One of the most disturbing sights in British television in recent years has been the disappearance of comedy from the I.T.V. schedules ( discounting unintentionally funny fare such as 'Footballers' Wives ). The network that once gave us 'Rising Damp', 'Man About The House', 'Nearest & Dearest', 'On The Buses', 'Doctor In The House' and 'Shelley' would seem to have given up the ghost, resorting to tatty fare based on home movie footage or ancient film/television clips. The less said about 'Get A Grip!' and 'News Knight With Sir Trevor McDoughnut', the better.
What has happened to I.T.V.'s ability to make popular sitcoms? Have all the funny people either died or moved over to drama? It certainly seems that way.
I was not holding out much hope for 'Christmas Night At The Riviera', a feature-length comedy special broadcast on Christmas Eve 2007. I was impressed by the cast, though - Alexander Armstrong, Darren Boyd ( 'Hugo Yemp' in the underrated 'Hippies' ), Warren Clarke, Sam Kelly, Pam Ferris, and that old warhorse Peter Vaughan, still going strong three decades after 'Porridge' and 'Citizen Smith'.
So I tuned in. And am I glad that I did. It was the funniest thing on I.T.V. in literally years!
The premise is this: 'The Riviera', a rundown seaside hotel in Eastbourne, prepares for an influx of Christmas guests. Ashley Dodds, the assistant manager, takes over at short notice when his boss leaves because of family problems. Well-meaning Ashley is to be blunt, a disaster area. To entertain the guests, for instance, he books an obscure band called Doug Pride and His Lions.
Amongst the problematic guests is Miles, a priest terrified that his new clerical post will be jeopardised by an adulterous liaison he had in a jacuzzi with the stunning Vanessa, whom he calls 'Melons'. To make matters worse, Vanessa is also at the hotel.
Married couple Maurice and Rita are an appalling pair, especially the former, a grump who gives Victor Meldrew a run for his money.
Tim and his father Dennis have brought along the latter's wife's ashes, which he insists on talking to as though the woman inside were still alive. Dennis keeps badgering Tim to find a new girlfriend. In the restaurant, they meet Avril, a sexy, middle-aged Welsh woman, but Tim is not interested.
The first major catastrophe is when the guests ( along with a Salvation Army band ) fall into the frozen pool in the hotel grounds. Then one of the kitchen staff forgets to thaw the Christmas turkeys, so Ashley orders that they be grilled. Dennis's urn has somehow been transferred to the kitchen, and the ashes wind up as part of the stuffing mix. Fortunately, Ashley realises this in time, and spaghetti is served to the guests instead.
Miles' wife Diane discovers what her husband has been up to, and starts hitting the bottle. Miles tracks down Vanessa, and tries to persuade her to leave, but she reminds him he got her into bed by telling her his marriage is over...
Previewing this in the 'Radio Times', Alison 'Scrooge' Graham sniffed that it was 'full of clichés'. Well, so what? Loads of classic comedies have been full of clichés. Even 'Fawlty Towers' was not a new idea in 1975, as anyone who remembers Ronnie Barker's 'His Lordship Entertains' will testify. The point is what's done with the clichés. Writers and directors Mark Bussell and Justin Sbresni have constructed a flawless farce. One disaster leading to another, without ever appearing forced or artificial. 'Riviera' reminded me of the excellent 'The Flint Street Nativity' from a few years back. That also wrung every possible permutation on the theme of something going wrong at a Christmas event.
How good to see again a comedy featuring likable characters. The cast turn in wonderful performances, from Warren Clarke's moaning northerner to Pam Ferris' Welsh nympho to Alexander Armstrong as what must be the funniest television priest since 'Father Ted'. I was surprised to find myself even liking Reece Shearsmith, who played 'Ashley'. As 'Diane', Anna Chancellor was so sexy I wondered why Miles wanted to cheat on her.
Pathos is well integrated into the comedy mix, particularly when Avril's secret is finally revealed ( she is recovering from radiation therapy ).
At the climax, the hotel catches fire, the guests escape with their lives intact ( Ashley redeems himself by saving Maurice ), and seem to have noticeably changed for the better as a result of their stay at the Riviera.
This was not 'cutting edge' comedy, and didn't attempt to be. It borrowed comedy styles from 'Fawlty Towers' and 'Duty Free', and the Neil Simon movie 'California Suite'. Who cares? It worked!
