Jo Brand's Commercial Breakdown

Jo  Brand's Commercial Breakdown that was broadcasted on BBC 1 lastnight is a brilliant programme. Jo Brand does a good job at presenting, although her jokes aren't always funny!

The first advert on lastnight's show was rather funny: It showed a guy on a train - the ticket inspector informed him that the train doesn't stop at the station he wanted to get off at on Wednesdays (and today was a Wednesday, would you believe!) The ticket inspector then said, I'll slow the train down for you, and you hop off as we go through the station slowly!
So they did. And the guy jumps off - but only to be pulled back on by another passenger, who says, 'Cor, don't try that man, the train doesn't stop there on Wednesday's!' The advert ends with the bloke drinking a chilled XXXX beer.

The stools/footrests that sat directly in front of Jo Brand are cool!

(Edited by Ryan at 9:00 am on Sep. 29, 2001)

Didnt Jasper Carrot make a similar show?

Just a little sideline but BBC One Scotland dont have Jo Brand becasue They think its All Over has been moved to that slot to accomodate a new BBC Scotland chat show called Elaine.

[making converstation mode] Was that any good?
Anyway back on topic, Rory McGrath did a similar show but I don't think Jasper ever did.

He did cos its regurly repeated on UK Gold and Bravo.

Yep he did, it was called Carrot's Commercial Breakdown, and the set was like a huge bathroom or something (I think).

It's always struck me as odd that the BBC make these type of programmes with commercials in although they are commercial free.

BBC make it cos it's funny and different.

This is a prime example of a show ITV would/could NEVER make, because that would mean taking the **** out of advertisers - which they are not too keen to do.

That's not strictly true, Tarrant on TV on ITV has been showing ads for years.

Tarrant is mainly clips of foreign TV shows IIRC - but ok strike that

either way, ITV bad, BBC good!!!

Oh here we go again, ITV bashing is so rife in this forum. I seem to be the only voice who will stand up for them. We have a lot of BBC snobs in here who think that commercial TV is dirt and that only the BBC show decent programmes.

BBC snobs the lot of you.

No - Channel 4 show lots as well - I just cannot honestly think of a programme on ITV that I have watched and enjoyed in recent times. Possibly Midsommer Murders and even that's a repeat.

Before that, we're seriously talking about Sunset Beach (US import, originally on C5, bought by ITV2)
Veronica's Closet (US import, originally shown on Sky1, second run on ITV, consigned to late night)
or Darling Buds of May (1991)

It's really tragic

Jasper Carrott's Commercial Breakdown was a series of occasional hour-long one-offs - a bit like It'll Be Alright on the Night . Also like Alright , all but the first show were numbered. Jasper did four in total.

First show: Opening titles of woman arriving home and unpacking shopping. Set was a giant kitchen, Jasper came out of shopping bag I think (or was it the fridge he came out of?). I think Jasper was sitting in front of a giant Campbell's soup tin.

Second show: Opening titles of woman in supermarket taking basket of goods to the checkout. Set was a giant checkout and basket of shopping. I think Jasper was sitting on a giant PG Tips tea bags packet.

Third show: Opening titles of man putting gel in hair/shaving or some such thing, then leaving bathroom. Set was a giant bathroom. Jasper was sat on edge of bath, with giant toilet off to the side, and giant Head and Shoulders shampoo bottle behind him.

Fourth show: Computer generated opening titles of sweets dancing around to childish song. Set was a giant newsagent's counter with a rack of giant chocolates, bubble gum, and sweets on it. Jasper came out of giant Chuppa Chups (sp?) lollipop jar I think. The most prominent thing behind Jasper aws a giant Kit Kat chocolate bar.

All those items I metioned (soup tin, tea packet, shampoo bottle, lolly jar) had the the title of the show written on them in the style of writing that the product name would be written in.

Commercial Breakdown subsequently became a weekly series (6 x 30min I think) with Rory McGrath now at the helm, and therefore with his name in the title. A much more normal set was now regularly used (a white room with a seat for Rory, and a screen to show the adverts). I think Rory did two series (i.e. 12 x 30 min in total)

Then Jo Brand took over, and she has so far had only one series of 6 x 30min.

(Edited by StandUpAndBeSeated at 1:52 pm on Sep. 30, 2001)