Quote: Tony Cowards @ November 19 2009, 10:42 AM GMT

I listened to Laura Solon's "Talking and Not Talking" last night.

I liked 50% of it, mostly the "Not Talking" bit...

Sorry but being able to do lots of funny voices and accents does not a comedy sketch show make (although apparently it's enough to win a Perrier award). Lots of the sketches just petered out with no discernible punchline, where were the jokes?

I found it incredibly annoying, especially as one of the characters seemed like a complete rip-off of Morwenna Banks's spoilt little girl from "Absolutely", right down to the lispy voice.

I'm in no doubt that Laura Solon is a very talented actress/voice artist but for goodness sake please get someone to write some funny sketches for you.

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I enjoyed it, and I think there's more to her than just funny voices. She's very good at nailing odd characters and their mannerisms. Although I do think the monologuey bits are better than the sketch bits.

Quote: chipolata @ November 19 2009, 11:20 AM GMT

I enjoyed it, and I think there's more to her than just funny voices. She's very good at nailing odd characters and their mannerisms. Although I do think the monologuey bits are better than the sketch bits.

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I don't mean this to sound antagonistic or critical but can you tell me did any of it actually make you laugh, I mean properly laugh, or was it just that typical Radio 4 wry smile "Oh most amusing" sort of reaction?

I'm genuinely interested as it wasn't my cup of tea at all and I just didn't find it funny or entertaining.

Quote: Tony Cowards @ November 19 2009, 11:52 AM GMT

I don't mean this to sound antagonistic or critical but can you tell me did any of it actually make you laugh, I mean properly laugh

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Yes. Off the top of my head the opening monologue about ants got an early laugh from me.

Quote: chipolata @ November 19 2009, 11:55 AM GMT

Yes. Off the top of my head the opening monologue about ants got an early laugh from me.

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Aah, you see to me once that monologue started I could see immediately where it was going (the curse of a comedy writer's mind I guess), the Queen, something to do with picnics and straight lines, although to be fair that was one of the better bits IMO.

Quote: Griff @ November 19 2009, 12:08 PM GMT

I think this series of RRR was just four episodes.

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Jo Caulfield Won't Shut Up is only four episodes too, as was Milton Jones's last series, is this a new thing moving away from the more normal six episode series? If so it seems a shame as things seem to barely get into their stride before they are off air again.

Four episodes has been pretty standard for a while now. RRR series 1 was only four episodes, as I think was It's That Jo Caulfield Again (might be wrong though). Laurence Howarth's (rather excellent) Safety Catch has been two series x 4 too.

Play & Record's two series were four eps too, for the writers amongst us.

Dan

I suppose from the network's point of view 4 episodes is safer territory, especially if the show doesn't work. And it's weird that we're still so wedded to the six episode ideal.

Quote: Griff @ November 19 2009, 12:12 PM GMT

The four-episode radio series is yet another savage blow to the dream of making a living through comedy writing.

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Quote: swerytd @ November 19 2009, 12:20 PM GMT

Four episodes has been pretty standard for a while now. RRR series 1 was only four episodes, as I think was It's That Jo Caulfield Again (might be wrong though). Laurence Howarth's (rather excellent) Safety Catch has been two series x 4 too.

Play & Record's two series were four eps too, for the writers amongst us.

Dan

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Hmmm... it may be that I'm living in the past. Can't say I'd really noticed the shorter series lengths until recently.

Quote: Tony Cowards @ November 19 2009, 10:42 AM GMT

I found it incredibly annoying, especially as one of the characters seemed like a complete rip-off of Morwenna Banks's spoilt little girl from "Absolutely", right down to the lispy voice.

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It is - it's true!

Quote: Ian Wolf @ November 19 2009, 2:39 PM GMT

It is - it's true!

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Twue, surely?

Quote: Tony Cowards @ November 19 2009, 10:42 AM GMT

especially as one of the characters seemed like a complete rip-off of Morwenna Banks's spoilt little girl from "Absolutely", right down to the lispy voice.

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If we're going to go down this route (which we shouldn't, as it's the idiot route), then surely the Morwena Banks spoilt little girl character is itself a rip off of Miranda Richardson's queen in Blackadder II.

Quote: Griff @ November 19 2009, 4:17 PM GMT

Or the spoilt, lisping Violet Elizabeth Bott from Just William in the 70s.

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I hope you're listening to this, Tony Cowards and Ian Woolf.

Quote: Griff @ November 19 2009, 4:17 PM GMT

Or the spoilt, lisping Violet Elizabeth Bott from Just William in the 70s.

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I think this is closer to the mark than Queenie in Blackadder to be honest.

Quote: Tony Cowards @ November 19 2009, 4:19 PM GMT

I think this is closer to the mark than Queenie in Blackadder to be honest.

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Meh. Same family tree.

Another great Bleak Expectations.