Is it just me, or is "The worst week of my life" the most unfunny sitcom ever?

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Think "Hugh Grant being Frank Spencer" and all the people are superposh.

The trials and tribs of 1) getting married or 2) awaiting baby.

sample episode. mainbloke drops the patriarch's OBE in a barrow of grass cuttings which go onto a furnace. So, they find an advert in the local paper...

ah whatever.

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:09 (nineteen years ago)

Mark Lawson thinks it's one of the best things that's been on TV this year - 'nuff said?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:11 (nineteen years ago)

No. It is not as bad as - for example - that awful Australian thing with Rob Brydon as an astronomer that was on BBC2 recently.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:13 (nineteen years ago)

"Blessed"

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:17 (nineteen years ago)

... which, in case you're lucky enough to not know what it is, is "Ben Elton's sitcom about a 30-something couple whose lives have become dominated by their two young children."

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:19 (nineteen years ago)

The first series of Worst Week of My Life was quite amusing. Dragging it out to another series of the same jokes, but pointlessly because you've done it all already = not amusing.

I take it none of you have seen "The Green Green Grass" then.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:37 (nineteen years ago)

It doesn't have James Lance in, thus it can't be the worst sitcom ever.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:42 (nineteen years ago)

Bah. I like James Lance, and not just because he is cute

(I hope I'm thinking of the right person here)

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:42 (nineteen years ago)

(and I still think that that crap Australian thing with Rob Brydon in is worse than anything anyone else has mentioned on this thread)

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:43 (nineteen years ago)

(overacting dude from the Book Group, yes?)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:43 (nineteen years ago)

Yes. Also in Absolute Power.

― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

And that drug dealer sitcom on Five.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:46 (nineteen years ago)

Ha ha, I saw that last week, that must have doubled it's viewing figures for the week

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:49 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, what about that thing with Jasper Carrott and Meera Syal? (I saw about five minutes of it once, so can't really comment on its actual awfulness, but the idea didn't strike me as being great)

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:50 (nineteen years ago)

"Jasper Carrot Loves The Darkies", I think it's called.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:50 (nineteen years ago)

And the disableds!

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:51 (nineteen years ago)

"Jasper Carrot Loves the Darkies, Especially If They're Disabled Into the Bargain" to be exact

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:52 (nineteen years ago)

Oops, xpost! That programme was indeed abysmal

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:53 (nineteen years ago)

Look:

"Ben Elton's sitcom about a 30-something couple whose lives have become dominated by their two young children."

I don't think anybody's getting the true horror of what that implies.

― The Wanderers' Wandering Daughter (noodle vague), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 12:59 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.thebiglist.co.uk/newsimages/s43801_14_nathan%20barley.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:00 (nineteen years ago)

Actually it's:

"Ardal O'Hanlon stars Ben Elton's sitcom about a 30-something couple whose lives have become dominated by their two young children."

The Horror! The Horror!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:01 (nineteen years ago)

Ooh, I've got a good one. Rhona! That was RUBBISH. "Wooh, look at me, I'm a lezzer!"

(xpost. no, it gets even worse "Ardal O'Hanlon and the cuddly one from Mel and Sue star in...etc etc")

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

It's "A Prince Among Men"!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/images/800/princeamongmen_1.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:06 (nineteen years ago)

Chalk!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/images/800/chalk_1.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:07 (nineteen years ago)

Dad!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/images/800/dad_1.jpg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:08 (nineteen years ago)

Up the Elephant and Round the Castle!

Home James!

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

Karl Howman
SHOWS AS A PERFORMER

Get Some In! UK 1975
Tell It To The Judge UK 1980
A Fine Romance UK 1981
Brush Strokes UK 1986
Mulberry UK 1992
Bad Boys UK 1995
Babes In The Wood UK 1998

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.spikemilligan.co.uk/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_262382/curry1.jpg

http://www.spikemilligan.co.uk/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_262382/curry2.jpg

http://www.spikemilligan.co.uk/mediac/400_0/media/DIR_70101/currychips.jpg

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:14 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, yes, yes.

