SURVEY QUESTIONS

1. How old are you?

2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)
[NB. if you work in TV comedy, say 'comedy']
(ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)
[NB. include non-broadcast things that got past initial submission stage]
(iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?

3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?

4. And your least favourite?
[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll]

5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]

6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?


Thankyou for your time - post here or mail to [email protected]

In case you were wondering...

1. 27.

2. (i) No.
(ii) No.
(iii) No.

3. L&H, 'jam', 'Frasier', Simon Pegg.

4. 11OCS, 'Many Splintered Thing'.

5. Love 'TVGH' & 'The Onion'. Don't think much of the other things I've seen.

6. I dunno. I imagine live comedy has always been mostly bad, but I've seen enough of it to judge. I don't remember there ever being more than 1 truly great show on TV at any one time, usually less than that.

Sorry, the last bit should have read 'I haven't seen enough of it to judge'.

Furthermore...

I'll split the best/worst results into separate Tv show/live act charts.

For the 2nd question, 'working in the media' means 'journalist or Tv person who doesn't work in comedy'.

1: 18ish.

2(i): No chance.
(ii): See above.
(iii): Not on a paid basis.

3: Izzard. Despite the backlash.

4: Iain Lee, maybe Mel and Sue at their current standard.


5: It's contraversial. TVGH: Average.


6. Not compared with American comedy, no.

1. 23
2. i. No
ii. No
iii. Yes (not paid)
3. Jam (most recent one that was any good).
4. Heartburn Hotel
5. TVGH - G
The Onion - VG
Brunching - OK
Bubblegun - Good
The Gusset - Poor
6. Yes (at the moment).

1. 29

2. (i) Yes

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you?
29

>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy?
Stand up Comedian/writer/actor
(ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy?
sketch comedy show (writing and performing), stand up spot on BBC radio
(iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?
About 400 stand up gigs, also run sketch team.
>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?
Jerry Sadowitz, League Against Tedium.
>4. And your least favourite?
>[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll] Eddie Izzard, anything to do with improv, Jam, Supergirly.
>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
>[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]
'TVGoHome' Good, but Corpses is in a league of its own.

>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?
Yes, an industry almost entirely run by people who either hate or know nothing about comedy. Get the parasite slags out the way, and maybe we can concentrate on making people laugh again.

Further notes...

If you answer 'not paid' for 'Have you tried stand-up?', I count that as 'Yes'.

And if you've worked in comedy, but not as a scriptwriter, that counts as 'production'.

And please try to answer all the questions.

subbes has tried stand up?? Oh my good god. How did that come about?

Look, if you lasted 20 seconds before getting bottled off, that counts as 'tried stand-up' in my book. Provided you managed to get some words out.

Damn, that's my Marcel Marceau Obeservational Comey routine out the window then.
Oh no, the window won't open! I'm stuck, and can't seem to find my way out. Perhaps if I pull on this rope, or try to move this box? Where'd that strong wind come from?

MM

OK, we'll drop the speech requirement. What counts is that you got up on your hind legs in front of a group of people who expected you to do something amusing. What happened next - laughter, despair, violence, getting paid - is irrelevant.

What I want to know is how many SOTCAA people have gone over the wire.

I want to know if you know The Fear.

>subbes has tried stand up?? Oh my good god. How did that come about?


I was drunk. There was an auudience.
Thankfully, I can't remember any of it.

>I want to know if you know The Fear.

Is that one of those new rollercoasters at Alton Towers?

Did you go down well? Was it a five minute spot?

*pause* All i can remember is some laughter. That might have been when I fell off the stage.

Either that, or they really loved my joke about Pikachu.

Go on, tell it again, so we can judge how likely that is.

How do you get Pikachu onto a bus?
Pokemon!






*groan*
It *was* as bad as i thought. Cuh.

I'm surprised they didn't ask you back. 'Some laughter' is a feat at those open nights.

I think i showed my breasts.

Maybe that was why they laughed.

Or maybe it's just wishful thinknig and the best I got was a titter from the people I was there with.

>Or maybe it's just wishful thinknig and the best I got was a titter from the people I was there with.

is a 'titter' someone who showed their laughter via a movement involving your exposed bosoms?

It all sounds powerfully entertaining.

If anyone would still like to take part in the survey, post below...

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you? 26
>
>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? No.
> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? Yeah, loads of non-professional stuff, both written (http://www.bluejam20.freeserve.co.uk) and on local radio
> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing? Does live radio count?
>
>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows? Chris Morris, Lee and Herring, League Against Tedium, League Of Gentlemen, John Connors
>
>4. And your least favourite?
Ricky Gervaise, Royle Family
>
>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
Gorilla Salad is far and away the best.
TVGH - very good

>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?
> Yes and no - it's like music, there's always good stuff around, but you have to look for it. Having said that, though, there is a frustrating mood of mediocrity dominating media exposure at the moment. It's the same as the way that NME are relegating exciting bands like Clinic to short and not-very-enthusiastic pieces, while Craig David gets to go on the cover. I could go on about this for ages...
>
>Thankyou for your time - post here or mail to [email protected]

THANKYOU - now all the others...

