Irish comedy

ColeTrain

Just saw an ad for 'The Savage Eye" on RTE. All these shows are the same. See Killinaskully and Catherine Lynch. The humour seems to revolve around loud, ridiculous characters that are meant to portray an Irish stereotype.

Is this really the best we can do? Surely not.

MungBean

So dont watch em. Thats how I solved my Fair City and the Angelus problem.

ColeTrain

MungBean wrote: »

So dont watch em. Thats how I solved my Fair City and the Angelus problem.

Who said I watched them?

The way I see it, For every show like the above made, a good idea/script is kept down.

Washington Irving

Irish comedy doesn't exist (However, there is the exception of the guy who slipped on the ice)

MungBean

ColeTrain wrote: »

Who said I watched them?

The way I see it, For every show like the above made, a good idea/script is kept down.

The reason they have shows is because they are very popular comedians and the shows are based on their already popular stand up. Its tried and tested and a lot of people watch and enjoy them. If you dont like them pick up the remote and change the channel, there may be something else on.

By the way The Savage Eye is one of the best comedy shows to hit RTE in recent years. It goes well beyond the one character your using as a basis for your opinion of the show.

phasers

Hardy Bucks is alright

Lapin

Irish Comedy.

Hi Cod Misery



That is all.

EdenHazard

Savage Eye is hilarious. Hardy Bucks is bollox

pebbles21

.

mackg

ColeTrain wrote: »

Who said I watched them?

The way I see it, For every show like the above made, a good idea/script is kept down.

Do you have some experience of this or is it just a theory? There is also the possibility that these shows get made because of the lack of a better alternative. Not to mention the whole personal taste issue. We have 4 channels with which to satisfy everyone along with a limited talent pool in terms of making these shows, there is going to be a lot of stuff you don't like.

LH Pathe

I like mcsavage. unleashing a bipolar deviant with a grudge on his family > society on the general public is a step forward IMO. Promote that there

I.. even find catherine lynch amusing.

Paulie Gualtieri

Catherine lynch is rubbish , hardy bucks was complete scutter , but I must admit I got a few laughs from the savage eye , like the priest snatchin the kids and the barman.

MungBean

mackg wrote: »

Do you have some experience of this or is it just a theory? There is also the possibility that these shows get made because of the lack of a better alternative. Not to mention the whole personal taste issue. We have 4 channels with which to satisfy everyone along with a limited talent pool in terms of making these shows, there is going to be a lot of stuff you don't like.

True enough, I'd imagine most people aiming for that line of work would instinctively head towards England. What RTE are left with is probably whatever they themselves come up with and popular comedians who's comedy style doesnt export that well. Seeing as RTE are shít at everything all we really have are Pat Shortt and co.

uch

Killinascully is funny though

ColeTrain

mackg wrote: »

Do you have some experience of this or is it just a theory? There is also the possibility that these shows get made because of the lack of a better alternative. Not to mention the whole personal taste issue. We have 4 channels with which to satisfy everyone along with a limited talent pool in terms of making these shows, there is going to be a lot of stuff you don't like.

No experience but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a better alternative or a least something different being offered.

Chuck Stone

LH Pathe wrote: »

I.. even find catherine lynch amusing.

Banned.

MyKeyG

MungBean wrote: »

If you dont like them pick up the remote and change the channel, there may be something else on.

Rubbish! As licence payers we're entitled to protest about what we get in return for our buck without this tired old 'change the channel' rubbish. I'm required to pay for this muck when I actually have QUALITY programming coming through my Sky box so I'll bitch about it if I like!

MungBean

MyKeyG wrote: »

Rubbish! As licence payers we're entitled to protest about what we get in return for our buck without this tired old 'change the channel' rubbish. I'm required to pay for this muck when I actually have QUALITY programming coming through my Sky box so I'll bitch about it if I like!

Your an angry little fella arnt ya lol? Who's saying you cant bitch about it ? Bitch all you want but dont be surprised if nothing comes of it is all I'm saying, so you will be left with your original choice of either watching the show or not watching the show.

MungBean

LH Pathe wrote: »

what a cilchèd safe bastard. Do something outrageous, Pat. Break the mould. Dare to be different. challenge us, for a laugh and stop sucking up to my nan

Cant blame Pat, he does what he does same as any comedian. If theres an audience who will watch him he'll continue to do it.

