by Jeremy Orbell

Created on: January 20, 2010

This is not just a comment on British situation comedy but on broadcasting generally and how we as individuals have changed over the last generation. This was inspired by a blog post on BBC Writersroom by Michael Jacob, a leading comedy person at the BBC. In it he refers to a new sitcom called Big Top and said:

"As is traditional with virtually every new BBC1 sitcom, Big Top has received a massive critical kicking, both in newspapers and on writers’ forums. I can never quite understand the snobbishness of aspiring comedy writers, who tend to unite in loathing any show which is popular with audiences. Two Pints and My Family spring immediately to mind."

Personally I cannot comment on this particular show as I haven’t seen it but I found what he said and the way he said it particularly interesting. I understand what Michael Jacob is getting at and I agree with him to a point but I think there is far more to this story than there is at first glance.

People’s attitudes have changed to all manner of things, not just television, since the advent of video, multiple channel TV, mobile phones, the Internet and the plethora of on-demand services. At one time we just accepted what was available but now everyone seems to be fickle, impatient and argumentative bunch as regard to pretty much anything.

Keeping largely about TV comedy I’d say this: A prime time BBC comedy is always going to get decent ratings but that doesn’t necessarily make it good. The problem is that we are so desperate for that killer show that will live in the memory like the classics of the past that we perhaps don’t give them the chance to bed-in like we used to.

New TV comedy has largely eaten itself by its easy access and never-ending digital repeats – Two Pints for example are dead shows in my book and I wouldn’t care if I never saw them again. At one time I could happily watch both and I did…frequently! The issue is is that the old shows didn’t have that exposure which is why they have lasted longer. A repeat of the series was a big thing back then.

The danger we face is that ALL shows will be killed by the saturation way they are broadcast these days. I rarely watch UK Gold treatment. I also get demoralised by new material in a very short space of time if I haven't laughed heartily from the very start.

There is an element of snobbiness I think from some aspiring writers but certainly not from everyone. Some series will get recommissions

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