Oh - live radio DOES count, cheers.

That's good - because when you're sweating buckets in an overheated studio, attempting to wrestle with three malfunctioning CD players AND read out a scripted humour-based link in a convincing voice at the same time, you really hope that it does count...

1. How old are you? - 25

2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? - No.
(ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? - No.
(iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing? - No.

3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows? - Current as in the last month or so... er, Futurama, repeats of Fawlty Towers, The Best of Larry Sanders, Jack Handey's Deep Thoughts (in print). Nothing actually 'new'.

4. And your least favourite? - Just about anything on BBC2 Comedy Zone, or UK Play's original shows - especially Perfect World, Coupling and the pointless SuperGirly.

5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]

TVGoHome - VG
TheWeekly.co.uk - VG
BubbleGun - VG
Gorilla Salad - VG
Onion - G

6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'? - I used to make a point of watching at least two or three episodes of every new comedy show. Not any more.

"Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'? - I used to make a point of watching at least two or three episodes of every new comedy show. Not any more."

I'll take that as a 'Yes' then... thanks.

Since someone mentioned The Weekly... does anyone know if it will ever be updated? Or was it updated but I missed it?

>1. How old are you?

I am 29

>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)

The media

> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)

If you count some poor-to-adequate radio show stuff, the odd 'humourous in tone' piece for magazines and one (count it!) entry for TV Go Home, then yes.

> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?

Nope.

>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?

Hmm. Chris Morris' stuff, The Simpsons, Friends (sometimes), Frasier (mostly), Big Train (not very 'current' this list, is it? Sorry...), Arthur Smith, Malcolm Hardee, Larry Sanders (and Bob Martin too, but that's probably due to recognising character-types).

>4. And your least favourite?

Any ITV sitcom. That Bruiser thing.

>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)

I like TV Go Home (G) and Bubblegun (G). Most of the other stuff is Vpoor

>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?

Pretty much, yeah. But at least Gail Porter isn't on the cover of it.

Cheerio

Steve

I wrote:

>>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?
>
>Hmm. Chris Morris' stuff, The Simpsons, Friends (sometimes), Frasier (mostly), Big Train (not very 'current' this list, is it? Sorry...), Arthur Smith, Malcolm Hardee, Larry Sanders (and Bob Martin too, but that's probably due to recognising character-types).

And The League Of Gentlemen. I was a late convert.

>>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)

Is Gorilla Salad comedy? Oh...

1. 18

2. (i) No
(ii) No
(iii) No

3. League Of Gentlemen, Jam, Friends (Less now than used to)

4. Anything connected with 11OCS (Iain Lee)

5. Don't really look at it but TVGH is very good

6. Jusst seems to be nostalgia to me - when was it in a 'good' state?

Jon-
I am 19 years of age. I do not work in media or comedy. I have written comedy stuff with a view to taking it further but realised it was all shit before doing anything about it. Yes, comedy these days is in a 'limp state'. Everything I like and dislike is wrong.

1. 27

2. (i) No

(ii) Nope

(iii) Wrote some, performed some (a while ago now though)

3. Morris & Baynham & related; Mark Thomas when he's live on stage, but not when he's delivering buckets and soap to a power company who ought to "clean up their act", or something equally fucking trite.

4. Obviously the 11 O'Clock Show, for its offensive contempt for material & audience. The majority of BBC1 & ITV sitcoms for their sheer banality (especially - while I'm at it - 2.4 Children, featuring Gary Olsen - officially Britain's Unfunniest Man (TM)).

5. I really rate TV Go Home, and as I said recently, I'm still recovering from the shock of discovering that its creator had also been a key writer on (as James called it) The I've Got A Cock Show. Still, we've all got a mortgage to pay, I guess.

The Onion - V VG
TVGH - VG
SOTCAA - VG (but suffers from rampant self-righteousness) (and doesn't seem to know what a woman is)
Brunching Shuttlecocks - G (with flashes of genius)
Modern Humorist - G (ditto)
Bubblegun - Hmm. (i.e. OK)
Gorilla Salad - Ah. (i.e. not OK)
Gusset Weekly - Don't even go there

6. No. So what if right now there aren't ten new screamingly funny series on TV all demanding our attention at once - when have there ever been? These things only ever crop up occasionally, and are usually the product of several fairly talented people being pushed together to form one extremely talented unit. A lot of failed TV comedy is the result of failed attempts to produce such units. We shouldn't whinge about this process - it brought us Python, for a start.

