RADIO FOUR'S 'COMEDY' OUTPUT

[andy-hughes]

I am not a regular R4 listener, but I am often in the car around 18:30 - 19:00 and catch their comedy offerings in this slot.

I would think that to be a Commissioning Editor for Comedy, a sense of humour would be a prerequisite. How therefore do these shows ever get commissioned, never mind broadcast!

I have listened to episodes of the following shows -

'Another Case Of Milton Jones', 'Clare In The Community'. 'Fags Mags And Bags', 'Rudy's Rare Records' and 'The Castle'.

Without exception, I have not only failed to find anything funny in them, I have not even managed to raise a faint smile at any time.

I am futher mystified by the uncontrolled side-splitting reaction from the audience supposedly listening to this guff. I am convinced that the laughter is added on bfore broadcast, because no large group of people could find any of this output that amusing.

My suggesion is that Radio Four abandon these 'comedy' programmes and broadcast what ever the audience was hearing when their laughter was recorded - it's obviously not these shows, and would provide a better fit for a 'comedy' slot funded by licence payers.

Anyone else as similarly baffled as me?

[factor-fiction]

Bring back Just a Minute, The Glums, etc

[Jonathan-Joe]

"Just a Minute" is still regularly scheduled. The last programme of the current series will be broadcast 6:30 pm, next Monday (26/09).

[Calibax]

Just a Minute is still going, Factor

[bookbinder]

andy-hughes, welcome to the club! I, also, find the BBC's concept of radio 'humour' not worthy of the description. There are exceptions: Just a Minute is entertaining; Milton Jones is OK; likewise The Castle; but, as for raising an outright laugh - or even a smile - those days are gone. Is the BBC reflecting listeners' tastes, or is it dictating listeners' tastes? I share your opinion of the audience 'laughter'. I am convinced that is recorded, mainly because it does not fade away, as live laughter would; it usually stops as if it has been cut off by a sound engineer. In short, the BBC has the wrong idea about humour.

[factor-fiction]

Thanks- I thought Just a Minute was on Radio4 extra.
I was thinking of Just a Minute with Nicholas Parsons, Kennethe Williams, Derek Nimmo.

[Jonathan-Joe]

It would be difficult to bring back "Just a Minute" with Kenneth Williams and Derek Nimmo!

[rojash]

"I would think that to be a Commissioning Editor for Comedy, a sense of humour would be a prerequisite."
I used to listen to comedy on Radio 4 years ago, and it was great.
I've no idea what it's like nowadays, but is it possible that (if other people find these shows funny), it's you, rather than they who lack a sense of humour?

[scotman]

Most shows in the 18:30 slot are repeats of trials run in the 11:30 or 23:00 slots(18:30 being the 'prime' slot) and which have been judged 'successful'.
I found the early series of Clare in the Community OK but was never very impressed with the others. I listen to R4 Extra for the old stuff.

[Prudie]

I don't often listen to the 6.30pm slot but regularly hear the weekday 11pm slot and think it's the most puerile rubbish that never makes me laugh. It reminds me of sixth form humour and am stunned they keep chucking it out - it's so incongruous with the rest of R4.
The News Quiz I do find very funny and clever though. Just a Minute is tedious.

[LazyGun]

News Quiz is pretty much the only one I like - that and the Now! show or whatever its called.

Going to a recording of the News Quiz next week, in fact.... :)

[andy-hughes]

rojash - I lack many things in this life - hair, nice skin, a good shape, lots of money, a fast car, but a sense of humour?

Never ever!!!!

[Buenchico]

'The Castle' is a brilliant satire on modern society but most of the other programmes on your list don't exactly get me falling off my chair either.

For some odd reason, the real gems of Radio 4's comedy output seem to get hidden away from peak-time audiences. 'Cabin Pressure' is in the same league as (if not even better than) comedy classics such as 'The Navy Lark' but it gets buried away in the 11.30am slot.

However there's something far, far worse than Radio 4 comedy. It's called Radio 2 comedy.

[douglas9401]

If I want a good laugh I listen to the Radio 4 weather forecast for Scotland. :)

[Prudie]

At least they do one for Scotland douglas! Every morning they start with loads on Scotland, then cover Wales and Northern Ireland (so as to be PC) then give the weather for London and the south east. Us lot in the Southh and SW can go twiddle. Infuriates me.

[marval]

I prefer the old 'comedy' programmes on Radio4 extra

[rojash]

andy-hughes, It's a good thing I still have my hair, or people might not be able to tell us apart.

[andy-hughes]

I am amazed at Scotman's confirmation that most of this tosh has been aired already, and passed some kind of audience enjoyment level in order to hit the prime slot!

I must be seriously out of step with what passes as amusing in the BBC these days.

They can get it right - series like 'Down The Line' are amazing, and 'The News Quiz' is consistently high quality, so why the rest of the dross? Surely the actors must lknow that the lines they are reading are not at all amusing.

[horseshoes]

Do you remember The Clitheroe Kid?

[Buenchico]

Well we're going to disagree about something then, Andy. I rarely turn my radio off. (If I don't particularly like what is on I'll just largely ignore the programme). But there's one programme which has me racing for the 'off' button and trying to resist the temptation to sling the radio through the nearest window. It's 'Down The Line'.

'The News Quiz' has lost its real edge since the passing of the wonderfully (mock- ?) xenophobic Alan Coren, but it's still one of the better programmes on the radio.

Another recent comedy offering which (like 'Cabin Pressure') is an absolute 'classic' is 'Hut 33'.

Chris