I enjoyed it, I thought it had some very funny moments. The laughter track was distracting though. It's like sitting next to one of those people in the cinema who laughs hysterically at all the adverts which have been on TV for months.
Reggie Perrin - Series 1 Page 13
Quote: Aaron @ April 25 2009, 10:14 PM BST
When was the last time one of those existed?
Friday night, 9pm, BBC1.
Quote: Spagett @ April 25 2009, 9:57 PM BSTI actually thought it was very funny.
Definitely a success for me. What are the reviews like for it?
Has it been rightfully praised?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/apr/25/last-night-tv-reggie-perrin
The highlight; "What next? Fawlty Towers with David Walliams as Basil? Porridge with Neil Morrissey?"
The highlight; "Laughter... They say it's the best medicine, but my God, the studio audience in Reggie Perrin was laughing so hard by the end of the opening credits you could hear their ribs exploding. But viewers at home are more likely to have been gaping in befuddlement."
The highlight; "Unfortunately, the whole thing is done in a surprisingly old-fashioned way, from the hysterical laugh track to the hackneyed dim secretary and the antiquated sets that look like they've been gathering dust since Terry and June went off the air."
http://living.scotsman.com/tvradio/Television-Louis-Theroux-A-Place.5173999.jp
The highlight; "CAN A PAEDOPHILE EVER REALLY be cured of their disorder?"... oh, no, wait, sorry... it's further down...
"Reggie Perrin is not good. It's hollow and unconvincing and lumbered with a ghostly laugh-track that sounds like it's beaming from the outer rings of Saturn. The soul is missing. It's pointless and wrong."
Quote: SnoopsWarner @ April 25 2009, 10:43 PM BSTFriday night, 9pm, BBC1.
An ITV sitcom on BBC One? Don't recall the last time that happened.
Quote: Aaron @ April 25 2009, 10:50 PM BSTAn ITV sitcom on BBC One? Don't recall the last time that happened.
You know exactly what I meant.
Quote: SnoopsWarner @ April 25 2009, 10:43 PM BSTThe highlight; "Unfortunately, the whole thing is done in a surprisingly old-fashioned way, from the hysterical laugh track to the hackneyed dim secretary and the antiquated sets that look like they've been gathering dust since Terry and June went off the air."
What planet was that reviewer on? I was struck by how modern and 'swish' the sets were.
Quote: SnoopsWarner @ April 25 2009, 10:52 PM BSTYou know exactly what I meant.
Howevr, you evidently missed what I meant. But nevermind. 
Quote: Aaron @ April 25 2009, 10:53 PM BSTHowevr, you evidently missed what I meant. But nevermind.
How ironic!
Wait.
You mean Men Behaving Badly, didn't you.
Bugger.
What a shame the laughter thing is having such a negative effect. It's understandable though – it's like having a stranger nudging you in the ribs every few seconds saying, laugh, it's funny, it's funny. I know nothing about TV, so this will doubtless sound incredibly dumb, but – is it possible to turn the track down once it's been recorded?
Yes, the laughter is recorded on a different audio track to that of the 'action' on the studio floor, so it can be manipulated separately.
Seems like we have a couple of trolls on the board who shouldn't be fed...
Although one intentionally picked out negative reviews, there have been some positive ones too:-
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6160306.ece
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6147399.ece
Poooooooooooooo. That is all.
Quote: SnoopsWarner @ April 25 2009, 10:43 PM BSThttp://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/apr/25/last-night-tv-reggie-perrin
The highlight; "What next? Fawlty Towers with David Walliams as Basil? Porridge with Neil Morrissey?"
I think there's something approaching a valid point with this review: "I feel sorry for Clunes: it's not that he's bad, it's just that he's not Leonard Rossiter. Rossiter was Reggie Perrin."
Like I say, the show isn't too bad and had some good lines, but Rossiter was a unique actor and his was a groundbreaking show. I agree with the point that Clunes isn't bad - nobody so far is bad (although the two goons are iffy) - its just got a hell of a mountain to climb.
If the central character played by Clunes was called Simon Jones then there wouldn't be half the hostility towards it. The reviewers aren't judging it on its merits. I hate 'remakes'; even though almost everything can be improved, even the original Perrin. Remakes put right flaws and update formats, but tend to lose the original spark. There's something almost offensive about them.
But, viewed out of Rossiter's shadow, this is not a bad show. In my eyes its probably as good as My Family at the moment- a show I don't dislike but wouldn't stay in for. It'll be interesting to see where they take Reggie from here on.
Quote: Jane P @ April 25 2009, 2:40 PM BSTHowever, when I watched it last night I found the laughter levels quite off putting. So I guess I'm critiquing myself there!? Similarly I'd prefer more of the quieter moments and less of the farce, but I enjoyed it overall and will keep watching.
Jx
Maybe they used some of the excess laughter track from Not Going Out.
Quote: Maurice Minor @ April 26 2009, 9:56 AM BSTI think there's something approaching a valid point with this review: "I feel sorry for Clunes: it's not that he's bad, it's just that he's not Leonard Rossiter. Rossiter was Reggie Perrin."
I can see what you (and the reviewer) are saying and agree (obviously) that Martin Clunes is not as good an actor as Rossiter was. But Rossiter wasn't Perrin. He was just giving his version of a character from a novel. Now I love his portrayal but I also know that there are plenty of people who had read the novel who could never take to the TV show in the same way. Rossiter was very different from the Reggie that had been written.
One of those reviewers also claimed that Nobbs based the character on the MP who faked his own death but that is not the case.
Did the Groomtech set remind anyone else of Will Truman's Law firm office floor from 'Will & Grace'?
Another thing I realised is that most of the cast of this show have been in far superior sitcoms in the past.
Martin Clunes - Men Behaving Badly
Fay Ripley - Cold Feet
Neil Stuke - Game On
Jim Howick - Peep Show
Wendy Craig - Butterflies
The show has an excellent cast and very good production values. I don't disagree with you there.