Broken News, debuting last night on BBC2 at 9:30, is a new comedy satarising the rolling and bulletin news that seems to have multiplied across our TV networks over the past decade at rate comparable to that of Tomato Flu. The show features a load of spoof news channels that are blatant pastiches of the BBC, ITN, Fox and local news reports.
I'm no TV reviewer, but I knows what I like and I really enjoyed this show. It'll be interesting to see if it can maintain interest over the rest of the series; the programme watches a bit like an impression show and ultimately there has to be strong material behind the initial laughs raised by the gimmick (a problem I have with Bremner, Dead Ringers and the dire McGowen). However, in the meantime, its punches at the news organisations were all spot on (BBC guy outside Greek hospital, ITV's stand up news, BBC3's 15 seconds, etc.)
My favorite has to be "Look Out East", which is so close to local news reporting if you chanced upon the show you might be fooled. Writing material for this segemnt must be easy - just watch the real thing. Which nicely leads to a cherished memory of mine of a Westcountry news report (a lunch time bulletin) from earlier this millennium. The top stories were:
- Cornish school children plant 12 daffodils for Princess Diana (This was two and half years after her death),
- A man had fitted a motor into a sofa and would be driving it around the roads of South Devon and Dorset the coming weekend,
- A family of ducks were causing minor hold ups on a B-road in Cornwall because they had crossed the road - twice.
I just love those stories - all 100% true. You couldn't make it up.
7 comments:
I saw BN too, and it was really funny. But, wasn't this idea done much better by Chris Morris in The Day Today and Brass Eye? Those series are utter classics. Do you think anyone will say that about BN in 10 years? I think not...
Yeah, good point James. I must admit that I didn't amke the connection until you mentioned it, but The Day Today especially did it a load better, and was most probably ahead of its time - with the advent of Sky and digital, there's so much more out there to spoof.
I think that the main problem this programme will face is that the novelty may wear off after a couple of episodes. But at least it ain't Two Pints of Lager...
I didn't see it at all - I'm only posting a comment BECAUSE I CAN!
Wow. It feels good.
But I can contribute by agreeing that the Day Today was one of the best programmes ever. ('These are the headlines: God, I wish they weren't.)
Has anyone been watching the Daily Show with Jon Stewart on More4? I haven't yet but when I was in the US that was getting a lot of hype (I never watched it, it probably clashed with America's Next Top Model or something equally highbrow).
Catherine
Glad to see you can join us Catherine - you now lead cameo mentions on my blog with two.
I find Jon Stewart hit and miss. He interviews someone for the last 10-minutes, which I find a bit dull. The rest of the show ranges from the very funny to the so-so and I think Jon Stewart makes the programme. It's definitely worth watching if nothing else is on.
I am always pleased to see my name in print (vanity Googling is a major vice of mine) but I'm not so sure about the threat of photos including me being on the web - you may well be hearing from my lawyers about that! Although if you managed in any way to get a photo of the top hat kids, that would definitely be something that should be shared with the world.
Catherine
Don't worry - I wasn't going to put up ones involving us, just those of the 10th most recognisable building in the world...ever! and the aforementioned snoot of kids.
It is important that I, and those of my blog, remain enigmatic character sketches. Plus I look really crap in the Cambridge pics.
I was going to say "but what about The Day Today?" but since I've been beaten to it, let's not forget the joys of Drop the Dead Donkey...
and my top BBC South West news item involved a cow being winched up a cliff.
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