Johnny Rico

Joking Apart , a great comedy from the pen of Stephen Moffat ( Coupling ) has finally made it onto DVD! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img] - last seen in 1991 [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]

I am very pleased as it has been totally ignored until recently by the BBC and was never repeated ( at least i never saw it! ) . It used to make me cry with laughter and was very much in that funny/sexy/farce area as Coupling

It's out on the 29th May [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Couldn't You just try acting , Old Boy...It's so much easier

Johnny Rico

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106041/

Couldn't You just try acting , Old Boy...It's so much easier

stuartball

Excellent news! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

The Prisoner Forum
<a href=\"http://www.armleg.com/wewantinformati/index.php?mforum=wewantinformati\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.armleg.com/wewantinformati/inde...wewantinformati</a>

David Brent

Can't recall this series ever being shown in Australia.
The two series of programs seem to have been well received by the critics and viewers.
I'll have to keep an eye out for it. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]

Dave.

Steve Crook

Don't forget that Steven (with a 'v') Moffat was also the genius writer behind Press Gang which is still very populat in Australia as well as here. That's the one that gave the first big break to Julia Sawalha, Dexter Fletcher, Paul Reynolds and many others. Including last night's winner of X Factor: Battle of the Stars, Lucy Benjamin.

Although I can't see the point of that show. The normal X Factor shows are really just talent competitions, but with added cruelty & humiliation. They are for people trying to break into showbusiness. So why have a "celebrity special" version of it?

Steve

Johnny Rico

Just a note to anyone who wants to purchase this DVD - it's only available from
WWW.Replaydvd.co.uk

I emailed Replay to find out why HMV or Virgin werent carrying it. They responded immediately :


No, you won't find it in the normal retailers because distributors didn't consider Replay was large enough to make it financially worth their while. You would need to order from www.replaydvd.co.uk if you would like the DVD. We use a secure server for payment by debit/credit card or you can alternatively opt for cheque/postal order instead.

I hope they make a success of this DVD as they seem to care about what they are putting out.

Couldn't You just try acting , Old Boy...It's so much easier

Johnny Rico

I have just finished watching all six episodes on DVD . Just as funny as I remember.

Having visited the Website , I was half expected a "fan" type DVD - or at least a vanilla one with no extras.

I was surprised to find that it has
* 4 out of 6 commentaries with all but one of the actors and Steven Moffat. They make fun of each other throughout and are obviously mates off set as well.

* A featurette on the making of...Not the usual hack job either.

I must sound like I'm on Commission from Replay! I'm just enthusiastic about this Prog :)

Its just a pity that REplay couldnt get a Distribution for the High street . More people would enjoy this Prog - esp if they liked Coupling

Couldn't You just try acting , Old Boy...It's so much easier

Steve Crook

I really like Steven Moffat's writing (Press Gang, Coupling, Doctor Who etc.) and I like the idea of a fan pushing it through to get this one released when it wasn't released by the BBC. So I bought the DVD and, oh dear. I think I can see why it wasn't repeated.

I struggled to find a single laugh in it. I watched the first episode and started to watch the second but realised I was just wasting my time.

Maybe it's funnier for people who have been through that situation - but somehow I doubt it.

Sorry Steven, I'll stick to Press Gang and Coupling for examples of your wonderful writing.

Steve

Johnny Rico

I can remember watching a farce with my Dad - I was doubled up while he had a stone face! Thats the nature of Comedy - its not the same for everyone . Short of a Gun to the Head , I wouldn't watch " Gimme, Gimme, Gimme " for instance.

Or that retro family Terry-and-June thing with Robert Lindsay

As far " Only Joking " goes , Steve Crook made the point about people who have gone through the situation ( ie a messy Break-up ). Interestingly Steven Moffatt was asked by the BBC to write a sitcom and he said " I can't - All I can think about is my recent Marriage Break-up ". So , the BBC said " Write about that , then! "

If nothing else , its a unique jumping off point for a farce! :eek:

I'm trying to find out when the second series is out . There are a couple of eps which had me in stitches . One involves a Ventrilquist's Dummy and another a failed attempt to make a home-made sex video ! ( You had to be there! )

Couldn't You just try acting , Old Boy...It's so much easier

Steve Crook

I thought that was a re-make of Butterflies with the father as a dentist called Ben, the mother is a bad cook, but there is no 'Leonard' flirting with the mother.

I did wonder if the lead character was meant to be a version of Steven himself.

Steve

Johnny Rico

How Did you get the quote in two?

Re : Butterflies - Yes , You're not wrong. I used " Terry-and-June" in an overall " Cosy sitcom " way

The lead version was very much a version of Steven Moffatt - he makes many comments to this effect on the DVD . He considers that his treatment of the "wife" character a lot more sympathetic than he felt about his actual wife.

Incidentally , the stand-up routine which frames the show gets a going over on the Chat as Steven thinks it was a weak link.

Couldn't You just try acting , Old Boy...It's so much easier

Steve Crook

Manually enter [/quote] and then [quote] where you want to split it.


I'll try watching again listening to the commentary.

Steve