I tried an experiment once
to see if I could laugh at the Fast Show.

I watched an entire episode. Everyone told me that this broke new bounds in comedy genius.

I didn't even smile. Not once. I detected no humour at all. Just people saying stuff.

"Do you like... Tina Turner Ted?"

So he has a gay crush on him. How is that funny? So he says Tina Turner instead of "Gay sex." or whatever. How is that funny? Competitive Dad is mean to his kids. It certainly could be funny. But is isn't. He wallops the cricket ball into the next county. Great. Hee-larious. How about some, you know, punchlines?

Conclusion: For humour to occur in the Axeman Jim household, it has to involve actual fucking JOKES, not just the same lines repeated so often that some fool decides that this is some kind of new wave in comedy when in fact it's lazy writing reliant on "in-jokes". Just because some character says something every week doesn't, in itself, make it funny. Little Britain, for example, has its catchphrases, but, by and large, they are part of the joke, not the so-called "joke" itself. Hell, even "Allo Allo" was more sophisticated.

Or was my experiment flawed?
(Axeman Jim, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 1:28, 16 replies)

You think Little Britain is funnier than the Fast Show?!
You need to get your head seen to mate...

And that's ignoring the fact that one wouldn't have existed without t'other.
(Son of Sam-i-am We're all as mad as hatters here, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 2:13, closed)

weird this...
I have a similar problem with catchphrase-based humour (I detest Little Britain with a passion, for example), and yet for some reason, Fast Show always makes me crack up. I can't explain it. I understand completely what you're saying, I agree completely, and yet I can't help liking the damn thing. I guess it works the same way that, say, the Beastie Boys are actually good, while the hordes of nu-metal shite they spawned are, well, shite.
(jabboy, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 3:52, closed)

...
CHEESEY PEAS!
(Spangulum nailing your mother since 1824, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 8:38, closed)

"BLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAACCCCKKKKKKKK!!!!!!"
"......like the death....they're under the stairs mother, laughing at me!"

I found it very hit 'n' miss, but you can't say Little Britain was better than it, Lucas 'n' Walliams just borrowed the same formula and added the shock factor.
( Jeccius Steam Borderlands 2 junkie, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 9:12, closed)

Both of those shows are ok the first time you see them
but as the man says, it's just repetition. Now, when Vic and Bob do it, it's hilarious. Why?
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 9:22, closed)

I tried this
With 'Friends' once. I smiled once in three episodes, after which became clear that anyone who watches it by choice is mentally deficient.
(Merrep, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:35, closed)

It's all a matter of taste I suppose
I like "The Fast Show", but I can't stand "Scrubs" even though I have friends & family who find it hilarious.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 10:59, closed)

'Scrubs' is good because of Dr. Cox
everyone else is shit.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:06, closed)

I have to say
that the Fast Show had one or two moments, but I never really got why it was so lauded by so many.

Little Britain started out being fairly amusing, but the best bits for were always Tom Baker's narration.

Vic and Bob, though, crease me up.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 29 Jul 2008, 11:15, closed)

Agreed
Mind you when it was popular and I actually watched it I was about 10 years old which explains when I watched an episode recently I had to turn it off after about 3 "sketches"...

MIND YOU

Theres nothing funnier than when Joey Tribiani drawls "How YOU doin'?"

Funnier every time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:(
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 12:25, closed)

@ baz
The janitor is also hilarious.
and little britain is shit
monty python and the 2 ronnies are where it's at!
(Freddles, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 13:05, closed)

No...your experiment was...
...BRILLIAAAAAANNNNNNTTTT!
(inactionman, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 13:08, closed)

Anyone remember
'A Bit Of Fry And Laurie'?

Happily re-watching the DVD's since...
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 13:10, closed)

I
Never got Vic and Bob, still don't now.

Scrubs is good for the Cox and the Janitor but I also like Kelso too...
(Fuckarma was masturbating into your handbag, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 14:01, closed)

what
you said remindes me so much of family guy
( Scopey Ethyl ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME!, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 18:10, closed)

The Mary Whitehouse Experience...
...has not stood the test of time. Bought a couple of VHS's a few years back, fondly recalling how great it was when I was a kid - what a disappointment.

That's your favourite TV programme, that is.
(Photon wasting your time since, Tue 29 Jul 2008, 22:34, closed)