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Thursday night from 8pm to 10pm, Radio 4 has this programme looking at R4 comedy, which sounds like it might be interesting.
I've been quite disappointed with the most recent round of programmes, particularly the 'new' comedy. I find the Personality Quiz only very occasionally funny and that is largely determined by how much the panel comedians can make out of absolutely nothing. It’s also been a little hamstrung by the guest presenters, IMHO – Ester Rantzen?
I really don't like Ed Reardon's Week which I find patronising and so hideously cliched and stereotype-riddled that I can't possibly imagine who it is supposed to appeal to (I believe it has moved out of the 6.30 evening slot, although that may just be wistful thinking). I caught half of 1966 and All That last week and it seemed quite amusing on occasion – I will certainly give it another go before making my mind up.
There’s another series of Down the Line on at the moment, which I am enjoying more than I did the first series. I think Boboss mentioned above the ranting at talkback radio thing and I get a similar pleasure from this – I listen to part of Radio 5’s phone-in as I cycle to work most mornings and there seems little to distinguish it from the comedy version other than in intent. I think this series has moved a little further away from simple shock value and works in the running/building gags a bit better.
I’ve yet to listen to either Laura Solon or Recorded for Training Purposes, both of which seem to be on around 11pm, and I have heard mixed reviews of both. I will try to listen to the most recent ones from the R4 website over the next couple of days though. Just a minute remains a warm, happy half hour of radio for me and I quite like Sandy Toksvig on the News Quiz, although the quality has been a bit hit and miss over recent weeks.
So, what do people think of the R4 comedy offerings at present? I’m interested to hear what they have to say on Thursday night’s programme because I’d like to see R4 comedy continue to evolve and at the moment, it seems a little stale. This from the Guardian has a few things to say which may, or may not, be relevant and useful. (I think you may have to register to see it, because it is in the media section. It's free to register, but it's not that brilliant an article...). |
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