How Not To Invest In Comedy



I'd like to think the 'Extras' syndrome has taken effect here. It would certainly appear so - since the show's main actor, and writer, Dan Clark, cites The Office, Arrested Development, The Larry Sanders Show and The Young Ones as some of his favourite shows.

So there is an air of ill logic, upon viewing his show, How Not To Live Your Life. The show is full of obvious physical gags (the most recent episode featured Clark, who plays main character Don, in S&M gear), awful jokes ("What's the Queen's name?", "That's easy...'The'.") and the worst character development since Peter Griffin.

The characters themselves are drawn from the most tired of stereotypes - a grouchy old woman who lives next door, a lazy 20/30-something, a scornful love interest - but it's the extras who really shine. One of the other main characters, Samantha (said love interest), has a boyfriend who is somewhat older and a University lecturer. So it's only fitting that he's a 'boring intellectual' and about as 2D as Tetris.

It's just so disparaging turning on BBC Three nowadays. The comedies given full attention are either imported (Summer Heights High, Family Guy, American Dad), repeats of old shows (Gavin & Stacey, Little Britain) or the most formulaic shite (Two Pints of Lager..., Grownups and this). More frustrating when the pilot season comes up - last year saw genuine talent in Stanley Park, a 90s-inspired sitcom set around a promiscuous teenage girl and her socially awkward friends (and no, it wasn't Skins 2) and Dappers, set around 2 single mums from the South West and their get-rich schemes.


Stanley Park - not given a fair shot

Both lost out to drama 'Pulse', following the trend of BBC3's successful pilots (set by Being Human) in being a tense supernatural drama. But my point is this: all 3 should be given the green light, instead of wasting money on series after series of Grownups/Coming of Age/Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (the same show 3 times over).

Is it too much to ask for quality control?

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