Friday Night Dinner - Friday at 10pm Channel 4

Basq

Starts this Friday on Channel 4 at 10pm.

Stars Tamsin "FRAAAAAAAN" Greig and Simon "Briefcase W*nker Bird, and it was created and written by Robert Popper (who previously worked on Look Around You, Peep Show, The Inbetweeners and The IT Crowd).

Could be worth a look if anything!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxs7phFtT4k

chin_grin

Pardon my zinger, but should it not be in the TV forum?

Basq

Whoops..

.. too many forums opened, and posted it the wrong one.

Will ask the mods to move.

Sad Professor

tut tut

Moved from Films.

JP Liz V1

Tasmin Greig looks different in this

Basq

Anyone catch this?

Thought it was moderately funny.. not very LOL, but it has promise.

Matthew "Garth Marenghi" Holness guest starred, and Mark "Brian from Spaced" Heap is also a regular.

I did think the chemistry between the two brothers was just trying too hard to be like "The Inbetweeners" and jokes at the expense of the father being hard-of-hearing wore thin very quickly.

Definitely decent enough to keep me watching another episode.

Full episode is up on 4OD:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGOY0-LaV7Y

mike65

Its bad news when Tasmin Gregg is now cast as a mother

Not bad though "Sh1t on it" is pretty poor catch phase., hopefully its not used too much, the creepy neighbour induced clammy hands though his arse grope moment was excellent!

KeanSeenan

Thought it would've been better, but it's the first episode so I think I'll stick with it.

Rjd2

Tasmin Greig in rubbish British comedy shocker. :rolleyes:

Green Wing, Episodes and now this, Black Books so long ago sadly.


This despite having the awesome Mark Heap was way to wacky and zany for my liking, especially when you compare it to the splendid Grandma's House which had much more depth and humor than this.

Basq

Rjd2 wrote: »

especially when you compare it to the splendid Grandma's House which had much more depth and humor than this.

Why even compare it? They're chalk and cheese!

"Grandma's House" was fantastic but far more subdued and wry than this.

This was immature, quite loud, humorous but weak comedy-wise.. but I thought it showed some promise.

Rjd2

Basq wrote: »

Why even compare it? They're chalk and cheese!

"Grandma's House" was fantastic but far more subdued and wry than this.

This was immature, quite loud, humorous but weak comedy-wise.. but I thought it showed some promise.

It has a slightly similar premise, with lead character visiting his family of oddballs.

I won't totally give up on this yet as I like Mark Heap and Simon Bird.


It doesn't have Stephen Mangan so its a total lost cause yet.:pac:

Basq

Friday Night Dinner? More like 'Friday Night Leftovers'.

Too many running repeated jokes in the second episode.

Salt in water gag.. check!
Dad's hard of hearing gag.. check!
Lecherous neighbour with minimal dialogue.. check!
"Bambinos".. check!
"Females?".. check!
Faked texts from mother's phone.. check!

I was hoping the second episode would be better, but it really wasn't!

There's far worse comedies out there, but at least those comedies try and inject some original humour in episodes as they go on.

2 episodes and we've had 6 - 8 running jokes spread VERY thin!

mike65

Have to agree, running jokes are fine but it wasn't even that, they just remade the first episiode without the couch.

KeanSeenan

The sons are pretty crap characters too, Bird is just Will from The Inbetweeners in this and the other brother seems to have no personality.

Basq

Last night's episode was a bit better tbh!

Exclamation Marc

Episode 2 seemed almost like the unused footage from Episode 1.

Simon Bird is Will again (and it really looks like he'll be that character no matter where he ends up)

The dad isn't nearly as funny as they're trying to make him about to be. The "he can't hear you" crap is just annoying, its not great comedic material as they seem to think it is. Repeating lines twice, not that funny.

The other brother just annoys me, he's totally devoid of personality and he seems to just to be just there to be annoying.

Mark Heap is great but I feel they're probably going to limit him to intermittant appearances and not get the best out of him.

If it doesn't get any better for Ep 3 or 4, I'll probably give up on it.

FreudianSlippers

I think it's hilarious actually. Really enjoying it.

Exclamation Marc

This show really hasn't improved over the last few weeks, so I think I'm doing watching it to be honest.

Basq

Yep, I have to agree. It's by no means "unmissable" but there's far worse comedies out there.

And the most recent "Mercedes" episode gave me the most laughs so far!

Exclamation Marc

Yeah exactly my thoughts.

It's not that its awful, its just the same thing each week, same jokes in mildly different situations.

It's like they had a funny sketch and now they're trying to make that one sketch work for an entire series.

FreudianSlippers

ah I still think it's very funny. How much do you want it to change? It's a show about a family eating dinner on Friday nights!