Plus you can be guaranteed that there are people writing stuff now - even really, really poor stuff (anyone see Coogan's stand-up BEFORE On The Hour?) - who, ten years from now, will be hailed as comedy gods, and websites such as this one will be fighting each other to get hold of early recordings of them dying on their arse at the Camden Jongleurs in 2001.

Don't despair. Just keep your ear to the ground and see if you can spot anything interesting approaching. In the meantime, you probably have access to audio and visual equipment that allows you to enjoy comedic successes from yesteryear. Why not plug in from time to time. See? It's not so bad after all.

Nice philosophy there, Mogwai. I'm afraid I was rather more pessmistic with my answer to question 6 (which I e-mailed directly to Jon). But you're right - comedy's not really any better or worse than it ever was. Over the past few days, I've been chuckling at Fawlty, Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? and Frasier, rediscovering 8-year old episodes of Room 101 for the benefit of my girlfriend who'd never heard them (and is delighted that she now has), plus enjoying some old Morris classics from Radio 1. And this last year has still brought us People Like Us, jam and Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned (all of which I've revelled in). Ah, it's not so bad, really....

Thanks everyone - but I still want to hear from the following regulars:

Arma, Suii, John!, Simon Harries, Richard Herring, Stewart Lee, Nunuf Urbuznuz, Pete O'H, Gee, kinder surprise, the various Jasons, Rob S, Alan, Richard, TVOD, James, fizz, Bent Halo, Derek, Slightly_Outrageous, c@t, mk, george, Blake Connolly, NF and Charlie Brooker.

And the various people who post anonymously.

And the mighty Ewar Woowar, of course.

And the equally mighty Simon Adebisi, of course.

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you?

22

>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)

Neither

> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)
>[NB. include non-broadcast things that got past initial submission stage]

Never

> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?

No

>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?

The Radio Times tells me I will laugh once or twice at these:

The Fitz

Badger (well, the title is amusing.)

(This is a projection)

>4. And your least favourite?
>[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll]

Never Mind the Buzzcocks and While We're At It Lets Flog A Dead Horse For Ten Years

Rhonarse

Many Splintered Curly Haired Fuckwit

Lamaar's Attacks of Beneltonitis (Including the Haircut)

>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
>[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]

TVGoHome was funny sometimes but has become weaker and more scrapy-bottom-barrel. I like the thing in the current edition about the chatterings of paranoid people accompanied by pictures of the Earth floating meaninglessly through space (I'm paraphrasing.)

>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?

Don't think there is such a thing. There are some clever people who occasionally create something good, and a lot of fools drowning us in the comedy intestinal liquid from the lose anus of their imagination. So it will was, so it was always will.

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you?
>
25
>
>2. (i) (ii) (iii) No, just opinionated
>
>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?
>
League of Gentlemen. Jam (preferred Blue Jam, of course...) Uh... God, that's it at the moment. I'm off to watch the good bits from Fist Of Fun in a minute to cheer myself up.
>
>4. And your least favourite?
>[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll]
>
That fucker Richie Blackwood. Thinks he's Richard Pryor but he isn't even Eddie Murphy. Im sure Mogwai will back me up...
>
>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
>[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]
>
I usually like TV Go Home. Can't fault The Onion. Bubblegun has it's moments.
>
>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?
>
Hard to say. There's probably the same ratio of good to bad as there's ever been. But if the Boosh end up winning the Perrier, it might be time to think about emigrating. (If they think animals are so funny, why don't they open their own fucking zoo?)

>That fucker Richie Blackwood. Thinks he's Richard Pryor but he isn't even Eddie Murphy. Im sure Mogwai will back me up...


He's not even Eddie Large.

Thanks... now the rest of you....

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you? 22, 10.5 months
>
>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which) NO

> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which) NO
> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing? NO
>
>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows? At this precise moment? There isn't much to choose from. That Patrick Kielty thing, if you class that as comedy. But my sides have not split in a while. I suppose HIGNIFY when it is on would be my favourite.
>
>4. And your least favourite?
>[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll] League of Gentlemen
>
>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
TVGH okay The Onion - G/VG
>
>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?

It has been better, but I wouldn't say it was 'limp'


Happy now?!

Thankyou, NEXT!

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you?
>27
>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)
No
>[NB. if you work in TV comedy, say 'comedy']
> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)
>[NB. include non-broadcast things that got past initial submission stage]
> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?
Yes.
>
>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?
>Vic and Bob, League of Gentlemen, Smack the Pony

>4. And your least favourite?
>[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll]
>Alan Davies, Iain Lee, Eddie Izzard
>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
>[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]
>TV Go Home - OK
>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?
>Definitely
>
>Thankyou for your time - post here or mail to [email protected]

SURVEY QUESTIONS

1. 24

2. (i) No
(ii) No
(iii) Yes

3. ACTS- Bill Bailey, Omid Djalili, Boothby Graffoe, Sadowitz, Izzard, Simon Munnery, Al Murray.

SHOWS- LoG, Jam, Spaced. Loads of other 'non-current' stuff.

