BCG Daily Tuesday 31st May 2011
Press clippings
Graham Linehan's TV heroes
Weird, unpleasant, vulgar and discordant it may be, but Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! featuring US comedians Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim provokes uncontrollable laughter.
Graham Linehan & Vicki Frost, The Guardian, 31st May 2011Sachsgate 'boosted our careers', says Ross's wife
While Jonathan Ross has expressed regret over the furore surrounding the "Sachsgate" scandal, in which he and Russell Brand made obscene phone calls to the actor, his wife has declared "it all turned out nice in the end".
The Telegraph, 31st May 2011Janet Brown obituary
The actress and comedian Janet Brown was best known for her impersonations of Margaret Thatcher during the 1970s and '80s.
Martin Childs, The Independent, 31st May 2011Five minutes with Sean Power - Lead Balloon IV
Tellyspotting caught up with the great Sean Power, Rick's American co-writer and part-time conspirator who, quietly, longs to drive Rick crazy. Besides his role as Marty, Power is a well-known playwright and stage director with an extensive career in the theatre.
Bill Young, Tellyspotting, 31st May 2011Children's TV is growing up - is that a good thing?
Horrible Histories' move to primetime shows how sophisticated kids' shows have become. Would you rather watch CBBC?
Stephen Kelly, The Guardian, 31st May 2011Stephen Fry lends his voice to talking bench
Benches that can 'talk' are being set up at eight beauty spots across the UK, voiced by celebrities including Stephen Fry and Miranda Hart.
BBC News, 31st May 2011Scottish sitcoms: should they be shared with the UK?
Should a local hit be shown more widely? Promoter Tommy Sheppard says yes - and accuses the Beeb of Oxbridge bias.
Brian Logan, The Guardian, 31st May 2011Gaming: The future of comedy?
More people than ever love computer games these days - worldwide, we spend three billion hours a week playing online - but that doesn't mean we can't laugh about them.
Heather Tyrrell, BBC Comedy, 31st May 2011Kendal Calling release comedy line-up for 2011 festival
The full comedy line-up has been announced for this year's Kendal Calling festival, with Gary Delaney, Mitch Benn and Martin Mor amongst those performing in the Soapbox Comedy tent.
Giggle Beats, 31st May 2011Amanda Holden: 'I loathe Frankie Boyle'
"Frankie Boyle. I loathe him," Holden explained. "I don't think he's funny or clever and I don't understand why anyone would give him a television show. You can print that."
Tom Ayres, Digital Spy, 31st May 2011Lewis Hamilton apologises for 'Ali G' outburst
McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton has apologised on Twitter for his 'Ali G' outburst after the Monaco Grand Prix.
BBC News, 31st May 2011An interview with Dan Antopolski
Dan Antopolski is a prolific and critically lauded comedian who has enjoyed popularity both as a stand-up, as well as on radio and TV.
The Humourdor, 31st May 2011Video: Charlie Higson hasn't got time for classic books
The author and comic, Charlie Higson, appeared at the Hay Festival to talk about his young Bond series of novels. Here he explains why he can't get on with Dickens and other classic authors.
The Telegraph, 31st May 2011Steve Coogan's porn baron role
Steve Coogan is being lined up to play porn baron Paul Raymond in a new biopic.
Cara Lee, The Sun, 31st May 2011TV review: Lead Balloon
What's the funniest thing about the return of Rick Spleen? That would be the pig.
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian, 31st May 2011Lead Balloon review: still floating nicely
Although I know that My Family is on its *groan* eleventh series and Lead Balloon is only currently starting its fourth, the length of time that Lead Balloon has ran over is a sure sign that it is at least committed to never going beyond its comfort zone. Never getting louder and more eccentric probably means that it will never win any awards... but hey with the new series starting on BBC2 it would make a nice alternative to the news, you're always going to be happy if you managed to catch the show on air and hey, it's always consistent.
Scotty Bryan, On The Box, 31st May 2011And the last two semi-finalists are...
Angela Barnes (runner-up, Brighton heat) and Tez Ilyas (runner-up, Newcastle heat) are through to the semi-finals. Well done!
Sidd Khajuria, BBC Blogs, 31st May 2011Review: Alexander Armstrong's Big Ask
The format is essentially Alexander Armstrong presents a topic to a panel of three comedians and the panel must take it in turn to ask interesting questions to the other two panellists. Got it? To be honest Katy Brand, Griff Rhys Jones and Robert Webb didn't really get it either at first.
R. Green, Comedy Critic, 31st May 2011Warren Clarke interview
Warren Clarke co-stars with Will Mellor, Niky Wardley and Craig Parkinson in a Manchester-based family sitcom, In With The Flynns...
Nick Fiaca, TV Choice, 31st May 2011Videos
TV
TV
TV
TV
TV & radio
5:15pm30 min
Horrible Histories
Series 3, Episode 2There is plenty of "goo and poo" today, as some medieval knights discover the most disgusting way to attack a castle.
10pm30 min
Lead Balloon
Series 4, Episode 1 - PigRick's career is at an all-time low: even his idea of writing a novel gets stuck on page one.
10:30pm35 min
The Ricky Gervais Show
Series 2, Episode 13Ricky and Stephen challenge Karl to describe his ideal version of the world but Karl is suspicious of a perfect life. Karl describes his theory of the 'Problem Hole' and explains his snack eating rituals to Ricky and Stephen.
10:30pm30 min
Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps
Series 9, Out-takesFor the tenth anniversary, some of the best moments that never made it onto TV. Featuring all new out-takes and interviews with the cast - Will Mellor, Natalie Casey, Luke Gell and introducing Georgia Henshaw and Freddy Hogan.
2:20am30 min
Grouchy Young Men
Series 2, Episode 2With an endless catalogue of complaints, tonight the Grouchy Young Men vent their rage about football, sport, driving and cars.