Close
Other People - C4 2007 Comedy Showcase
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
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!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Leevil said:
Cheers Mark, I was wondering what all this was about.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, hotzappa11 said:
Horay for Martin Freeman and Matt Green.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, David H said:
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.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, ajp29 said:
Quote: Mark @ October 3, 2007, 5:10 PMDo 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.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
Emma Kennedy!
Yay!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Dale Griffiths said:
Ok boys and girls have we got our popcorn ready the show is about to start.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Dave Saunders said:
I must say I enjoyed Other People.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, hotzappa11 said:
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.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
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.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Dale Griffiths said:
Loved it.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
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.)
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, David Chapman said:
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!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Jay72 said:
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.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, David H said:
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.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Dave Saunders said:
This could be a series.
Get him on a where are they now show, have the Indian lady teach him new tricks, then follow it with a I'm a Celebrity Parody.
Watch him climb the celebrity ladder. Meeting other celebrities on the way who thought he was "A fucking wanker" of a kid.
Chuck in a love interest.
There's plenty of stuff to play with.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Leevil said:
Pretty good that, pleasantly surprised. Some good lines and good all round performances.
"What did you do to her now?"
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Dave Saunders said:
Is there a cast list about anywhere?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, johnny roulette said:
damn, i missed this. anyone know if its being repeated. i cant get 4od.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Probably not Johnny, but I'll keep an eye out.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Matthew Stott said:
I enjoyed that, the lawyer character was very good, dont know how they would keep him in if it went to a series, but I think they should. Thought it was really nicely shot too.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
Quote: Dave Saunders @ October 6, 2007, 5:50 AMIs there a cast list about anywhere?
View original
Martin Freeman: Greg Wilson
Nicholas Burns: The lawyer
Siobhan Finneran: The autograph hunter
John Fortune: The judge
Matt Green: Greg's boss
Phil Davis: Copper with the beard (I think?!?)
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Scatterbrained Floozy said:
I thought it was okay...but I loved the bit which Nicholas Burns saying he was International rescue XD
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, David Chapman said:
Oh well. Looks like I'm in the minority - again.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Nick said:
Thought it was excellent and certainly deserves a series if the writer can come up with the goods.
The situation was fairly original and there were several good supporting characters such as the copper, the lawyer and the boss. The laughs thinned out a little in the second half but still genuinely enjoyable.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Oliver Miller said:
I don't know what you guys saw that I didn't, but I thought it was tediously boring. I like Martin Freeman, but I thought it was crap. Didn't laugh once.
Roll on Karl Pilkington's pilot.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, buzzy said:
It was better than I thought it would be.Martin Freeman has a great comedy face for sure-I don't know if a series could be made from this, but if it can be pulled off it would be hit for sure.I thought the scenes with the coppers were great!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Rustle T Davis said:
I wasn't over-impressed to be honest. I did think it got better toward the end, but overall I found it a bit disappointing and was bored to tears for the first 10-15 minutes.
Karl Pilkington has one coming up? Oh my God... bring it on!!
Anyone read his new book? Is it as good as "The World of..."
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, David Chapman said:
So Rustle and Oliver (Welcome) agree with me.
I was just expecting so much more.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, ContainsNuts said:
I thought this was quite good. Very good, distinctive characters with plenty of quirks. The laughs were spaced out but very funny when they came. I would definitely like to see a series and I think there is plenty of directions he could go in this: trying to get back into fame, being on a celeb show, having a stalker/admirer...
I could see a few, lets say homages, to other sitcoms in it. The throwing the book at the victim in court was very Arrested Development, and the getting the lipstick and chain from the policemen was very Austin Powers but still a good deal of originality in it too.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, al_gernon said:
Was just ok, not as good as I'd expected. Now, the major thing to come out of it...was the autograph hunter played bY Siobhan Finneran the same woman who "is" Mrs. Armstrong in The Armstrongs?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Darren Goldsmith said:
Darn... I missed it. Is it being repeated anywhere?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
Quote: Darren Goldsmith @ October 8, 2007, 10:39 AMDarn... I missed it. Is it being repeated anywhere?
View original
There's no immediate TV repeat planned but it is free on 4oD Darren. To find it you have to search for 'Comedy Showcase' rather than 'Other People' though.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Walker said:
I thought it was very Extras-ish in the sense that you have this one guy who is barely famous and has to cope with the idiots around him. It was indeed very good, and i can see it translating into a series very well.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, David H said:
This week's show, I think, is set in the 1800's 
Already thinking how can they make that into a series people would watch.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Darren Goldsmith said:
Quote: Mark @ October 8, 2007, 11:09 AMThere's no immediate TV repeat planned but it is free on 4oD Darren. To find it you have to search for 'Comedy Showcase' rather than 'Other People' though.
View original
Thanks Mark!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Nick said:
Quote: David H @ October 9, 2007, 11:28 AMThis week's show, I think, is set in the 1800's
View original
The advert made it seem remarkably unfunny but the writers are clearly talented so I will give it a chance.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Leevil said:
Yes, I'm put off by the setting, but the cast is 
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
Quote: David H @ October 9, 2007, 11:28 AMThis week's show, I think, is set in the 1800's
View original
We've got a brief guide to Ladies and Gentlemen here
It remains to be seen whether or not it is funny but, as has been said above, the cast and writers are top notch.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Hercules said:
I haven't been overly impressed with any of this series at all, and episode three was the worst yet. The wedding scene in the trailer looked fun, but it turned out to be one of several short fantasy sequences stylistically unrelated to the rest of the narrative. The episode ultimately came accross as a very poor imitation of The Worst Week of My Life.