The Wrong Door
On Wednesday 6th August 2008 GMT at 1:07 AM GMT, Mark said:
Here's some clips from this new BBC3 sketch show which starts towards the end of the month... http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/the_wrong_door/videos/
The computer animation must have cost a bomb, and is very impressive in places - but overall I wonder whether a lot of the humour is going to have been pushed aside by the technical trickery. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
On Wednesday 6th August 2008 GMT at 6:07 PM GMT, Eggie said:
I heard a bit about this when I was doing this TVYP thing at Edinburgh.
According to the woman I spoke to, it doesn't cost very much at all. You can see why it wouldn't, you can do that kind of post production stuff wuth one guy and a laptop these days.
I liked the sketch, especially the way it pulled it's punchlines by going for the mundane reactions.
On Thursday 7th August 2008 GMT at 2:14 AM GMT, Stan Doubt said:
The new website can do video!
Hmmm, I think the effects were there to compensate for the lack of jokes - those were the best sketches!? I can't believe Matt Berry didn't even make it funny. 
On Thursday 7th August 2008 GMT at 4:21 AM GMT, sootyj said:
I saw the date one.
I would be thoroughly embarassed to have written that, and would expect a severe drubbing if I put it on critique.
Oh well plan B mutant baboon army to take over the world.
On Saturday 16th August 2008 GMT at 12:04 AM GMT, Tim Walker said:
Just saw a trailer clip for this on BBC3. A restuarant "Death By Chocolate" gag which I would disown my 9 year old daughters for writing.
On Saturday 16th August 2008 GMT at 12:08 AM GMT, ContainsNuts said:
I can't wait to see this, BSGer Phill Barron is on the writing team for this so lets all give it a watch.
On Saturday 16th August 2008 GMT at 12:13 AM GMT, Tim Walker said:
Quote: ContainsNuts @ August 15 2008, 9:08 PM BSTI can't wait to see this, BSGer Phill Barron is on the writing team for this so lets all give it a watch.
I hope the trailer is not representative of the whole. I'm dying to see a sketch show I really like. And congrats to Phil
On Saturday 16th August 2008 GMT at 12:22 AM GMT, Aaron said:
The guy who plays the waiter in that death by chocolate sketch is great.
Can't remember his name though.
On Saturday 16th August 2008 GMT at 2:00 AM GMT, Ben said:
I can wait to see it!
I don't hold Phill responsible if it is awful though. Well done on getting another TV credit.
On Saturday 16th August 2008 GMT at 2:05 AM GMT, ContainsNuts said:
Quote: Winterlight @ August 15 2008, 11:00 PM BST
I don't hold Phill responsible if it is awful though.
Oh, I do.
On Saturday 16th August 2008 GMT at 9:09 AM GMT, Phill said:
Quote: ContainsNuts @ August 15 2008, 11:05 PM BSTOh, I do.
Me too. I take full responsibility for all the good bits.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 3:49 AM GMT, Mark said:
The Wrong Door starts tonight then (10:30pm).
I've now watched the first episode and to be fair to the show, the trailers haven't done it justice. It's not boring like they made it look, it's actually a highly inventive show which held my attention through-out. Whether it's actually funny though is another matter - I was entertained by all the clever ideas and CGI, but I didn't laugh much (I found the 'annoying thing' cute, is that wrong?).
They've clearly spent an absolute packet on the project. Not only is there all that movie-standard CGI in the show, but check out the official website - I think it's the most detailed and high-budget official site for a British comedy that I've ever seen: http://www.bbc.co.uk/wrongdoor/
And congratulations Phill - I've discovered which sketches were yours and, I have to say, getting to write for those actors (well, two of them) is fantastic. I'm a particularly big fan of A.M. (Have you said which sketches are yours yet? I'm not sure if I needed to be cryptic here or not!).
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 3:51 AM GMT, zooo said:
Is this the one with the dinosaur sketch?
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 3:53 AM GMT, Nil Putters said:
Cool website.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 3:57 AM GMT, zooo said:
Quote: Mark @ August 28 2008, 12:49 AM BSTI'm a particularly big fan of A.M.
Ooooh, would he be off T.T.O.I.? If so, me too.
Hee. Being (probably) needlessly cryptic is fun.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 4:04 AM GMT, Mark said:
Quote: zooo @ August 28 2008, 12:57 AM BSTOoooh, would he be off T.T.O.I.? If so, me too.
Yes, that's the one. He was great in T.I. too!
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 4:13 AM GMT, zooo said:
Oh noes. Now I'm stuck.
*five minutes pass*...
No, I'm with you now! He played the G.D.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 1:10 PM GMT, Phill said:
No secret, I wrote the Superhero Tryouts and maybe some other odds and sods. So I guess A. M. is Alex McQueen but T.T.O.I? T.I? You've lost me.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 1:36 PM GMT, sootyj said:
To be blunt it's shockingly poor, not only is it profoundly unfunny, but it's a case of spot the film/tv show it ripped off.
The most annoying creature is quite fun, but thats not much.
