The Appalling State of Radio 4 Comedy

[exosculate]

Its the plays I find most tedious of all - and the Archers - probabaly the most sickly twee writing I have ever heard.

 

[boha]

Genius with Dave Gorman was good, and Noble Goes global is pretty funny (listening to it at the moment).

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

god, it's dire at the moment.. that Not Today Thankyou nonsense on Tuesdays, a dreadful sketch show on now (Fordham & Lipson's something or other.. ). The Museum of Everything - which is pretty crap - is a work of genius in comparison.

And i guess Quote.. Unquote will be back soon

I heard an intro for a programme, think it was the Fordham and Lipson thing. Gawd, it was cringeworthily awful. So bad I had to turn my radio off.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

'Down the line' a few months ago was pretty excellent, but yes there are some real turkeys out there. Maybe no-one's interested in the medium anymore.

Mark Thomas did a really great documentary on US radio comedy this week over a few nights. Featuring the National Lampoon & Firesign shows, explaining how is was the vietnam war that brought real dissent to comedy.

 

[Kaka Tim]

I think 'The Now show' is fucking dire - especailly the dull dull dull musical comedy numbers. If that's the best in contemporary satire than god help us - it seems more like a job creation scheme for has been comedians lke punt and dennis.

Also on the shit list is ned sherrin - smug oxbridge tosser who's career is wholly based on having gone to college with the likes of Peter Cook (ditto Clive anderson and Clive James).

'The news quiz' is good if they have decent guests.

'Just a minute' and 'sorry I haven't a clue' are all listenable and sort of reassuring - like the shipping forecast.

Mark Steel lectures were good when they were on the radio.

 

[trashpony]

The news quiz is back next Friday. Thank god.

 

[snouty warthog]

Mark Steel lectures were good when they were on the radio.

I've heard that Mark Steel sometimes works as a comedian- is this true???

 

[exosculate]

I've heard that Mark Steel sometimes works as a comedian- is this true???

Are you joking?

 

[Dubversion]

very amusing and very true - http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1873020,00.html

 

[King Mob]

I remember the days when Radio One used to have a huge comedy output. Now we have Jo Whiley telling us how brilliant everything she likes is and Colin and Edith wittering on about how brilliant their night out was.

Ah well.

 

[Dubversion]

and now, The Party Line.

possibly the weakest yet - another 'topical' political comedy show.

By Punt and Dennis.

It's REALLY shit

 

[souljacker]

Punt and Dennis shit? Who'd have thunk it!

Steve Punt's face needs a slap.
Hugh Dennis' voice needs to be ripped out of his neck.

As you can imagine, I like them on neither radio or TV.

 

[tangerinedream]

The worst thing I have ever heard was that thing recently with Brian Hayes, (was that not today thankyou?) which made the Punt and Dennis show sound like comedy gold.

I echo the comment regarding the Dave Gorman thing, it's simple and works.

 

[Ned Pointsman]

very amusing and very true - http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1873020,00.html

That's the sort of people who tune in to hear Paul Lewis, the most annoying man on radio bar Sue Lawley, or Vincent Duggleby, the man with the best name on radio, talk about Isas, pensions and stuff.

As you said, its seasonal, you get ISIHAC, The Now Show (which I quite like, surprised its inspired such vitriol) and the odd decent midweek show all on at the same time, then 12 weeks of 'quote twatting unquote,' 'claire in the cunting community,' and that other one on fridays thats shit.

Plus the decent shows only have to do six week runs whereas the wank gets 12(?), probably because they're cheaper.

 

[Pie 1]

I don't mind the Now Show that much (aside from the appaling musical numbers)
and of course ISIHAC Just a Minute & The News Quiz. (which reminds me: is Toksvig doing anyone else's head in?)

The rest is pretty unlistenable.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

My name is Mrs Magpie and I like Quote Unquote...agree about that dire thing with Brian Hayes and the Now Show....I don't bother with the two hander skit shows...very tedious on the whole.....

 

[Pie 1]

unquote

Sorry

 

[Skim]

and now, The Party Line.

possibly the weakest yet - another 'topical' political comedy show.

By Punt and Dennis.

It's REALLY shit

It's truly awful, isn't it? One of those R4 shows that had me lurching for the off switch.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Did anyone else find themselves unable to avoid listening last night to the rectal effluvium otherwise known as "The Hollow Men"?

 

[Idris2002]

Do they still have 'Week Ending'? That was pretty dire.

I did like the 'House of Milton Jones' though.

 

[soonplus]

i thought this was okay:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/tomorrowtoday/pip/pn6pd/
'tomorrow, today!'

richard herrings radio 2 comedy which has just finished was also amusing in places

 

[Dubversion]

Genius! is very good

 

[sparkling]

Heard completely by accident a really good and funny show the other week..called 1966 and all that (I think). It really made me laugh, but it was on about 11.30 am on a Thursday I think.