A clear signal...

Introduction

There are a lot of channels available to you nowadays. Around 50 or so with Freeview, and hundreds if you can/want to susbscribe to Sky or Virgin Media.

And that's one of the basic premises behind this 10 part sketch show, which originally aired on the FX channel (available on Sky or Virgin Media). It mocks some of the channels, and the programmes found on the channels themselves, satirising the world of multi-channel television which it inhabits.



As with most sketch shows, there are sketches that appear from show to show as well as some one off sketches. Some of those recurring sketches include:-

America's Next Serial Killer
One prison. One Winner. Ten Degenerates. America's Next Serial Killer chronicles the transformation of some of the world's most vicious murderers, psychopaths and felons, all competing for one prize, the title of America's Next Serial Killer - and a shortened prison sentence.



Pimp Up My Wife
A new reality series taking makeover to the next level as DJ Spoony and his team of female customisation specialists seek out the ugliest wives in the UK.



Chavvie Wavvies
Eh Oh! There's endless fun with the Chavvie Wavvies! Join the Burberry clad family on a cheerful trip as they bake crack cakes, get impregnated and steal from each other. Dance, sing and overdose with the Chavvie Wavvies!



Ironically, I missed this show when it was first broadcast, probably due to the fact that there are so many channels available, and I can't keep up with what's on all of them!

Video and Audio

A perfectly fine 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, as first broadcast. Nothing wrong from a technical point of view.

We also get a DD2.0 stereo soundtrack, again as first broadcast, and again perfectly fine technically.

Extra Features

A selection spread across the discs. There are out-takes (which are more like deleted scenes) as well as some very amusing "bloopers", which are more in the traditional "It'll be Alright on the Night" style...

There are also commentary tracks with the creators which are quite amusing as they talk about various aspects of the show, including incidents during filming.

Conclusion

A great sketch show. Sketch comedy is still something that divides the public, and you generally either love it or hate it. I think there's still plenty of room for sketch comedy in today's TV landscape, and whilst sketches that mock various TV programmes and TV adverts aren't new or always original, having a whole programme dedicated to doing that is a brave move. And it's a move that works, as there are definitely more hits than misses here.

Sketches on local news read by cockneys, with travel news from a taxi firm, local news for geordies - nothing happened because there's no football on. "Lazy Mum foods" adverts (because you've got to give them something) - again not all that new (Hale & Pace were doing mocking TV adverts 20 years ago), but still funny. How about the Illegal Trade channel where you can ring in and buy/bid for Russian brides, bouncing babies and missiles? There's also the latest reality show "Celebrity boob jobs in the Jungle". Again mocking reality TV is not new, but these sketches do it very well. More late night TV is mocked by Money Grabber TV, as phone in quizzes are spoofed - this is reminiscent of a series of sketches from The Karen Taylor Show on BBC Three, but it also has a touch of originality.



Sports channels are also in the firing line - "watch us hype the **** of a football match we've paid millions to broadcast". Again this is similar to a Mitchell & Webb football sketch, and comedy football pundits are most famous from The Fast Show (and Jimmy Hill has been mocked for over 30 years). There's also a Sky Sports News parody - watch in horror as Michael Owen tears his sock in England training session...

As well as that we have Bloke TV, Channel 104, The Child Minder channel, the heavy metal channel with sign language, late night granny phone ins, and an advert for pint insurance. And everything has the look of the interface of Sky/Sky+ (helped by the show being commissioned by another part of the Murdoch empire!)

I'm not accusing anyone of plagiarism here, I think that some of the ideas that have been mocked before are still ripe for mockery, and it's all done very well. I'm glad that I caught this series on DVD and will watch out if they get a second series. If you enjoy sketch comedy you'll like this. If you watch a lot of TV channels (or are just aware of them and proudly don't watch!) then you'll find something to enjoy here. It's not stunningly original or supremely clever, it's just good old-fashioned funny!

Recommended.