Sex fantasy guy is good.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 1:48 PM GMT, Stan Doubt said:
Wasn't going to watch this because the trailers have been so poor, but with Mark's recommendation and Phill's undoubted talents, will give it a go. The website is superb.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 1:52 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Quote: Mark @ August 28 2008, 12:49 AM BSTThey've clearly spent an absolute packet on the project. Not only is there all that movie-standard CGI in the show
I dunno, I've heard from more than one place that the CGI wasn't that big a deal.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 1:54 PM GMT, sootyj said:
The CGI is the kind you get on Scifi channel films they show during the day.
It's way below Battlestar and inferior to Dr Who.
I suspect it's quite cheap.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 2:37 PM GMT, Mark said:
Quote: Phill @ August 28 2008, 10:10 AM BSTNo secret, I wrote the Superhero Tryouts and maybe some other odds and sods. So I guess A. M. is Alex McQueen but T.T.O.I? T.I? You've lost me.
T.T.O.I = The Thick Of It. T.I. = is a rather obscure reference to The Inbetweeners
I was going to put H.33 (= Hut 33 initally, but that might have given the game away)Did you get to meet the actors Phill?
Quote: sootyj @ August 28 2008, 10:54 AM BSTThe CGI is the kind you get on Scifi channel films they show during the day.
Well, it impressed me. I still stand behind the fact it must have cost a bomb. Even if it is 'cheap' CGI, the modelling of the dinosaur alone probably cost more than all the props in the previous few BBC3 sketch shows combined?
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 2:52 PM GMT, David Bussell said:
I read an article about the making of The Wrong Door in Broadcast the other week. Apparently it was more a case of man hours than cost. You can knock out a dinosaur like that on a home PC given adequate time and prep.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 3:19 PM GMT, sootyj said:
And once somethings done it's done.
I bet it was a pirate version of one of those dinos off Walking with Dinosaurs.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 5:26 PM GMT, David Bussell said:
Quote: sootyj @ August 28 2008, 12:19 PM BST
I bet it was a pirate version of one of those dinos off Walking with Dinosaurs.
Pirate dinosaurs?!
Serf, hand me my quill, there is much to be done...
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 7:49 PM GMT, sootyj said:
Jurassic Treasure Island? Land before lime and rum?
Starring Long John Velocaraptor.
On Thursday 28th August 2008 GMT at 7:52 PM GMT, Phill said:
Quote: Mark @ August 28 2008, 11:37 AM BST
Did you get to meet the actors Phill?
Sort of. I didn't meet them during filming; but I did bump into them at the screening. Or rather, I bumped into Neil Fox, introduced myself and quickly realised I had nothing to say to him.
Whilst standing in complete silence waiting for this woman to stop asking directions to somewhere and get out of the way of the door ... I noticed the woman was actually Pippa Haywood, which made the guy standing on the other side of Neil, Alex McQueen. However, by that point the prospect of making a prick out of myself to three people instead of one didn't really appeal.
Regarding the effects; I'm guessing while they're massively expensive for a sketch show - but the whole series probably cost less than a single episode of Doctor Who. I reckon Wrong Door has a lot more effects shots per episode too.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 1:39 AM GMT, Nil Putters said:
Vampire Weekend. Like it. Not sure about the spider bloke shitting though.
Edit; Didn't find anything funny in there. Pity. I'll have another look next week though.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 2:09 AM GMT, Tim Walker said:
The alcohol fairies was a good sketch and the "go up a level" employee/boss was a nice idea. Overall though I didn't think tonight's episode delivered many laughs and seemed to be more style over substance. Huge cast, by the way. Don't think I've ever seen that many people involved in a single sketch show.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 2:11 AM GMT, Mikey Jackson said:
Well, sorry to be so negative, but, apart from the first spiderman sketch being sort of funny, the rest was a complete waste of money...
...Money better spent on sitcoms written by writers who frequent the writer's forum at BSG.
Yeah, so I know BSG's Phil was involved, but he really needed to be blessed with better fellow writers.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 2:57 AM GMT, Rob B said:
Oh dear. That was bad, and I think I'm being overly kind.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:59 AM GMT, Chris Forshaw said:
I watched about half of it and I didn't like any of it, apart from that beer fairies thing which was one of those 'This is quite funny but not enough to cause physical laughter' type things.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 5:55 AM GMT, dannyjb1 said:
I just watched this, my overall re-action was .. oo doesn't that look good... but no laughter the Nemesis anoying thing I didn't really get where the humour was..
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 11:58 AM GMT, ContainsNuts said:
I thought the sketches at the start were better than at the end. The spider-arse sketch was my favourite with the guy proposing with birds sketch being another good one. A few just didn't work or didn't need repeating but I'll be watching next week.
If they didn't spend a lot on CGI then they must have on the cast!
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 12:25 PM GMT, dannyjb1 said:
The whole dino boyfriend was just old hat and soooo bad it could have been done with such better spins on it.
So obvious you have to wonder did anyone right the sketch beyond: 'Woman has a boyfriend who's a dino, predictable behaviour ensues when they meet her parents'
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 12:30 PM GMT, sootyj said:
It also suffers from two many twists. Women doesn't know boyfirend is dinosaur, could work. Said Dinousaur worked for Nottingham University, that's just silly.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:12 PM GMT, Mikey Jackson said:
Sketches that a child could write.
Also, lazy writing with no punchlines and relying just on CGI.
Oh dear. What were they thinking.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:13 PM GMT, chipolata said:
Quote: Mikey J @ August 29 2008, 12:12 PM BSTSketches that a child could write.