RTE is where the problem lies.

mackg

MungBean wrote: »

True enough, I'd imagine most people aiming for that line of work would instinctively head towards England. What RTE are left with is probably whatever they themselves come up with and popular comedians who's comedy style doesnt export that well. Seeing as RTE are shít at everything all we really have are Pat Shortt and co.

Look at Dara O Brian (maybe spelled wrong) he left for the BBC. He did the panel here for a while but imo he carried that show when he was there. I also agree that what remains is what's suitable for export which in turn explains coletrain's original point about shows full of Irish stereotypes.

ColeTrain wrote: »

No experience but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a better alternative or a least something different being offered.

The problem with trying something different is the very real possibility of total failure ie. nobody watching the show at all. I don't think RTE have the budget to cancel a complete failure and replace it so if it gets made it gets shown in full, end of story.

The most original and risky stuff to get on T.V. lately are the Rubberbandits (who have been poached by a british station I think? anyone confirm this?) and the Hardy Bucks but this came with large followings before they ever got near the telly.

deise go deo

ColeTrain wrote: »

Just saw an ad for 'The Savage Eye" on RTE. All these shows are the same. See Killinaskully and Catherine Lynch. The humour seems to revolve around loud, ridiculous characters that are meant to portray an Irish stereotype.

Is this really the best we can do? Surely not.

So just like Little Britain, Cathern Tate, Harry Enfield and Chums, Al Murray the Pub Land Lord etc do for England then?

Indeed, we must try to have better standards.

Spunge

Hardy bucks is easily the best comedy show ever to come out of this country, father ted included. haters gonna hate

saa

Spunge wrote: »

Hardy bucks is easily the best comedy show ever to come out of this country, father ted included. haters gonna hate

I have to say I love self depreciating comedy that is so Irish its ridiculous but does Fr Ted really count as its a Channel 4 program.
Potatoes gonna potate.

The J Stands for Jay

deise go deo wrote: »

ColeTrain wrote: »

Just saw an ad for 'The Savage Eye" on RTE. All these shows are the same. See Killinaskully and Catherine Lynch. The humour seems to revolve around loud, ridiculous characters that are meant to portray an Irish stereotype.

Is this really the best we can do? Surely not.

So just like Little Britain, Cathern Tate, Harry Enfield and Chums, Al Murray the Pub Land Lord etc do for England then?

Indeed, we must try to have better standards.

Um, apart from Harry Enfield, they're all ****.

rgmmg

McGaggs wrote: »

Um, apart from Harry Enfield, they're all ****.

Blackadder is great.

The King of Moo

In 2007, Mahatma Gandhi was interviewed on The Café, and Aidan Power asked him what he thought of Irish comedy.

Without hesitation he replied: "What do I think of Irish comedy? I think it would be a very good idea."

chin_grin

The Brits do far better comedy series'.

Blackadder.
Bottom.
Spaced.
Big Train.
Brasseye.
IT Crowd.
Fr Ted (ok written by Graham Linehan and picked up by Channel 4. So technically British as it's their production).
Black Books.
Monty Python.
Fawlty Towers.
Green Wing.
Look Around You.
Garth Merenghis Darkplace.
The Mighty Boosh.
Man to Man with Dean Learner.
Stewart Lees Comedy Vehicle.
Charlie Brookers Screen/News-wipe.
Nathan Barley.
Time Trumpet.


I do like the Savage Eye as it takes the p!ss at the colloquialisms instead of just repeating them and the dough-headed viewers going "Yes. I do mash potatoes that way! Oh God where has this program been all my life?".

POKERKING

Lots of good irish standups floating around. You cant blame them on rte productions.

Captain Darling

POKERKING wrote: »

Lots of good irish standups floating around. You cant blame them on rte productions.

