Comedy Slab

This week we review - Giles Wemmbley Goes Off (Series 2 Episode 6)

Sitcom following the adventures of Giles Wemmbley Hogg. Traveller, backpacker, fearless investigator of cultural diversity... and an upper middle-class student from Budleigh Salterton.

Giles is a nice but rather dim upper-middle class ex-public school boy who records his adventures on his portable digital recorder as he travels around the world.

He rarely realises when things are going wrong, but listeners can hear the damage and offense that the young man inadvertently causes with every step he takes.

On his extensive travels, Giles manages to break the Terracotta Army, kill a very rare bird, accidentally lead a revolution in Cuba, bankrupt a Japanese financial institution and cause widespread offence at the World Cup.

Written by Marcus Brigstocke, Jeremy Salsby and Toby Davies.
Produced by David Tyler.
Directed by David Tyler.
A Pozzitive Production for the BBC.
Giles Wemmbley Hogg Goes Off is available through Audible: https://adbl.co/3gdJtoM

The Comedy Slab Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Youtube.

Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.

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This week we review - Gavin & Stacey (Series 1 Episode 1)
 
Stacey is from Barry, near Cardiff, and Gavin is from Essex. But the difference in backgrounds and culture doesn't hinder their romance, which flourishes when they finally meet for the first time after hitting it off during numerous flirtatious work calls.

Stacey's guardian-uncle, Bryn, has pledged to look out for his niece - when not obsessing over his faulty satellite navigation system - whilst Gavin is doted on by his sometimes emotionally volatile mother, Pam, who only wants the best for her "little prince".

On the occasionally rocky route to Gavin and Stacey's wedding, the two very different sets of families and friends must learn to get along together. The couple's best friends, the forthright Nessa and best man Smithy, get along very well together too, but unfortunately only when they're drunk.

Written by James Corden & Ruth Jones.
Produced by Ted Dowd.
Directed by Christine Gernon.
A Baby Cow Manchester Production.
Gavin & Stacey is available here: https://bbc.in/3lixdEw
 
The Comedy Slab Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Youtube.
 
Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.
 
Get in touch - we're @ComedySlab on Twitter and ComedySlab on Facebook.

This week we review - The Mighty Boosh (Series 3 Episodes 1)
 
Surreal sitcom following the adventures of Vince Noir and Howard Moon.

Vince and Howard are Zoo Keepers who work in the dysfunctional 'Zooniverse' along with the disturbing Dixon Bainbridge, Bob Fossil and Mrs Gideon.

The third series sees the action shifts to Naboo's second hand shop in Dalston. Needless to say they don't get much work done. This doesn't bother Naboo too much, firstly as the shop is really only a cover for his shady interplanetary Shaman business and secondly, he's usually quite chilled out from sampling his own magical herbs and remedies.

Written by Julian Barratt & Noel Fielding
Produced by Alson MacPhail & Spencer Millman.
Directed by Paul King.
A Baby Cow Production for BBC Three.
The Mighty Boosh is available here: https://bbc.in/3kWqsrQ
 
The Comedy Slab Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Youtube.
 
Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.
 
Get in touch - we're @ComedySlab on Twitter and ComedySlab on Facebook.

This week we review - The Break (Series 3 Episodes 1)
 
The Break is set in the fictional Yorkshire coastal town of Flamford - the seaside town sanity forgot - and features retired resident, Jeff Whittaker and his estranged London-bred financial whizz-kid nephew, Andy Chambers, who has arrived unannounced and stressed-out in desperate need of peace and quiet.

Andy gets neither of these as Jeff takes it upon himself to cure all of Andy's ills in a series of comic and poignant adventures around the town. Each week they meet Jeff's regular friends, Fish Shop Frank, Pest Control Supervisor, Corinne who has an 'arrangement' with Jeff every second Thursday, and Joyce Rickles from The Copper Kettle Café, who is constantly startled by everything, most of all her flamethrower toaster.

Written by Ian Brown and James Hendrie
Produced by Gordon Kennedy.
Directed by Gordon Kennedy.
An Absolutely Production for the BBC.
The Break is available here: https://bbc.in/2UDvG0J
 
The Comedy Slab Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Youtube.
 
Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.
 
Get in touch - we're @ComedySlab on Twitter and ComedySlab on Facebook.

This week we review - Stella Street (Series 3 Episodes 1 & 2)

From the minds of John Sessions, Phil Cornwell and "The Comic Strip Presents …." creator Peter Richardson, Stella Street showcases the incredible mimicry talents of Sessions and Cornwell.

In Surbiton, Surrey, film stars Michael Caine, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino and others share a street with the likes of musician David Bowie, and soccer pundit Jimmy Hill.

Although the residents are all in somewhat reduced circumstances they behave just like they're still in the bigtime. Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richards run the nearby corner shop but continue to remember their halcyon days.

Written by John Sessions, Phil Cornwell & Peter Richardson
Produced by Ben Swaffer.
Directed by Peter Richardson.
A Tiger Aspect Production for BBC.
Stella Street is available here: https://amzn.to/3lrFZBb

The Comedy Slab Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Youtube.

Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.

Get in touch - we're @ComedySlab on Twitter and ComedySlab on Facebook.

This week we review - Rob Newman's Half-Full Philosophy Hour (The New Forest Festival of Stoic Philosophy)
 
Rob Newman tackles some of the great philosophical arguments that trouble him such as what if the right side of history is the wrong side of nature and how do we break up big tech before big tech breaks us?

In this episode, the award-winning comedian tells the story of the New Forest Stoic Philosophy Festival, and his part in its downfall as he traverses the weird world of philosophy

Written by Rob Newman.
Produced by Jon Harvey.
A Naked Production for BBC Radio 4.
Rob Newman's Half-Full Philosophy Hour is available here: https://bbc.in/3mHowEW
 
The Comedy Slab Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Youtube.
 
Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.
 
Get in touch - we're @ComedySlab on Twitter and ComedySlab on Facebook.

This week we review - After Life (Series 1 Episode 1)
 
Set in the small fictitious town of Tambury, the series follows Tony, a writer for the local newspaper whose life is upended after his wife dies from cancer.

Tony had a perfect life. But following the death of his beloved wife Lisa to breast cancer, Tony changes.

Having contemplated taking his own life, he decides instead to punish the world by saying and doing whatever he likes. He feels it's like a Super Power, because if anything goes wrong, he always has the ultimate recourse to going through with suicide.

However, not caring about yourself or anyone else turns out to be tricky when everyone is trying to save the nice guy they used to know.

Written by Ricky Gervais
Produced by Charlie Hanson.
Directed By Ricky Gervais.
A Derek Productions Limited for Netflix.
After Life is available here: https://bit.ly/361Nyb1
 
The Comedy Slab Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Youtube.
 
Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.
 
Get in touch - we're @ComedySlab on Twitter and ComedySlab on Facebook.

This week we review - Stand Up for Live Comedy (Series 1 Episode 3)

Stand-up comedy is a vital part of our British culture, and this series aims to support grassroots comedy talent in light of the significant impact Covid-19 has had on the stand-up comedy industry.

Stand Up For Live Comedy is filmed in six different cities across the UK in outdoor locations with socially distanced audiences, with a mission to kickstart live stand-up again.

We review episode 3 - Birmingham

Produced by Adele Fowler.
Directed By Geri Dowd.
A Phil McIntyre Television Production for BBC.
Stand Up For Live Comedy is available here: https://bbc.in/2TngsfQ

The Comedy Slab Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Youtube.

Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.

Get in touch - we're @ComedySlab on Twitter and ComedySlab on Facebook.

This week we review - Spitting Image (Series 21 Episode 1)
 
First broadcast in February 1984, the series was produced by 'Spitting Image Productions' for Central Independent Television over 18 series which aired on the ITV network. The series was nominated and won numerous awards, including ten BAFTA's and two Emmy's.

One of the most watched shows of the 1980s and early 1990s, Spitting Image satirised politics, entertainment, sport and British pop culture of the era and at it's peak it was watched by 15 million people. The series was cancelled in 1996 after viewing figures declined.

ITV had plans for a new series in 2006, but these were scrapped after a dispute over the Ant & Dec puppets used to host Best Ever Spitting Image were created against Roger Law's wishes.

 The revived series debuted on 3 October 2020 on BritBox.

Created by Peter Fluck and Roger Law
Produced by Matt Stronge.
Directed By Andy De Emmony & Steve Connelly.
An Avalon Production for Britbox.
Spitting Image is available here: https://bit.ly/3iT49Cv
 
The Comedy Slab Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Youtube.
 
Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.
 
Get in touch - we're @ComedySlab on Twitter and ComedySlab on Facebook.

This week we review - Alan Partridge From The Oasthouse (Episode 5)
 
Alan Partridge is a familiar face (and voice!) to anyone who enjoys genuinely good television (and radio!), having been seen (and heard!) on shows that have delighted the eyes (and ears!) of viewers (and listeners!) for decades, including BBC teatime show This Time (and North Norfolk Digital coffeetime show Mid Morning Matters!).

Broadcaster, writer, motivational speaker, sports fan, thought-leader, businessman and consummate professional, Alan enjoys bitter shandy, shandied lager, high-end knitwear and personal success. He is currently doing very well indeed.

Recorded largely from Alan Partridge’s home - a converted oast house set amid rolling countryside - the series will see Alan open a portal into his mind and siphon off some of his choicest thoughts from wit to wisdom, from musings to moanings and everything in between.

Written by Steve Coogan, Rob Gibbons & Neil Gibbons.
Produced by Joe Fraser.
Directed By Neil & Rob Gibbons.
A Baby Cow / CH Podcasts Production for Audible.
Alan Partridge from the Oast House is available here: https://adbl.co/3izHScI
 
The Comedy Slab Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Spotify and Youtube.
 
Subscribe for a new episode each Monday.
 
Get in touch - we're @ComedySlab on Twitter and ComedySlab on Facebook.