Also, lazy writing with no punchline and relying just on CGI.
Oh dear.
I'd largely agree. Too much CGI and not enough good writing.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:14 PM GMT, Mikey Jackson said:
If they want material, there's a whole pool of it in the Critique forum.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:16 PM GMT, chipolata said:
Quote: Mikey J @ August 29 2008, 12:14 PM BSTIf they want material, there's a whole pool of it in the Critique forum.
Steady. I said good writing.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:23 PM GMT, ContainsNuts said:
Quote: chipolata @ August 29 2008, 12:16 PM BSTSteady. I said good writing.
Touché
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:25 PM GMT, Griff said:
QuoteIf they want material, there's a whole pool of it in the Critique forum.
I have to say, "Pool" is just about the perfect description for the Critique forum.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:32 PM GMT, hotzappa11 said:
Haven't watched it yet but from Brodacast...
BBC3's new comedy sketch show The Wrong Door attracted 546,000 (3.5%) at 10.30pm last night, the highest ever audience for the launch of a comedy on the channel.
The half-hour programme peaked in the final 15 minutes on 564,000 (3.8%). The first episode of the six-part series was just behind the channel's slot average of 558,000 (4.1%).
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:40 PM GMT, jdubya said:
Quote: dannyjb1 @ August 29 2008, 9:25 AM BSTThe whole dino boyfriend was just old hat
Eh? Why? Who else has been doing it?
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:41 PM GMT, chipolata said:
Wasn't there a film in which Whoopie Goldberg starred as a cop with a dinosaur partner?
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:43 PM GMT, David Bussell said:
Quote: chipolata @ August 29 2008, 12:41 PM BSTWasn't there a film in which Whoopie Goldberg starred as a cop with a dinosaur partner?
Sure she did...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114658/usercomments
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 3:57 PM GMT, sootyj said:
Quote: Griff @ August 29 2008, 12:25 PM BSTI have to say, "Pool" is just about the perfect description for the Critique forum.
You know being as I write about 25% of critique this is feeling abit personal.
I hope you all know when I'm rich and infamous. I'll be writing a sitcom about a group of embittered comedy writers who meet to moan ebdlessly on a forum.
BCG Jabs? Maybe.
Quote: chipolata @ August 29 2008, 12:41 PM BSTWasn't there a film in which Whoopie Goldberg starred as a cop with a dinosaur partner?
There as also dinotopia and that weird show about undercover dinosaurs who dodged evoloution.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 4:03 PM GMT, Griff said:
QuoteI hope you all know when I'm rich and infamous. I'll be writing a sitcom about a group of embittered comedy writers who meet to moan ebdlessly on a forum.
Why wait till then? If you start now you could have it finished by two o'clock.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 4:09 PM GMT, Mikey Jackson said:
QuoteI hope you all know when I'm rich and infamous. I'll be writing a sitcom about a group of embittered comedy writers who meet to moan ebdlessly on a forum.
Yeah, you could call it:
Last Of The Summer Whining
or
Glad These Aren't My Family
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 4:13 PM GMT, john lucas 101 said:
Or Are you Being Spell-Checked.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 4:14 PM GMT, Ben said:
Quote: Griff @ August 29 2008, 1:03 PM BSTWhy wait till then? If you start now you could have it finished by two o'clock.
Is there going to be a fight at the next NewsRevue writers meeting?
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 4:15 PM GMT, Griff said:
Sooty knows I'm kidding. I wouldn't be so mean to anyone I hadn't met in real life (*). Also, I might not be going to NR this weekend because I have a code in by doze.
(* except Seefacts)
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 4:26 PM GMT, Matthew Stott said:
Saw the first half of this, the spiderman sketch was funny, the rest was not. At all. It was all a bit pointless, an exercise in showing what their computer could do as opposed to writing decent material. What was supposed to be funny about some of those sketches; the dancce mat runner, for instance? Maybe there was better stuff in the second half, but I needed to sleep so I don't know. They could have taken the idea of using these big special effects in a sketch show and produced something really good. But they didn't.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 5:49 PM GMT, Stan Doubt said:
Enjoyed the spiderman and 'marry me' birds sketches, and thought the CGI did make it a bit different. Will keep watching.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 7:42 PM GMT, sootyj said:
Quote: Winterlight @ August 29 2008, 1:14 PM BSTIs there going to be a fight at the next NewsRevue writers meeting?
You innocent you. You think people just stop writing for this forum?
There's a reason the Canal cafe Theatre's on a Canal.
Because it's a canal full of sketch writers murdered at writers meetings.
Writers meeting, more like street fighters meeting.
When people say Griff has a razor sharp wit, they're being quite literal.
A cut throat razor sharp wit from Gillette.
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 9:03 PM GMT, Mikey Jackson said:
What happens at these NR meetings... apart from the murders?
Is it like this? ....
Each person standing up one by one as if in an AA meeting and saying "I'm *name here* and I'm a writer."
On Friday 29th August 2008 GMT at 9:44 PM GMT, Griff said:
Normally NR Writers Meetings are just a social event, where the NR team give us the latest news (for example, when it looked like there was going to be a NR spinoff in New York) and the director of the next run explains what kind of thing they're looking for. Then they give us writers some free booze as a thankyou and some comp tickets to the show. I've been to about five meetings now, met loads of people as a result (including the esteemed Sooty), and always thoroughly enjoyed myself.