It won't be to everyone's taste ( no wisecracking moons or lunatics in top hats singing about eels ). Let us hope that we see more of this sort of humour on our screens in the not-too distant future.
A fun Christmas treat.
What has happened to I.T.V.'s ability to make popular sitcoms? Have all the funny people either died or moved over to drama? It certainly seems that way.
I was not holding out much hope for 'Christmas Night At The Riviera', a feature-length comedy special broadcast on Christmas Eve 2007. I was impressed by the cast, though - Alexander Armstrong, Darren Boyd ( 'Hugo Yemp' in the underrated 'Hippies' ), Warren Clarke, Sam Kelly, Pam Ferris, and that old warhorse Peter Vaughan, still going strong three decades after 'Porridge' and 'Citizen Smith'.
So I tuned in. And am I glad that I did. It was the funniest thing on I.T.V. in literally years!
The premise is this: 'The Riviera', a rundown seaside hotel in Eastbourne, prepares for an influx of Christmas guests. Ashley Dodds, the assistant manager, takes over at short notice when his boss leaves because of family problems. Well-meaning Ashley is to be blunt, a disaster area. To entertain the guests, for instance, he books an obscure band called Doug Pride and His Lions.
Amongst the problematic guests is Miles, a priest terrified that his new clerical post will be jeopardised by an adulterous liaison he had in a jacuzzi with the stunning Vanessa, whom he calls 'Melons'. To make matters worse, Vanessa is also at the hotel.
Married couple Maurice and Rita are an appalling pair, especially the former, a grump who gives Victor Meldrew a run for his money.
Tim and his father Dennis have brought along the latter's wife's ashes, which he insists on talking to as though the woman inside were still alive. Dennis keeps badgering Tim to find a new girlfriend. In the restaurant, they meet Avril, a sexy, middle-aged Welsh woman, but Tim is not interested.
The first major catastrophe is when the guests ( along with a Salvation Army band ) fall into the frozen pool in the hotel grounds. Then one of the kitchen staff forgets to thaw the Christmas turkeys, so Ashley orders that they be grilled. Dennis's urn has somehow been transferred to the kitchen, and the ashes wind up as part of the stuffing mix. Fortunately, Ashley realises this in time, and spaghetti is served to the guests instead.
Miles' wife Diane discovers what her husband has been up to, and starts hitting the bottle. Miles tracks down Vanessa, and tries to persuade her to leave, but she reminds him he got her into bed by telling her his marriage is over...
Previewing this in the 'Radio Times', Alison 'Scrooge' Graham sniffed that it was 'full of clichés'. Well, so what? Loads of classic comedies have been full of clichés. Even 'Fawlty Towers' was not a new idea in 1975, as anyone who remembers Ronnie Barker's 'His Lordship Entertains' will testify. The point is what's done with the clichés. Writers and directors Mark Bussell and Justin Sbresni have constructed a flawless farce. One disaster leading to another, without ever appearing forced or artificial. 'Riviera' reminded me of the excellent 'The Flint Street Nativity' from a few years back. That also wrung every possible permutation on the theme of something going wrong at a Christmas event.
How good to see again a comedy featuring likable characters. The cast turn in wonderful performances, from Warren Clarke's moaning northerner to Pam Ferris' Welsh nympho to Alexander Armstrong as what must be the funniest television priest since 'Father Ted'. I was surprised to find myself even liking Reece Shearsmith, who played 'Ashley'. As 'Diane', Anna Chancellor was so sexy I wondered why Miles wanted to cheat on her.
Pathos is well integrated into the comedy mix, particularly when Avril's secret is finally revealed ( she is recovering from radiation therapy ).
At the climax, the hotel catches fire, the guests escape with their lives intact ( Ashley redeems himself by saving Maurice ), and seem to have noticeably changed for the better as a result of their stay at the Riviera.
This was not 'cutting edge' comedy, and didn't attempt to be. It borrowed comedy styles from 'Fawlty Towers' and 'Duty Free', and the Neil Simon movie 'California Suite'. Who cares? It worked!
It won't be to everyone's taste ( no wisecracking moons or lunatics in top hats singing about eels ). Let us hope that we see more of this sort of humour on our screens in the not-too distant future.
A fun Christmas treat.