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Nathan Barley
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, catskillz said:
Does anyone know if this criminally underrated show is coming back?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Joe Sorry said:
yeah, we all do.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, sootyj said:
It was fab, but maybe a touch to good, for it's own good. It's one of those shows that if you're not smart enough, you don't get.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Leevil said:
I thought it was great but I doubt we'll see it again. Maybe a one off if the writers get lucky?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, sootyj said:
Chris Morris has an enormous brain, thank God he doesn't use it for evil.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
It struck me as the kind of programme which there'd only really be one series of no matter how successful.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, sootyj said:
Also it's not really a sitcom, as it had a very definite developmental arc.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, catskillz said:
I'd love my sitcom to be made by the same people who made Nathan Barley. Does anyone know the name of the Production Company?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Leevil said:
Chris Morris's brain.
Quote: sootyj @ March 26, 2008, 1:12 PMChris Morris has an enormous brain, thank God he doesn't use it for evil.
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On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Curt said:
According to this website the show sucked.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
The website is wrong.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
I think it was a great series. But I imagine that Brooker & Morris found that they had said all there was to say about the character and his world in one series.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Leevil said:
I loved the Dan Ashcroft character though, surely there is a place for him somewhere else?
Maybe Nathan is now in his late 30's and still acting like the "idiot"? David Brent stylee.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
I'm sure I heard there would be another series. But that it would be quite different.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
As I said on the Balls Of Steel thread, Nathan Barley is alive and well and running C4.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, catskillz said:
Apparently Chris Morris did a talk at Bournemouth Uni, and said it would be back. I thought his next project was some show/film about suicide bombers. I heard he was even seen making notes, at the trial of some Muslim extremists, back in 2006.
By the way, one thing that would have to be different, if another Barley series was made, would be the characters' wardrobes. Now, they'd all have to be wearing cardigans, scarves, and, of course, skinny jeans. Keep it futile!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Leevil said:
Has anyone ever seen Chris Morris being interviewed? He appears a mystery to me and I think I like it that way. He has great presence in The IT Crowd and his random casting in it just adds further to his enigma.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Quote: catskillz @ March 26, 2008, 3:36 PMBy the way, one thing that would have to be different, if another Barley series was made, would be the characters' wardrobes. Now, they'd all have to be wearing cardigans, scarves, and, of course, skinny jeans. Keep it futile!
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I work with people (one in particular) who dress JUST like that. Uncanny, and somewhat scary.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
Quote: Curt @ March 26, 2008, 2:16 PMAccording to this website the show sucked.
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Our review is supposed to reflect the 'general public consensus'. Admittedly sometimes we fail to do that (all reviews are being re-written for the new site) but I think it this case the review does stand up. Whilst the 'comedy hardcore' loved Barley, the general public hated it. So much so that - like is said in the review - if it wasn't for the names attached to it, I think it would have almost certainly suffered the rare fate of being axed mid-series.
To try and offer a balanced view we have also published an article pro the series.
I have to say, considering the mauling it got from the press and ratings I don't see who would re-commission it. But, then again, I notice attitudes towards it have softened.
Personally I would quite like to see it back because I think Chris Morris, Charlie Brooker and Nicholas Burns are great!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
I think the only problem with Nathan Barley is that it wouldn't have chimed with a lot of people outside London. Or those who aren't media-savvy. The 'Hosegate' area portrayed in Barley wouldn't have necessarily been easily recognisable for those not familiar with a certain part of London. I realise this could sound patronising and I'm sure most of the people on this site are in enough on the media-centric world to get it. Also, there was some very predictable negative responses from people inside the media world that N.B. was satirising and parodying.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, catskillz said:
I heard that Channel 4 changed their minds about a second series, after the DVD did so well, sales-wise.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Quote: catskillz @ March 26, 2008, 7:54 PMI heard that Channel 4 changed their minds about a second series, after the DVD did so well, sales-wise.
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Until someone tipped them off about the warehouse Chris Morris had just begun renting.
Quote: Mark @ March 26, 2008, 7:45 PMWhilst some of the 'comedy hardcore' loved Barley...
