Channel 4 - You Have Been Watching
A Review of Charlie Brooker's New Comedy TV Show
Initially, when Charlie Brooker’s You Have Been Watching first appeared on Channel 4 a couple of weeks ago it didn’t seem like the kind of show to get too excited about. You Have Been Watching was one thing that British television just didn’t need – another satirical panel show. Surely we don’t need another show with more C-List comedians split into teams with the false pretence of some kind of points system shoe-horned in to proceedings only to provide some kind of structure to the mickey-take?… Yawn, yawn.
It’s all that seems to be on these days. Whether it’s music satire Never Mind The Buzzcocks, current affairs satire Mock The Week or Have I Got News For You? Now don’t get me wrong, television needs its panel shows but aren’t we reaching overkill? What next, a satirical panel show satirising other panel shows?
Equal disappointment ensued with the realisation that Charlie Brooker would be fronting the show. His fantastically grumpy take on the week’s television programmes was perfectly matched for a BBC4 production. Relatively low-key, Charlie Brooker’s Screen Wipe had gained a cult following on the digital channel. But is he now selling his soul to mainstream television? Surely Harry Hill has got television satire sewn up with his brilliant TV Burp. Is there really any ground left to cover with this format?
Charlie Brooker’s You Have Been Watching Makes Great Viewing
In fact the answer to that question is yes. There will always be a steady stream of dross on our screens to ritualistically mock and You Have Been Watching is brilliantly funny in this respect. Despite having been resigned to the probability of this show being a re-hash of other panel shows, it’s surprising that you just can’t help but get drawn in to it. Laughing at the absurdity of British television these days is always an easy task.
During the course of the show Brooker highlights some of the more bizarre moments from the week’s TV and along with three studio guests proceeds to tear them to shreds. Nobody is safe from Brooker’s wrath, some of the country’s favourite shows coming in for derision, the BBC’s Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood being one example. Brooker and guest Frank Skinner ruthlessly mocked the ridiculously high number, and ever more elaborate, death scenes suffered by lead actor John Barrowman. Brooker then branding Torchwood "The Welsh X-Men".
The more bizarre the television the better, and the more ammunition Brooker and his guests have to play with. Unsurprisingly, the TV coverage of Michael Jackson’s funeral came in for extensive criticism. As far as eccentric TV goes then this was a comedy goldmine, as Brooker himself put it, the funeral was “the 9/11 of odd”. SKY television’s rather insensitive coverage of the funeral was held out to dry with their news channel comparing the musician’s funeral with that of Diana and crassly awarding points to each for extravagance. The BBC’s coverage didn’t escape criticism either, commentators Trevor Nelson and Paul Gambaccini being mocked for betting on who would be the first guest at the tribute to shed tears. It was a funeral after all!
Reality television seems to provide much of the material in You Have Been Watching with Big Brother, Come Dine With Me and new ‘talent’ show One And Other featuring heavily so far in the series.
Brooker Proves to be a Suitable Host
Brooker as the show’s host is clearly at his best when he has a high standard of guest to spar with and bounce comical retorts back and forth to. The first episode of You Have Been Watching attracted two largely unfunny comedians and, randomly, the singer Jamelia (?). However the popularity of the programme seems to be spreading, attracting a greater calibre of comedian. Frank Skinner and Frankie Boyle have been the highlights of the series so far, two great observational comedians whose style lends itself superbly to this format.
Now that Charlie Brooker has made the migration to terrestrial TV expect the funnyman to become a television regular, especially if You Have Been Watching is anything to go by. Although hopefully Brooker will continue to explore other avenues of television comedy, the writer is far from a one trick pony. Last year’s Channel 4 mocku-drama Dead Set, which was penned by Brooker, showed that he is as adept at creating great television as he is at mocking it. And long may it continue.
• Charlie Brooker’s You Have Been Watching can be seen on Channel 4 on Tuesday’s at 10.00pm
You Have Been Watching
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