Frank Skinner’s stock seems to be back on the up, of late. His Absolute radio show is a real treat, with the spin off podcast among the most popular in the iTunes chart. I’m sure I’m seeing him on the TV more often too.
Personally, I see this as no bad thing.
There’s always room on my screen for comedians who can knock out a joke with no preparation or planning and, like his partner in this latest wheeze – Lee Mack – Skinner seems to have been born with that innate ability to tickle the brain. The prospect of the pair haring around the globe is a big one for fans of comedy. Children In Need’s latest wheeze is a relay race, in which famous celebrity duos will cover part of the map on route around the world, passing on a travel bag to the next set when they reach their destination. Those involved are a strange mixture, with Skinner and Mack the only comedians on board and the rest of the bunch largely made up of TV presenters such as Myleene Klass and John Barrowman. This first episode will probably be the pick of the bunch, I’m guessing. And the others might well be unbearably bad.
But episode one was a pleasant way to pass an hour, so long as you removed the idea of a travelogue from your mind. There were no real history lessons here apart from a brief discussion of Hungary beating England 7-1 many years ago and a brief foray into a communist invasion, and we were mainly witness to Skinner and Mack being Englishmen abroad, arsing about for the camera and generally being what they are: funny, middle-aged men.
Though it may be a little crass to make comparisons between charity-based celeb specials like this, I couldn’t help but compare this with the cloying sentimentality of the Comic Relief Kilimanjaro special – otherwise known as The Gary Barlow Greatest Day Debacle – and wonder whether they’d got the two vehicles mixed up in the concept car park. While that mountain-climbing rubbish did have some funny moments – Cheryl Cole trying to even walk, let alone walk uphill, being my favourite – they were all sadly unintentional. What they should’ve done is grabbed a couple of stand ups, dumped them in Paris and let the cameras roll as they struggled instantaneously, mangling the pronounciation of Gare De L’Est in the general direction of anyone who’d listen.
With an appearance from Michael Palin, music by Ween and Beck and footage of the always-funny Lee Mack getting flustered at the lighting layout of a hotel room and, later, insulting a Turkish teaboy – this was never really going to fail.
70 Comments
I only caught the last third of this as I was flogging my car to some unsuspecting Italians. However, I concur, it was well pitched and I’d happily watch more of those two mucking about in forn parts. Does a series á la Merton in China beckon?
Yes, I liked this too! I didn’t see that Kilimanjaro thing, because I knew at one point in the soundtrack they’d play that Snow Patrol song which makes me throw small animals out of high windows, but I was comparing it INCREDIBLY favourably to the Charley Boorman abortion. Same concept, basically, get from here to here without using a plane, but with two people who can amble around amusingly. As opposed to one blathering moron who strides about for an hour spending my licence fee and doing nothing in return except blindly not appreciating the good fortune he’s been blessed with.
Oh it makes me so angry it shuts off my make funnies brainparts.
Lee Mack is really underused, I think. I’m not sure scripted stuff like sitcom or panel show host suits him so much as him just wandering round a foreign market and being made to interact.
I thought this was a swizz. The ads didn’t give any indication that this was a relay, merely saying it was a race. By carefully cutting footage of Skinner ‘n’ Mack bumbling around Paris, then showing Skinner lassooing Mack, they gave off the impression they at last reached USA cowboy country.
Not so sure I want to watch the likes of Myleene or that awful harridan off of The Apprentice on holiday for eight days apiece.
Lee Mack was great in Not Going Out. I’m still miffed up that the buggers cancelled that.
BASTARDS.
Depends on the white bikini factor.
Is she likely to bikini up? She may have been suffering from an outbreak of carbuncles on her buttocks during filming.
Hopefully Lee Mack’s star is rising and he’ll be used more in that kind of thing, Swines. Has he done a Who Do You Think You Are yet? That’s the mark of having made it nowadays, innit?
I’m ill, and if anyone can think of a better excuse for drinking an entire 250g jar of Bovril, I’d like to hear it.
I went to a read-through* of the last series of ‘Not Going Out’ at a pub theatre near Clapham Junction. It was brilliant and we had beers with Lee Mack afterwards, who was as nice as you’d hope.