This weekend however they want some work out of us. I think they are going to give us some topics they want covered and say "OK guys - sit down and WRITE." The idea being that we form into partnerships and help each other out with sketches.
Apart from those of us who have scrapped on BSG, who will be forced on stage with nothing but sharpened quills and pieces of foolscap to duel to the death. A sort of Write Club.
On Saturday 30th August 2008 GMT at 2:57 AM GMT, swerytd said:
Hmm, didn't think that was all that great to be honest. Again, I thought style over substance. Were there supposed to be that many references to other films/shows/etc? I couldn't tell if it was deliberate or not, which meant that a lot of it looked quite derivative.
Didn't really 'get' Phill's sketch, though the introduction of the two superheroes '... and Dr Fox!' did get a big laugh from me.
The 'annoying thing' sketch(es?) went on way too long, though I suppose that was the point. That took up a big portion of the show though and seemed to stray into 'mini-sitcom' areas without the character development as it was a one-joke idea.
Don't get me wrong, I laughed at a few bits and the fairies was an interesting observation rather than laugh-out-loud funny, but it just didn't blow me away.
Dan
On Saturday 30th August 2008 GMT at 3:02 AM GMT, Stan Doubt said:
Phill's sketch was the superhero one? Genuinely didn't know or I'd slagged it off. Good work fella.
On Saturday 30th August 2008 GMT at 4:20 AM GMT, jdubya said:
Just watched it. I really thought it was good.
On Saturday 30th August 2008 GMT at 8:39 PM GMT, Mikey Jackson said:
Quote: Griff @ August 29 2008, 6:44 PM BSTNormally NR Writers Meetings are just a social event, where the NR team give us the latest news (for example, when it looked like there was going to be a NR spinoff in New York) and the director of the next run explains what kind of thing they're looking for. Then they give us writers some free booze as a thankyou and some comp tickets to the show. I've been to about five meetings now, met loads of people as a result (including the esteemed Sooty), and always thoroughly enjoyed myself.
This weekend however they want some work out of us. I think they are going to give us some topics they want covered and say "OK guys - sit down and WRITE." The idea being that we form into partnerships and help each other out with sketches.
Apart from those of us who have scrapped on BSG, who will be forced on stage with nothing but sharpened quills and pieces of foolscap to duel to the death. A sort of Write Club.
Ah, I see.
Free booze sounds good.
And the comp tickets.... would LOVE to see people (not) laughing at my creations.
I'll hopefully come to future meetings.
Then, after the show, I'll do my usual thing when I visit London... i.e. go out, get pissed, go clubbing, wake up in strange bed.
On Saturday 30th August 2008 GMT at 9:24 PM GMT, Ben said:
Quote: Mikey J @ August 30 2008, 5:39 PM BSTwake up in strange bed.
One with clean sheets?!
On Monday 1st September 2008 GMT at 3:34 AM GMT, Mikey Jackson said:
Quote: Winterlight @ August 30 2008, 6:24 PM BSTOne with clean sheets?!
I guess they wouldn't be. And they'd be quitre ruffled.
Trouble is, I'd get so zonked with booze that I wouldn't be able to recall how I got there or what happened.
OOPS. I guess we've hijacked this thread. Sorry!
What was it about now? Oh, yes.. that Wrong Door nonsense.
On Monday 1st September 2008 GMT at 3:38 AM GMT, zooo said:
Yes, shut up about your flipping beds!
Back to Wrong Door hence forth...
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 1:24 AM GMT, jacparov said:
Just watched it, I concur with the general concensus. A few nice ideas but not funny. What was with the dancing girl? Er, jokes please!
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 3:52 AM GMT, Phill said:
I think the payoff for the dancing girl was easy to miss - she dances into a warehouse and gets trapped in a cage where, along with thousands of others, she's forced to dance to generate electricity which is then used to make more dancemats.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 12:04 PM GMT, swerytd said:
I got it. It took a looooooong time to get there though! Seems a very short sketch on paper, stretched out by the producer.
Dan
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 2:37 PM GMT, jacparov said:
Yeah I saw the ending it just didn't strike me as funny. Sketch shows are probably the hardest to get right though in fairness. By there very nature they're, er, sketchy.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 3:06 PM GMT, Timbo said:
To be honest I only lasted about ten minutes with this. I am not usually a quitter (I watched every episode of Lab Rats), but ten minutes of sketches that did not raise even the flicker of a smile seemed like an eternity.
The Dinosaur sketch took a premise and then did precisely nothing with it.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 4:38 PM GMT, ContainsNuts said:
Quote: Timbo @ September 2 2008, 12:06 PM BSTTo be honest I only lasted about ten minutes with this. I am not usually a quitter (I watched every episode of Lab Rats).
That's probably the most polite damning of a comedy I have ever read.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 5:22 PM GMT, Phill said:
Quote: Timbo @ September 2 2008, 12:06 PM BSTTo be honest I only lasted about ten minutes with this.
May I commend you on your rational approach? I assume you didn't like it, so you turned it off and did something more useful with your time?
