I watched the show up to the "Polio" sketch, and switched over as it made me cringe, and didn't go back. Up until then, I did quite like the jokes. Nothing special. Reminded me in a way of Huddlines material - rather weak but occasionally raised a smile, and nothing (in the few minutes I saw) that got it's humour simply frombeing offensive. I hope it continues to improve. Maybe I won't switch over after 5 minutes next time!

Jon Holmes co wrote Grevious Bodily Radio which I enjoyed, and has written for Milton Jones and various other radio shows - I usually find his stuff entertaining. I didn't really enjoy Buller on Comedy Nation, but I could see the humour it just wasn't my thing. Except when he and his cohort were running a wool shop - that had it's moments.

Well, if you've never heard of Jon Holmes, you can find out more than you'd ever wish to know at http://www.poorquality.co.uk - but in case you can't be arsed, he's done a fair bit on Radio 4, including as mentioned, GBR, but also The Now Show, The Way It Is, and also several things on digital TV. He did most of this with his usual comedy partner Andy Hurst, and also won the Gold Award in the Entertainment catagory at this year's Sony Radio Awards for their show on Power FM on the south coast.
Consider yourselves informed.

I also switched off at the Polo sketch - in my opinion the quality has actually gone down, although that may be because the presenters clearly couldn't present their way out of a paper bag.

Given time, they will clearly get better, but that doesn't excuse the fact that most of the jokes were terrible. I did laugh a few times, but what else can you do when confronted with a photo of Ann Widdicombe?

I liked the animated Royal Family thing, although mainly for the bit where Camillahorse ate the dog.
Some of the Huddlines-type jokes were good, most of them were crap. That sort of thing is a bit tired, though. The interviews were neither wind-ups nor platforms for genuinely interesting people.
I think they're right to move the focus towards recurring things like Bulla and the animated Royal Family. They should make the topical stuff refer to ongoing issues and drop the kneejerk Weekending type stuff. People watched it for Ali G, not for pisspoor jokes about Tony Blair.
Oh yeah, "my seat's still warm" "Really, mine's still wet" dig at I. Lee was amusing.

I say get rid of the presenters, they are just a feeble front for the bad joke writers to hide behind.

The show is a permission for coward's jokes. If such tripe must be thrust upon us I'd like to see the faces of those who are so proud to mount their work on the autocue.

Bulla wasn't bad though. I actually laughed when he described the Queen mum as stretching to 15 feet when her hips dislocated.

Well one of the writers does show his face - Jon Holmes.
There.

I think kinder surprise really is one of the writers.

I'm not one to refuse an offer of humiliation from a man as appealing as yourself Jon, but that really is a cheap shot.

No, really. I think all the 'kinder surprise' postings are written by someone who writes for the 11OCS. I won't say anymore.

What happened to the school girl accusations?

Well, exactly.

I liked those. I got a sense of pleasure from them.

Hmm.

I have it on good authority that "kinder surprise" is a sweaty 48-year-old bus driver.

Could it really be?

A balding one?

>I have it on good authority that "kinder surprise" is a sweaty 48-year-old bus driver.

Why do you use the word 'sweaty' in a detrimental way?

The image of great rivulets of perspiration coursing down the fat-laden eyelids, pouched and saggy cheeks, and rime-encrusted mouth-edges of a 48-year-old bus driver has never been recorded in the history of romantic literature.

That's why.

Am I to presume that you have been rigorously in search of such material?

I never came across any whilst collecting odes to beauty. You're not in any of those either.

lol

odes to beauty you say? You do realise you will never quite understand those unless you actually experience beauty for yourself. It's as hopeless as you trying to explain pomposity to all the decent folk in the world.

Perhaps someone who tried to explain pomposity would succeed in displaying it.

>Perhaps someone who tried to explain pomposity would succeed in displaying it.

Would the same theory apply if I tried to explain beauty?

If it were that simple, art critics such as Brian Sewell would acquire the resemblance of the works they describe, which they manifestly do not.

"Perhaps someone who tried to explain pomposity would succeed in displaying it."

Perhaps that posting proves its own point...

>If it were that simple, art critics such as Brian Sewell would acquire the resemblance of the works they describe, which they manifestly do not.

No, because they can only see things in the art that they themselves are personally aware of. They are seeing reflection of what they know.

Bulla is crap. Very very crap.



11ocs writer

You took the King's Shilling again, eh Nunuf?

Absolutely, Jon. I have mouths to feed, you know.

Got any other writing in the pipeline, Nunuf?
Incidentally, my e-mail is: [email protected]

I do not work in TV or comedy, I have no axe to grind about anything, I'm just curious.

Endless exciting stuff that no doubt i'll be slagging off from within again in the near furure!

I've been out of circulation for a while (back problems abroad) but I'm easing back into work.