Russell Brand's Ponderland - Series 1
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 2:56 AM GMT, Martin H said:
That clip on the News of Brand's show looks great, I'm a big Brand fan but haven't liked his previous TV shows Got Issues and his chat show because it seemed Channel 4 kept giving him the wrong format. His best work is his Radio 2 show and I always wanted him to do a TV show where he could be more like he is on there, discussing certain topics as he has many a tale to tell from his youth and it seems finally they've found the right format for him. Ponderland hopefully won't be a let down.
Also he's in Judd Apatows new movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall next year which has been getting great reviews. Apatow had hits this year with Superbad and Knocked Up.
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 2:58 AM GMT, zooo said:
The clip won't work for me, but I agree with everything else you said.
He can have moments of pure genius.
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 3:12 AM GMT, Leevil said:
The clip don't work for me either. But I agree, I like him and his articulation in his accent.
I remember seeing him for the first time on UK Play RE:Brand and then on late night Channel 4, to very weird programs, what was he on? ...oh wait!
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 3:27 AM GMT, hotzappa11 said:
I remember seeing him on MTV doing the Dance Chart. I was really young then. I liked his MTV Show, you know, the Leicester Square one, but no the rest. His radio shows on Radio 2 and 6music were brilliant though.
Can't wait to FSM.
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 3:42 AM GMT, catskillz said:
He had a half-hour comedy special, about 5 years ago, which was weird-as-f**k. He looke a bit different then as well, as he was clean-shaven, and wore really baggy trousers and trainers. My sister swears he acted in a kid's T.V. show, when he was a teenager.
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 4:25 AM GMT, zooo said:
Yeah he did. Can't remember what it was though. He went to that famous performing arts school when he was young.
His Re:brand shows were amazing. They might be on youtube somewhere.
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 4:28 AM GMT, Leevil said:
Wasn't he in Children's Ward? If that's what it was called? I remember seeing a clip on one of those clip shows.
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 4:33 AM GMT, zooo said:
*Gets out her unofficial Russell Brand biography*
*No, really*
Apparently, when he was a teenager he was in something called Mud, and The Bill.
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 12:56 PM GMT, Mark said:
Quote: zooo @ October 16, 2007, 10:58 PMThe clip won't work for me
I think The Sun took their video player offline for maintenance last night which might explain that.
Hopefully you can see it now:
http://www.sitcom.co.uk/news/news.php?story=000307
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 5:51 PM GMT, Martin H said:
I first saw Brand on his Comedy Lab show which was god-awful and a poor attempt at Vic Reeve's Big Night Out, which Brand totally admits, it was back in his drug addiction days and not much planning went into things.
But then his RE:Brand shows are absolutely brilliant, he was also on drugs then too but the show seemed to have more focus, more intelligent as well as funny.
Then when he was signed up to do BBBM's he got cleaned up, went to rehab and has now been drug free for 4 years, so you've got to admire him for that a lot of people can't give up the drugs that easy. I did like him on BBBM just for his witty remarks to guests and the audience, I couldn't really care for the "ball bags" stuff though, but as he says been on live every night of the week on a show about Big Brother it's difficult to come up with brand new stuff all the time, so some things recurred every night.
But his radio shows are his best work, the old 6 Music shows were just superb and it looks like that's the form Ponderland are going to take. The Radio 2 shows are great too but are a bit more over-the-place than the 6 Music shows, like this weeks for example where it was Russell and Noel Fiedling hosting (he was standing in for Matt Morgan who is on holiday), the show was totally manic and not as good as previous weeks, that could be because I don't like Noel Fielding though. 
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 8:02 PM GMT, catskillz said:
When was this Re:brand show on? Is it on youtube?
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 9:56 PM GMT, zooo said:
Yeah, just search for 'RE:Brand'.
They all seem to be there.
Show 1 is my favourite, where he boxes his dad. It's so touching - not what I expected at all.
And, apropos of nothing...
Crikey.
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 9:59 PM GMT, Leevil said:
Aaron's favourite one is where he gives a hand job to that bloke in the toilets 
or is it having sex with the granny or maybe bathing a tramp?
I've read his secret blogs, I know what he gets up to!
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 10:30 PM GMT, zooo said:
The granny one I've actually never finished watching, so I don't know what they ended up doing...
Do I want to know?
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 10:36 PM GMT, Leevil said:
He couldn't go through with it.
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 10:40 PM GMT, zooo said:
Ohthankgod.
On Wednesday 17th October 2007 GMT at 10:45 PM GMT, Leevil said:
Lol, he said he couldn't take advantage of the poor old woman, even though she was up for it, lol.
On Thursday 18th October 2007 GMT at 10:31 PM GMT, Cinnamon said:
Russell Brand....doing a clip show....why not just throw in the corpse of Benny Hill and a pair of fake breasts?
On Thursday 18th October 2007 GMT at 10:32 PM GMT, Martin H said:
It's not a clip show, it's a stand-up show on a specific topic each night.
