When I saw Channel 4's New Heroes of Comedy show in the listings, the phrase 'clip show' pinged in my head. Even though the peeps at 4 have stated that they're no longer doing 100 Funniest TV Moments, Top 50 TV Moustaches, 10,000 Split Second Clips of Old Jokes and the like, they still don't get the fact that we're all sick of this TV filler. Did you watch it and enjoy it? Well, you were almost on your own as the show limped in last in the ratings battle, trundling in with a pathetic 1.6 million viewers. If you want some perspective on it, despite a Radio Times cover, saturated TV spots and publicity, the show was beaten by Moving Wallpaper and Echo Beach.
So why is New Heroes of Comedy such a resounding failure? Well, it's pretty straightforward if you ask me. It's nothing to do with who is featured, but rather, who isn't featured. The show is clearly resting on its laurels and instead of shunting out this waste of transmission time, Channel 4 could be actually exciting us.
What does New Heroes of Comedy mean to you? Well, I reckon it should mean 'Breaking New Talent'. Perhaps a look at all those coming up on the blindside or those that are oft overlooked. Mark Heap maybe? A feature on some young stand-up who has everyone reaching for the needle and thread to sew their sides back up? A look at Ross Noble maybe? Frankie Boyle? I'm sure there's loads of others you can think of... just not Ricky Gervais who is doing very nicely for himself already thankyouverymuch.
Y'see, it doesn't matter how good Ricky Gervais is. Chances are, if you've had your eyes open at all for the past couple of years, you'll have seen his dance routine from The Office no less than 3 million times. In fact, I'd bet that there's people who don't even own a telly who are sick of watching it. There's no doubt that Ricky Gervais is one of the most gifted TV funnymen around at the moment, but do we need to see a round-up of clips that we've all seen already? With the added 'bonus' of other personalities chirruping about how wonderful it all is, it all makes for pretty depressing viewing.
All this New Heroes of Comedy is, is essentially a clip show. It's lazy programming that's cobbled together and thrown out in the hope that 'something that's funny will always be funny'. Well, that may work with Monty Python because at least we get a break from it every once in a while... whereas this show hasn't given anyone any room to breathe. Jokes, when repeated in quick succession, wear thin very very quickly... and y'know something? I'd rather they show the awful Star Stories than churn out this pish... and that's saying something.
"I'd rather they show the awful Star Stories than churn out this pish... and that's saying something."
All that's saying is that you have sh**e taste, mate.
I would guess this wasn't what channel 4 was planning for its Friday night comedy block. But had to show this as the writer's strike stopped any more episodes of Ugly Betty episodes being made for Channel 4 to show. A clip show is much quicker to make and put on the air then a new series of a show such as Star Stories.
Hannah, I believe you've entirely missed the point there.
And swearing won't add fuel to your fire.
It's new heroes of Comedy...not, new comedy.
It's tracking the rise of recent British comedians that have done well on the world stage. I think it's a very good program as it gives you an insight into the early years of a performers career.
Just to tarnish it with the clip shop brush is quite short sighted due to the fact it is honouring their work, without the clips it would alienate viewers without a current knowledge of the 'hero' in question.