Like the look of the new ITV comedy 'Vicious'

[sensesworkingovertime]

Stars Ian McKellen and Derek 'Del Boy' Jacobi, coming on next Monday, it looks pretty funny from the clips I've seen so far on website. I'm a huge DJ fan anyway (have been since the BBC repeated 'I Claudius' in 1986) so I'm looking forward to it

[LineRunner]

Yes and I am on other thread but is this the thread?

[navada]

I'm watching.

Can't make my mind up yet.

[BedHanger]

Ooh, is there another thread?

I think they need to relax into it, but it has potential.

[navada]

I liked it. Will defo watch next week.

[BedHanger]

Did not like the rape joke, though. Wtf was that?

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Totally crap

Won't be watching again

Deleted off planner !!

[Lighthousekeeping]

Most people aren't at all friendly towards gay females in any walk of life, so a lesbian comedy isn't going to make it, even on BBC4. //confused I don't really understand that quote. I've never known any gay females to be treated badly at my work which I'm sure is the same as any other work place.

The Sue Perkins comedy was dire but I think that was down. The acting and poor script.

I didn't enjoy this show and won't be watching it again. It felt dated.

[ComposHat]

Job lot, after it seems quite grimly funny, having signed on (in the West Midlands) it brought back some bad memories. Jo Enright has got the Dole Office clerk down to a tee.

[LadyIsabellaWrotham]

Job Lot was good but not entertaining (too depressing). Vicious was entertaining but not good in the conventional sense. I think I'll probably stick with Vicious though.

[ComposHat]

The cast and acting is good in Vicious, but the script feels a bit half arsed and a terrible waste of three great actors.

I might give it another try next week and see if it develops, but it feels a bit dated. That laughter track - why? Not only was it irritating, but obliterated some of the pathos that shone through.

[navada]

Yes, the rape joke was totally unnecessary - but then it is on after 9pm & therefore 'adult' entertainment ?
but you also had 2 men in their 70's drooling over a man in his 20's. it was all a bit yuck, but for some strange reason it worked & I really enjoyed it. The 'job lot' was really good too. Monday nights has just got a whole lot better

[mrsjay]

I quite liked it well I liked freddie and stuart they are stuck in their flat 24/7 and have no clue what is going on round about them and I do know gay men who are dramatic like that , It wasn't as good as I hoped though, about 9 minutes was missing from my recording i didnt see a rape joke ?

[navada]

Miss Jones from rising damp is their friend, she kept worrying about being raped by the new flat mate - Stuart said 'don't be silly, no one will rape you' ( as if to say she's too old & unattractive ) & she replied 'oh thanks' in a slightly disappointed tone. That was it.

[mrsjay]

oh ok thats not really funny ,

[montage]

On the basis of that "joke" it sounds like absolute rubbish. Surely there have been objections to that?

[navada]

I'm sure they'll be a few complaints yes. It wasn't funny ( can the subject of rape ever be funny ? ) - & ruined what was otherwise a fairly enjoyable comedy.

[AnonYonimousBird]

I love both actors.

But it's ITV.

And it's "comedy".

So there is a high chance of canned laughter and it being utterly cringeworthy.

[AnonYonimousBird]

Oh, sorry, failed to get to the end of the thread before posting.

It's been on already? Glad I didn't know - I'd have been very embarrassed for them!

[BedHanger]

Canned laughter is so naff. And unnecessary!

[LadyIsabellaWrotham]

It's not canned laughter - it was recorded in front of a studio audience?

[ComposHat]

An easily entertained studio audience? One that had come to see George and Mildred 30 years ago and got lost?

[LadyIsabellaWrotham]

I can well believe that a big stagy comedy like that, overplayed by theatrical geniuses was absolutely, totally, continence-threateningly hilarious live. Unfortunately "you had to be there" is not a great thing to say about a TV sitcom.

[ComposHat]

I can see that Lady and if that is the case, perhaps more reason to have filmed without a studio audience - two accomplished stage actors will play to the live audience to the detriment to the viewer in TV land.

[limitedperiodonly]

It was awful, wasn't it?

I've never seen the Sue Perkins thing so I can't judge, but as a straight woman with gay acquaintainces of both sexes I'd say that gay men who fit a certain stereotype have an easier time of it than gay women.

I'd also hazard that the stereotype of sad old queens and limp-wristed old theatrical types is infuriating to many gay men.

That was the problem with Vicious. People are comfortable with the stereotype of bitchy queens but I'm disappointed with McKellen and Jacobi for being so lazy. Possibly they might dismiss my view as the carping of a straight woman.

There are lots of performers that I like. Some of them happen to be gay. I don't find Sue Perkins particularly funny but I really like Susan Calman. However, her wit is always going to be niche because she makes a thing about being gay as well as being generally very funny. That's okay with me but I don't think it's okay with a lot of people.

[ComposHat]

I agree, in the run up to the first episode there was something on Front Row about vicious being groundbreaking and brave. It really isn't. It seems like a throwback to John Inman/Frankie Howerd amd does nothing to break down the screaming queen stereotype.

It isn't as brave as Julian & Sandy and that was on 50 years ago when homosexual acts were illegal.