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 6:24 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
I think it's a bit unfair to comment on something fairly if you've not sat all the way through it. Sketch shows in particular, because there MAY be a little nugget of gold that if you turn off, you'll miss. Even watching Tittybangbang or Little Miss Jocelyn, I stayed to the bitter end. (The masochist streak in me?)
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 7:01 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Totally agree. IMO, you can say that "this genre/style/tone isn't for me", but you can't make a full, fair comment on a programme unless you've seen the whole thing, and indeed the whole series if talking as a whole.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 7:08 PM GMT, David Bussell said:
I'm with Timbo myself.
If a show (any show) can't hook me in those first ten minutes why would I bother sticking around? As I writer I'm told to to wow in ten pages and I hold my peers to the same standard.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 7:17 PM GMT, zooo said:
Quote: David Bussell @ September 2 2008, 4:08 PM BSTI'm with Timbo myself.
If a show (any show) can't hook me in those first ten minutes why would I bother sticking around? As I writer I'm told to to wow in ten pages and I hold my peers to the same standard.
Yes that's fine. But then, like they say, I think any opinions you might then express on the show aren't really valid.
Apart from the one that 'it didn't hook you', of course.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 7:33 PM GMT, David Bussell said:
Quote: zooo @ September 2 2008, 4:17 PM BSTYes that's fine. But then, like they say, I think any opinions you might then express on the show aren't really valid.
Apart from the one that 'it didn't hook you', of course.
I disagree. I'm talking about a show as a whole. Does it suddenly go from being shite to great if the last half has a good bit in it? It's still going to be average at best and why would I waste my time with that when there's so much good telly to watch on DVD? Christ almighty, I still have the last season of The Wire to watch yet!
I appreciate that a decent writer may not get their sketch seen my way but them's the breaks.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 7:38 PM GMT, zooo said:
I might be weird, but sometimes I just don't get something the first time I watch it.
I watched The Usual Suspects all the way through, bored out of my mind, but the end was aMaZiNg, I got all excited, watched it again all the way through and loved the whole film!
So. It probably is just me, but yes, sometimes the end beng good can flick a switch in my brain and I end up suddenly appreciating the whole thing.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 7:58 PM GMT, chipolata said:
Quote: David Bussell @ September 2 2008, 4:33 PM BSTI'm talking about a show as a whole. Does it suddenly go from being shite to great if the last half has a good bit in it? It's still going to be average at best and why would I waste my time with that when there's so much good telly to watch on DVD?
I agree. In general you just don't get shows that veer from being absolutely brilliant to absolutely atrocious. It doesn't happen, and I'd be interested if anybody has any examples of it.
As for Aaron's contention that you can't really pass judgement on something until you've watched the whole series - nonsense. Life's too short to waste watching entire series of substandard shows. Watch an episode, maybe two, but that's more than enough.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 8:11 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Quote: David Bussell @ September 2 2008, 4:33 PM BSTI disagree. I'm talking about a show as a whole. Does it suddenly go from being shite to great if the last half has a good bit in it?
Not necessarily. But if you turn off after 10 minutes, then you're unlikely to tune in for even one minute of the rest of the series. And that may have been the only bad 10 minutes in the whole 3 hours. Which means you may very well have missed an excellent programme due to your stubborn refusal to watch something if you don't like it.
Quote: chipolata @ September 2 2008, 4:58 PM BSTAs for Aaron's contention that you can't really pass judgement on something until you've watched the whole series - nonsense. Life's too short to waste watching entire series of substandard shows.
I said a FULL and FAIR judgement, IIRC. Not no judgement at all.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 8:13 PM GMT, David Bussell said:
Quote: Aaron @ September 2 2008, 5:07 PM BSTNot necessarily. But if you turn off after 10 minutes, then you're unlikely to tune in for even one minute of the rest of the series. And that may have been the only bad 10 minutes in the whole 3 hours. Which means you may very well have missed an excellent programme due to your stubborn refusal to watch something if you don't like it.
In that instance, and I can only think of it happening once (the first episode of Curb that I to this day don't like), the subsequent good reviews as the show progresses will lead me back in the right direction.
It's a much better tactic than watching a whole series and not enjoying it just for the sake of being able to say, "It was rubbish, and I know what I'm talking about because I watched it to the bitter end."
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 8:15 PM GMT, Timbo said:
There have been plenty of shows I did not get the first time I saw them, so I am not passing judgement.
But based on what I saw I would need a lot of persuading to watch this again. In this instance there just did not seem a lot to get.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 8:23 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Fair enough David. I suppose I'm guilty of it myself. I found the entire presentation and most humour of The Office unbearable, and so have only seen part of a couple of episodes.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 8:29 PM GMT, David Bussell said:
I know what you mean, Aaron. On the basis of the first episode of the US office I would have done the same, but dear God am I glad I came back.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2008 GMT at 8:39 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Strangely, I found the US version more palatable (although I still couldn't wait for each episode to be over for most of the time). Only watched the first 4 or 5 of season 1 though.
(I didn't stop because I hated it. I stopped because it wsan't on here yet at that point, and I didn't want to spend bandwidth downloading.)
