Mock The Week

Andy Parsons really isn't funny, neither is Gina Yashere, however thankfully, Dara O'Briain, Hugh Dennis & Frankie Boyle are.

I really don't think they make enough of Hugh Dennis though - always seems like he receives substantially less screen time than the others! I think the problem with a show like this is, unlike shows like HIGNFY and Buzzcocks this isn't a quiz show with some comedy added - its a stand up comedy show with some quiz added in. Therefore finding honest-to-god celebrities who are funny enough for a show like this is really hard, yet at the same time using the same comedians constantly gets very stale relatively quickly. I think the producers need to work hard to find some new comedians to 'guest' on the show, while maybe moving Hugh/ Frankie to the other team and losing Parsons/ Howard (who can both have their moments, but between them don't add enough comedy to the show) and generally mixing things up a bit. I think they should also go back to showing more of the rounds than they currently do - these days its basically "here's the news, now make fun of it" and "here's some topics, make us laugh", and don't show as many other rounds (like where Hugh impersonates a celebrity/ politician in a silent video clip).

It certainly seems a bit too formulaic this series. It's a shame they lost Rory Bremner after the first series - even though he didn't seem completely at home, I reckon he'd have become much better with the less-games-more-standup format the show seems to be taking.

Agree with the comments about Andy Parsons and Russell Howard - can't really take to either of them. Russell Howard in particular seems to just recite the same old routines over and over, and doesn't seem to have *that* good a grasp of current affairs - something you'd think would be important on a comedy quiz based on current affairs. Andy Parsons is just like someone down the pub saying things that are vaguely amusing, but not particularly intelligent.

Some of the guests are good, I quite like Lucy Porter and Greg Davies, but we seem to be getting the same old guests all the time now.

And don't get me started on Gina Yashere. I'm yet to hear anything funny come out of her mouth in that bizarre fake-aggressive accent she puts on.

It seems to me that a quiz show is a covenient peg to hang it on-- rather in a similar way Sorry I Haven't A Clue operates: It's ostensibly a quiz show, to give it some structure and flow; nobody wins any prizes, so the game-show element is inconsequential. I suppose HIGNFY, Buzzcocks, QI etc are the same in that respect; the quiz aspect as good an excuse as any, to lark around and take the p_ss.

I agree it would be better to have Frankie as the other team captain; I think that would give Hugh more a chance to shine, if they are sparking off each other as equals.

Andy Parson would better off as a semi-regular. I think he's amusing, but not on the same level as Frankie or Hugh-- I think he comes across better on radio (has the voice for it perhaps ). I've never taken to Russell either, I suspect he's much better on stage doing a pre-planned routine-- I don't think improv suits his style. Ms Gashere (sp?), I don't find her funny at all... in my view Stewart Francis has been the best guest panelist, he always nails the Spin The Wheel bit-- does some good contributions in other rounds too.

I like Dara, but I feel he's ill-suited to the role of chairman-- somebody such as Clive Anderson may have been better?

Clive Anderson wouldn't be the best person for that I think, and I disagree, I Think he is suited to it, he seems to be a sort of a teacher in a classroom, and that works well, I agree that Frankie should be put as the other team captains, and have Russell on the same team, with one guest on one side, and maybe Ed Byrne? or Stewart Francis Taking the other role of team with Hugh.

I don't believe Clive would be the best person either, but he'd do well at it-- handled WLIIA well in my view. I do take your point about Dara-- he's as good as anyone for the role: It's just that he's been looking bored on it recently, I noticed few other people saying that too (both my fellow MTW fans and telly critics). But who could replace him? That's a rhetorical question by the way!

Ed Byrne I quite like, he has the personality for the show-- always lively when he appears. Personally I can't take to Russell, but I concede he is popular, so keep him on... I'd definitely agree on Stewart Francis, especially since he's moved to the UK now!

You have got to be kidding me?!

No, it's far better off without Rory Bremner. His problem was that he just substituted jokes for impressions, which is his speciality after all.

A bit, yes To recap my last post: I feel Dara is starting to look bored now, I know a few other people who've remarked on this too. Now I'm not saying we should depose Dara forthwith and replace him with Clive, I was just hypothetically wondering who could take over Dara, Clive immediately sprung to mind for some reason (I don't personally see what's wrong with Clive Anderson, but there would be better candidates I'm sure).

Of course nobody really could 'replace' Dara on MTW and nor should they at present-- I just wish he'd show a bit more enthusiasm for this current series.

Also I'd agree with things not being the same since Rory Bremner left the show, I think it was handy having two impressionists on the show (the other being Hugh Dennis).

Apologies, I may have jumped the gun there regarding Clive Anderson.

Anyway, regarding Dara, I can't see the same thing as you've mentioned but perhaps we see things in people in different ways. To me he looked quite enthusiastic and lively on last weeks show (that's the one following on from the clipshow).

I agree that Rory was good on the show but I like all of the others too and think that they bring a good mix to the show (including Andy). Thank god that Frankie shaved off the beard as he seemed to be extra crass and distasteful with it.

Since it's you, I'll let you off

I think Dara perked up a bit for the previous epi of the MTW-- perhaps he reads this site or has taken notice of certain TV critic(s)! Obviously that holiday has refreshed him-- I thought it was a bit cheeky doing that clipshow only halfway thorugh though.

You're quite right in saying that's there's a good mix of comedians on the show: You have the silly banter of Russell, Hugh's impressions and witticisms, Frankie's mordant remarks, Andy's amusing observations (opinions vary...), Dara's whimsy or Stewart's superb one-liners. Something for everyone I think.

Yeah, I'm glad Frankie's beard has gone... he was starting to look as though he ought to be on some sort of register!

Last night was good, and yes thank God that beard is gone. Although a certain someone was getting a bit repetitive, it came back to haunt him every few minutes, because he kept opening 'The Racist Door' as he called it.