*It was the episode with the mechanic and they re-wrote part of it after we laughed heartily at an unintentional double-entendre relating to a wardrobe**
** apologies for slightly boring story.
I quite like this as well. Only caught the last bit.
The look on their faces when they needed a visa was class.
One thing I didn’t quite get was when they had to meet the other pair at new location as they were running a day late. The other pair, them off Apprentice, would still be running a day late as they would have to re trace their steps therefore STILL being a day late.
IT DOESN’T WORK OUT!
Piano was delivered this morning but Mrs Nick now wants it in a different room which means replacing the sofas…..oh dear….
Good morning.
Did not see this, but will look out for it. These travelogue programs do rely on the presenter and the purpose. Alan Whicker was always good, and I enjoyed Paul Merton. Then you have the cookery-travelogues which can be hit or miss.
Anyway I am kicking around the idea that these TV travelogues might be suffering the same probs as travel writing, that the Grauniad alluded to in this interesting article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/sep/19/travel-writing-writers-future
I certainly agree with Jerry’s (Jerry = JRME) sentiments about Boorman and the relentless books that come out with the TV series’ is very waring.
The actual book Round the World in 80′days(Jules Verne) days is a must read. Good fun.
Nonetheless I will take a look at this prog.
MORNINGS!
miss me?
i don’t get frank skinner. his presence would have put me off watching this show had i even known it was on.
hugs to you all, yes?
It’s by Jules Verne, is it? Thanks for that, DINLT.
By tha way, have you ever read Dracula (Bram Stoker)? Or seen a production of Twelfth Night (William Shakespeare)?
DINLT, you’re wrong. It wasn’t a book it was a cartoon. With animals and stuff.
Not read Dracula nor seen 12th night.
Am reading Frankenstein at the moment if that helps.
Coorect BM, jules Verne based the book on the cartoon series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nGrYEFG6Ho
Fill your bits, people! Altogether now
# 80 days around the world!
We’ll find a pot of gold!
Just sitting where the rainbow’s ending! #
I thought it was based on snacks. Mini popadoms and fancy nuts
And…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELbhKL0Qm2E
Screw you, Dumas!
http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/Images/ExternalImages/ProductsDetailed/82/120182.jpg
Wasn’t Jules Verne in Casualty? After he left Hollyoaks? he played the slightly gormless spiky haired one who gets that girl pregnant and then goes off the rails on drugs before driving a car into the canal. Or did I dream it?
Best kids tv theme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B_FQKHQDYk
Thanks, BM, now that’s going to be in my head for the rest of time.
2..3…4…
“One for all and all for one, Muskahounds are always ready”
Ah, nostalgia there from JRME.
Speaking of nostalgia – anyone been watching Electric Dreams on BBC4?
Life in the 80s was SHIT.
*sits in corner*
This was good TV all things considered and benefited from the lack of tension, or conflict, that is usually rammed down the throats of shows like this. (The only bit being the Turkish border control bit, which actually seemed genuine, given the looks on Mack and Skinner’s faces). The visit to the Prince in Serbia was enjoyable and nicely-paced, the jokes and banter they had seemed genuine and gentle and their insights both simple and honest.
The preview for next week’s show looked the opposite though, with lots of shouting and arguments and so forth that made me wonder if it’ll be as good, I am not sure.
I am looking forward to the sailing leg across the Pacific, do we know who does that?
(Also nice to see the bag containing two tops of the range digital cameras, so they could ‘take some snaps’. Did they have a portable printer as well, or where they developing en-route?).
SH, you seem to have somebody in your corner.
I’ve managed to miss all of Electric Dreams.
*farts towards corner*
The printer was one of those Polaroid affairs that you can now pick up for about £20. It prints stickers – hence their book.
Overall, a pleasantly nice programme. As others have said – I’m really not sure about the rest of the series though.
that’s gorgeous, naps. i smell aces now. i knew there’d been something missing from you life. it was you.