Basq

Bump.. last episode tonight.

But it's been given a second season!

Channel 4 has ordered a second series of Friday Night Dinner.

The comedy, which is still airing its first run, focuses on two young men who return home every Friday night to see their parents.

The cast includes Green Wing stars Tamsin Greig and Mark Heap, Inbetweeners actor Simon Bird, Paul Ritter and Tom Rosenthal.

The show's creator Robert Popper said: "I am so happy to be making a second series of Friday Night Dinner for Channel 4. I can't wait to get writing in the same small room again for eight lonely months, talking to myself at regular intervals and eating far too many biscuits."

Friday Night Dinner had the highest-performing debut episode of a new commissioned sitcom on Channel 4 since 2004 and has continued to do well in the ratings.

The show airs on Fridays at 10pm on Channel 4.

Source

Basq

Great closing episode of the season.. probably the best of the season.

Paul Ritter really pulled out the stops and gave a hell of a performance in that episode.. every time he was on screen, I was laughing - whether it's the inappropriate burping, eating sprigs of parsley or hocking into a napkin.

I think anyone who gave up on it should definitely give it another try.. it got much funnier as it went on. Once you got used to the characters, they little idiosyncrasies became very amusing.

Anyone else got the theme tune stuck in their head?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyGnheFSLSg

Though can't find the remixed version they use in the show!

EDIT: Actually found it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZbu5qE-eYU

Anyways, looking forward to more next year!

Gekko

Great final episode, the funniest yet.

Can't wait for next year's.

NUTZZ

E4 are repeating the entire season again, it's on just now. Have to say I loved this program, one of the best sitcoms I've seen recently. I'd definitely recommend you check it out if you haven't already!

JP Liz V1

http://www.digitalspy.ie/tv/news/a338999/friday-night-dinner-picked-up-for-us-by-office-producer.html

Friday Night Dinner is reportedly getting a US remake on network NBC.
The Channel 4 sitcom, starring Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal, will be adapted by The Office writer and director Greg Daniels, according to Deadline.
Daniels will apparently be executive producer of the remake alongside partner Howard Klein, British creator Robert Popper and UK production company Big Talk.
Debuting in February this year, Friday Night Dinner became Channel 4's highest-performing debut episode of a newly commissioned sitcom since 2004.

ricero

i think its a decent comedy but im hoping simon birds new comedy gets picked up for a series. its called chickens and i thought it was a fantastic pilot

BaconZombie

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

http://www.digitalspy.ie/tv/news/a338999/friday-night-dinner-picked-up-for-us-by-office-producer.html

Friday Night Dinner is reportedly getting a US remake on network NBC.

Lets just hope they do a better job then they did with IT Crowd and Red Dwarf,..

FreudianSlippers

BaconZombie wrote: »

Lets just hope they do a better job then they did with IT Crowd and Red Dwarf,..

Never watched the US IT Crowd, but with Richard Ayoade and Joel McHale I would have thought it would be pretty good!?

JP Liz V1

http://www.digitalspy.ie/tv/news/a370634/friday-night-dinner-returning-for-autumn-series-christmas-special.html

Friday Night Dinner has been confirmed to return for a six-part series later this year and a Christmas special.
A second run of the Channel 4 sitcom - which stars Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird, Mark Heap, Paul Ritter and Tom Rosenthal - has begun filming in North London and is scheduled to air in the autumn.
The forthcoming series will introduce Martin's (Ritter) mother, known as 'horrible grandma', and see both Adam (Bird) and Jonny (Rosenthal) start new romances.
"Having spent the past eight months in almost solitary confinement as I wrote the show, I'm so excited to be out the house again among living human beings," producer Robert Popper quipped.
"Friday Night Dinner was such a thrill to make last year, and I'm chomping at the bit to start again. And by 'chomping at the bit', I mean I am actually wearing a horse's harness right now, which I am chewing manically, in excitement."
Channel 4 Comedy commissioning editor Nerys Evans said: "We're delighted we're going to spend some more Friday nights with the Goodmans, we can't wait to find out if Adam has had any luck with the' Females' yet, and if Dad's cooled down enough to start wearing a shirt at dinner. After such a confident and funny first series we can't wait to see more."

Basq

Looking forward to more!

Once it hit it's stride, it was superb!

Basq

Bump!

Re-watching this with the girlfriend before Series 2 starts (in the next few weeks I'd say)..

It's really a very funny show - very easy-watching yet and just so much to identify with. Those 6 x 30 minute episodes just flew by too.

Looking forward to more - interview with Simon Bird, Tom Rosenthal and Robert Popper here on the second series.