Could someone at least come out and say "Yes Mark, it is truly abysmal".

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

I thought I did:

Mark Lawson thinks it's one of the best things that's been on TV this year - 'nuff said?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:19 (nineteen years ago)

Sam's Game (? - the one with Davina McCall in it)

Never the Twain

Mad About Alice

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:22 (nineteen years ago)

"Never the Twain"? Is that the one with Windsor Davies and Donald Sinden? It wasn't that bad.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:23 (nineteen years ago)

Readham And Weep

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:24 (nineteen years ago)

I thought Never the Twain was shit. It was worse than Worst Week of My Life anyway. One joke (two fusty old blokes don't like each other) dragged out for ever. My parents liked it.

Anyway, I now remind you of "That's My Boy" starring Mollie Sugden, and am going off to wash my brain out.

Oh my God I've just remembered something called "L for Lester" which had the bloke of out of George and Mildred and Alma out of Coronation Street where he was a driving instructor and they ended up driving down a train track with hilarious consequences.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:31 (nineteen years ago)

I think he should hold fire on this subject till Jimmy Carr makes his sitcom

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:35 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, that reminds me - "Shane", the recent Frank Skinner vehicle was a bit rub. As, sadly, was "Dead Man Weds". Stand-up stars tend not to make good sitcom leads, unless they are American.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:37 (nineteen years ago)

Or Ricky Gervais.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:38 (nineteen years ago)

The one with the other guy out of "The Office" wasn't very good

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:39 (nineteen years ago)

... Martin Freeman I mean

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:39 (nineteen years ago)

There is nothing wrong with The Worst Week Of My Life, providing you are being paid to watch it*. I have even watched the DVD extras. I like it when the dog goes in the concrete mixer.

Carrie and Barry is another favourite.

*and put in loads of really fiddly sodding subtitles.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:39 (nineteen years ago)

Hardware, do you mean - any advantage gained by use of Martin Freeman quickly nullified by the inclusion of Reg Holdsworth.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:49 (nineteen years ago)

Oh, he had another 30-something-angsty thing as well didn't he. That wasn't very good either. The Robinsons, or something?

Jeez, now you've made me remember "According to Bex".

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

Hold on though, wasn't there a TV version of "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"?

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

*aarrgghhh, make it stop*

What about the TV version of Andy Capp starring James Bolam...

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 13:58 (nineteen years ago)

Or Tony Slattery in "Just A Gigolo"?

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 20 December 2005 14:06 (nineteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

How soon we forget According To Bex.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 15:37 (nineteen years ago)

I thought the last episode of TWWOML was pretty good.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 15:39 (nineteen years ago)

I watched the whole thing, after starting this thread by saying it was pointless. It *was* pointless, but it went on to make me laugh. And the gay-brother subplot was quite touching. The first series was better though.

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 15:43 (nineteen years ago)

Us Girls
Square Deal
Watching
On The Up
Captain Butler
Let The Blood Run Free
that Carla Lane one with the middle-aged women
Brighton Belles
Porkpie
Sitting Pretty
the one with the bloke from Cold Feet playing a stand-up comedian (or so it would seem)
the one with Norman Lovett and a talking dog (somehow no good)
Baddiel's Syndrome

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 15:45 (nineteen years ago)

I quite liked Porkpie. He's got the money!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 15:54 (nineteen years ago)

It changed him though (he stopped being lol)

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 16:02 (nineteen years ago)

Don't knock On The Up.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 16:06 (nineteen years ago)

He did the theme tune.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Tuesday, 3 January 2006 16:11 (nineteen years ago)

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Chalk And Cheese.

Chalk And Cheese
UK, ITV (Thames), Sitcom, Colour, 1977
Starring: Jonathan Pryce, Michael Crawford, Robin Hawdon
Riding the crest of a wave following massive successes with the BBC sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the London stage-show Billy, Michael Crawford starred in this short-lived Thames series. He found no such favour here.

