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Not Going Out - abysmal

61 replies

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 01/08/2023 21:11

Staying with the folks at the moment. Had an episode of Not Going Out inflicted on us the other night. Could not get over how bad it was. It was like something out of the 1970s. Wife says she has made a special meal. Husband makes a face to the audience because she is a terrible cook. Audience in stitches. Why?

Electrified to see it's the second longest running sitcom in UK TV history, after Last of the Summer Wine. Again, why? What am I missing?

OP posts:
fortnumsfinest · 01/08/2023 23:21

Some of the earlier ones were funny, the ones with Tim Vine, Miranda Hart and Bobby Ball but the once since they've got married aren't funny at all.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 01/08/2023 23:28

whatsappdoc · 01/08/2023 21:34

It should have quit when they were still housemates. Don't find any of the married episodes funny.

Agreed!!

Justrolledmyeyesoutloud · 01/08/2023 23:30

I think it got bad after the kids were born. Usually love Lee Mack.

Wildlog · 02/08/2023 14:01

I laughed at the accidental dick pic one

Parky04 · 02/08/2023 14:07

I watched the one (present series) where he was in a coffin. Possibly, the worst comedy episode I have ever watched!

MyLadyDisdainlsYetLiving · 02/08/2023 15:30

I like it. It’s easy, silly watching that usually raises a few giggles.

Wishimaywishimight · 02/08/2023 15:33

Same as others, I loved the early series, with Tim and Daisy and Barbara especially! The writing was really sharp, very funny, tons of great lines and great delivery.

Once they got married it turned into the dullest, most unfunny, 70s style sit-com. I actually watched an episode recently where it was just Lee and Lucy having dinner and something kept beeping (some sort of alarm?). I don't know what it was in the end as I couldn't stick it out. Dreadful stuff.

coodawoodashooda · 02/08/2023 15:35

GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife · 01/08/2023 21:33

They did a live one a few years ago. Something went wrong and Lee Mack was incredibly good in it, he just ad libbed his way out of it and got a great response.

What episode is that?

Wishimaywishimight · 02/08/2023 15:36

Also, in the married episodes, the children are dreadful actors, especially the little girl who just shouts her lines! Happily they are kept mostly in the background.

Oh, I do enjoy their friends Hugh Dennis and his missus - they are good for a few laughs.

DismantledKing · 02/08/2023 15:38

Yeah, the kids are pretty awful

IndiganDop · 02/08/2023 15:43

The one where she pretends to be pregnant to shame him because she saw him having a "sherman" in the bath made me laugh a lot, many years ago.

GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife · 02/08/2023 15:51

coodawoodashooda · 02/08/2023 15:35

What episode is that?

Show quote history

I don’t remember the plot details, just that it was funny, but it might be this one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bw5t9q

Not Going Out - Ding Dong Merrily on Live

While organising a variety show, Lee and Lucy find quality acts thin on the ground.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bw5t9q

Willmafrockfit · 02/08/2023 15:57

i used to like it in the beginning but no way would i watch it now,
abysmal

Theredfoxfliesatmidnight · 02/08/2023 15:58

It's truly awful, complete dross. Which makes me sad because I like Lee Mack in WILTY

Samcro · 02/08/2023 15:59

it used to be funny, now its just everyone be mean to lee, his wife is awful to him, just not funny.

ScarlettSahara · 02/08/2023 16:23

Didn’t enjoy the ‘special meal’ episode but I did enjoy ‘trampoline ‘ & ‘missing toy’ & ‘Ferry’ out of the later episodes.
I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than watch Mrs Brown’s Boys though.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 02/08/2023 16:30

Agree with PPs, used to be very funny when Tim Vine, Katy Wix and especially Miranda Hart as Barbara were in it. Even the Bobby Ball early ones were good. As soon as the marriage and kids happened it was like a totally different program - possibly even worse than My Family…there, I’ve said it.

coodawoodashooda · 02/08/2023 18:44

GoingToBeLessRubbishAtLife · 02/08/2023 15:51

I don’t remember the plot details, just that it was funny, but it might be this one.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bw5t9q

Show quote history

Thank you.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 02/08/2023 19:32

This was on our telly (not my choice) one where the keyring had been stolen/lost/mislaid and ended up with them breaking into the friends' house and hiding under the bed ...till they came back from Date Night to
finish' with Lee and Lucy under the bed ......... <sigh>

LadyVictoriaSponge · 02/08/2023 19:47

LAHallucinations · 01/08/2023 22:31

It was at it's peak when Tim Vine was on the show, from series 2 to series 5 (I'm ignoring series 1 as I don't like the American flatmate). Katy Wix and Miranda Hart were great too. Pre-marriage and post-marriage Not Going Out are two very different shows, so I'd suggest giving one of the early episodes a go before totally writing it off. 'Neighbour', 'Gay', 'Dads', 'Drugs' and 'Winner' are a few of my favourite episodes.

I still enjoy watching it, mostly for nostalgia and familiarity reasons, but if I'd only started tuning in during series 13 I'd probably think it was crap too. It's not a patch on the earlier days, but it has it's moments.

Agree with this the pre marriage with Tim Vine and Miranda Heart I enjoyed those series and yes the camping episode was the best! I often put them on in the background as comfort tv along with My Family, I know these types of comedies are not fashionable these days but when you look at British comedies now none of them are laugh out loud funny at all, at least the oldies are cosy and comforting. I make no apologies for missing middle class situation comedies of yesteryear which the BBC would never make now!

LadyVictoriaSponge · 02/08/2023 19:52

possibly even worse than My Family…there, I’ve said it.

How very dare you! I love My Family! I also love it for the 1990’s fashion, some of Janie and Susan’s outfits were great.

Fernticket · 02/08/2023 21:46

Agree with a PP, the coffin episode was just not funny.
Favourites for me are camping, ferry, and the ones where they are on a boat owned by Frank and the one before they were married when Lucy wants a baby and wants Lee to be the sperm donor.

tillytoodles1 · 02/08/2023 21:51

I loved the earlier ones. Then they got married and I just find it stupid. All they do is argue.

Shiftingparadigm · 02/08/2023 22:04

Agree. i find Lee Mack really funny. Its weird watching him in such a shit sitcom. Did he write it?

JenniferBooth · 02/08/2023 22:05

My Family started in 2000

2 point 4 Children was 1990s