Upstart Crow

[PlectrumElectrum]

Anyone watch this? I thought it was fab, I didn't know Ben Elton wrote it but instantly thought of Blackadder watching it. David Mitchell was great too, he's perfect in the role & all the other actors are just as good. I've not laughed so much in ages.

[BelfastBloke]

I'm startington to believeington that this programme is a bit shittington.

[jellycat]

Can I join the party too? Looking forward to episode 3 tonight . I can confirm that many Stratfordians have a Brummie twang BTW.

[lalalandxx]

As one who went to see the recording for the show, I can safely assure you that the laugher is not canned! Yes it's funnier when watching in the studio as there's was amazing atmosphere and we got to see all the botched up scenes, but over all I'm loving the series so far and think its rather good.

[BearFoxBear]

It's utterly tragic, I felt embarrassed for the actors.

[Davros]

I'm still enjoying it

[WestleyAndButtockUp]

The Kate actress is Greyjoy from Game of Thrones.

[Cooroo]

I really enjoyed it. Cheerful, funny. I'm a fan of Shakespeare and Mitchell and it worked for me. Can I join the party?

[WestleyAndButtockUp]

Episode two is on.

I do think David Mitchell, at least, is good in the role. V dubious about Harry Enfield.

[WestleyAndButtockUp]

Stratford upon Avon is fairly close to Birmingham, so it's the most logical accent (for comedic purposes).

Shakespeare would have dropped that accent when he moved to London because he was aspirational. Or perhaps because he was taught in school by Oxbridge men (historically true).

[polyhymnia]

Caught up with it last night and DH and I are in the disappointed camp sadly. Not at all as funny as Blacksdder. And the modern references painfully unsubtle while the Shakespearean ones very obvious yet still self congratulatory (aren't we clever). Not an Elton fan, so not too surprised by this.

[Beachtrowel]

What was with the Brummie/Black Country accents? But not for Will?

Too many anachronisms for me, and the David Brent character?

I really, really wanted to like this, I hope the next episode is better.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

well, after hearing someone rave about it I downloaded it to watch.

I did have it on but was pottering on the laptop, it did not catch my ear enough to pay attention AND was that really Harry Enfield??

I shall watch but am not holding out a lot of hope...the couple of bits I did look up for seemed awfully contrived.

[stareatthetvscreen]

tbh ive enjoyed this thread more than the show :)

[WestleyAndButtockUp]

There is a bar for the audiences at the BBC, but you have to buy your own.

Free tickets to shows via a couple of websites.

Dunno if audience shows are still shot in London, or are they now in Manchester?

[ghostoftheMNchicken]

nooo not lying just the laughter seemed ott

I think they ply the audience with alcohol beforehand.

[PeaceLoveAndDiscoBiscuits]

Westley now I'm wondering if you're VCM

(Just in case you are, I love you)

[stareatthetvscreen]

nooo not lying just the laughter seemed ott

[WestleyAndButtockUp]

Are you saying she's lying about there being a live studio audience?

Or that you don't believe the studio audience laughed as much as the broadcast seemed?

[stareatthetvscreen]

i think v coren has a vested interest :)

also surely admitting to using canned laughter would be also be acknowledging your show wasn't quite funny enough...

:)

[Davros]

Apart from anything else DD (13) stayed and watched it with us and enjoyed it. That's got to make it good programme in my opinion!

[officerhinrika]

I liked it and all the casting.
Victoria Coren said on Twitter that it wasn't canned laughter, she'd been there and it was as recorded.

[WhirlwindHugs]

I didn't really notice the laughter (because I laughed!) but Westley's explanation majes sense to me - I can't think of any show/film I've laughed at every single joke in but at a live show I generally would, because of the atmosphere.

I think it did a good job of appealing to a wide range of ages without being relentlessly dumb which a depressing number of sitcoms are.

[WestleyAndButtockUp]

No, I'm funnier than Ben Elton.

But much, much lazier.

[Badders123]

I'm sad (massive Ben Elton fan) but I didn't laugh once.

[PeaceLoveAndDiscoBiscuits]

Westley are you Ben Elton?