I only had the chance to see the 3 episodes a couple of days ago and, all in all, was pretty disappointed.

For me the main plus points of the first series by far were the performances of Lee and Tim so the loss of Megan Dodds shouldn't have been that significant. Unfortunately though the replacements don't do anything for me at all. I've yet to find Miranda Hart funny in anything she's done and the characters of Lucy and Guy are neither amusing nor appealing.

The 3rd episode was an improvement as people have said and that's mainly because Tim and Lee played a larger role in it. Does anybody know, by the way, why Tim was hardly in episode 2? It was pretty dire anyway.

If the show does get a third series I hope that they choose to focus much more on Tim and Lee as they are the most likeable characters and the most talented performers imo.
 

Quote: brentbent @ September 27, 2007, 10:03 AM

It feels like the show was seriously retooled after several focus groups in an effort to make something that was a hit into an even bigger success and instead they ruined what made the show great.

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As much as I'd love to fuel your conspiracy theory, there were no focus groups, and our masterplan was to make series two as good as series one. You're entitled to your views, but if it fails it's because of us, not some interfering BBC management suits (whoever they are).

 

Who is the real sick man? The business man in his suit and tie.

(90's cult comedy referencing is cool)
 

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www.myspace.com/themartinholmes
 

Ooh, I think I love you.
 

Quote: Andrew Collins @ September 27, 2007, 9:56 AM

It's heartwarming that this many people take sitcom so seriously.

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Some a little too seriously it seems. I guess it depends what you're looking for in a comedy. I'm looking for something to make me laugh and Not Going Out does that every time - even the episodes that perhaps don't show the best writing.

Whenever Tim and Lee are on the screen I have a permenant grin on my face, because I know it's only a matter of seconds before they're going to say something to make me chuckle. That, for me, is good comedy. Supporting actors are surely there to increase the scope for comedy - I couldn't care less why they're there, how they got there, or where they're going next.

I've sat through numerous "perfectly-structured" sitcoms without so much as a smile. Give me a couple of fantastic lead characters and a bucket full of jokes and innuendos, and I'm a fan for life. There's currently no TV programme I look forward to more than Not Going Out.


Andrew, if you're still around ... how did the name for the show come about?
 

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"It is your job as a writer to seek out harsh criticism of your work and change because of it." Paul Cornell
 

That episode was literally too good.

Not just packed with funny lines, it had four or five laugh out loud lines.

For me this show can be the number one sitcom of the last few years. Bring in a few more writers and perhaps do 10 episodes? Maybe give it a more accessible 9pm slot too. I think we've waited a long time for a mainstream, audience sitcom that shun naturalism, and lots of reaction shots - and this is it!

Mack can lead the line and be the star, it suits him very well - and his scenes with Vine show a really strong double act (The Chandler and Joey or George and Jerry of the show) and Sally Bretton is improving, and had some great lines.

Very, very good. Maybe the best ever episode of NGO? Easily as good as the brilliant first season.

Congrats to Andrew Collins and his team.
 

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A bit too good.
 

Loved tonight's episode. Definitely the best of this series and as Seefacts says, as good as any episode from the first series.
 

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"It is your job as a writer to seek out harsh criticism of your work and change because of it." Paul Cornell
 

Really good episode. Sharper dialogue and more of the unexpected - and expected - twists and turns. Sometimes seeing a joke coming doesn't matter. There was a charm again that seemed to be missing in the previous episodes of this series. I can't warm to Sally and Guy particularly but Lee and Tim are brilliant together. This show must appeal to a wide age range and I think it succeeds in being mainstream but a little offbeat at the same time.
 

Brilliant episode tonight, it's not often nowadays that I literally cry with laughter but this show provided that tonight. Lots more Tim and Lee scenes which really improved the show. The whole bit about the 'eating the appendix' was just a string of cracking gags, had me laughing like a loon. No Miranda Hart also improved tonights episode.

Oh and this show just pisses all over The IT Crowd that I just watched and didn't raise so much as a smile, I just felt embarrassed for it.
 

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www.myspace.com/themartinholmes
 

(I loved them both.)

That baby was a good actor.
 

I must admit to being a little distracted during watching tonight's episode, so maybe missed something. Anyway, on what I saw, it was definitely very good, but not sure quite to the extent some people are saying.

And sadly, although I like her in general, one particular couple of lines from Sally towards the beginning were just awful. Delivered as if being read from the script for the first time - very similar to what I saw on the read through I attended.
 

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Aaron
BSG Forums & DVDs Editor
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(Loyal follower of The Magical Aura of Laura.)

 

Quote: Martin Holmes @ September 28, 2007, 10:36 PM

Oh and this show just pisses all over The IT Crowd that I just watched and didn't raise so much as a smile, I just felt embarrassed for it.

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Come on, NGO was better yeah, but Linehan writes and directs a visual gag better than any other of writer around - see the hand/ambulance gag.
 

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A bit too good.
 

That was just plain poor.
 

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

 

Quote: Seefacts @ September 28, 2007, 11:04 PM

Come on, NGO was better yeah, but Linehan writes and directs a visual gag better than any other of writer around - see the hand/ambulance gag.

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I'm sorry I really wanted to like The IT Crowd, the first series showed promise and the first episode of series 2 was great but mostly everything else has just been awful, especially tonights episode. The hand gag wasn't even good, I know you are suppose to suspend some belief, but come on the emergency services would check his hand before putting him in the ambulance. It was too over-the-top and not in a funny way.
 

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www.myspace.com/themartinholmes
 

There is no comparison.

IT Crowd is funny funny funny whereas Not Going Out is just funny.
 

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