RTE butcher the sh1te out of any comic talent we have by sticking them in ridiculous shows like those crap panel shows they do.

smash

I know my hatred for Catherine Lynch is unwarranted because I can choose to just not watch her. And that's what I do every time, just change channel. But it still really annoys me that she even gets air time.

token101

No good comedy in Ireland? Our comics are some of the best in the world FFS. They sell out arenas all over the UK and even the US/Canada. Dara O Brian, Tommy Tiernan, Dylan Moran, Brendan Grace, Frank Hall, Dermot Morgan, the list is endless. I hate Brendan O'Carroll but his show is one of the top rated on BBC. So it can't be all that bad! I don't like Killnaskully tbh, but some of D'Unbelievables stuff is great! Catherine Lynch is pure sh*te, as is Maeve Higgins, but I've never seen a female comedian that I'd consider remotely funny, with the possible exception of Pauline McGlynn in Father Ted. Different folks, different strokes.

And Father Ted is Irish FFS. It's Irish humour, written by an Irish writer and starring almost exclusively Irish actors all filmed in Ireland. Just because RTE are total f*ckwits doesn't mean that comedy is bad, just RTE. And that's only because RTE is based on nepotism and who you know. You need only look at 'Your Bad Self' to see that. Maybe the thread should be changed to: 'RTE wouldn't know comedy if it came up and kicked them in the f*cking testicles'.

chin_grin

token101 wrote: »

No good comedy in Ireland? Our comics are some of the best in the world FFS. They sell out arenas all over the UK and even the US/Canada. Dara O Brian, Tommy Tiernan, Dylan Moran, Brendan Grace, Frank Hall, Dermot Morgan, the list is endless. I hate Brendan O'Carroll but his show is one of the top rated on BBC. So it can't be all that bad! I don't like Killnaskully tbh, but some of D'Unbelievables stuff is great! Catherine Lynch is pure sh*te, as is Maeve Higgins, but I've never seen a female comedian that I'd consider remotely funny, with the possible exception of Pauline McGlynn in Father Ted. Different folks, different strokes.

And Father Ted is Irish FFS. It's Irish humour, written by an Irish writer and starring almost exclusively Irish actors all filmed in Ireland. Just because RTE are total f*ckwits doesn't mean that comedy is bad, just RTE. And that's only because RTE is based on nepotism and who you know. You need only look at 'Your Bad Self' to see that. Maybe the thread should be changed to: 'RTE wouldn't know comedy if it came up and kicked them in the f*cking testicles'.

Would you like a small flag for that "I'm Irish and proud" rant? :pac:

token101

smash wrote: »

I know my hatred for Catherine Lynch is unwarranted because I can choose to just not watch her. And that's what I do every time, just change channel. But it still really annoys me that she even gets air time.

She appeals to white trash.

token101

chin_grin wrote: »

Would you like a small flag for that "I'm Irish and proud" rant? :pac:

No, but maybe you could have a look through your 'British' list again and tell me how many of the decent shows have Irish actors/writers.

Logical Fallacy

ColeTrain wrote: »

Who said I watched them?

The way I see it, For every show like the above made, a good idea/script is kept down.

RTE passed on Father Ted, which tells you all you need to know about RTE.

Most likely a good thing though as it's hard to imagine RTE making a show that doesn't suck.

Borboletinha

token101 wrote: »

No good comedy in Ireland? Our comics are some of the best in the world FFS. They sell out arenas all over the UK and even the US/Canada. Dara O Brian, Tommy Tiernan, Dylan Moran, Brendan Grace, Frank Hall, Dermot Morgan, the list is endless. I hate Brendan O'Carroll but his show is one of the top rated on BBC. So it can't be all that bad! I don't like Killnaskully tbh, but some of D'Unbelievables stuff is great! Catherine Lynch is pure sh*te, as is Maeve Higgins, but I've never seen a female comedian that I'd consider remotely funny, with the possible exception of Pauline McGlynn in Father Ted. Different folks, different strokes.

And Father Ted is Irish FFS. It's Irish humour, written by an Irish writer and starring almost exclusively Irish actors all filmed in Ireland. Just because RTE are total f*ckwits doesn't mean that comedy is bad, just RTE. And that's only because RTE is based on nepotism and who you know. You need only look at 'Your Bad Self' to see that. Maybe the thread should be changed to: 'RTE wouldn't know comedy if it came up and kicked them in the f*cking testicles'.

Dylan Moran is the best comedian ever!! Funniest man alive!!! Im grateful to ireland for him if nothing else! Now Father Ted I think you have to be irish to find it funny... Never heard of a non irish person who liked Father Ted, not one... Same with beans on toast...:pac:

chin_grin

token101 wrote: »

No, but maybe you could have a look through your 'British' list again and tell me how many of the decent shows have Irish actors/writers.

