As you may have spotted in the TV schedules, Channel 4's 2007 Comedy Showcase pilots start this Friday.

This week's pilot is Other People starring Martin Freeman (full details here). It's got very good preview reviews - let us know what you thought here on Friday.

In the meantime we've been privilaged enough to talk to writer Toby Whithouse and script editor Robert Leedham about the show. Do check out the interviews here and here. I'd say these are must-reads for all our members who are comedy writers - lots of interesting insight!


 

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Mark
BSG Editor
 

Cheers Mark, I was wondering what all this was about.
 

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In my face! I mean your Face!
 

Horay for Martin Freeman and Matt Green.
 

Interesting read. Says exactly what I've come to know over the years but interesting nonetheless.

What I always find alarming, given what the script editor said, is how some stuff gets made. If you're constantly trying to make a scene funnier, shorter, make more sense, why do we still have dross littered across the TV screens? Far too many passive script editors out there. (Can't agree with him saying Seinfeld looks dated by the way)

I know he knows him anyway, but all the same it is nice to see Martin Freeman in a pilot. You should never forget where you came from.
 

Quote: Mark @ October 3, 2007, 5:10 PM

Do check out the interviews here and here. I'd say these are must-reads for all our members who are comedy writers

View original

Ironically for a comedy writer I can't read Thanks for the links Mark.
 

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Hola, Wilkommen to le BSG. Proud member of the ESG (European Sitcom Guide)


 

Emma Kennedy!
Yay!
 

Ok boys and girls have we got our popcorn ready the show is about to start.
 

I must say I enjoyed Other People.
 

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www.myspace.com/davesaunderz
 

I enjoyed that. LOL'ed a number of times. Martin Freeman's question to the Guard, "Can you shoot him?" Then a few minutes later the Guard says, "Make me an offer." I'm glad Nicholas Burns didn't play it so over the top like his previos stuff. His "Eye Of The Tiger" bit was funny.

I'm not sure they could make a series out of it though.

 

I thought that was brilliant - a couple of real laugh-out-loud moments (e.g. the coppers handing him back the lippy and chain).

The lawyer (played by Nicholas Burns) was a great character. If they get a full series they'll have to find a way of keeping him in it.
 

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Mark
BSG Editor
 

Loved it.
 

I missed the first minute-ish I think, and was very very close to switching off - but boy am I glad that I didn't! That was great! Really, really enjoyed it. If there's more like that, I'll be a happy boy. Good story, believable characters, and some very funny moments. Hope that there's more to come!

(I'm not entirely sure about the ending though.)
 

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Aaron
BSG Forums & DVDs Editor
Half man, half Internet, half TV.
(Loyal follower of The Magical Aura of Laura.)

 

I thought it was a bit lame really.

I expected something better and the only timeI laughed was when he threw the book at her.

Sorry Martin!
 

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Playwrite extraordinaire.

http://www.eols.org.uk/
 

Good stuff. Liked the weird copper who was obsessed with dodgy hypnotism. Thought Nicholas Burns was good too. Not expectional but enjoyable. Quite dark and twisted as well.
 

Thought it was pretty good.

Nicholas Burns impresses me the more I see him and is so much better than the scripts he got for Man Stroke Woman. Martin Freeman did a good job too, though he still can't get away from his incredulous Tim looks, which is something he'll always be saddled with.

As mentioned though, it's a wonder how they could do it as a series, and keep the lawyer involved.