On Friday 5th September 2008 GMT at 7:23 PM GMT, Quenby23 said:
Very weakly written. Too many actors and too much attention paid to the CGI stuff. It just isn't funny. I wanted to turn off. The jokes were hackneyed and predictable. The overtly "wacky" situations only undermined any elements of humour that may have been lurking there. Wow, they even used fart gags. The superhero tryouts was a direct theft from the movie with Ben Stiller. Why copy? One character gets run over by a car... There is no humour in this... it was lazily written and showed no imagination. Very poor rating from this comedy fan.
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 1:25 AM GMT, Aaron said:
I just watched episode one this afternoon and really wasn't particularly impressed. As ever, I'll stick with it out of interest, but it didn't seem to have any merits.
That's pretty much all I have to say about it.
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 3:31 AM GMT, Lee Henman said:
Just watched eps 1 & 2 on Sky +. It's okay - very inventive and a few laughs - although I do suspect the very fact that the writer's brief probably said "write your wildest dreams" perhaps ultimately detracted from the funniness.
Basically I think when the special effects are bigger than the joke, you have a problem. Having said that I did enjoy it - there's nowt else like it on telly at the moment and for that reason I'll keep watching. Personally I'd like to see more 'scaled-down' CGI, rather than 200 foot robots stomping around.
Having a CGI-based comedy is a brilliant idea but sometimes less is more.
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 2:54 PM GMT, oldcowgrazing said:
Yes but that flies in the face of what producers have told me when I sent in my script: "It will be too expensive to produce. Try to keep outside locations studio based in order to keep the production costs down."
Humph! 
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 3:05 PM GMT, Aaron said:
But that's because you're an unknown proposing an unknown show. The Wrong Door is a concept show, probably coming from the channel's comedy commissioner or someone. A pet project, if you will.
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 3:35 PM GMT, Phill said:
I think it was the producer's idea, Jack Cheshire - who wasn't when it was commissioned, but is now head of the New Comedy Unit.
I've always thought there was a hyphen missing from that: New-Comedy Unit or New Comedy-Unit?
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 3:46 PM GMT, oldcowgrazing said:
Quote: Phill @ September 9 2008, 12:35 PM BSTI think it was the producer's idea, Jack Cheshire - who wasn't when it was commissioned, but is now head of the New Comedy Unit.
I've always thought there was a hyphen missing from that: New-Comedy Unit or New Comedy-Unit?
Ooo I've just checked out your profile and I see you contributed to this 'ere sketch show. Congratulations and well done to you. I mean it, well done.*Remembers her damning critique of last night*
Ok ok it wasn't *that* bad but, and I'm sure you are a good sketch writer and all... I mean you know, er you wouldn't have got to where you are by not being good and all but is it possible that you had no creative control over um...
*Scurries off before digging myself even deeper*
See ya!
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 3:57 PM GMT, Phill said:
Don't worry about it, slag it off all you want. At least you're doing it here in a forum designed specifically for the purpose and not hunting me down on my blog to call me names or sending me hate e-mail like some of the whackjobs on the net.
And you're right, I have no creative control over anything that went on. I wrote sketches to order which were then re-written by anyone who happened to be passing by and then the actors improvised all over them. I like the show, as it happens, but I understand why people don't. I don't quite get why people don't just turn it off if they don't like it but ... there you go.
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 3:58 PM GMT, hotzappa11 said:
How many comedy units are there at the BBC? I know Iannuchi's got his own one.
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 4:07 PM GMT, oldcowgrazing said:
Quote: Phill @ September 9 2008, 12:57 PM BSTDon't worry about it, slag it off all you want. At least you're doing it here in a forum designed specifically for the purpose and not hunting me down on my blog to call me names or sending me hate e-mail like some of the whackjobs on the net.
And you're right, I have no creative control over anything that went on. I wrote sketches to order which were then re-written by anyone who happened to be passing by and then the actors improvised all over them. I like the show, as it happens, but I understand why people don't. I don't quite get why people don't just turn it off if they don't like it but ... there you go.
Ok now I feel rotten.I'm glad you're taking a healthy approach to criticism and sorry to hear you've been getting hate e-mail but that's nothing . When you get death threats and a mob with pitch forks outside your house then you'll know you've *really* made it!
As far as 'turning off' is concerned, it was the first time I watched it so I'll give it another go but tbh I'm not the target audience.
Hmm, it's just I suspected you never really get full creative control over what you write.
Oh well.
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 4:35 PM GMT, Phill said:
Quote: oldcowgrazing @ September 9 2008, 1:07 PM BST
I'm glad you're taking a healthy approach to criticism and sorry to hear you've been getting hate e-mail but that's nothing . When you get death threats and a mob with pitch forks outside your house then you'll know you've *really* made it!
As far as 'turning off' is concerned, it was the first time I watched it so I'll give it another go but tbh I'm not the target audience.
Hmm, it's just I suspected you never really get full creative control over what you write.
Oh well.
There's no intention to make you feel bad - you're absolutely entitled to your opinion. I honestly think if you didn't like the episode you saw, you're unlikely to suddenly like any of the others - there's always something better to do with your time.
I think if it's your series where you're the sole writer then you have to shoulder the responsibility for the writing. Unless of course it's taken off you and forced into a direction you hate. I'm not sure how often that happens though, I would imagine it's at worst a collaborative process. In movies you're always at the whim of the director; but I got the impression in TV a writer is a bit higher up the food chain.
Not in this type of sketch show though, you just submit and hope.