I liked the Micro Men thing. Disappointed no-one at any point in the season has shown the Spectrum darts game where the most exciting thing was, about every 100 throws or so, a dog would come in and piss up your leg.
Did anyone point out the 80s House is an Adam and Joe bit from about 8 years ago? Probably.
and nostalgia from BM. don’t forget BM.
OR SHE’LL GET SULKY!
I saw a bit of Electric Dreams but I just found the family too annoying to care about. I rather hoped they’d set fire to themselves with some badly wired 70s phone.
Adam – cheers for that, I’m going to get one of those little printers!
i see things here aren’t what they used to be.
*disappointed fass*
i might have to go back and do some work now. cheerio.
Mad old hag.
“Mad old hag.” <<<< They are, breeks, look
breeks, wanna come round to mine for coffee?
That wasn’t very nice, Breeks.
no it wasn’t, swineshead, and i hope you’ll be punishing nappers for calling me an old hag.
( i miss it here, i have to be mean about it cause i can’t come by much anymore).
yes please badger, before i eat more porridge. i am eating a lot of porridge these days.
Best thing about the 80s = ToeJam and Earl
ok, come over in a sec and i’ll stick the kettle on. porridge is ok, isn’t it?
You’re younger than him, bear that in mind.
And BM – sorry for missing your nostalgia comment thing.
so why’s he calling me old? hag is fair enough but that old comment is an insult too far.
yes badger, porridge with blueberries and a tidy sprinkle of proper brown sugar at the end, cheers love.
In other news, did anyone listen to the Adam & Joe show this week?
Captain Buckles made reference to his voiceover on the recent Design for Life thing and the fact that he had “read some where” that there may be an opportunity for him to be a little more sarcastic about it.
I wonder if he read it here http://watchwithmothers.net/2009/10/07/design-for-life/#comments
Eh?
I did hear it but will have to listen again. I’m sure lots of sites have talked about it though?
It was a great one eh?
The Chill Cake bit had me giggling
Yeah it sounded revolting.
I heard the podcast it this morning; he’d re-done the intro with a reeediculous French accent.
“I am theenkeeng of a bed. Made of glass.”
“Like a giant Viscount biscuit”
Mmmm
For the uninitiated http://v-l-r.org/userfiles//viscount%20fingered.jpg
Breeks – You mad old hag.
http://v-l-r.org/userfiles//viscount%20fingered.jpg
http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/1899592
Of to lunch….
Love?
Nice work Nick. Could do with a Napoleonic belch on the end, in my opinion, for what it’s worth, which isn’t a lot.
i sent you a gift in the email, swines.
Nowt’s turned up, Breeks.
oh well you know what the post’s like these days.
*eats fingernails*
I have a karaoke version all ready for the “voice of an angel” Fourstar
You wouldn’t know a decent singer if one kicked you up the arse, Nick!
Bastard!
You may have thought I was kidding Naps. I do have such a version made for you to sing over the top of. Ask Mr S Head, I tell the truth
I know you do. We discussed doing it during this morning’s podcast briefing.
That’s right! We actually have a (sort of) meeting before recording the podcast. Wouldn’t believe it from the results, would you?
Briefing? Do you blue sky the envelope and run some ducks up the flagpole to see if they salute the kittens?
A pre- preamble?
Sadly, no. We discuss what we’re going to talk about, then ignore that discussion when it comes to the recording. Either that or we talk about what we’ve got planned for dinner.
Last week Swineshead had a piss with his bog door open, which sounded marvellous in my fucking headphones, as you can imagine.
Those little insights are a joy in the Rambling Canadians ‘casts.
I think someone was having a shower in his last one..
James the Canadian’s Skype signature is:
Working out, yeah!
Reminds me: I’ve not had a look at Live ‘n’ Lift in a while …
YEAAAAAAAAA Live & Lift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
barefoot prowler work ?????
‘Barefoot prowler work’ comes from this magnificent entry, for those unprepared to live, or indeed, lift:
Big PR on squat today. The 500 mark has been met and surpassed and all i can say is “its about damn time!”. Hit it hard and then did some barefoot prowler work and puked up some lunch in the parking lot. A great night.
NPA!