On Friday 19th October 2007 GMT at 1:35 AM GMT, Aaron said:
Quote: zooo @ October 17, 2007, 5:56 PMAnd, apropos of nothing...
Crikey.
I think Laura's gone all zingy and wobbly below.
Quote: Leevil @ October 17, 2007, 5:59 PMAaron's favourite one is where he gives a hand job to that bloke in the toilets
I've read his secret blogs, I know what he gets up to!
What with the ... ? o_0
On Friday 19th October 2007 GMT at 11:52 PM GMT, Cinnamon said:
Quote: Martin Holmes @ October 18, 2007, 6:32 PMIt's not a clip show, it's a stand-up show on a specific topic each night.
Ah, sorry. An - atrocious - advert for it gave me the wrong impression.
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 2:24 PM GMT, Nick said:
The first episode last night struck me as being like TV Burp but without the charm.
The idea itself is fine as it was clearly dirt cheap to make and there are obviously a lot of funny clips to look at from TV history but the host wasn't funny enough to make it work imo.
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 9:35 PM GMT, zooo said:
I liked it!
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 9:39 PM GMT, Matthew Stott said:
Very, very funny I thought; really good.
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 9:48 PM GMT, RubyMae - Glamourous Snowdrop said:
I have to admit I found Badgerman very funny!
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 9:51 PM GMT, zooo said:
I liked the paint charts, and the fact that the coco pops tune is ALWAYS in his head.
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 9:52 PM GMT, Paul W said:
Yeah twas good, I'm getting over hating russell brand now... and warming to his random style of comedy... althought it was stand up I must admit it did feel a bit clip show like at times.
Still liked it though
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 10:01 PM GMT, Martin H said:
I was disappointed and I'm a huge Brand fan but he just can't seem to be able to make that transition from radio to TV. He's brilliant on the radio and some of the topics on last nights show originally stemmed from the radio show, but on that they just cropped up naturally in the conversation...but on a scripted TV show they just didn't work. Lots of the observations were like amateur open-mic style comedians work, "dogs in playgrounds" etc. There were some funny bits but overall I wasn't that impressed.
I wish they'd give Brand a format like RE:brand again because that was great.
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 10:26 PM GMT, zooo said:
Yes, his documentary style things are always going to be better than him in a studio with an audience.
A new RE:brand would be amazing.
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 10:39 PM GMT, Decisions decisions decisions said:
It would be interesting to see him in a comedy series, playing on his actorial skills, per'aps in a bygone era, with the use of costumery and period set,
This would appear to be Russell Brand at his televisual best, when hamming up the drama in his-self?
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 10:45 PM GMT, zooo said:
Aye.
His straight acting's brilliant (no Victorian elf-ery). See The Abbey.
But I never say no to a period set costume comedy.
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 10:47 PM GMT, Decisions decisions decisions said:
T'would be a very grand thing I reckons!
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 10:51 PM GMT, Martin H said:
Russell's in loads of films next year and one that is a spoof of period dramas so it's very likely he'll be in the whole costume.
I'm most looking forward to him in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (Judd Apatow's new production) and also the new St Trinians.
On Tuesday 23rd October 2007 GMT at 11:08 PM GMT, earman2009 said:
I quite liked Ponderland yesterday and expect it to improve. Russell can be one of the funniest people on the planet when he's at his best.
On Wednesday 24th October 2007 GMT at 4:08 AM GMT, Aaron said:
'Ello to the indecisive one! As for me, I completely forgot that it was on. Woops!
On Wednesday 24th October 2007 GMT at 4:11 AM GMT, zooo said:
That bit about the spasm technique was hilarious.
On Wednesday 24th October 2007 GMT at 3:22 PM GMT, Martin H said:
Yeah Episode 2 was better. The scientist guy doll being carried by his head.
On Wednesday 24th October 2007 GMT at 3:40 PM GMT, Decisions decisions decisions said:
Quote: Aaron @ October 24, 2007, 12:08 AM'Ello to the indecisive one! As for me, I completely forgot that it was on. Woops!
Hi Aaron! / All!
On Wednesday 24th October 2007 GMT at 6:18 PM GMT, catskillz said:
I remember playing 'Daley Thompson's Decathlon', on my friend's Commodore 64, but we used to use a joystick, instead of keys. I remember going into one of those spasms, then, when my wrist got to the stage where it felt like it was going to explode, I'd yell "Takeover!!", and my mate would grab the joystick off me, and carry on. Great days.
On Thursday 25th October 2007 GMT at 12:30 AM GMT, earman2009 said:
I love it when I'm right! That was an improvement over the first one. Looking forward to tonight's.
On Thursday 25th October 2007 GMT at 11:55 PM GMT, earman2009 said:
Crime - My favourite one so far. Russell Brand in the Bill! Brilliant!
On Friday 26th October 2007 GMT at 12:17 AM GMT, Leevil said:
I really like this show, although it's a bit obvious he's reading from an auto cue, looks all unnatural he does.
