Screw sitcoms its the Britains Best Sketchcom thread

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So before the voting my nominations.

Jam
Fist of Fun
Absolutely (come to think of it where was Mr. Don and Mr. George in the Sitcoms?)
Adam and Joe Show
Alexei Sayles Stuff
Monty Python
Armstrong and Miller
The Vic and Bob stuff (not inc Shooting Stars)
A bit of Fry and Laurie
Brass Eye
Bremner Bird and Fortune
The Mary Whitehouse Experience
The Day Today
The Paul Merton Show/Paul Merton the Series
The Saturday Night Armistice + specials
Smack the Pony
Alas Smith and Jones
Spitting Image
Naked Video
This Morning with Richard not Judy.
Not the nine o'clock news.
The Goon Show (radio)
Harry Hills Fruit Corner (radio)

So what are your nominations?

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Aaaaah, Naked Video, where are you now?

― the icebox (nordicskilla), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Jarlr'mai I am overjoyed that there is no Fast Show or Harry Enfield in your list.

Does the League of Gentlemen count?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd like to include Rutland Weekend Television.

― Chriddof (Chriddof), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Jam -- when return bring funny.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:44 (twenty-two years ago)

If this was a real poll, Alastair McGowan's Big Impression, the Fast Show and Harry Enfield would be the top three, no question.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:44 (twenty-two years ago)

"Does the League of Gentlemen count?"

It's actually more of a sitcom, but I guess it could count....

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Monday, 19 January 2004 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Fist of Fun, if only for the Kurious Oranj

― Michael B, Monday, 19 January 2004 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

was the Curious Orange on Fist Of Fun? i thought he didn't appear until TMWRNJ which i was just thinking about the other day and how it is the best programme to have been televised on a Sunday, ever.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

wot no 11 O Clock Show? ;)

my top ten:

The Day Today
The Smell Of Reeves & Mortimer
Monty Python
This Morning With Richard Not Judy
Adam & Joe
Fist Of Fun
On The Hour (i've heard so little but enough to be convinced of its greatness)
Vic Reeves Big Night Out
Brass Eye
The Mary Whitehouse Experience
Newman And Baddiel In Pieces

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

oop, replace Newman And Baddiel with The Fast Show

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

i think Harry Enfield's FIRST series on BBC was his best ever work - Grayson & Cholmondley-Wardner was a favourite. who was the man who played Mr Cholmondley-Wardner and did he appear in anything else?

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

A quick look on imdb shows that his name is Jon Glover and he was in the great forgotten programme that was "The Staggering Stories of Ferdinand de Bargos". This may not have been as great as I remember, but still, I have fond memories of it (not that I even remembered its existence until two minutes ago, but...)

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow. Blast from the Past and then some.

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:33 (twenty-two years ago)

yeh amazingly that does ring tiny bells

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

no big train? that's be in my top 5 at least

― Slump Man (Slump Man), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The Staggering Stories of Ferdinand de Bargos.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/s/staggeringstorie_7775950.shtml

I have vague memories of this being rather good.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

It was just an extension of the put-new-voiceovers-on-old-film-clips staple of Whose Line is it Anyway, but I seem to remember loving it.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Add Big Train to the list... with "The actor Kevin Eldon"

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

That animation one that's on at the moment on BBC3 is really really good, so good in fact that I can't remember its name. Something Monkey or summat?

― chris (chris), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Monkey Dust?

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Monkey Dust. it has it's moments, i did like the Grannies doing the internet dial-up sounds, and the Game Show Host who talks like a Game Show Host all the time.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

On The Hour=radio, surely?

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

What, no love for Thompson?

Big Train
Bruiser (for Ally C)
Reeves & Mortimer
The Fast Show

No others, ever.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:48 (twenty-two years ago)

yes On The Hour is radio. is this a problem?

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:49 (twenty-two years ago)

N. hates (fist of) fun. Amongst others. Bah.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:50 (twenty-two years ago)

yes, I like Monkey Dust, a lot. It has just enough darkness, I think Big Train got it about right too, Chris Morris uses it like a whore uses cheap rouge though.

― chris (chris), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:50 (twenty-two years ago)

what about...

Inside Victor Lewis-Smith (correct title?)
TV Offal

he is often overlooked but there was some decent material in these shows.

People Like Us? it's precursor This Is David Lander? neither sketchcom or sitcom really....docucom?

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Chewin' The Fat may be a little too Scotland-specific for some, but the series after the first one are genius. See also Only An Excuse - although being about Scottish football this may be even more obscure for some...

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Fist of Fun student wankers etc. (OK I love it)

If we're shunning the deaf by including radio shows, then I'll choose the R1 incarnation of FoF.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Well I guess it's a sitcom in as much as The Office is a sitcom. Is there, or should there be, a genre for that and Marion & Geoff and Up In Town and Look Around You and that sort of thing?

Only An Excuse is rubbish

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 January 2004 16:57 (twenty-two years ago)

I have never seen Only an Excuse on telly but the Evening Times incarnation is indeed rubbish. I never want to look at that pair of grinning 'funniest football page' writers again.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

It doesn't work on telly, but the translation into print into the Evening Times is the lamest thing ever. It's a show where people do impressions, attempting to translate impressions to print is the stupidest idea ever. That, and their gag-writers are the worst in the world.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

You mean they don't even write their own? What do they do?

