Early Doors

Pretty dire, although considering BBC 2's recent non-Office sitcom pedigree (what the hell is that thing on Thursday nights? Mumble mumble vague pop culture reference gibber?), it ranks at a C+

I have watched this programme subsequently, and wondered whether ilx had had anything to say about it.

I think it has elements that, in theory and in isolation, I like - used in a way that I don't like.

It's ridiculously over-similar to The Royle Family: Craig Cash is making a terrible impression by playing precisely the same character again. Even Jon Henshaw, whom I like, appeared in the Royles. The pop reference stuff is truly dire, badly judged. And it regularly strains, weakly, for a post-Bennett/Wood mode that is not worth doing at all unless you can do it superlatively.

I think part of the problem is that people tend to mistake Bennettism for realism, when it is nothing of the sort.

I hate the visual realism too, it's all smokey and horrible, yet everything is in the right place and people sit at exactly the right angle for the cameras, etc, etc, moan, moan.

Shit! Did I miss them going to see the strippers?

It's certainly true that Bennettism != realism.

Early Doors is really boring anyway. Last night the ending was so touching and sensitive they wouldn't let Roddy Frame sing. How many more episodes to go? I don't think I've watched an entire series without liking it since I was a teenager. So moving back was obviously a good idea.

And this time I actually found myself... laughing at it, on occasion.

Repeats, Monday night, BBC2, 10 pm. Don't you have a TV guide? Or internet access outside ILX?

Early Doors was *so* much better 2nd time round that I almost want to suggest they rewrote the scripts, filmed it all again and called it a repeat.

Hooray. Set the video.

Before that on BBC2, Mastermind, featuring questions on Cole Porter!

and Babylon 5.

(and that pretty much illustrates the difference between me and The Fox)

Was it good? Was it good?

Don't like what they've done to Eddie and Joan (is that a different actress btw, or has she just completely changed the way she looks?) - I used to like the obsession with the traffic lights and repetition, they were just the couple that were always overly annoyingly friendly and thought everybody was interested in what they were - that they lived their lives in an entirely vicarious way, not really speaking to each other any more except to relate the same conversation they'd had with multiple people. But last night, they seemed to be portrayed as sub-Care In The Community out-patients. No need.

The Duffy's wife scenario might be worth more mileage, but seemed bolted on (was it explored more fully in the first two episodes?) and irrelevant.

Ken/Tanya needs resolving.

The policemen - wtf? Taking drinks as back-handers I can understand, but sitting through the back smoking dope the entire time?

Melanie moving in with her new b/f already? (How long is supposed to be between the series?) And the 'copping off in the lounge' was very, very forced, given they'd already changed rooms by then.

Less bothered about missing the first two now, because I don't think I'll be in to see any of the rest of the series. Don't think I'm missing anything much.

The trouble with a lot of television is you can *see* the writing. Perhaps this is not a problem for 'civillians'.

there were a couple of LOL moments for me last night, but then i'm quite easily pleased...

i like the way they've set up the daughter's 21st and impending possible pub closure for the end of the series already.

i missed the end of the first series, did she dump her old boyfriend then, or did it mysteriously happen between series? if the latter, then i'm assuming "new" boyf has been shoehorned in to cover change of actor...

Oh there are, trust me. Heirarchy, as I remember it:

M&S Foodhall
Waitrose
Sainsbury's
Tesco
Asda
Scotmid/Co-op/Somerfield/Morrisons/Other local supermarket
Lidl
Aldi

Local brands seem unduly low, but are so placed because Asda tends to have out-of-town associations and therefore usually implies car ownership, whereas these normally have bus stops outside or are within walking distance (and frequently don't have car parks). Obviously this doesn't apply when they are out of their local region c.f. Morrisons Bristol, when they go one step up to above Asda.

x-post:

The policemen were sharing the fag between them at one point, so I assumed it was a jazz cigarette.

Melanie hadn't split up with the boyfriend at the end of the first series, no.

in fact, i'd put morrisons and iceland above somerfield and co-op, who are just one rung above Farmfoods.

netto below aldis obv.

so if she hadn't split up with him at the end of the last series then they've *so* had to draft another actor in after the moving out bit was written i reckon...

Yes, it's another actor, but why make it explicit it's a different boyfriend? It looks like a different Joan.

There's less smoke in this series, I think.

Kwik-Save

I wish they had not altered the lassie's boyfriend. The previous one was better-looking.

(Whether or no I'm right, it is funny, and should be noted, that you remark on her ears.)

i enjoyed last night's alot, although i think it went for the "b'dum tsch" lines a bit too often.

i also withdraw last weeks comment about the coppers not smoking d0pe, they clearly were last night...

I had a mixed feeling: a) it's sending up the south / b) it's sending up the north; a) it makes these folk look stupid / b) somehow their superiority abides. Either way, not good.

I put in the ['s] to infuriate all parties in the class war.

Tonight's the night, but it clashes with something starring Jack Dee.

All the promise discarded, all the THREATS fulfilled, and then some.

I mean - this was not only the worst episode of Early Doors by light years; it was also one of the most excruciating half-hours of comedy I have experienced depuis il y a longtemps, la.

Back to Early Doors, did they do a different opening credits sequence the other day, with the lights on? Cor, push the boat out, eh? I still like the theme tune very much.

Speaking of comedy northerners, my brain registered for the first time what Peter Kay is saying when he opens the door to Danny Baker with his washing powder in that advert. It is funny, I think.

All in all, a missed opportunity. I will wait until it's 3.99.

I have more PF bits - one is dedicated to Jerry Nipper!

Bit gay if you ask me.

I am worried about the 'nothing happens' school of comedy.

is the 'nothing happens' school of comedy a backlash against the quickfire sketch show form (the fast show, smack the pony etc) and if so what will the backlash to this backlash be?

But I haven't seen The Fast Show or Smack the Pony.

Paula Wilcox was on the raido yesterday as well. I can't remember what she was in. Was it The Archers?

non-ironic variety revival (we need a new Little & Large)

and you call yourself a belle and sebastian fan...

The tune is The Cure isn't it?

Paula Wilcox was in some kind of drama production yesterday. I didn't recognise her, but she was credited at the end. I think she is capable of more than a Hilda Ogden impersonation.

Which is something I like these days.

I love the theme tune. Is the rest of the album as good?

To be honest, it looked like it was trying too hard. I did watch the previous series and liked it a lot.

Shall have to catch a repeat.

Loving the repeats on BBC4.

Winnie “She came home one day and found him dead on the conservatory floor”

Jean “Really?....................She's got a conservatory?”

Loving the repeats on BBC4.

Winnie “She came home one day and found him dead on the conservatory floor”

Jean “Really?....................She's got a conservatory?”

Whoops.

That's OK. It was better the second time.

“When we get back, I’ll drop a line”