Things that you know will be shit

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

7 minutes ago, Devon Malcolm said:

How long before Nigel Farage gets the "hey he's a cunt but he's actually quite funny!!!" guest slot. I'll give it 4 episodes.

Farage is one of those people who doesn't realise that The Pub Landlord is a character so you could just book Al Murray and Farage would retweet clips of it. Al would be cheaper and you wouldn't have to deal with Farage. 

[Dr. Alan Grant]

Of all the things you know will be shit that have been posted in this thread, nothing has come close to being surefire 100% shit than the prospect of SNL UK. 

[Chili]

12 minutes ago, Dr. Alan Grant said:

Of all the things you know will be shit that have been posted in this thread, nothing has come close to being surefire 100% shit than the prospect of SNL UK. 

There's so many reasons beyond just it would be shit too, the structure of US and UK comedy systems for a start and the absolute lack of probably any true working class voices on the writing teams will probably not help either.

[Carbomb]

It's like they haven't learned their lessons from 10 O'Clock Live. 

[HarmonicGenerator]

1 minute ago, Carbomb said:

It's like they haven't learned their lessons from 10 O'Clock Live. 

I was going to say, have they never tried an unofficial UK equivalent before?

There are some fantastic sketch groups and performers around at the moment, some well-established (Tarot are a highlight of the Fringe every time I've seen them) and some up-and-coming (Newcastle group Your Aunt Fanny are brilliant and I'd love for any of them to get a chance on TV). Whether they'll get the opportunity, or if SNL:UK's equivalent of "raid Second City and UCB" will just be "who's graduating from the Footlights this year", is another matter.

[Lorne Malvo]

Can't wait to see comics like Jimmy Carr and Nish Kumar get a chance for once.

[Chico Torres]

Tonight’s guest host, Jess Phillips

[FLips]

Ricky Gervais would host the debut for sure.

[Hannibal Scorch]

29 minutes ago, HarmonicGenerator said:

I was going to say, have they never tried an unofficial UK equivalent before?

There are some fantastic sketch groups and performers around at the moment, some well-established (Tarot are a highlight of the Fringe every time I've seen them) and some up-and-coming (Newcastle group Your Aunt Fanny are brilliant and I'd love for any of them to get a chance on TV). Whether they'll get the opportunity, or if SNL:UK's equivalent of "raid Second City and UCB" will just be "who's graduating from the Footlights this year", is another matter.

We had Saturday/Friday Live which gave us the launching pad for Harry Enfield and Fry and Laurie, but it wasn't sketches as much as more stand up routines (even Loadsamoney and Stavros I wouldn't consider sketches), but I think that's the nearest. The Mash Report was an attempt at a Daily Show style show, but weekly and no-where near as good. Late night talkshows have never worked here either. It's strange how we've never really got things so successful in the US right when we've tried the same format.

[Carbomb]

Thing is we don't really need that kind of programme, I think. HIGNFY and Mock The Week do a pretty decent job of that. Besides, if the ill-advised resurrection of Spitting Image was anything to go by, the kind of people running TV at the moment are not the ones you want producing new political/current affairs comedy content.

[Vamp]

I was under the impression that the American version was considered shit nowadays and is mostly still around as an institution. 

[Tim Healys Chutney Spoon]

9 minutes ago, Carbomb said:

Thing is we don't really need that kind of programme, I think. HIGNFY and Mock The Week do a pretty decent job of that. Besides, if the ill-advised resurrection of Spitting Image was anything to go by, the kind of people running TV at the moment are not the ones you want producing new political/current affairs comedy content.

Mock The Week has been cancelled for a few years now, sadly.

[Carbomb]

1 minute ago, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

Mock The Week has been cancelled for a few years now, sadly.

Fair enough. Haven't watched much regular telly for some time.

[Lorne Malvo]

10 minutes ago, Tim Healys Chutney Spoon said:

Mock The Week has been cancelled for a few years now, sadly.

I must've missed your post about it in the death thread!

[Chili]

Thing is a UK SNL could work, if you use it to try and discover new talent and be brave enough to tackle every view point (like HIGNFY did or does with it's choice of guests), that isn't punching down or being offensive to the obvious, even having 'controversial' hosts from different perspectives. However most people will be too hyper aware of their image, it doesn't have the bedding that SNL has as an institution and SNL beginning in the 70's probably plays a factor in it's acceptance. Plus it'll be people like fucking Rob Beckett or something. Because a cast of unknowns simply probably won't sell, even though that's the risk the original US format has always taken with some exceptions. It could work, but the entire system of how everything runs in today's age will probably not let that work.

Edited April 10, 2025 by Chili