While wishing everyone a Happy New Year and prosperous 2012, I wanted to remember some ‘friends’ the world of comedy lost in 2011. Over the past several years, those of us involved in the production of a number of British comedy retrospective specials for PBS have had the incredible good fortune to spend quality time […]
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It was 2007 when one, John Cleese, set his Pythonesque sights on the traditional reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. In John’s own words from the podcast of thoughts, observations and musings, this is his attempt to alleviate the planet from holiday stress “…that finds everyone assembled around a blazing fire, where families eat […]
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With Sunday, 25 December, marking the return of the British situation comedy, Absolutely Fabulous, on BBC One, Patsy Stone and Edina Monsoon have finally broken their 20-year silence and agreed to speak out on the Kardashians. If I’m not mistaken, this now completes the cycle to where everyone on the planet has uttered their names […]
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Sunday, 11 March, 2012 is the day to celebrate the man who gave us life, the universe and everything. The Apollo Hammersmith in London (Planet Earth) is the place to be for the birthday party of all birthday parties. Greats from the world of science, comedy and music will come together for an evening of entertainment […]
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Shepperton Studios is THE place to be tonight as it’s zero hour for the lucky few that scored tickets to the first taping date for Red Dwarf X. All the familiar faces will be present. Lister, Rimmer, Kryten and Cat. But, according to producer, Charles Armitage, there will be a ‘fifth star’ present over the […]
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Leave it to Foster’s lager to continue their assault on the world of British comedy with a recent survey that attempts to determine what region of the UK believes they are they funniest in the land. You may remember that it was Foster’s who resurrected the career of Alan Partridge in 2010 for a series […]
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Forget the annual Christmas Day BBC 1 vs. ITV 1 battle royal. 2012 brings an even bigger main event to the forefront with challenger, Sky 1 declaring they are poised to be the ‘home of original British comedy’ and taking on the perennial powerhouse, the BBC, on their home turf – comedy and light entertainment. […]
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There are quizzes and then….there are quizzes. This…is a smegging quiz. As we move closer and closer to 23 December and our trek to Shepperton Studios for filming of the first episode of Red Dwarf X, Dave, the home of witty banter (and the home for the tenth season of RD), has compiled a few […]
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It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)…Miracle on 34th Street (1947)…How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) and A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). All holiday classics. For my money, another holiday must see was born just over 20 years ago when the BBC broadcast, Bernard and the Genie. The relative new kid on the block of holiday classics was written […]
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As the story goes, Red Dwarf originated from a recurring sketch created by Doug Naylor and Rob Grant, Dave Hollins: Space Cadet, as part of the early 80s BBC Radio 4 comedy show, Son of Cliche, which was also written by the team of Grant and Naylor. The science-fiction sitcom premiered in 1988 and ran […]
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