A brief look back at some lockdown late night watches that popped up on Dave / All4 app in 2020. Three bits of fluff that it was easy to fall asleep to and rewatch without total boredom. In theory, it sounds like none of these would work at all. Heavy on comedy improv, these format shows rely heavily on the charisma of the hosts and the quality of the guests. They always hold the potential to annoy as well as entertain, and the pseudo live feel lends itself to more than a few cringe moments that are all part of the fun. I think the very best of this kind of thing has been and gone – QI, Mock the Week, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Shooting Stars, 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, etc.. But their welcome distraction was a blessing at times – always better to have a light giggle than wallow in reality during a pandemic, I think. With low energy levels but trouble resting, Dave is usually the channel for me. Disposable nonsense has its place, for sure.
Jon Richardson is a very likeable chap. His comedy was pretty decent on its own before he developed a semi real persona based on OCD, wearing cardigans and being boring – I always found him funny. Especially on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, which has given us some of the funniest moments ever seen on the comedian panel / quiz show format. The idea for this one was to take his obsessions and inner phobias and parade them in the name of humour, sometimes just discussing them and sometimes involving a small sketch or game to highlight the “worry”. It works best when the idea is a little bizarre or very dark, which happens a lot. Also, it’s quite interesting to see which pecadillos you might have as well and can agree with. The big funnies come when the cosy assortment of guests squeezed onto a 3 seat sofa for most of the show, break down at one another’s weirdness or spot on comment. It’s easy to see that, although vaguely rehearsed, there is a massive element of the unknown improv that is gold in things like this. Of these three, this is the most likely show to be rewatched by me in the future – it all feels comforting, small, a bit 70s / 80s retro and well natured. Harmless fun and watchable back to back in a way the other two aren’t.
Rating: 6.5/10
The concept of this seemed instinctively disastrous to me. Without the two hosts, who I like very much, I may not have even bothered with it. It is so ramshackle and tenuous that it all risks falling apart into anachy at any moment. The guests are asked to imagine an answer to a hypothetical quandary and to improvise a solution. Best solution wins, with James Acaster responsible for bringing it all to life via some often excruciating recreations. Sometimes, the chemistry works, and the guest’s humour syncs beautifully with the slightly surreal aspect that is required. But, often, they miss the mark, and it all just seems a bit forced. This is when Acaster and Widdicombe earn their wage by finding the way back with some well-timed witticisms and an eye for the freakish. I would say 50% of every episode is a car crash, at best. The other 50% is either amusing enough to keep engaged or, very occasionally, absolutely hilarious. It is these diamond moments that make it all worth it. You wait ages for it, but when the giggles come, it can be hard to stop. An average show that doesn’t bear too many large doses or repeats, but with moments of unforgettable genius.
Rating: 6/10
Bring your darkest dirtiest secrets and most dodgy moments from your past and share them in the name of comedy. This one walks the finest line of cringe – I have been known to turn it off halfway through. The problem is that host Mel Gedroic, although nice enough, is just not a comedian; and that Lou Sanders, who is one, just isn’t that funny. Add to it the problem that the guests are a mix of comedians and celebs, which means some are funny for a living, whilst some think they are funny but are really genuinely awful people. It can be distracting enough, but I wouldn’t even point to it as a favourite or even recommend it in conversation. For what amusement it does sometimes provide it is worth returning to as a last resort, but only absolutely if there is nothing else to watch.
Rating: 5/10
In conclusion, nothing life changing or of any consequence really happened here. Watching these was most interesting only to compare them to better shows. It makes you really understand that improv comedy is alchemy and can’t be bought or manufactured. The secret has to be the blend of personality and the strength of the format. A quiz or game with scores needs to have at least some consequence, and the best walk the tightrope of serious enough to mean something and funny enough for it all to mean nothing whenever you decide to press the off button.
The Wasteland 