On Tuesday 9th September 2008 GMT at 6:11 PM GMT, ContainsNuts said:
Quote: Phill @ September 9 2008, 12:57 PM BSTI don't quite get why people don't just turn it off if they don't like it but ... there you go.
People like to stick the boot in, especially if they 'think' they can do better - but funnily enough they never do. And I guess some people get pleasure out of trying to make people feel bad.
Whatever the case, what you write goes on TV, what they write goes in 'deleted items'.
On Wednesday 10th September 2008 GMT at 6:14 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
I think Phill's taking the very mature and honest approach. Nothing you write can please everyone. Positive and negative criticism should be tolerated on this site as long as it is not overtly personal. And we should afford that level of decency to any writer or performer, whether they be a member or not.
Let's all remember that no-one intentionally sets out to make a show that we find unfunny. As regards 'The Wrong Door' I am sure there is an audience for this type of show.
On Wednesday 10th September 2008 GMT at 6:29 PM GMT, john lucas 101 said:
The critic in 'The Stage' seemed to like it.
On Thursday 11th September 2008 GMT at 12:15 AM GMT, Joeono said:
Does anyone know what song is playing during the dance sketch, the one where it's like twister dots on the floor that she can't stop dancing to. I have been trying to find it out and failing, it's doing my head in.
As a sideline, interesting show, not that funny. Really digging that girl out of Coupling in a pilot's uniform however.
Cheers
On Thursday 11th September 2008 GMT at 2:19 AM GMT, hotzappa11 said:
Quote: Joeono @ September 10 2008, 9:15 PM BSTDoes anyone know what song is playing during the dance sketch, the one where it's like twister dots on the floor that she can't stop dancing to. I have been trying to find it out and failing, it's doing my head in.
As a sideline, interesting show, not that funny. Really digging that girl out of Coupling in a pilot's uniform however.
Cheers
A Punk by Vampire Weekend
On Thursday 11th September 2008 GMT at 12:36 PM GMT, Joeono said:
Thanks hotzappa, that was really starting to peck my head.
On Friday 12th September 2008 GMT at 2:18 AM GMT, Splodge said:
Saw this for the first time tonight, more miss than hit if I'm being completely honest but I thought the running sketch with the cars was brilliant. It reminded me of the throwaway sketches that were on the Armando Iannucci Shows a few years ago.
On Friday 12th September 2008 GMT at 6:39 PM GMT, swerytd said:
Watched the latest episode (3, I think) and thought it was much better this time. Like the opening sketch a lot -- made me laugh out loud and the invisible man stuff was quite good, despite not really going anywhere. The cars was alright too, as was 'Tempus' (*great* name for a superhero) but as runners, neither seem to know what to do with the idea. It's a shame because that's three running sketches with similar jokes used each time, but no 'big' punchline in the final sketch. Wasted opportunity.
That said, this episode was the strongest so far.
Dan
On Friday 12th September 2008 GMT at 7:51 PM GMT, Nil Putters said:
I enjoyed 'Tempus'. Loved the ending. I think the superhero tryouts are the best thing about this programme.
On Friday 12th September 2008 GMT at 9:50 PM GMT, Eat My Shirts said:
QuoteThe Wrong Door
Nice idea. Execution is awful. Jokes aren't much better either.
EMS RATING: 1.5 out of 10.
On Tuesday 16th September 2008 GMT at 1:00 AM GMT, oldcowgrazing said:
I'm watching this and I like the car infestation sketch. It's not funny har har but it's topical in a surreal way.
Not much else though.
On Wednesday 17th September 2008 GMT at 2:22 PM GMT, TomB said:
I'm pretty confused! I have just joined the forum (howdy by the way) but have been a passive reader for a while now, and I usually agree with the general opinions on most shows, but The Wrong Door is, in my humble opinion, one of the biggest evils on TV right now. It's had shit loads of cash thrown at it, a cast and a list writers list as long as my arm, and there are NO JOKES! The set ups are long and arduous, and the pay offs don't seem to exist.
Is it just me?
On Wednesday 17th September 2008 GMT at 2:31 PM GMT, ContainsNuts said:
Quote: TomB @ September 17 2008, 11:22 AM BSTThe set ups are long and arduous, and the pay offs don't seem to exist.
Is it just me?
Ask you're girlfriend.
I thought episode three was one of the best ones so far and the ending to the superhero sketch was brilliant. I'm not saying this because Phill's a BSGer but his superhero sketches are the most consistently funny ones on the show.
I think the focus on CGI is a double-edged sword. The expectation is that anything can happen, but because of that you expect something big to happen every time so its not always a surprise when it does.
Then there are a few sketches that don't have CGI and you think it looks odd amongst all the others.
On Wednesday 17th September 2008 GMT at 2:35 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Tom, from what little I've seen of the show so far, it's not just you.
On Friday 19th September 2008 GMT at 1:46 AM GMT, sootyj said:
Just saw Brian Blessed in it which is nice.
Pirate Train great idea, poorly executed.
They just ripped off a Viz Cartoon with a mad professor.
On Friday 19th September 2008 GMT at 1:54 AM GMT, EllieJP said:
I'm just watching it now... how much money have they put into this???
On Friday 19th September 2008 GMT at 1:57 AM GMT, sootyj said:
Not alot, cheap nasty CGI.