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On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Matthew Stott said:
When it was on, I dont think I saw a positive word about it, but it does seem to have seeped somewhat into peoples brains; Im always reading comments about Barley, or comparing something to something youd see in Barley, in magazines and newspapers. I loved it, but it certainly wasnt going to be the kind of thing that millions would tune in to. And I dont get the whole 'youd only get it if you come from where its set' attitude, i just found it funny and silly. I think its highly unlikely that youll see a second series, it did get pretty awful viewing figures and a few years have passed since it was broadcast, but you never know.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
I'll have to watch it again I think. Even if I have to force myself at gunpoint.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
Every single person I know who hated it, revisited it later and admitted it was great.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
But will I?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
We will just have to wait and see.
*Waits for Aaron to still hate it just to spite me*
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
I'll dig it out right now so I don't forget.
Oh. It appears that I thought it was so bad I didn't even record or 'acquire' it.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Seefacts said:
Quote: Leevil @ March 26, 2008, 3:39 PMHas anyone ever seen Chris Morris being interviewed? He appears a mystery to me and I think I like it that way. He has great presence in The IT Crowd and his random casting in it just adds further to his enigma.
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I was lucky enough to catch his unannounced guest appearance at last year's Cheltenham Literature Festival - along with Iannucci, Quantick and Mitchell, and he just seemed like a normally, funny, clever bloke. Not odd or anything, just witty and intellgent.
Apparently he's very nice.
I remember when everyone came on stage (it was advertised as Iannucci and Brooker) my jaw just dropped.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, catskillz said:
Iannucci is a big, big hero of mine. I thought his sketch show was brilliant, back in 2001.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Seefacts said:
Quote: catskillz @ March 26, 2008, 10:16 PMIannucci is a big, big hero of mine. I thought his sketch show was brilliant, back in 2001.
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I've met him actually, he's a nice man.
I think I was rude to him though due to my star-struckness.
I told him I thought his 'Shows' were the best thing he'd ever done. I made a tit of myself overall.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Morg Man said:
I'm ashamed to say I never saw this, I didn't even hear about it at the time - must have been living in a bubble or something. However, it sounds like something I would really enjoy, I love media satire.
Also I agree; Armando Iannucci is an inspiration. I didn't blink for a whole hour when Mark Lawson interviewed him, absolutely fascinating!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
If there is a god of comedy, he is it.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
Quote: Seefacts @ March 26, 2008, 10:20 PMI've met him actually, he's a nice man.
I think I was rude to him though due to my star-struckness.
I told him I thought his 'Shows' were the best thing he'd ever done. I made a tit of myself overall.
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Well, they say "Never meet your heroes", but usually that's meant to mean they'll disappoint you, of course.
In my few encounters with people I admire I often just end-up tongue-tied. When I had a one-on-one meeting with Ash Atalla some months back I can't really even remember what I said. I was just sitting there thinking, "I'm talking about comedy to the guy who produced 'The Office'!". Madness.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
If only you'd thought realised that The Office is mediocre at best, you'd have been alright! 
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
I'm not taking the bait, Aaron.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Leevil said:
I agree with you lot Armando Iannucci is like a god or something.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Seefacts said:
Quote: Tim Walker @ March 27, 2008, 12:58 AMWell, they say "Never meet your heroes", but usually that's meant to mean they'll disappoint you, of course.
In my few encounters with people I admire I often just end-up tongue-tied. When I had a one-on-one meeting with Ash Atalla some months back I can't really even remember what I said. I was just sitting there thinking, "I'm talking about comedy to the guy who produced 'The Office'!". Madness.
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I met one of my proper idols - Frank Skinner - and he came across as a bit of a willy.
He was a touch rude, though I think even her realised and made some self-deprecating remark to cover his tracks.
I still think he's ace though.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Sir Geoffrey Loftus said:
Personally I loved it.
The DVD is worth purchasing for the cat in the barber store scene alone.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
Or the "Bad To Have A Bad Uncle" song?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
It is amazing that, considering this show technically 'bombed' in the ratings, it has somehow had a much longer 'after life' than almost any other modern sitcom I can think of (save perhaps Darkplace).
The other day I over-heard someone describe someone as a "right Nathan Barley media type" - everyone understood the description, but I don't think anyone in that circle had actually seen the show. Amazing it has managed to seep out into general culture like that.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
To be fair, Charlie Brooker used Nathan for a good while before the TV show to identify a certain media type (in TV Go Home's series 'C*nt').
Also it's actually a high intensity show. There are lots of small references and jokes that give it a longevity.