Chalk And Cheese cast him as an unrestrained proletarian, the pig-headed, sexist, bearded Dave Finn, truculently living out his cockney adages and lifestyle in a gentrified street, a tin bath hanging on the front of his house like a badge of honour. Robin Hawdon was cast as Finn's adjoining neighbour, Roger Scott, a Sloane-style marketing director. Scott was the very antithesis of Finn and the series explored these differences, which, under the mere superficialities of outlook, attitudes, values, dress and prospects, were, perhaps, not too dissimilar after all.

In Spasms, the single-episode pilot screened 15 months before the series (which had Jonathan Pryce in the Michael Crawford role), Finn and Scott were at the hospital, waiting for their wives to give birth to their first children. This was re-enacted as the opening episode of Chalk And Cheese.

I'd love to see it again, mainly because the way I remember it, it made According To Bex look like Fawlty Towers.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 09:25 (nineteen years ago)

Ah, I have remembered a worse one. Only I can't remember who was in it or what it was called.

An old guy who was a ventriloquist at a tatty seaside town, and a miserable old bastard to boot(I have a gut feeling he was a respected actor who had just left a successful drama show) who was paired with a young girl (I think she was supposed to be a relative whose parents had just died? Again, I think she had just left a famous-ish show).

g00gl3 is no help.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 11:53 (nineteen years ago)

That'll be Hope It Rains. He ran a wax museum. It was shit.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 12:49 (nineteen years ago)

That's the one. Fuck me, it was awful.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

Taking a break from playing intimidatory tough guys in uncompromising dramas, Tom Bell starred in this promising but ultimately disappointing sitcom. He was cast as Harry Nash, perfectly content in his self-centred world until his 18year-old god-daughter, Jace, burrows her way in upon the death of her parents. The victim of a tough childhood, but secretly keen on playing up to it, the abrasive Jace takes an instant dislike to Harry, a feeling that is most definitely reciprocated. Moody and selfish, and snug in his bachelor world, Harry runs the Empire Wax Museum in a rundown seaside resort, desirous of precipitation (hence the programme's title) because it brings in more customers. In life, Harry is no taker, so he doesn't expect to have to give either, but Jace's arrival as not only his lodger but also his legal ward means that he has to accommodate a second person. As far as Harry is concerned, Jace 'makes the Artful Dodger look like a choirboy', and her rudeness and poor temperament, matching Harry's, means that it's bitterness at seven paces. The personality clash is a situation that Dennis, Harry's kind-hearted friend and business neighbour (he's a holiday-snap photographer with his own company, Shutters), constantly tries to smooth. An idealist by nature, Dennis cares for Jace more than Harry does, but his attempts to pour oil on the waters of their stormy relationship are bound to fail.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 13:02 (nineteen years ago)

Also, having endured an episode of Two Pints Of Lager Etc. on Christmas Day, I would like to re-affirm it's abject crapness. I was actually shocked by how poor it was.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

Wait it wasn't Christmas Day but a couple of weeks before - not that that makes any difference to it's (lack of) quality.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

you are all wrong. you are all so wrong. nothing will EVER be worse than this

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 13:12 (nineteen years ago)

the key words being:

Robin Askwith
accident-prone
football-mad
blokish and berkish
Jock the boozy Scotsman
Joe the obligatory black
Welsh-born depot manager
big-boobed, unable-to-type secretary
impish grin
clinging from a sixth-floor parapet
Mrs Thatcher

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 13:13 (nineteen years ago)

Must not forget Heartburn Hotel and Divided We Stand. Or rather, yes carry on forgetting them.

― Sororah T Massacre (blueski), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 13:14 (nineteen years ago)

I can't see a mention of Duty Free here. It was bad.

― Zoe Espera (Espera), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 13:16 (nineteen years ago)

Or Singles. The one about divorcees trying to pull each other. This bloke pretended to be a doctor for the whole series, when really he worked at some sort of market.

― Zoe Espera (Espera), Wednesday, 4 January 2006 13:24 (nineteen years ago)

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