4. ACTS- Jenny Eclair, Lee Mack
SHOWS- Friends, Sex & The City, Perfect World

5. Only know the Onion, which is Good.

6. 99% of everything is always limp- you just have to know where to look for that 1%. What annoys me is that attention is hardly ever focussed on that 1% nowadays.

Thanks for those - now come on, the rest of you...

>>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>>
>>1. How old are you?
>>27

Barney may I just say 27 is the most wonderful age for a man.

1. D'oH! do I have to say it? ...23

2. I> No II> No III> No

3. **** all at the moment :(

4. Any comedy in ITV's schedule

5. VVVVgood. I liked "imaginary news pictured silently by Peter sissons"

6. Oh yes. YES!

Thanks, Arma... next!

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you?

27

>
>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)
>[NB. if you work in TV comedy, say 'comedy']

No.

> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)

No.


> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?

No.

>
>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?

Chris Morris, anyone who was in Big Train , Spaced, Bill Bailey, The Simpsons, League of Gentlemen, League against tedium, Frasier
>
>4. And your least favourite?
>[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll]

Dinnerladies, anything with Mark Lamarr (sorry Ailie, just don't like him), running out of time here now and can't think of any more (I'll get back to you)
>
>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
>[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]

Don't really bother with it - not the best medium for comedy.
>
>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?

No worse than ever really - there's always been a lot of shit out there, hasn't there?


Those were the answers - HAPPY NOW?

Huzzah - we got EW! Now the others...

Oh yeah, plus I hate anything with Mark Lamarr in...

>1. How old are you?

A babe in arms at 18
>
>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)

No

> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)

A few am-dram sketches for school anthologies, (one where the grim reaper was obstructed from his target by an unhelpful secratary) - and a friend and I have several weeks worth of a soap-opera planned out as well as a few final-draft episodes.


> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?

Yes - am-dram with school - various anthologies and 3 major productions - my crowning moment was playing Governor Danforth in The Crucible.
>
>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?

Eddie Izzard - anything he does.
dinnerladies
Rhona has its merits
The Simpsons
Family Guy
Friends
99p Challenge
Lord Zimbabwe on Radio 4
English Cricket Team



>4. And your least favourite?
>[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll]

Heartburn Hotel
Ali G

>
>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
>[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]
>

I think absolutely nothing as I dont know any


>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?
>
>No - just ITV and some of BBC's dross

Also - Smack the pony and supergirly are cool

Since Jon has named and shamed me, I'd better answer the questions......

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you?
>25

>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)
>NO

>[NB. if you work in TV comedy, say 'comedy']
> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)
>[NB. include non-broadcast things that got past initial submission stage]
>NO

(iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?
>NO

>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?
>Fraiser
>4. And your least favourite?
>[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll]
>Cherry Pop/Ballydung Radio/Up Rising/11OCS
>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
>[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]
>Private Eye-OK
>TV Go Home-OK
>The Onion-Very Good
>Our Press (Canadian Satire)-Good
>Bubblegum-OK
>SOTCAA-Very Good

>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?
>Optimistic Answer: UK comedy is going through one of its occasional *bad* patches
>Pessimistic answer: So may people, clubs, tv channels, performers, so little talent. However, I don't think I could do much better myself, but I'd be happy to work with others to help improve things and offer constructive criticism if required - That is one of the best things about this site.

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you?

28

>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)
>[NB. if you work in TV comedy, say 'comedy']

Yes. I'm a writer and performer.

> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)

Yes. No.

> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?

I don't do stand-up but I do, as I say, perform. But recently not as much as I would like.

>
>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?

There are a few shows I would make an effort not to miss this Edinburgh by drinking myself insensible in the Pleasance courtyard:

The League
Stewart Lee
Garth Marenghi
Dave Gorman
Boosh (Although I was disappointed with shoddy offering they gave people at The Riverside -- Cal McCrystal, work your occasional magic)
Peepolykus (with reference to my above choice, although they haven't done a show in a few years)
The Right Size

Comedy on television is a harder question. The only thing that's struck me as at all exciting (which I think is as important as funny) in the last year or so was Jam. Would like to have cable and catch Munnery's League show on UK Play but I suppose that doesn't count seeing as my opinion of it is based on sod all. I was quite taken with that Dylan Moran vehicle that was on a year or so ago, not really comedy drama but excellently written and performed... oh what the hell was it called?... How Was It For You? Something like that. How Do You Want Me! That's it! Got it. Right. Erm... (thinks) I'm Alan Partridge? Is that recent enough? Spaced was really rather good, damn me for saying that as some of you will. If I can't think of anything else, there musn't be anything. One odd vote: Paxman on Newsnight provides some of the best obtuse comedy I've ever seen, and I believe totally intentionally. Jeremy Paxman -- comedy god.