Graham Linehan. Legend.

Frank Black

The 1990's was the golden age of Irish comics.
We had three Perrier award winners in this decade,
Sean Hughes - 1990
Dylan Moran - 1996
Tommy Tiernan - 1998

Add to that we had unquestionably the funniest TV programme in Father Ted.

It's been downhill since then.

Otterfox

As an Irish comedy writer I do think that a lot of sense has been made in this forum. It seems that if you want to even be in a position to make a pilot you generally have to know someone or be an already established star.

There are some great Irish comedy writers and indeed writers of other disciplines that are not given any chance whatsoever by Irish broadcasters simply because they are not already established names. To a degree I understand this in that it is high-risk but surely writers should be judged on the level of their work and not because they know someone important.

Any success I have had as a writer has been in Britain.

People like this writer friend of mine I feel deserve a chance. Here is an idea he is working on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CddIgOzYkZY
And here's one of my own ideas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq_LCiYHOUQ&feature=channel

chin_grin

Otterfox wrote: »

As an Irish comedy writer I do think that a lot of sense has been made in this forum. It seems that if you want to even be in a position to make a pilot you generally have to know someone or be an already established star.

There are some great Irish comedy writers and indeed writers of other disciplines that are not given any chance whatsoever by Irish broadcasters simply because they are not already established names. To a degree I understand this in that it is high-risk but surely writers should be judged on the level of their work and not because they know someone important.

Any success I have had as a writer has been in Britain.

People like this writer friend of mine I feel deserve a chance. Here is an idea he is working on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CddIgOzYkZY
And here's one of my own ideas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq_LCiYHOUQ&feature=channel

Oh! Looks like we have a comedian in our midst. Well then. Say something funny then Mr Comedian! G'wan.

Really? "The thing I found strange is that the place was full of prisoners", "What, the prison?" <shudders with embarrassment>

Brendog

phasers wrote: »

Hardy Bucks is alright

imo I think "The Viper" is one of the best characters ever. His MW3 commentaries on youtube are hilarious.

"Its not camping if yer having a good time"

foxyboxer

I thought Upwardly Mobile was an astutely written and witty observation of Irish Society.

The best comedy show RTE have come up with is Fair City.



:pac:

Conall Cernach

I think the Savage Eye is the exception to the rule that RTE cannot do good comedy. His Robinson Crusoe take on ghost estates was brilliant. Also love him when he's dressed up as Ireland such as the bidding farewell to the emigrants sketch.

gustavo

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

RTE passed on Father Ted, which tells you all you need to know about RTE.
.

They didn't - that is a myth.

MungBean

Yeah although Father Ted was written by Irish writers, starred Irish comedians and was set in Ireland it was still a Channel 4 show so it was a British TV Series. RTE was never in the picture and it wasnt written for an Irish audience it was written for a British/Irish audience.

buck65

I think Savage Eye is quite funny, really rips the piss out of the country, of course alot of it is poor/over my head but alot of it hits the mark.
Re the Hardy Bucks, I though the second series was much better than the first and the lads settled into the groove, the Viper is a classic character. His break down is superbly chronicled.
There is some real comedy gold in it and a load of surreal humour too.
Yeah but Katherine Lynch, Shortt etc. are rubbish.

smash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wyZoquC6V8

Oh how I want to beat him with that microphone!

Wattle

Borboletinha wrote: »

Dylan Moran is the best comedian ever!! Funniest man alive!!! Im grateful to ireland for him if nothing else! Now Father Ted I think you have to be irish to find it funny... Never heard of a non irish person who liked Father Ted, not one... Same with beans on toast...:pac:

That's complete bollox. Father Ted was very popular in Britain. I've had Americans tell me it was their favourite show and apparently people come all the way from Japan for Tedfest.

johnayo

It always surprises me when people say that any form of comedy is ****e. I would assume that what they mean to say is that they do not find it funny themselves. Its obvious from reading through this thread, that one persons good comedy is another persons ****e.

leakyboots

gustavo wrote: »

They didn't - that is a myth.

Whichever of them does the commentary on the DVD boxset, think it's Linehan, put that myth to bed

John Doe1

DAvid o doherty ftw