British Comedy- Operation Goodguys

[moochcassidy]

Havent seen this in a while, tvlinks.co.uk has a few eps up now.

sort of precursor to the office and reno 911. from 1997.

link (http://www.tv-links.co.uk/show.do/1/3016)

wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Good_Guys)


another influence was 'people like us (http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/p/peoplelikeus_66602770.shtml)' cant find any video links but there is the radio versions on soulseek.

im sure some office fans will like this stuff.

[Mr.Pants]

Thanks for the tip. I've been using Pepper Hick's tactics to catch up on the British comedies that you've recommended.

[DolaMight]

Hey Mooch, What do think of Peep Show? Caught a couple of episodes of season 4, loved it, now I went out and got seasons 1 to 3. We don't get it here but thanksto the net you can catch it.

[moochcassidy]

Hey Mooch, What do think of Peep Show? Caught a couple of episodes of season 4, loved it, now I went out and got seasons 1 to 3. We don't get it here but thanksto the net you can catch it.

id say peep show (http://www.tv-links.co.uk/show.do/1/69)is my favourite comedy show about right now. and one of the few available for purchase over there on BBCAMERICA

i loved the POV style of the early series, 1-3 is classic stuff but im not crazy about 4. i think they got a new director and its not as inventive as early stuff...still great writers tho

mitchell and webb (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mitchell+webb&search=Search)have made some decent radio shows over the years too. personally soulseek is the best spot for getting BBC Radio Comedy or BBC7 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/).(click on comedy/quizzes)

they collaborated with Gervais on an thing in the late 90's called Badger which is when he and Martin Freeman (Tim in the office) and Matthew Holness (Garth Marengi's Darkplace, Simon the computer guy in the office) met, they had some brilliant bit -i assume written by Ricky, with Martin doing this annoying husband being interviewed for a fly on the wall doc which is pure 'office'

if you like well directed comedy check 15 Storeys High (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_Storeys_High). id rate it higher than peep show but sean lock is a favourite standup comic of mine so im bias

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[Don Stugots]

i loved the first two mins of that mooch, i will watch the rest tonight while at work.

"all the energy of a rat, but in a can."

[zolo6029]

As for brittish comedies,there is nothing like little britain! It is the sickest and also gayest show I've ever seen. You have to take time to get into the characters but after you do I guarentee you will be hooked.I suggest sereis 3.

[moochcassidy]

i loved the first two mins of that mooch, i will watch the rest tonight while at work.

"all the energy of a rat, but in a can."

stug, yer in for a treat. this guy is one of the most horribly dislikable characters in tv

it follows him in his dreary life working at the swimming pool and torturing his innocent and more likeable flatmate errol.

the genius part of it is, any moment in the story, the focus will shift up the towerblock to another bedsit and you get a little comic vignette of life in a crappy London block

unwrap video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ra-5mdw5JA)

Silver Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER_3XR4HHtY)

rastacize (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7T7YHp4eFI)

[DolaMight]

Watched it yesterday, good stuff, non-stop entertainment. Not many shows over here that can even pull that off. Amazing lack of creativity and originality since Seinfeld. No chances being taken on pilots and Arrested Development getting no ratings is probably responsible for that.

I kept in mind you mentioned it was pre-office, but while watching an episode, I found myself constantly distracted noting the near identical comedic writing style. If it came out after I would having trouble watching it because I loved the office so much. That opinion based off one episode of course.

Watching the British comedy circuit right now reminds me of when I was younger and discovering a great band that was unique, then I find myself buying every artist on the same label. It's like I read the liner, find out who the waterboy was, then go out and get his album too. Its workin though, I keep finding great sitcoms.

[moochcassidy]

its very true man. the style of the office didnt come out of nowhere. its been used in alternative comedy since the late 90's- the low-fi mocku-soap (where the characters are aware of the cameras) was used in shows like 'That Peter Kay Thing (http://youtube.com/results?search_query=that+peter+kay+thing&search=Search)' and maybe my all time favourite 'The Day Today' (http://youtube.com/results?search_query=the+day+today&search=Search)

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the scene is pretty incestuous, everyone knows eachother and work together. groups of comic character actors seem to develop around the people like Steve Coogan, Armando Iannucci, Ricky Gervais and Peter Kay etc.

[Mr.Pants]

The genuine style of the documentary adds to these comedies. I think where the American version of the Office fails is the camera shakes, zooms in and out, and cuts back and forth for no reason. It's totally forced.

[moochcassidy]

it was bruiser (http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/b/bruiser_66600740.shtml)..not badger

def a hit and miss thing but the gervais/freeman bits are great