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Chris Morris' best work was on Radio 1, on his own show, then on Blue Jam, which pisses all over the TV version.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

How revolting! I'm sick of all this dark uncompromising humour.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:09 (twenty-two years ago)

(best snobby response I can muster : his best work was on GLR)

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

N. - The TV show has a stack of writers who aren't Jonathan Watson - I have no idea who writes the Times column (isn't stuff like knowing that your job?)

(x-post - this is about Only An Excuse)

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Not being snobby, it's just what I did my homework to. Never heard the GLR, but I'll believe you.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:13 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Monty Python's Flying Circus would easily win any proper telly poll, but Big Train was marvellous. Will it ever be repeated?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Top ten:

Week Ending (Radio)
The Now Show (Radio) (first 7 or 8 series were not great, last two or three were fantastic)
Spitting Image
League of Gentlemen
Little Britain
On the Hour
The Day Today
Brass Eye
The goons (uncertain land between sketch and sitcom where the same characters have a different sit every week)
Blue Jam (radio)

Bubbling under:

Harry Hill's Fruit Fancies
Harry Hill's Fruit Corner (Radio)
Mark Thomas (Comedy) Product
Vic Reeves Big Night Out
Monty Python
The Mark Steel lectures (Radio)(If mark thomas gets in so does this)

― Ed (dali), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh and the Armistice, Mary whitehouse, big train and the first series of Goodness Gracious me all bubbling under.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Why don't people like The Fast Show? explain proper

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:21 (twenty-two years ago)

My reason = it doesn't make me laugh. Bit of a failing in a comedy show.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:23 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with Ed except for anything involving Ma*k T*om*s.

I like the Fast Show, it's way better than 'LoG'.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

The fast show is pretty good , It just doesn't make my top sketchcom list. I'll happily watch it and it has some fine moments but is it as good as, say, Harry Hill's TV show which doesn't make my list either.

― Ed (dali), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:25 (twenty-two years ago)

professional secretary botherer Mark Thomas is that?

― chris (chris), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

the very same

― Ed (dali), Monday, 19 January 2004 17:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I urge all to try and find an American friend with a Mr Show DVD.

Big Train's second series was dreadful, I seem to remember.

― Chuck Tatum (Chuck Tatum), Monday, 19 January 2004 19:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Despite its name, surely the Mark Thomas Comedy Product was as far removed from a comedy (and certainly a sketch show) as could be imagined? Or did he do something else that I'm not thinking of right now?

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 January 2004 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Mr Show is not the same The Mr Hell Show (which I thought was alright) i assume

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 19 January 2004 19:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Is the Mr Hell Show that thing that Bob Monkhouse did the voice for? That was OK.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 19 January 2004 19:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Not Only But Also... although sadly I have seen very little of it: partly due to the BBC's unfathomable policy of destroying master-tapes in the 60s/70s, and partly as extant episodes are virtually never repeated. All I have seen is from a recent BBC Cook & Moore 'comedy legends' type video shebang, that includes many sketches from the show.

"Jam" is indeed nowhere near as effective as "Blue Jam"... the material seems intrinsically suited to the audio-only form. I loved it that we got whole tunes being played inbetween sketches as well, which made it all so much more of a hazy experience, with dialogue occasionally even intruding upon the music unexpectedly. Some surprising choices of songs, and always at least creating just the right peculiar atmosphere. Listening to some of the BJ shows fairly recently, many of the more startling and amusing sketches had far less 'shock value' than the stuff generally gone for in "Jam". "David Bowie's Romantic Dinners", inexplicable swimming pool madness, a 45-year-old man being asked for ID of his being 18 in a corner shop! etc.

"Jam" was still good and touchstone TV (David Cann gave sublime performances), but it wasn't as brilliant a thing as "Blue Jam".

― Tom May (Tom May), Monday, 19 January 2004 21:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I urge all to try and find an American friend with a Mr Show DVD

I urge everyone east of the Atlantic to avoid at all cost.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 19 January 2004 22:01 (twenty-two years ago)

shit, when I saw this thread the first thing I thought of was naked video and it was mentioned in the first 2 posts, also Mr Hell that was good I remember pissing myself to a bit called 'golden baby'. Has anyone seen 'focus north' and also there was a good one with Simon Munnery where he went round on a modified mini bus wearing a hat and cape.

― see ar (see ar), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 03:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I remember laffing quite a lot at the second series of Big Train. But then I was being taped for the laff track and they'd given us free booze.

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 09:44 (twenty-two years ago)

My gosh, there are so many sketch comedies over there.
Here it's more of a limited commodity.

― Squirrel_Police (Squirrel_Police), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 10:09 (twenty-two years ago)

smack the pony is pretty much entirely rubbish

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 10:16 (twenty-two years ago)

A Bit of Fry and Laurie and Absolutely - first two series of each at least - a long way ahead of anything else in the conventional sketchshow canon. (I may live to regret being such a champion of Absolutely should C4 repeat it, and it turns to have been sub-Python whimsy).

Jam inferior to Blue Jam, yes, but, in its small cache of unique material it did give us "Double bum gun" with the Doris soundtrack and the "sexual favours for real estate" long-form sketch, which is just the most bleakly, nauseatingly WRONG and hilarious thing I've ever seen on telly.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 10:27 (twenty-two years ago)

oh fgod, Smack the pony is so unfunny, as was goodness gracious me. Russ Abbott was better for sobbing out loud (I may be exaggerating here)

― chris (chris), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 10:43 (twenty-two years ago)

bang bang

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 10:44 (twenty-two years ago)

focus north was fantastic but buried late at night on channel 4 so no one saw it. It starred the guy from the Northern Upholstery adverts.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 20 January 2004 11:01 (twenty-two years ago)

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