John Richards makes a surprise appearance in the studio to give us an update on the shooting of Outland and he also tells us about your chance to be a part of Australian television history.
We review the new US comedy Mike & Molly.
Geraldine Hickey is our very special guest host.
This week’s question: What other animals can be associated with toilet paper? Let us know in an email.
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20 Comments
David Boxcutter says:
Dissing Ben Elton’s comedic abilities only one week after having Tim Ferguson on the show? That’s rich.
Trizshjen says:
i definitely vote for “this bit”, intentionally poor or not
Jen says:
Hello fellows,
I wish to vote for keeping “this week” please.
Brilliant show this week (as usual). I too loathe Ben Elton.
Thank you,
Jen.
Brett says:
@David: Tim Ferguson is likable and a good performer and deep thinker and pushes the bounds of what’s funny or what people should be talking about.
Ben Elton, on the other hand, is arrogant and cynical and self satisfied and comes up with lowest common denominator material or plays to populist ideas for what’s in it for him.
Ben Elton has a very real physical effect on me because of the many ways in which he is no good.
Tim is lovely.
Both of these views are based solely on my observations of their public performances or output. I haven’t had opportunity to speak directly with Ben Elton but I suspect that the experience would not be 1% as fun or engaging as my experiences with Tim have been.
But seriously, what is wrong with this country that we have an imported fucknut like Elton being given a commercial, prime-time gig and a local genius like Tony Martin gets a once a month, half-hour conversation on the ABC at 10pm?
Adam D(oxcutter) says:
The Young Ones wasn’t bloody Ben Elton’s work anyway. He was brought in because Rik Mayall wanted someone to make his ideas work, and Lise Mayer came up with all the idiosyncratic cutaways like rats playing cards or whatever.
If you want an example of Ben Elton’s solo work from the ’80s, look at Filthy Rich and Catflap. I doubt any part of the phrase ‘comedy genius’ applies to that show.
David Boxcutter says:
@David: Tim Ferguson is likable and a good performer and deep thinker and pushes the bounds of what’s funny or what people should be talking about.
Maybe 20 years ago.
But seriously, what is wrong with this country that we have an imported fucknut like Elton being given a commercial, prime-time gig and a local genius like Tony Martin gets a once a month, half-hour conversation on the ABC at 10pm?
I agree with this sentiment, because Tony Martin is still funny.
darrenboxcutter says:
In regards to the clip you played for Mike & Molly I couldn’t get passed the laugh track. I am surprised that didn’t annoy you guys.
Ben Boxcutter-Roxas says:
I agree with darrenboxcutter, Mike & Molly must be the best physical comedy in years because the audio clip you played was unrelenting dross.
I predict Elton’s show will only screen four episodes. Smarmy English blokes don’t do great here, as a rule.
Josh Kinal says:
I think my record on hating a laugh track is well documented. It’s takes some pretty great comedy for me to get through a laffer (as they call them in Variety).
The pilot of this show is funny. It’s really funny. I haven’t watched a three camera sitcom in years and this one grabbed me.
It’s worth a look.
Anne says:
I’ve just been watching some Mike & Molly clips on Youtube and it’s MUCH funnier than the clip played in this ep. Looking forward to seeing more of it.
+1 for TWOB 😀
Trizshjen says:
i am hoping for a walking dead review next week, i have been absolutely loving it and would love to hear what you have to say about it
Ben Boxcutter-Roxas says:
+1 re: Walking Dead as I think it has interesting subject, production values and pacing. First episode was stunning but the subsequent ones have each been quite different. Is it in fact possible to make a coherent ongoing TV series about zombies?
Sophie says:
+1 on Walking Dead!
I mentioned it on the boxcutters fb page awhile ago, and they said they’d take a look.
However, one should never hold someone to something they said on facebook. 🙂
Rob Boxcutter says:
I think the entire zombie genre has been done to death.
Ben Boxcutter-Roxas says:
@Rob In film perhaps, but I can’t think of any zombie TV shows off the top of my head.
Do apocalyptic settings work for TV series? I’m not being rhetorical, I’m genuinely interested in whether the themes and setting can work in episodic form. I guess recent comparators like Survivors aren’t encouraging.
Ben Boxcutter-Roxas says:
@Rob In film perhaps, but I can’t think of any zombie TV shows off the top of my head.
Do apocalyptic settings work for TV series? I’m not being rhetorical, I’m genuinely interested in whether the themes and setting can work in episodic form. I guess recent comparators like Survivors and The Colony aren’t encouraging.
Ben Boxcutter-Roxas says:
Sorry about the duplicate comment – 3G connection issues.
Rob Boxcutter says:
@BB-R I was just being punny.
John Richards says:
Dead Set was a very good zombie TV show, but as it was only 6 episodes and told one continuous story it was virtually a movie in instalments. Only zombie TV show I can think of. Really looking forward to seeing Walking Dead.
Ben Boxcutter-Roxas says:
@Rob Ah, humour. I’ve read about that concept.