Monday 4 June 2012

You Have Been Watching... Charlie Brooker!

Updates to this blog should begin again in earnest later this year, things are very busy IRL for me.

In the mean time I felt it was worth posting the following IMDB mini-overview/review of a television panel show by Charlie Brooker, entitled "You Have Been Watching".  It tends to get overshadowed by Screenwipe and Newswipe, and here's why it shouldn't...




"I'd just like to throw in a few thoughts, going very much against the
grain, and general "consensus" here on IMDb: You Have Been Watching is
excellent.  Yes, it is a panel show, and it's a FUN one.


It is different to Screenwipe and Newswipe. There is quite enough space
in the world for all of these shows, and they provide various
alternative, and equally fascinating / hilarious / enjoyable takes on
Charlie's view on the world, and his criticisms.


Most of the guests have been very entertaining, the 90s special was
fun. Starting the show with some jokes might seem cliché but if one
actually listens to those jokes, often they are appropriately "Brooker
- cynic" and totally fit the show.


Every episode contains fascinatingly twisted questions, criticisms of
various ridiculous TV shows (Who Is Deadliest!), and witty, appropriate
observations and mickey-taking from everyone involved. I was
particularly pleased to see Martin Freeman, the absolutely gorgeous and
fun Liza Tarbuck, and the appropriately divisive Frankie Boyle.


If anything, I'm pleased to see Charlie take on a panel-show format
because it proves he can effectively host more than one type of show.
His comedy and observations are never really "argued" in Screenwipe and
Newswipe, and it makes a refreshing change to have "contestants" to
bounce off his views.


Here's hoping for many more seasons. Top marks. (To be brutally honest
it can't match the excellence of QI or HIGNFY but I DON'T PARTICULARLY
CARE.)"