Quote: Tokyo Nambu @ April 25 2013, 1:47 PM BSTETA: one always hates to refer to the Wail, but this nails it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2314383/The-Wright-Way-As-Ben-Eltons-new-sitcom-flops-Mails-TV-critic-mourns-star-whos-lost-sparkle.html
Jesus Christmas that's harsh. But then it's the Mail, what do you expect? I'm surprised they're not rallying its moronic readership to march on Elton's house with pitchforks and flaming torches. Dickheads.
I thought it was funny in places but nothing special.
Mina Anwar however, still looks gorgeous.
The soap thing did baffle me. Why did he have two hands full of soap? He already knows about the dodgy tap, you'd think he would be prepared. Plus no one fills both hands with soap then presses the tap, you'd put it in one, then press with the other. Anyway, I didn't get to see any more than that so don't know how it developed.
Quote: Stephen Ryder @ April 25 2013, 4:22 PM BSTI thought it was funny in places but nothing special.
Mina Anwar however, still looks gorgeous.
Haig did as well with the material as possible, but the supporting cast were disgustingly 3rd-rate - Mina Anwar excepted. Even so I found it better than I expected (I'd be so generous as to give it a 3 out of 10) and did manage to get through the whole episode, which is more than I can say for 'In With the Flynns' or 'Me and Mrs Jones' to name but two.
I didn't see the point in the big guy with the jacket but Clive was quite good. I don't think anyone could say that Ben Elton didn't write it - you can see traces of these jokes in The Thin Blue Line: women spending ages in toilets, inadvertently using a rude word (erection, in this case), and the shop scene was similar to when Fowler had to go to the bank in TTBL.
All these journalists hating on it keep going on that it was Ben Elton who wrote it and aren't reviewing the actual programme. I mean, why did they all mention Elton's collaboration with Queen on 'We Will Rock You'? What has THAT got to do with The Wright Way? It's like Ben Elton's career is their specialist subject but they dare not discuss this new show as they scarcely know anything about it. It wasn't even made for smart-arsed journalists! Most of them are trying to be witty themselves, especially on Twitter, with their wise-cracking critical comments - and that just proves they aren't at all funny themselves.
They're pissing on The Thin Blue Line as well as We Will Rock You. I'd be proud to say I wrote either.
Havent seen we will rock you and yes, the Beeb haven't committed to this project either. Yet again. Grow some Auntie !
Quote: Lee Henman @ April 25 2013, 4:16 PM BSTJesus Christmas that's harsh. But then it's the Mail, what do you expect? I'm surprised they're not rallying its moronic readership to march on Elton's house with pitchforks and flaming torches. Dickheads.
Actually, I read it somewhat differently. The subtext of a lot of the BBC's excuses for making weak, same-old, inoffensive programmes featuring known faces in known roles is that challenging material is all very well, but mainstream audiences demand mainstream material. BBC commissioners want you to believe that left to their own devices they'd be making edgy and dark programmes, but they're constrained by the need to keep the mainstream (read: Daily Mail readers) happy.
So here's a programme that should be mainstream heaven. It's got known faces essentially reprising known roles, it's written by a known name, it's got at its centre the saloon bar received wisdom idea that health and safety is all a bit risible, and there's even a laugh track to tell you when to laugh. Short of remaking All Gas and Gaiters it's hard to see how it could be safer. It's the BBC saying "sorry, old people, we know you don't like all that loud stuff on BBC3, so here's something just for you." Of course it's dated: it was designed to be so. Which is odd, because anyone who saw, say, Monty Python when first broadcast is nearer sixty than fifty, but for thirty year old commissioners, everyone over forty merges into a blur.
But even the Mail hate it. And Mail journalists are very rarely out of step with their readers.
There's a lesson there. Pandering to the lowest common denominator is not only patronising, but doesn't even always make you popular with the people you're patronising. Perhaps next time, they could give someone under fifty a go.
Quote: Tokyo Nambu @ April 25 2013, 7:04 PM BSTBut even the Mail hate it. And Mail journalists are very rarely out of step with their readers.
I think there's a big difference between journalists and critics. Even at the Mail.
Quote: Tokyo Nambu @ April 25 2013, 7:04 PM BSTActually, I read it somewhat differently. The subtext of a lot of the BBC's excuses for making weak, same-old, inoffensive programmes featuring known faces in known roles is that challenging material is all very well, but mainstream audiences demand mainstream material. BBC commissioners want you to believe that left to their own devices they'd be making edgy and dark programmes, but they're constrained by the need to keep the mainstream (read: Daily Mail readers) happy.
So here's a programme that should be mainstream heaven. It's got known faces essentially reprising known roles, it's written by a known name, it's got at its centre the saloon bar received wisdom idea that health and safety is all a bit risible, and there's even a laugh track to tell you when to laugh. Short of remaking All Gas and Gaiters it's hard to see how it could be safer. It's the BBC saying "sorry, old people, we know you don't like all that loud stuff on BBC3, so here's something just for you." Of course it's dated: it was designed to be so. Which is odd, because anyone who saw, say, Monty Python when first broadcast is nearer sixty than fifty, but for thirty year old commissioners, everyone over forty merges into a blur.
But even the Mail hate it. And Mail journalists are very rarely out of step with their readers.
There's a lesson there. Pandering to the lowest common denominator is not only patronising, but doesn't even always make you popular with the people you're patronising. Perhaps next time, they could give someone under fifty a go.
Well I read it as a horribly uncharitable and venomous character assassination.
"no one else in his family has a London accent, let alone his East End Dickensian 'mockney'"
"he's an embarrassing old flop, churning out books and TV material to universal derision."
"Ben Elton is the most spectacular case of middle-aged droop in British TV history"
"he is a turncoat who ditched his Leftist principles and took the money."
"It's like seeing a forgotten rock star plodding through the old hits at a seaside pavilion, or a paunchy 50-something ex-footballer puffing around the pitch in a charity match."
F**k me, it's just a sitcom for Christ's sake. It's certainly not his best but is there any need for that level of hatred?
Beattie Edmondson - she's like an annoying, untalented mixture of Alice Lowe and Sally Phillips.
Quote: Lee Henman @ April 25 2013, 9:05 PM BSTWell I read it as a horribly uncharitable and venomous character assassination.
"no one else in his family has a London accent, let alone his East End Dickensian 'mockney'"
"he's an embarrassing old flop, churning out books and TV material to universal derision."
"Ben Elton is the most spectacular case of middle-aged droop in British TV history"
"he is a turncoat who ditched his Leftist principles and took the money."
"It's like seeing a forgotten rock star plodding through the old hits at a seaside pavilion, or a paunchy 50-something ex-footballer puffing around the pitch in a charity match."
F**k me, it's just a sitcom for Christ's sake. It's certainly not his best but is there any need for that level of hatred?
So you read the Daily Mail too then.
What the writer was saying was that overall Elton is writing the kind of crap he slagged off thirty years ago.
I like his books. I've always thought he's a much better author Han stand-up/writer anyway.
Dan
Quote: Aaron @ April 22 2013, 6:14 PM BSTI've just previewed the first episode. I think it safe to say that if you hated The Thin Blue Line, don't bother - but if you loved it, then you're almost certain to enjoy The Wright Way. It's very much in the same vein; similar in tone, style and humour.
Personally, I laughed my head off.
I never liked The Thin Blue Line but loved Blackadder. How could he be so marmite?
Quote: Chappers @ April 25 2013, 10:43 PM BSTI never liked The Thin Blue Line but loved Blackadder. How could he be so marmite?
Well they share a silly undertone, but the two are ultimately rather different style programmes.