>4. And your least favourite?

This is actually really hard for the simple reason that if I don't like something I don't watch it, and as a result it slips my mind. The only things I can really think of are obvious ones like Jim Davidson, Birds of a Feather, fucking repeats of Only Fools and Horses (fine, it was well loved, but stop resting on your sodding BBC laurels and make something new you lazy twats), any ITV sitcom you care to name, blah blah blah blah blah conform. Not seen an Ali G thread on your site but I thought his series deserves to die a horrible death... is this controversial? Not amongst a lot of people I know, certainly. Ed Byrne. Argh, save us. Lenny Beige (please, please, Lord, let post-modern ironic kitsch be on the way out).

That'll do.


>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)

the-onion.com VG
mcsweeneys.net G
tvgohome.com G
hahabonk.com ACATUD (Can I invent a new category? Abysmally Commercial And Therefore Ultimately Disappointing? No? OK, then.)

>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?

No of course not. Don't be ridiculous. For comedy to be in 'a limp state' implies that at some point it was great, from which we can infer some kind of rollercoaster up- and downturn in the ability of people who make comedy to be talented. There are always good writers, performers and comedians and there are always bad ones. (Just take a brief look at when the entries for the Worst Comedy Show Ever strand were made -- it spreads throughout the last thirty years and if anything there are less entries from the last five than any other time. Really bad programmes stay in the memory but ones that are just not very good disappear, and inevitably there's more of those than there are good ones.) Comedy is a universal constant -- it's always there. What changes is how hard you have to try to find it. I only found this site for the first time today and had I not randomly come across it would never have enjoyed the good natured, bastard vicious Fringe Guide parody. Also, and I think for me as someone who has always loved comedy that this is almost the most important thing, good comedy does not really have a sell buy date. It doesn't rot. It doesn't fade. It doesn't ever get replaced by something newer, better and more modern. You can keep enjoying it for as long as you like. So essentially, comedy can't ever be in a limp state. Its coffers just get continuously filled, and it's always on the upturn. So stop asking such loaded questions.

>Thankyou for your time - post here or mail to [email protected]

One final thing that interests me: I read from posts by people like Dave Gorman, Richard Herring &c. that a reasonable number of people who work in comedy frequent this site. Yet the answers to question 2 seem to be an almost universal 'no'. Hmm.

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you?

38

>2. (i) No
> (ii) No
(iii)No
>
>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows? CURRENT? Lee and Herring, The Simpsons, Married With Children, Frasier.
>
>4. And your least favourite? Lot's I don't like, but the 11OCS is the only one really worth hating.
>
>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)

Haven't had time to view anything except The Onion, which is v.good.


>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?

Hard to say, but I do know that as far as TV is corncerned I keep hoping that each new thing is going to be better than the last, but they usually turn out to be crap

>One final thing that interests me: I read from posts by people like Dave Gorman, Richard Herring &c. that a reasonable number of people who work in comedy frequent this site. Yet the answers to question 2 seem to be an almost universal 'no'. Hmm.
>

They rapidly discovered that it was safer not to post messages and keep a low profile, or risk a torrent of questions and/or abuse, as Si Pegg discovered to his cost. What's more, the Corpses claimed limply after the event, as they seem to do whenever they fuck up and genuinely hurt someon'e feelings, that they were only joking around, and he obviously hasn't got a sense of humour. Not their finest hour.

>SURVEY QUESTIONS

Sorry, forgot to answer this one
>
(ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)
>[NB. include non-broadcast things that got past initial submission stage]
No

Thanks Kinder Surprise, 27 is pretty cool, but I'll be 28 in a matter of weeks I'm afraid...>

Dear Ben -

I'm afraid that school performances don't count, otherwise everyone could say they used to be a performer. Speaking for myself, I was once the Star Of Bethlehem in a Nativity play. As it happened, I found a slapstick element to the role not mentioned in scripture.

Bit of a lurker, me, but:

1) 29
2) no, no & no.
3) Simpsons, Futurama, Frasier, Mark Thomas, Harry Hill
4) All the usual suspects. Lee & Herring have never done anything for me.
5) Most of it is shite. TVGH is hit and miss. Landover Baptist is hilarious.
6) I think it's always been 90% crap. As you get older you realise that what you used to think was funny was old hat even then.

Thanks. Let's see some other lurkers come out of the... er, lurkness...

SURVEY QUESTIONS

1. How old are you?

35 (I don't mind that really. At least I grew up listening to the Clash, rather than Robbie Williams)

2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)
[NB. if you work in TV comedy, say 'comedy']

No. Unemployable cynic with more grudges than sense or money.

(ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)

Wrote outline of a script and sent it to the BBC as part of a job application. We were also asked to comment on some BBC programmes. I chose Ballykiss Angel (it was the first episode.) I thought I was dealing with intelligent people, so I kicked it in its stupid face. BBC said nice idea. Now fuck off.

[NB. include non-broadcast things that got past initial submission stage]

(iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?

Never been on the stage. Yet:

�All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players
They have their exits and their entrances...�

At the moment I'm resting in-between entrances. I'll leave the dirty jokes to some one else.


3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?

League of Gentleman. Fantastic ideas and superb acting.

I thought Ali G was excellent. Sacha Baron-Cohen showed he could think on his feet and produce brilliant one-liners. Best thing for years.

4. And your least favourite?

Vicar of Dildo

Anything that makes wiping the dust off the telly not worth the effort.

[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll]

5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]

TVGoHome is rather hit and miss. The earlier ones seem more funny. It must be very difficult sustaining the enthusiasm (I've sent some ideas in but I don't know if they'll use them. I think they should because they're pretty funny. Overall it's a good site but it does need expanding with a few more pages. Don't like the idea of the .jpg the text is too small to read. I'll give it a (G)

Joe's Cartoons

I'm the best thing on the Web.

6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?

Yes. Too many middle class wankers doing it and controlling it. I'll say it again to all you Human Resources people: just because the daft fucker you're interviewing has back- packed around India and has been president of the student union, it doesn't mean it's got talent. Fuck it off out the office and hand in your resignation while you're at it.

4. And your least favourite?

Harry Hill (Limp? No impotent)

Jim Davidson (a Mason who realy needs to be marched onto a scaffolding.)

Cheers Gee... good to see that you haven't lost that Clash-inspired rage as you get older.


Btw, Joe Strummer was the son of a diplomat (true).

Btw, Joe Strummer was the son of a diplomat (true).


Yes he was very posh but left home at 16 to live in a squat. I saw The Clash at Victoria Park when I was 13 when they played at the Rock Against Racism concert. At the time I was going through my Young Socialist phase. Of course street Socialists now seem just as anachronistic as the diehard teddy boys I saw when I was a kid in the 70s.

I forgot the mighty Landover Baptist website (www.landoverbaptist.org). Basically The Onion but targeted specifically at religious bigots, it's constantly under attack from just such bigots, as well as from furious liberal types who haven't twigged that it's a parody.

Articles such as "Tampons: Satan's Little Cotton Fingers" (http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news0999/cotton.html),
"Vision Of Mary Seen, Asked To "Kindly Leave" (http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news0100/mary.html)
and "Creation Scientists Prove: Circles Are Of Satan" (http://www.bettybowers.com/newspi.html) (an affiliate site)
alone make it worth your time.

VVG

Someone's probably already pointed this out but - the problem with the Landover website is that it is too real - If you're making fun of something that is a hilarious parody of itself anyway, then there is no point.

Remember, truth is stranger than fiction. Particularly is this 'truth' forms a part of a religious group.

Very true - nothing on that site is anywhere near as sick as this, which kind of makes it pointless:

http://www.godhatesfags.com/memorial.html

1 I am 33 years old
2i I do work in the media
ii I do write comedy and have done so for over 10 years professionally
iii. I have done stand up. With limited success on my own and with more success in a double act. Though I am not sure when I will be performing again.

3 Fave acts- Simon Munnery, Stewart Lee, Al Murray, John Shuttleworth, John Hegley, Steve Coogan, Frank Skinner etc.
4 Least fave acts - To be honest I don't go to see much live stuff now and only generally see people I like or who have been recommended. I don't like people who do hackneyed stuff or stuff that's overtly political (when that means just mentioning something in the news and making a smug face).
5 Haven't been to any of the other comedy web sites. I like this one.
6 Comedy in a limp stats. No. probably better than it's been for a long time. It's just that there is so much more now and so there's more rubbish, but there is also more good stuff. When I was young you used to wait months for a show like NTNOCN and the Young Ones. Now there are shows as good as those on every week. Anything with Coogan. Anything with Chris Morris. Royle Family. Fast Show. Father Ted. League of Gentlemen. and from USA Simpsons, Frasier, Seinfeld, LArry S and even Friends are all top drawer programmes (off the top of my head) from the last few years.
Yes there's too many "Have I got an idea copied off "Have I got news for you" for you?" shows. Yes there have been some weak sitcoms and weak sketch shows. But there always were. It's a struggle to get quality shows made sometimes, but evenso they are still coming along. You are very lucky people and you don't realise it.

Happy now Jon?

Cheers... I'll mark you down as a Lee&Herring fan as well.

(name removed) and (name removed) (name removed) and (name removed) (name removed) and (name removed) (name removed) and (name removed) (name removed) and (name removed) (name removed) and (name removed) (name removed) and (name removed) (name removed) and (name removed) (name removed) and (name removed) (name removed) and (name removed) (name removed) and (name removed)

>1. How old are you?