Basq

Oh dear me! :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN4iNeMzO-U

Wasn't picked up to series by NBC... some serious talent behind it, but naaaaah!

Anyways, the UK version is back shortly.. and here's a new promo photo for the 2nd series:

Basq

Back on October 7th..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnaTnkACC8k

Lisha

I love Friday night dinner think it is very funny I can,t wait til the 7th now.
Once I got into the first series I found the repetitive-ness very funny.

Basq

"Dad, help me hide Buggy!"
* Martin takes 6 slices of bread out and attempts to cover Buggy *

Amazing!

ScrubsfanChris

Basq wrote: »

"Dad, help me hide Buggy!"
* Martin takes 6 slices of bread out and attempts to cover Buggy *

Amazing!

The dad is brilliant
Having a brother myself 3 years younger, the relationship between the two boys is pretty spot on.
Butt sliding down the stairs

I think that was the best episode in the show so far.....

Basq

As I said elsewhere, the physical comedy is second to none right now. It's refreshing to see a show with both refreshing writing and physical comedy done right (forget about the atrocious although widely acclaimed 'Miranda' - she falls over, rinse, repeat etc.).

Tom Rosenthal and Simon Bird actually did say in an interview last week that they went all out to make the violence look as real as possible as hurt each other on numerous occasions.

Great to have it back..

Vores

Basq wrote: »

As I said elsewhere, the physical comedy is second to none right now. It's refreshing to see a show with both refreshing writing and physical comedy done right (forget about the atrocious although widely acclaimed 'Miranda' - she falls over, rinse, repeat etc.).

Tom Rosenthal and Simon Bird actually did say in an interview last week that they went all out to make the violence look as real as possible as hurt each other on numerous occasions.

Great to have it back..

Ugh, I agree completely with what you said about Miranda, can't stand it at all. I expected a general audience to like it, but critics too...

Really liked season 1 of Friday Night Dinner, but haven't managed to catch tonight's (I think?) episode yet, will do in the next few days though. Really not a fan of the neighbour though, absolutely hated him in Green Wing too.

Basq

^ I like Mark Heap but I'm a massive Spaced fan, so can't help but like him!

The Jim scenes are not typically my favourite, but they sometimes do work.

The piano bit in tonight's episode was great to be honest.

take everything

Just watching this now.
Mark Heap's character is basically Dr. Alan Statham from Green Wing. LOL.

_blank_

take everything wrote: »

Just watching this now.
Mark Heap's character is basically Dr. Alan Statham from Green Wing. LOL.

Yeah, I just started watching The Green Wing at the behest of my wife. It's hilarious.

The latest episode of FND, with the new car, is hilarious.

take everything

_blank_ wrote: »

Yeah, I just started watching The Green Wing at the behest of my wife. It's hilarious.

The latest episode of FND, with the new car, is hilarious.

You gotta love Mark Heap for that singular weirdness he has.
Everything from Spaced (as mentioned above) to Green Wing to this. Some good Jam sketches with him as well.

FND is a curiosity i just stumbled on there tbh. Nothing hugely groundbreaking but the actors do a good job and it kept my interest, if only to see what Heap's character started to do. Tamsin Greig is pretty good as the mother as well.
From what i've seen FND has a refreshing gentleness about it

_blank_

take everything wrote: »

From what i've seen FND has a refreshing gentleness about it

Excellent description.

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Sat down to watch this yesterday and ended up watching all 10 aired episodes in one sitting. Absolutely loved it.
Absolute favourite scene was the dad attempting to hide Buggy underneath the slices of bread.

Basq

Martin (Paul Ritter) is amazing.. the whole cast is great to be fair.

"Lovely bit of squirrel!"

Although Tamzin Greig is under-used.. she's primarily the one in the middle of 4 bizarre and hilarious characters.

Basq

Very much ended on a high tonight!

Mark Heap was absolutely amazing in it... even those who aren't his fans can't dismiss his performance in that episode.

Got the Christmas Special to look forward to now.. remember reading an interview with Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal and they mentioned it was strange as it takes place during the day.

SirLemonhead

Yep this and last seasons final episode are my two favourites so far easily Seems they always end the series on a big high. Can't wait for the Christmas one now

brian_t

I enjoyed that episode too.
Personally I thought that the last three episodes were funnier then the first three.

Apparently they have both their Grandmas around for Christmas dinner.

RTE2 is showing series one starting tomorrow (Monday) at 10.30pm

Basq

brian_t wrote: »

Personally I thought that the last three episodes were funnier then the first three.

C'mon, the Buggy episode was amazing!

brian_t

Basq wrote: »

C'mon, the Buggy episode was amazing!

The main premise of them fighting over Buggy didn't work for me but dads sneezing was funny alright.