- Comedy Showcase
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Comedy Showcase [1] is a series of one-off comedy specials featuring some of Britain's fledgling comedy talent. Its format is reminiscent of the much earlier Comedy Playhouse.
The first series consisted of six unrelated episodes, and began airing on 5 October 2007 on Channel 4. The second series consisted of seven episodes, beginning on 6 November 2009.
Contents
2007 series
# Title Original airdate 1 Other People 5 October 2007 Martin Freeman stars as Greg Wilson, a washed-up child magician whose career was ended in 1986 after being publicly humiliated on a children's show phone-in. Now in his 30s, Greg is recognised at his sofa-salesman job by a former fan and asked for an autograph, a request that sets a bizarre set of circumstances in motion and sees Greg in a courtroom facing a long sentence. 2 Ladies and Gentlemen 12 October 2007 The lives and awkward loves of a group of thirtysomething friends who share a house in London in 1865. Written by Peep Show's Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain. 3 Plus One 19 October 2007 After his girlfriend Linsey (played by Miranda Raison) leaves him to marry Duncan James from Blue, Rob Black (played by Rory Kinnear) decides to take revenge by upstaging the couple on their wedding day. Written by Tim Allsop & Stewart Williams 4 The Eejits 26 October 2007 An Irish pub band by the name of E-Z Feelin hope to hit the big-time when a former U2 roadie gives them some of the stars' old equipment. But they run into trouble when U2 want their stuff back - and E-Z Feelin's sideline in smuggling mystery packages into Northern Ireland probably wasn't such a smart move either. 5 Free Agents 9 November 2007 Stephen Mangan stars as Alex, a maudlin theatrical agent, who's been thrown out by his wife. He has a disastrous one-night stand with his colleague Helen (Sharon Horgan) that ends in him sobbing with self-pity. The pair spend the rest of the episode engaged in an unseemly, often embarrassing, psychological tussle. 6 The Kevin Bishop Show 23 November 2007 The Star Stories impressionist presents a super-fast-paced sketch show, which features a 42 sketches in 23 minutes. Reception
The Kevin Bishop Show, Plus One and Free Agents all spun off into full-length series.[2]
2009 series
# Title Original airdate 1 Campus 6 November 2009 A semi-improvised sitcom created by the writers of Green Wing set at the fictitious Kirke University, following the lives of some of the staff. 2 PhoneShop 13 November 2009 Sitcom set in a mobile phone shop and a new employee working as part of a one-day trial. Featuring Ricky Gervais as script editor. 3 The Increasingly Poor Decisions Of Todd Margaret 27 November 2009 Sitcom about an American (played by David Cross) who takes a job running the sales team at the London branch of his company, but who has no experience of British culture, knows nothing about sales and has only one employee. 4 The Amazing Dermot 4 December 2009 Sitcom pilot starring Rhys Darby as a struggling magician trying to get his career back on track following an incident. Genevieve Barr plays a deaf nurse. 5 Guantanamo Phil 11 December 2009 Sitcom about a birdwatcher from Stoke-on-Trent returning home after spending six years as a prisoner in Guantanamo Bay. 6 Girl Friday 18 December 2009 A sketch show featuring an all female cast, including Josie Long, Kerry Howard, Sara Pascoe, Nat Luurtsema, Kathryn Drysdale and Lu Corfield. 7 Pete v Life Sitcom about a struggling sports writer whose life is commented on by two sports commentators. Reception
Campus, PhoneShop and The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret have been spun off into full series,[3] while Pete v Life was given a full series before it was transmitted. The pilot was therefore shown with the rest of the series and not part of the showcase.
2011 series
# Title Original airdate 1 Chickens 2 September 2011 Scripted comedy from long-time collaborators Simon Bird, Joe Thomas and Jonny Sweet set during World War I, it follows the antics and everyday lives of three young men, who have not gone to war for three very different reasons. They meanwhile deal with disdain from the women of the village, left behind when the other men went to war. 2 Coma Girl 9 September 2011 Three old school chums are flung together once again, due to the tragic circumstances following a mutual friend's road accident. 3 The Fun Police 16 September 2011 Rhys Darby headlines an ensemble cast of rising comedy stars, in this sitcom based around the inner workings of a dysfunctional branch of Health and Safety operatives. 4 House Of Rooms 14 October 2011 5 The Function Room 21 October 2011 6 The Angelos Neil Epithemiou Show 28 October 2011 References
- ^ Comedy Showcase. "www.channel4.com/programmes/comedy-showcase"
- ^ French, Dan (7 July 2009). "'Comedy Showcase' returning to Channel 4". Digital Spy. Retrieved on 7 July 2009.
- ^ Burrell, Ian (13 November 2009). "Ricky Gervais returns with new workplace comedy". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/ricky-gervais-returns-with-new-workplace-comedy-1819909.html. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
External links
Categories:- 2000s British television series
- 2010s British television series
- 2007 British television programme debuts
- Channel 4 sitcoms
- Comedy Showcase
- Television pilot seasons
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