28

>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)

No.

> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy?

No

> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?

No

>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?

Frank Skinner, Friends, Frasier, Simpsons, South Park.

>4. And your least favourite?

Dead Ringers, Jim Davidson

>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy?
TVGH - G
Onion - VG

>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?

No.

Thanks, Tim. I'll let this run for another day, then wind it up tonight or tomoroow morning.

THE SURVEY IS OVER. THANKYOU FOR TAKING PART. THE RESULTS ARE BELOW.

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you?
18.

>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)
No.

>[NB. if you work in TV comedy, say 'comedy']
> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)
No.

>[NB. include non-broadcast things that got past initial submission stage]
> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?
No.

>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?
The Simpsons, Blue Jam, Frasier

>
>4. And your least favourite?
Jim Davidson Presents, Coupling, 11 O'clock Show

>[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll]
>
>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and >other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
>[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]
Good, but the TV Listings format is restrictive. The site needs more features to maintain interest.
Other comedy sites: I like www.seanbaby.com, even if all the humour does revolve around 80's pop culture.
>
>6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?
Comedy is in a state of flacidness. I believe it needs some serious firming up.

>
>
>Thankyou for your time - post here or mail to [email protected]

Well, I'm not adding it all up again. You had a whole week to write that, serves you right it didn't count in the end.

>Well, I'm not adding it all up again. You had a whole week to write that, serves you right it didn't count in the end.

*(Blows Raspberry)*

PS: Bernard Herrman and Dick Van Dyke write this website. That'll show them.

>They rapidly discovered that it was safer not to post messages and keep a low profile, or risk a torrent of questions and/or abuse, as Si Pegg discovered to his cost. What's more, the Corpses claimed limply after the event, as they seem to do whenever they fuck up and genuinely hurt someon'e feelings, that they were only joking around, and he obviously hasn't got a sense of humour. Not their finest hour.

Mogwai - you're full of the proverbial. We've never suggested Simon Pegg doesn't have a sense of humour. We've never issued a 'torrent of questions or abuse' to his face (he only came to this site at all because somebody tipped him off about the ridiculous thread). And I gather - from Sian Woollybully - that he was only really upset about the fact that we didn't like 'Spaced' (and gave reasons for not liking it). The latter is the only thing Simon Pegg 'discovered to his cost'.

The thread *was* intended as a joke. 'Do You Know The Point Of Simon Pegg?' - a joke which is hardly worse than any other joke threads started by you lot. But people took it seriously and we sort of followed through. It could have been handled better but this was a practicality thing due to restricted email on the part of the two editors (I wasn't able to take part at all). I still firmly believe the thread had a value of sorts. I hope Simon thanked everyone who took time to defend him.

But a thread which said 'What's The Point Of Iain Lee' wouldn't have raised an eyebrow. Even a thread which says 'Iain Lee's Spunk Found In Dunblane Angel's Dead Anus' wouldn't bother most of you sickos. Iain Lee is hated across the board and deserves all he gets, right? But Simon Pegg is different. He's protected. Everyone *loves* Simon Pegg. Oh, and we scared him away with our critical faces. Mogwai, how dare you.

Moreover, if we'd provided a critical dissection / behind-the-scenes look at Iain Lee's quiz show and denounced it as pathetic or pandering to a pleb-mentality, would you all start getting stroppy, accusing us of judging it before the show was edited properly? Course you wouldn't. You'd all join in like school bullies, each enjoying the shared experience of putting the boot in.

You're a bunch of whining fucking hypocrites.

Just my opinion of course. Comedy criticism is subjective. You either get it or you don't.

There is a line in that e-mail which does not deserve to be repeated. It isn't funny. I don't care whether you are a Corpse editor or not - it fills me with revulsion that someone could conceive of something so sick.

>You're a bunch of whining fucking hypocrites.


Are you going to throw your teddy out of the pram now because not everything is going your way?

This is what mars sotcaa. too many petty arguments, too little proper 'discussion' without insults. That line really could have been left out, I'm sure we would have guessed it eventaully.

>. Iain Lee is hated across the board and deserves all he gets, right? But Simon Pegg is different. He's protected. Everyone *loves* Simon Pegg. Oh, and we scared him away with our critical faces. Mogwai, how dare you.
>
>Moreover, if we'd provided a critical dissection / behind-the-scenes look at Iain Lee's quiz show and denounced it as pathetic or pandering to a pleb-mentality, would you all start getting stroppy, accusing us of judging it before the show was edited properly? Course you wouldn't. You'd all join in like school bullies, each enjoying the shared experience of putting the boot in.
>
>You're a bunch of whining fucking hypocrites.
>
>Just my opinion of course. Comedy criticism is subjective. You either get it or you don't.