On Friday 26th October 2007 GMT at 1:22 AM GMT, zooo said:
Which is weird, cos when he wings it he's at his best.
I suppose it's the time constraints though, he has to get all the material into half an hour. That man can go off on a tangent and take hours over it.
It'd still be good though.
On Friday 26th October 2007 GMT at 1:49 PM GMT, chipolata said:
I think he can get tiresome quite fast. Personally, I'd prefer to watch Glen Ponder's Ponderland, which would just be Glen Ponder and his houseband playing Abba covers.
On Friday 26th October 2007 GMT at 2:22 PM GMT, johnny roulette said:
very funny.
i loved the email to serena williams
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 3:20 AM GMT, Martin H said:
This has been the highlight of the night, the rest of the nights comedy has been disappointing but this is very funny. The guy in the sink! 
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 5:32 AM GMT, Frankie Rage said:
I watched twenty minutes of it tonight and thought his material was garbage. Nothing at all new, he's trotting out some right old regurgitated Russell Brand. Heard it.
I like him as a performer but he needs to get a few writers on the case!!!
I'd call it Panderland.. pandering to an audience who have already convinced themselves he's great and just laugh at any old crap he dishes out!!
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 3:23 PM GMT, zooo said:
You officially have no sense of humour.
Or, more accurately - a different one from me when it comes to Brandypants.
Although, I do think that 'love' episode was the least good of the series.
It would be AWFUL if he got writers in. He's a stand up for gawd's sake. When standups get writers in for their own material they should really take that as a sign to pack it in!
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 3:26 PM GMT, Cinnamon said:
Yes, especially when your delivery is worse than that of a Dalek.
It was better than The Eejits though, I will give him that...or maybe I should give him a pat on the back instead...
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 3:32 PM GMT, Martin H said:
Well Matt Morgan writes with him. Love wasn't as good as the previous three episodes but it was still pretty good. The old couple at the end up met up after 50 years and then the next day hated each other.
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 3:39 PM GMT, zooo said:
They are bestest friends though. He's almost part of the act.
I want to see Matt's show about, what was it, tunnels?
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 3:59 PM GMT, Martin H said:
Ha yeah, Tunnel Vision.
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 4:02 PM GMT, Ben said:
I watched it for the first time this week and thought it was so so. When he goes off on a tangent with his surreal flights of fancy he can be very funny, but I always find him at his best when he's improvising as a presenter.
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 4:53 PM GMT, Frankie Rage said:
Quote: zooo @ October 27, 2007, 11:23 AMYou officially have no sense of humour.
Or, more accurately - a different one from me when it comes to Brandypants.
Although, I do think that 'love' episode was the least good of the series.
It would be AWFUL if he got writers in. He's a stand up for gawd's sake. When standups get writers in for their own material they should really take that as a sign to pack it in!
Thanks! It's good to know it's official at last!
I like him as a performer but for me he's good for 5 minutes or so and then it's just too samey. His repertoire just seems very narrow.
I dont think as a stand up it's a golden rule that you can't use writers. I think he should have a number of writers to get something new into his act.
I do think he will improve with age and experience, like a fine wine. He was pleased when I advised him of my opinion and said that he was so relieved I hadn't written him off totally!!!
Hat x
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 4:59 PM GMT, zooo said:
Next time you imaginarily inform him of your opinion, can you imaginarily inform him that he should stop wearing his eyeliner like that.
Thankyou kindly.
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 5:01 PM GMT, Frankie Rage said:
Quote: zooo @ October 27, 2007, 12:59 PMNext time you imaginarily inform him of your opinion, can you imaginarily inform him that he should stop wearing his eyeliner like that.
Thankyou kindly.
He says he's sorry but he thought you liked it..
Do you want an imaginary autograph, I can do you one for a tenner?
Hx
PS Zooo mate ...as our sense of humours are probably different would you have a look at my sketch Driven to distraction in critique and tell me if ANY of it is funny for you! Thanks!!!
On Saturday 27th October 2007 GMT at 5:53 PM GMT, johnny roulette said:
i need to get myself a skyplus
On Sunday 28th October 2007 GMT at 9:20 AM GMT, Quentin said:
As per usual, I am very behind with and have only just got around to watching this on the old sky plus. I wasn't expecting much because I normally find Russell Brand watchable for 10 minutes and then I get bored, but, I really enjoyed this. So much so, I watched four in a row without even realising! As has been mentioned on here, none of it is particularly new but nether the less, it amused me and made me laugh! How many episodes are there? I think I missed the first one.
Q
On Sunday 28th October 2007 GMT at 3:26 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Five so far. (Of six.)
Unless one's been on that I didn't spot.
On Saturday 3rd November 2007 GMT at 12:02 AM GMT, earman2009 said:
I really enjoyed this series. I'd gladly watch a second if there is one. I look forward to the films Russell's going to be in next year.