"Topical" Comedy on Radio 4

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uncinquesei

Original Poster:

917 posts

176 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
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Only posting this because the BBC has nowhere (as far as I can tell), except Points of View, to express my amazement at such a dogst piece of broadcasting...
Lewis Macleod Is Not Himself

The problems with impressionists are legion and on the radio more so but this plumbed new depths. The announcer said "a new series on radio 4" but I had to check to make sure it was from 2014 and not 1994.
The first three sketches/ impressions (I kid you not):
1. Lisa Stansfield. Yes, Lisa Stansfield. In 2014.
2. James Bond. Connery / Roger Moore (almost impossible to tell until he actually said "Roger Moore") / Pierce Brosnan
3. The Beatles. Each one helpfully introduced in the dialogue "hey, Paul""Yes Ringo?" "where's George?" "I'm over here with John"
I couldn't listen to any more.
Our licence fee goes on that.
People got paid to do that.
Utter, utter rubbish and I can't make them stop....
That feels better.

rscott

14,689 posts

190 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
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Could we worse - they could have commissioned another series of Count Arthur Strong.

jas xjr

11,309 posts

238 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
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rscott said:
Could we worse - they could have commissioned another series of Count Arthur Strong.
oi! i quite like that smile

Eric Mc

121,768 posts

264 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
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And they brought back "Dead Ringers" - which I always like.

welsh blackbird

690 posts

243 months

Wednesday 1st October 2014
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Nothing could be worse than giving Jeremy Hardy his own show.

uncinquesei

Original Poster:

917 posts

176 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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I like Count Arthur Strong on the radio - the TV show was awful though. I find Jeremy Hardy ok on the radio, my brother went to see him live, walked out half way through because of the tedious 6th form socialism. The Now show on the other hand is dreadful, utterly predictable tories bad/ labour good, knowing sarcasm and irony.

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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Sometimes R4 really hits the spot with comedy, but I tend to find it's the sitcoms that do, rather than the topical/panel shows.

Fags, Mags and Bags was fantastic, as was Cabin Pressure on occasion.

News Quiz and the Now Show have just turned into Labour Party election broadcasts - unlistenable.

Eric Mc

121,768 posts

264 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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I still like The News Quiz and Jeremy Hardy - even if I don't agree with their take on things.

In Dead Ringers - John Culshaw's take on both Ed Milliband and Nigel Farage is close to genius.

Gargamel

14,957 posts

260 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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welsh blackbird said:
Nothing could be worse than giving Jeremy Hardy his own show.
This a million times. He is just an utter tt.

Mind you I still listen to the Now Show, even though it is totally infected with the moronic observations of Marcus Brigstocke - who I really can't stand.

Smiler.

11,752 posts

229 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
quotequote all
Gargamel said:
welsh blackbird said:
Nothing could be worse than giving Jeremy Hardy his own show.
This a million times. He is just an utter tt.

Mind you I still listen to the Now Show, even though it is totally infected with the moronic observations of Marcus Brigstocke - who I really can't stand.
The latest run of Jeremy Hardy Leftist Mouthpiece is vomit inducing.

I take it you missed the recent show that Brigstocke had on his own.

It's like he's sucked at the Hardy teat.


richarda0109

313 posts

164 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
quotequote all
News Quiz - depending on panel
Ed Reardons Week - "I'm approaching grumpy old man status
Fags Mags and Bags
Newsjack - before the Indian guy took over
Now Show - but becoming tired and not quite "Now"

all the others are painfully bad

Pints

18,444 posts

193 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
quotequote all
jas xjr said:
rscott said:
Could we worse - they could have commissioned another series of Count Arthur Strong.
oi! i quite like that smile
yes

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
quotequote all
rscott said:
Could we worse - they could have commissioned another series of Count Arthur Strong.
That was exactly my thought. Was st on the radio and astoundingly even worse on TV!

Shame, because as other characters, he's really rather good.

The trouble with the concept of Right Wing comedians is that we already have Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage!

Just a Minute can reduce me almost to tears of laugher sometimes, but it's not really Topical.

M.


Edited by marcosgt on Thursday 2nd October 17:44

Fantic SuperT

887 posts

219 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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Johnnytheboy said:
Sometimes R4 really hits the spot with comedy, but I tend to find it's the sitcoms that do, rather than the topical/panel shows.

Fags, Mags and Bags was fantastic, as was Cabin Pressure on occasion.

News Quiz and the Now Show have just turned into Labour Party election broadcasts - unlistenable.
No doubt I'm biased because I drive a car to work, but having listened to 'the News Quiz' this weekend I was astonished how the BBC bias had become so unbalanced and vitriolic towards the Tory party. Taking the subject of an English Parliament, the 'comedy' was just Labour party bile against equal rights for English voters. I'm not asking for Bernard Manning or any comedians from the era when they actually told jokes, but doesn't the BBC licence require some kind of balance to their broadcasting? With the current Sandi Toksvig format they might as well spend 60 minutes reading out a statement from Ed Milliband.

jas xjr

11,309 posts

238 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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comedy is very subjective . moreso on the radio it seems. i cannot understand what is so funny about the goon show , which is a regular feature on radio 4extra. whilst i find it totally unfunny i rtealise that other people love it. not a problem for me.
give radio 4 extra a try , therte is a lot of comedy on there

LimaDelta

6,506 posts

217 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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They'll never beat ISIHAC. RIP Humph.

Spiffing

1,855 posts

209 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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Just a minute and Cabin Pressure are both enjoyable.

Blib

43,789 posts

196 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show is a work of near genius. The TV show, on the other hand, was got at by the dead weight of "quota filling" and was totally unwatchable. A travesty. frown

Blib

43,789 posts

196 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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LimaDelta said:
They'll never beat ISIHAC. RIP Humph.
Though Jack Dee is a fine replacement.

Simes205

4,527 posts

227 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
quotequote all
Blib said:
LimaDelta said:
They'll never beat ISIHAC. RIP Humph.
Though Jack Dee is a fine replacement.
Saw this live last year, after years of trying to get tickets.
By far the best 'regular' comedy on R4.

Remember when Chris Morris had his programs on R4....those were the days.