February 23, 2012

Ralph & Ted embrace new technology

If you’ve been over to Fosters’ UK site, you may well have been treating yourself to a few comedy genius moments courtesy of The Fast Show and its brand new online only series.

But just in case you haven’t – then do so immediately!

Here’s why from an exchange between the legendary Ted the groundsman and his employer Lord of the Manor style Ralph – who is a little on the effete side but still a likable chap, despite his weird obsession with Ted; the depths of which are only really hinted at….

Ralph: “Are you er, are you on Twitter Ted?”

Ted (loading hay bales in the barn): “Sorry sir, I don’t understand the question.”

Ralph: “Do you Tweet?”

Ted: “I wouldn’t really know about that sir.”

Ralph: “Twitter Ted, it’s a social networking app in which you communicate with your followers using 140 characters or less.”

Ted: “You know sir, the more you say the less sense it seems to make to me sir.”

Ralph: “Well I must assume from your responses Ted that you are not on Twitter. Certainly my searches for you on there have proved fruitless.”

And later …

Ralph: “Perhaps you’re familiar with Facebook Ted?”

Ted: “Ah yes sir.”

On it goes…

The great thing about Ted and Ralph is that whatever the subject, you’re squirming in your seat with awkwardness, truly drawn into the moment in the way that great actors can achieve. And that’s one of the show’s great things; the quality of acting is superb. Had any of the main actors plied their trade elsewhere in serious theatre etc., they’d surely have made it big.

Anyway, I digress. The main thing to remember is that these are some seriously funny videos – so watch ‘em!

Is TV dead, dying, or hale and hearty?

I’m a huge fan of the The Fast Show. The Fast Show was the BBC’s top comedy sketch show programme that ran for three series from 1994-97. There was also a special one off “Last Fast Show Ever” in 2000; except that it wasn’t, thank goodness – about which more in a moment.
Anyway, the show’s main creator-performers Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Simon Day, John Thomson, Mark Williams, Arabella Weir and Caroline Aherne – supported by a number of other gifted comics with slightly less central roles – created comedy magic that will stand the test of time.
The Fast Show was one of the most popular sketch shows of the 1990s. For many of us, it was the best ever. Some of the characters like Rowley Birkin QC, Ron Manager, Dave Angel, Ted and Ralph, Swiss Toni and Billy Bleach have become almost household names and a few have even had their own spin-off TV programmes.
Earlier this year, Charlie Higson announced that The Fast Show would be back for a new online-only series starting in November.
And so it has proved to be with the show running each week at fosters.co.uk with many of our favourite characters back with a vengeance.
This begs the question whether TV has any real part to play in comedy sketch shows any more. A sketch show, as the name suggests, is a series of comedy vignettes. And when it’s on the web – why watch the lot if there are bits you don’t like – particularly if you’re already well used to the programme and have your own favourite bits etc.? That’s what I find myself wondering anyway.
The problem is; I’m also quite a big fan of Vic & Bob, for example, which is an entirely different proposition. The comedy duo builds the hilarity gradually. It’s far from a sitcom, but nor is it the kind of thing you can dip in and out of.
I don’t know where all the comedy cards will fall when it comes to TV versus the internet. But then I don’t really care – just as long as it keeps coming somehow – particularly The Fast Show!

British comedy great returns

When people talk about great British comedy sketch shows, The Fast Show isn’t far away from their lips.

Eleven years on from its last television appearance, the show is back with fresh material for a new online series to the delight of its fans. The opening episode of the web-based series aired online on November 10 and was the first of 12 planned episodes, each one around eight minutes long.

The Fast Show became popular in the 1990s through the BBC and is famed for its range of catchphrases and characters, ranging from the eccentric old barrister Rowley Birkin QC to the energetic and enthusiastic Brilliant Kid. Some of the characters even went on to star in their own spin-off programmes.

The comedy ran for three series from 1994 to 1997, later returning for a three-part “Last Ever” show in 2000. The first episode of that series featured a guest appearance from Johnny Depp, who played a customer of The Suit You Tailors.

The stars of the show, including writers Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson, went their separate ways at the conclusion of the 2000 series and it seemed that was the last time we would see the cast together. That was until beer company Foster’s came forward with an offer Higson and Whitehouse couldn’t refuse.

They sold the idea to Arabella Weir, John Thomson, Caroline Aherne and Simon Day and they have all teamed up to bring the show back to our screens, our computer screens. No longer do we have to raid the loft for old DVDs and videos – we can now watch The Fast Show 2011 simply by searching YouTube Fast Show.

Comedy classic The Fast Show makes a comeback

“Suits you, sir!” One of the many catchphrases synonymous with The Fast Show, the popular British comedy which revolutionised sketch shows in the 1990s.

The show’s creators are now bringing The Fast Show back to our screens. That is, our computer screens.

Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson are back with fresh material for a new online only series which can be found on the Foster’s Funny website, following in the footsteps of Alan Partridge’s Mid Morning Matters and Vic & Bob’s Afternoon Delights.

Over a decade has passed since the show last aired on the BBC, but it feels like the team has never been away. Ted and Ralph, Ron Manager, Rowley Birkin QC – they are all back and as funny as ever.

The first episode of the new series hit the web on November 10 and began with the ever persistent Lord Ralph Mayhew tentatively inviting Ted to a Lady Gaga concert, an invitation duly turned down by the Irish estate worker. The comeback show also features a typically unintelligible ramble from Rowley Birkin QC and another scorching day is in store for the people of Republicca. Whitehouse, as ever, is the star of the show.

Whilst fans of The Fast Show will be delighted with its return, they will no doubt feel a little disappointed with the length of the opening episodes. Seven minutes doesn’t seem quite long enough for a show which has been away for so long. Nevertheless, you still get a feel for what made the show so popular in the 90s.

Some things are better left in the past; I think it is safe to say that The Fast Show isn’t one of them.

The potential pitfalls of LED TV technology

LED televisions are widely regarded as the best option available when buying a high definition set. This is because LED technology combines the best features of both plasma and LCD.

However, the pricing of LED televisions reflects this commonly held opinion, with some LED sets retailing at more than 50% the equivalent size of plasma or LCD.With that in mind, it is important for consumers to know the potential downsides to LED technology before parting with that sort of money.LED TVs generally suffer from a narrower viewing angle than LCD and plasma. Whilst not likely to be a major issue, the viewing experience could suffer if you have your friends crowding round to watch Reeves and Mortimer’s Shooting Stars.

Due to the nature of the backlighting technology, LED TVs tend to be ultra slim. This is excellent from an aesthetic standpoint, although the smaller size means smaller speakers, which in turn generally means poorer sound quality than plasma and LCD TVs.This loss of sound quality could drive some consumers to invest in additional speakers, an additional expense that some many see as prohibitive with the already highly priced base unit.

The LEDs used to backlight the LCD panel can cause something known as a ‘halo effect’n where some of the clarity of an image is sometimes lost due to the backlighting being too bright.

This effect can potentially negatively affect a viewer’s enjoyment of a TV show or movie but will have a bigger effect on gamers, where often intricate detail is vastly important.

Some of these problems appear to be a result of nitpicking rather than genuine issues; LED technology is still relatively new and therefore evolving all the time. As a result, manufacturers are likely to find a way to iron them out.