Fact 1:
Lots of rubbish comedians become undeservedly successful

Fact 2:
Lots of excellent comedians don't get the recognition they deserve.

Fact 3:
Lots of excellent comedians forget how to write comedy and become rubbish comedians without realising it.

Why do we have to write our own show in order to express our concern about any of the above?

It's like a plumber accidentally flooding your kitchen and refusing to take responsibility: 'Well, why don't *you* try fixing the washing machine and see how easy it is?'

FACT: The Corpses are the plumber's customer, standing around professing to know *precisely* how the plumbing works without actually lending a hand themselves.

Here's one reason why "The Corpses" should try writing their own show or stand-up: so the veneer of authority they love to project would have some credence to it.

But they won't. Because they can't.

Yes, the plumber analogy fails because SOTCAA goes further than merely saying 'that works/doesn't work', it gets into detail about why shows are no good. So we're entitled to wonder how well they'd manage all by themselves.

>FACT: The Corpses are the plumber's customer, standing around professing to know *precisely* how the plumbing works without actually lending a hand themselves.

So you hire and pay workmen to do your plumbing, but still help them do the job? That's very kind of you.

Even if a customer can do the plumbing themselves they don't have too. Nor do they have to except a hired professional to do a shoddy job.

>Here's one reason why "The Corpses" should try writing their own show or stand-up: so the veneer of authority they love to project would have some credence to it.
>But they won't. Because they can't.

That's a bit of a bold statement given the recent transcript hoax.

Fair point. The transcript was funnier than 'Rhona'.

Going into detail about why shows don't work? Fucking right. What's wrong with this? Otherwise, all arguments on this forum would consist of the three phrases 'I like it', 'I don't', and 'The thing is, comedy is subjective'. We're comedy fans, not comedians - why do our opinions lack credence as a result?

A lot of people think that SOTCAA is on a crusade to slag off everyone, and that our criticism of 'Time Gentlemen Please' mas an attempt to redress the balance in the light of the 'L&H bias' allegations. It's nothing of the sort - all our opinions (and they are opinions - we wouldn't have included a forum if we wanted to dictate to people what they ought to be thinking without a comeback) are ones we genuinely hold. We don't slaughter sacred cows for the sake of it. In any case, negative criticism takes up a very small part of the site.

Also, you don't (and shouldn't) offer to lend plumbers a hand - like with comedians, you're paying them to do a job for you. If they fail, you have a right to moan.

Yeah, but maybe Time gentlemen Please isn't intended for you, or for any of us.


There ARE different audiences out there, you know.

Are you (SOTCAA) saying that you don't have to be funny to know what's funny; just as in the same way you can comment on how beautiful someone is, and yet be as ugly as a pig yourself.

Does that make sense?

Re: comments two posts ahead. You're not Charles "Bud" Tingwell are you? Star of Australian comedy film The Castle?

I think the Corpses are both funny and beautiful. They may be masterful but they have reason to be.

I would love to be condescended by them. Condescension is sexy. Their featured comedians should think themselves lucky.

I find the Corpses very amusing and think they should have the balls to Ride the Gauntlet (as Lewis Collins use to say in that proto Robot Wars show on ITV)Go on ,write a script ,you know you want to.
This isnt being sarcastic.This is genuine.
Dont limit yourselves to spectators when you can take part.

The Corpses aren't a supply and demand service. If you devise a sitcom you've got to have an idea and a passion for it. Not be coerced into doing one by some internet plebs.

Gosh... plebs again! Aren't we all fond of constructive and meaningful arguments here!

Don't you mean "oui"?

Sorry, wrong thread. Please ignore the above.

Oui.

Do all film critics want to be making films?

Can you imagine how boring a Barry Norman film would be?

Better analogy: Dennis Potter was a TV critic who had a go at writing and was actually really good, until it all went wrong (see 'Sacred Cows' strand for details).

So go on Corpses - surprise us and yourselves...

I think you've got it wrong - it's "Will The Real Slim Shady Please Stand Up"

And Barry Norman's film reviews were rather boring as well, weren't they?

Yes, I preferred his earlier, funny films.