Five British TV Comedy Shows to Avoid
From Horne & Corden to My Hero to Keeping Up Appearances
Apr 23, 2009
British television comedy has a fine tradition going back to the early days of Hancock's Half Hour and The Goons to modern day classics such as Spaced and QI. But along the way there have been a few slip ups some of which are gone and forgotten and others are bizarrely given extended runs. Here is a short of of five that should be lost from the public consciousness.
Baddiel’s Syndrome (Sky One: 2001)
Let’s get this out of the way now, given the right context David Baddiel is a funny guy. Although he’s been over shadowed in both of his major comedy double acts he still has the capacity for some great routines. Unfortunately he spoilt that by coming up with a sitcom vehicle that goes nowhere and had less jokes than a Leonard Cohen album.
Thankfully as it was hidden away on Sky One few people actually bothered to tune in. Baddiel’s Syndrome is not even worth tracking down to see how bad it is – just don’t waste your time.
Horne & Corden (BBC Three: 2009)
BBC Three has churned out some horrid sketch shows since its inception such as Tittybangbang and Little Miss Jocelyn but this takes the prize for the most mind numbingly awful, patronising and just downright stupid mess ever produced on the “yoof” channel which only saw light of day because James Horne and Matthew Corden are quite famous because of Gavin & Stacy.
The boys need congratulating for one thing though as they wrote not only a laughter free comedy show but also one that is so abysmal that it’s depressing. The worst part is that it’s directed by Kathy Burke, a fine actress who really should know better. The two behind this show need to take a break for a few months and not do anything to safe the risk of becoming over exposed and less welcome than the tagline "starring Paris Hilton".
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (BBC Two, BBC Choice, BBC Three: 2001 - Present)
BBC Three again, this time with a long running sitcom about a group of moronic friends and their pathetic lives aimed directly at the sort of idiots the Beeb thinks tunes into their third channel and despite being ridiculed and hated by everyone else is still going. It’s like My Chemical Romance, active since 2001 yet still gets on your nerves the more times you see it.
Just as some people claim that March of the Penguins highlights the existance of a higher deity crafting life, five minutes of watching Two Pints of Lager... is enough to prove that this is a Godless universe after all.
Keeping Up Appearances (BBC One: 1990 -1995)
It’s a shame that Patricia Routledge will be remembered by most people for playing one of the most horrible and shallow TV characters to ever exist. Keeping up Appearances is about a suburban snob of working class roots Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "Bouquet" – oh ha ha, that joke is so great it must be repeated at least five times an episode) who constantly strives to be higher up in society all the while berating her husband Richard (Clive Swift).
Keeping up Appearances was void of genuine laughs and also incredibly dull. The series creator Roy Clarke also came up with Last of the Summer Wine, which says everything you need to know about it.
My Hero (BBC One: 2000 - 2006)
It looks so great on paper doesn’t it? A nice-but-dim super hero called Thermoman (Ardal O'Hanlon) comes to Earth to live a normal life but because he has little understanding of humans hilarity ensues. Or not.
O'Hanlon’s career was saved due to the fact that he remains one of Ireland’s most well known comics and starred in the fantastic Father Ted. Just as it couldn’t get any worse James Dreyfus took over in the title role in series six and even long term fans gave up on it before the show was then cancelled. There have been talks for a reprise but apparently not even ITV will touch it. Blimey, that’s saying something.
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