Week after week, we have seen British television comedies hit many notes…some funny, some less entertaining. This week, at least in two cases, I am suffciently disturbed.
I can admire the wit of The Thick of It, but not the exaggerated camerawork and obvious jump cuts. It was a show better to listen to than to watch, which explains its early successes in radio. It epitomizes the general opinion of “British comedy” with a quick, dry wit through distinctive and quirky characters. On the other hand, you also meet distinctive and quirky characters in The Mighty Boosh and Psychoville…though definitely surrealistic in style.
Frankly, as hard as The Think of It was to watch, Psychoville hurt more. I enjoy unique concepts and out-of-the-box thinking, but Psychoville stands apart. The opening gag made me laugh, and tidbits throughout, but a majority of the time I felt uncomfortable or sheer confusion that someone actually thought of this. The Mighty Boosh, as weird as it was, offered a comedy troupe doing what they do best: silly things. I could understand and connect to that, but not the same with Psychoville. Forgive my horrible British allusion, but this week’s agenda was not my cup of tea.
I’ll be looking up the situation behind the blackmail, but after that…yep…I’m good.