On Friday 19th September 2008 GMT at 1:58 AM GMT, EllieJP said:
But still... it seems a little over the top... or is that it's "thing"... terrible FX!
On Friday 19th September 2008 GMT at 2:06 AM GMT, sootyj said:
Well it's like pirate train is a great idea, but not stretched over and over.
On Friday 19th September 2008 GMT at 2:08 AM GMT, EllieJP said:
I thought that looked good...
On Tuesday 23rd September 2008 GMT at 1:08 AM GMT, Ben said:
I watched some of this earlier. Some very predictable sketches i.e. the bulletproof spray one; however, I did find the snooker table sketch very funny and I could see that coming. The only other sketch I liked was the breakdancer who ended up floating away.
On Tuesday 23rd September 2008 GMT at 4:19 AM GMT, catskillz said:
Quote: Winterlight @ September 22 2008, 10:08 PM BSTI watched some of this earlier. Some very predictable sketches i.e. the bulletproof spray one; however, I did find the snooker table sketch very funny and I could see that coming. The only other sketch I liked was the breakdancer who ended up floating away.
It's funny how that Jason Nevins remix, of Run DMC's song 'It's like that', which got to number 1 in the charts 10 years ago, is always played on T.V. shows, whenever breakdancing is shown. I used to DJ at a lot of Breakdance competitions, known as B-boy battles, and the truth is, that song is hated by everyone involved in the scene. Even the original 1983 version is average, but compared to Nevins' soulless "Thump, thump" remix, it's a classic. Oh, and these days, breakdancers rarely wear full old skool tracksuits, like the ones in the sketch.
On Friday 3rd October 2008 GMT at 3:06 PM GMT, swerytd said:
Any of the writer-types care to divulge what the brief was for this? (Even if it's by PM) Just wondering if it is indeed a 'writer your wildest dreams sketch!' or something a bit more substantial?
Ta
Dan
On Friday 3rd October 2008 GMT at 3:19 PM GMT, Phill said:
I seem to have lost the original brief somewhere, but it was pretty much write whatever you want.
By the time I got involved there was a pilot script and a ten minute taster although very little got used from either. I think the show evolved quite a lot as it went along, so what was initially asked for wasn't necessarily what was being asked for by the end.
The point was to try and do something with the CGI so that kind of automatically skews you towards fantastical elements since there's no point creating CGI things which are cheaper to buy as a prop.
But yeah, it was basically write whatever you want, make it as fantastical as you like - but no CGI people or animals, they couldn't afford to do the hair. Oh, no CGI water either.
I thought it was a great brief, almost anything you can imagine.
On Friday 3rd October 2008 GMT at 3:22 PM GMT, Matthew Stott said:
Quote: Phill @ October 3 2008, 12:19 PM BST
I thought it was a great brief, almost anything you can imagine.
Didn't translate to a great series though.
On Friday 3rd October 2008 GMT at 3:23 PM GMT, Phill said:
I liked it.
On Friday 3rd October 2008 GMT at 3:28 PM GMT, swerytd said:
Cheers Phill -- much appreciated.
Dan
On Friday 3rd October 2008 GMT at 3:31 PM GMT, Matthew Stott said:
Quote: Phill @ October 3 2008, 12:23 PM BSTI liked it.
Well you would, you bloody wrote for it!
For me, too many of the sketches used CG badly. Its like the idea of what effect came first, how to make it funny came second. Or was just forgotten altogether. Of course there would have been some good stuff in there, but mainly not. I just feel they could have done so much more, but settled for less.
On Friday 3rd October 2008 GMT at 3:50 PM GMT, Phill said:
I can honestly tell you, that apart from knowing there had to be something CGI involved (most of the time, not all sketches did in the end and I'm guilty of that more than most) everyone I know just wrote stuff they found funny.
Although I suppose you could be right in a way - for me, the concept of the sketch comes first and I fill in the dialogue later. On the other hand, the concept usually makes me laugh so ... don't know really.
I can categorically state there was no cynicism behind it - it's just people trying to make a show they would want to watch.
On Saturday 17th January 2009 GMT at 5:45 AM GMT, Layla milred said:
The Wrong Door is terrible, I've watched most of the episodes, they're not funny, in the slightest, the sketches make me rage. I have no idea how it is still being aired. 0/10, ugh. 
On Saturday 17th January 2009 GMT at 5:52 AM GMT, Aaron said:
Welcome Layla.
On Thursday 5th March 2009 GMT at 8:13 AM GMT, Lee Henman said:
I hear there will be no second series. Shame really, the first series had its problems but I thought it had great potential and would've bedded in nicely, given half a chance.
On Friday 6th March 2009 GMT at 2:18 AM GMT, hotzappa11 said:
Who told you, Lee? And does anybody know if it was expensive to take?
On Saturday 7th March 2009 GMT at 5:57 PM GMT, Lee Henman said:
Quote: hotzappa11 @ March 5 2009, 9:18 PM GMTWho told you, Lee?
Oh, just another monkey on the grapevine. The info's kosher though.
On Saturday 7th March 2009 GMT at 9:11 PM GMT, hotzappa11 said:
Quote: Lee Henman @ March 7 2009, 12:57 PM GMTOh, just another monkey on the grapevine. The info's kosher though.
Right-o. Here's hoping JChesire will take my script forward now.