clamping zone it'll be fine"

I wonder what will happen when they return to the car?

What a shock!!!!!!!!!!! It was clamped and the birds they were trying to pull just happened to walk past....

"Lets go on a boat"
"I'm going to stand-up"
"lets rock the boat"

I wonder what will happen?

What a shock!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's fallen in and the bird he was trying to pull has just happened to walk past.

I actually found myslef watching and hoping that something unpredictable would happen but every single situation without fail ended in the most obvious way with the girl they were trying to pull just happening to see.

You're just too old to get it

What's to get?

Boy stands up on boat... Boy falls in water.... Girl laughs at Boy.... Boy is embarrassed?

Not exactly Arrested Development/Spaced/Curb/Partridge is it?

[T89 Callan]

Baby Huey said:

King of Comedy, do you like Lead Balloon?

I do. It's a real slow burner. I need to go out and get the DVD's though as I have missed quite a bit of it.

[T89 Callan]

Baby Huey said:

T89 Callan said:

Baby Huey said:

King of Comedy, do you like Lead Balloon?

I do. It's a real slow burner. I need to go out and get the DVD's though as I have missed quite a bit of it.

I think it's a brilliant show. I love Curb and there are similarities, but it is just so well written. Superb cast too.

My favourite British sitcom for a while.

I love the episode with the kids getting Tattoos had me in stitches.

[T89 Callan]

XitUp said:

T89 Callan said:

What's to get?

Boy stands up on boat... Boy falls in water.... Girl laughs at Boy.... Boy is embarrassed?

Not exactly Arrested Development/Spaced/Curb/Partridge is it?

I think the fact that you think him falling in was meant to be the funny bit proves you don't get it.


What's to get abour curbed, old Jew says something he shouldn't...old Jew's wife gives him a look...old Jew is embarrassed?

I was making a point about the predictability.

It just doesn't make me laugh because it is a predictable show and it isn't well written and the characters aren't likeable.

To be honest you seem to think I have never watched any other comedy and don't know what comedy is, in fact I probably have far more comparative knowledge than you could hazzard a guess at.

[T89 Callan]

Emsman said:

I think the funniest thing about the second series is that the OP didn't laugh more than twice, but still watched the whole series.

I reckon the inbetweeners is great. One of the best written comedies for a while.

Like I said I don't make a judgement until I have watched a decent amount, you wouldn't test drive a car by pootling around a car park would you?

On the prejudice issue, I keep affirming it becasue you get the usual PH silliness of people instantly saying stuff like: "you only like X or X so you wouldn't like it" I have no prefernce for any type of TV show or comedy.

[T89 Callan]

ATG said:

T89 Callan said:

Emsman said:

I think the funniest thing about the second series is that the OP didn't laugh more than twice, but still watched the whole series.

I reckon the inbetweeners is great. One of the best written comedies for a while.

Like I said I don't make a judgement until I have watched a decent amount, you wouldn't test drive a car by pootling around a car park would you?

On the prejudice issue, I keep affirming it becasue you get the usual PH silliness of people instantly saying stuff like: "you only like X or X so you wouldn't like it" I have no prefernce for any type of TV show or comedy.

What's your explanation for your judgement being at odds with that of plenty of other people who also enjoy and watch a lot of comedy?

There is no 'explanation' I just didn't find it funny and started a debate.

[T89 Callan]

Tiggsy said:

T89 Callan said:

Emsman said:

I think the funniest thing about the second series is that the OP didn't laugh more than twice, but still watched the whole series.

I reckon the inbetweeners is great. One of the best written comedies for a while.

Like I said I don't make a judgement until I have watched a decent amount, you wouldn't test drive a car by pootling around a car park would you?

Not a very accurate analogy.....the way you have experienced the inbetweeners is the same as everyone that watched it because they liked it, i.e - you watched it all! Thats like test driving a car for 5 years before saying "nah, never liked it from the off".

Its a good job you never started watching Eastenders to see how you'd get on....you'd still be at it!

and Curb is becoming a bit of a "thing to like" ... it's funny, but no way near as funny as people make out and if it didnt have the "cool" status it seems to have got it would lose half it's viewers. Its almost like Friends in reverse...still one of the funniest shows on TV yet "not cool" anymore.

and the Inbetweeners is very good, doesnt take itself seriously so if you take it as such you are missing the point.

Once again I'm not missing the point, it just didn't make me laugh.

Criticsing 'Curb' because it is the 'in thing' is completely retarded, hardly anyone I know has even heard of it let alone considers it cool. I watched an episode last night (series 6, were Cha-Cha gets the job next to the toilet) had me in tears of laughter.

[T89 Callan]

Tiggsy said:

T89 Callan said:

Criticsing 'Curb' because it is the 'in thing' is completely retarded, hardly anyone I know has even heard of it let alone considers it cool.

Hence it's cool...if everyone liked it it would be commecial pap that everyone likes to hate.

And as for retarded.....saying Curb is cool is not really on a par with watching a series of a comedy that didn't make you laugh!

You what? If people don't know about it it makes it 'cool'... what the hell are you talking about.

I couldn't care less how many people watch it or whether it's 'cool' it makes me laugh so I watch it.

[T89 Callan]

OllieWinchester said:

Trailer park boys is brilliant though, had forgotten all about that.

I'd forgotten about Trailer Park Boys, I used to watch it on FX at Uni' when we had Sky.