This is the most spectacularly petulant posting I've read from either of you. Nice to know you appreciate our contributions so much.

For God's sake - 98% of the people on this forum are sensible enough, and have never described Iain Lee as a skinny wanker, or (I seem to remember) an AIDS victim. Don't forget though - you started it with your "Let's hope they took the scenic route" comment in Edit News. Does the fact that various people are slagging Iain Lee in agreement with you now make them (and, by extension, you) wrong?

Are we *all* sickos now? Would you like all of us to just fuck off here and now? Do you not like the Frankenstein's monster you created?

I know you don't mean all of us. But you have to be very careful about throwing those sort of accusations around. We're not in comedy, we're just coming here for some entertainment and alternative information.

But start calling your audience "sickos"? Bad move. Look at Oasis....

>SURVEY QUESTIONS
>
>1. How old are you?

28

>2. (i) Do you NOW work in the media or comedy? (state which)
>[NB. if you work in TV comedy, say 'comedy']

media

> (ii) Have you EVER been involved in writing or producing some comedy? (state which)

nothing I'd admit to since leaving school

> (iii) Have you done stand-up or any live performing?

no

>3. What are your favourite CURRENT comedy acts/shows?

don't have any favourite CURRENT acts, but I rarely get out to clubs or stand-up venues and don't find I'm in the mood for TV when I get in; I occasionally tune in to Frasier on CH4 Friday nights, but that's probably an old repeat...


>4. And your least favourite?
>[NB. for 3&4, each act/show mentioned gets 1 vote in the poll]

The 11 O'Clock Show, but that's only slightly not current!

>5. What do you think of 'TVGoHome' and other web-based comedy? (VG/G/OK/poor)
>[NB. rate the ones you know of individually]

TV Go Home is OK, I've been mildly prompted to laugh in the past.

6. Do you agree current comedy is 'in a limp state'?

Can't really comment, for the reasons I've explained above. From what I read and the little I see, I get the impression it's not as great as it could be.



>Thankyou for your time - post here or mail to [email protected]

Apologies for not noticing this thread earlier, Jon.

Still the first site I go to every time I log on, though. Don't pull the plug, will you?

What he said.

So I'm one of the 'fucking hypocrites' am I? Great! It must be like being one of John Major's cabinet 'bastards' - and like him, I'm sure you'll prefer to keep us in the tent pissing out...

Iain Lee was/is happy to go on national TV and made offensive comments abnout individuals he's never met/entire groups of people. So he's fair game for someone taking a pop at him. Not that I think SOTCAA bothers him too much. But then I don't think the people who get ridiculed in Private Eye lose any sleep over it.

I don't think any insult is acceptable, however, though I remember you co-authored a remark about his 'deviancy' in the original 11OCS article. Perhaps you'd like to explain that. Yeah, I did write that remark about STDs in the 'Early Years' strand. But I apologised for it after. And I've apologised on the 2 other times I've upset someone. Wish others did same.

2 other things:

(a) "Why don't you write comedy then?" - as far as I'm concerned (and I've said this already) the point ISN'T "How can you be critical if you don't write it yourself?" but "Why not have a go at writing, since you have some understanding of it?". Which I still think is a fair question.

(b) I don't think Simon Pegg (or anyone else) is a sacred cow, but I do think you were silly to start a thread with a title like "What's the point..?" And I think you've come round to that view yourself.


I'd still like to know what you think of my 'Fr. Ted' point in the TGP debate. I first wrote it a while back, you've written loads since then, but you still haven't touched on it. And I think it makes a valid point that there are limits to how far a writer can be concerned about bigots misconstruing their work. After all, isn't the landlord supposed to be a repressed gay? What are his new fans going to think when they see that storyline unfold? Probably best to wait to the series is actually ready for broadcast...

Simon Pegg is a perfectly adequate performer, although he has appeared in some reprehensibly bad programmes. He does not appear to be convinced that he is a comic genius; nor does he seem to expect anyone else to think so.

Iain Lee, on the other hand, is upsettingly bad, no matter what medium he chooses to appear on, and yet appears Partridgely oblivious to his own gaping lack of talent, determined to push himself ever closer in our faces and expecting us to thank him for the privilege. It's that aspect of him that marks him out for especial abuse, although you're right in that it doesn't justify the "paedophile" tag. But the extent of the vitriol directed at him serves to demonstrate people's instinctive dislike of him, rather than his "work".

(Incidentally, as far as I can remember, the post relating to AIDS was actually simply pointing out the irony of a man so avowedly homophobic so closely resembling an AIDS patient... no libellous slurs there.)

Congratulations, by the way, on generating more revulsion and dislike on your own forum with one throwaway line than anyone else has managed even with entire cuss-filled page-long rants. You should write for the Eleven O'Clock Show...

Who ever said they don't already?