State Of Us

ianrush · 23-04-2007 3:27pm #1

Anyone watch this last night? Looked like RTE spent about 100 quid on it. In all honesty, the script didn't deserve anymore. Cooper and Stembridge are talented guys but this just felt lazy and going through the motions.

Rjd2 · 23-04-2007 3:30pm

I gave up on Irish comedy yonks ago and anything that makes Dead Ringers look good well less said the better:D

scargill · 23-04-2007 3:35pm

I was looking forward to it and wanted it to be funny - but it was dire !

Maybe it was just me - but I was struggling at times to figure out which polititician he was supposed to be. Luckily Cooper managed to slip in the names every now and then to help me!

flanzer · 23-04-2007 3:35pm

Pure shíte alright.... It was like watching paint dry. They were on the Late Late on Friday saying how RTE 'embraced' the idea... No wonder they did...it was pure and utter shíte. Another waste of a TV licence fee.

If it was Apres Match, with the 2 other guys, I think it might have worked. I think Cooper looks like he's trying to make a name for himself solo, but it completely backfired.

Madge · 23-04-2007 4:05pm

Wasn't hectic. I don't think he can do Pat Kenny at all, it doesn't sound a bit like him. His best impressions are George Hook and Marian Finucane

sudzs · 23-04-2007 5:19pm

I loved Marianne!!!

But disappointed overall. Very cheap looking.

Wonder if they'll do Gerry Ryan or Derek Mooney any time soon?

Mikosyko · 23-04-2007 5:30pm

Who was that "Tom" supposed to be?

mickd · 24-04-2007 12:53am

The idea that impersonating someone whose nickname is Plank could be remotely funny is beyond comprehension, not to mention Enda Kenny or Michael McDowell. I saw Cooper and Stembridge on the Late Late, the air was thick with sycophantic smugness and as I expected the show was absolute rubbish.

Marshy · 24-04-2007 10:19pm

Mikosyko wrote:

Who was that "Tom" supposed to be?

An obsequious RTE person. Thought that was quite clear.

You peoples expectations are too high. Its only meant to be a satire and the impressions are obviously gonna be exaggerated.

Yes the plot was a bit a ropey at times but I certainly found most of it funny. Bear with it anyway, I hear it'll take a few weeks to get used to.

But seriously, I wonder about some of the people on this thread. Do you have nothing better to do than rant?

mickd · 24-04-2007 10:28pm

Exactly I do wonder about some people on this thread especially those who think An Evening Prayer is essential viewing

ianrush · 25-04-2007 1:23pm

Marshy wrote:

An obsequious RTE person. Thought that was quite clear.

You peoples expectations are too high. Its only meant to be a satire and the impressions are obviously gonna be exaggerated.

Yes the plot was a bit a ropey at times but I certainly found most of it funny. Bear with it anyway, I hear it'll take a few weeks to get used to.

But seriously, I wonder about some of the people on this thread. Do you have nothing better to do than rant?

Marshy, can you tell us what expectations we should have then? I don't think it's too much to ask that a comedy is funny. The majority of the views expressed here suggest that it failed to manage that. Fair enough, you thought most of it was funny, but don't dismiss other people's opinions as "rants" because they think otherwise. Have you nothing better to be doing?

Marshy · 25-04-2007 5:48pm

ianrush wrote:

Marshy, can you tell us what expectations we should have then? I don't think it's too much to ask that a comedy is funny. The majority of the views expressed here suggest that it failed to manage that. Fair enough, you thought most of it was funny, but don't dismiss other people's opinions as "rants" because they think otherwise. Have you nothing better to be doing?

Well judging by whats been said people dont know what you want. It seems that you're just looking for something to complain and moan about. That just gets a bit tiresome after a while.

I accept that you may have been unimpressed by the programme but I find it slightly tedious when theres a thread like this where everyone just moans and groans.

Milktrolley · 25-04-2007 6:16pm

It was really good I thought. And that was the general impression I got from people on Monday as well. Definitely worth adding to the personal planner...

Sandwich · 25-04-2007 6:49pm

It was rubbish.

No surprise that RTE 'embraced' it as mentioned above - it was completely tame and a puff for RTE 'personalities' - of course they'd like it.

Not a single funny line it in it - a challenge for anyone out to quote something they laughed at?

Hadnt seen him do it before but thought the Kevin Myers mimic was quite good tho.

Marshy · 25-04-2007 8:21pm

Well the truth is that its not really supposed to be a laugh your head off comedy. Its a satirical look at our politicians and journalists. Though I can understand if its subtlety doesnt register with some people. You'd want to be pretty au fait with politics and the media to appreciate it.

Surely anyone would find the McDowell scene with the 'thug' urinating while theres an armed robbery going on funny. Maybe its too much to ask for people to get the humour.

ianrush · 26-04-2007 1:45am

Marshy wrote:

Well judging by whats been said people dont know what you want. It seems that you're just looking for something to complain and moan about. That just gets a bit tiresome after a while.

I accept that you may have been unimpressed by the programme but I find it slightly tedious when theres a thread like this where everyone just moans and groans.

Nobody is forcing you to read this thread Marshy. I would be delighted if RTE produced a successful comedy (paths to freedom was probably the last) but as "tedious" as it may seem to you, when they mess up time and time again it is important that we don't just stay silent and accept it.

humanji · 26-04-2007 9:00am

I agree with Marshy, the internet is not for expressing your opinion, it's for the gathering of porn!!!

lostexpectation · 26-04-2007 1:32pm

which was the name of the previous prg that did Miriam O callaghan on?

that was a funny impression. so this ex scrap saturday guy hasn't written wtih them before?

Marshy · 26-04-2007 6:08pm

ianrush wrote:

Nobody is forcing you to read this thread Marshy. I would be delighted if RTE produced a successful comedy (paths to freedom was probably the last) but as "tedious" as it may seem to you, when they mess up time and time again it is important that we don't just stay silent and accept it.

But with what exactly are you so disatisfied. If you just dont find it funny, Ive explained above the possible reasons for that. Its quite facile in my view to say "Oh well Im not laughing here, what kinda comedy is this".

The truth is that its probably not going to appeal to the masses so I cant expect the majority of people to appreciate it. Its target audience would want to be clued in very much to current affairs. Otherwise, people just wont understand what the show is getting at and blame that on RTE, a la this thread.

ianrush · 26-04-2007 6:58pm

Marshy wrote:

Well the truth is that its not really supposed to be a laugh your head off comedy. Its a satirical look at our politicians and journalists. Though I can understand if its subtlety doesnt register with some people. You'd want to be pretty au fait with politics and the media to appreciate it.

Surely anyone would find the McDowell scene with the 'thug' urinating while theres an armed robbery going on funny. Maybe its too much to ask for people to get the humour.

It's not subtle Marshy, that's the point. It goes for the obvious joke every time, that scene you mention is a perfect example. The argument that it's a satire and therefore "not laugh your head off comedy" is also a bizzare theory in my view (just watch The Day Today and see how it is done). "You'd want to be pretty au fait with politics and the media to appreciate it". Yeah, Dermot O' Neill jokes are really "of the moment". The programme is like an unfunny panto and about as relevant.

Marshy · 26-04-2007 10:07pm

ianrush wrote:

It's not subtle Marshy, that's the point. It goes for the obvious joke every time, that scene you mention is a perfect example. The argument that it's a satire and therefore "not laugh your head off comedy" is also a bizzare theory in my view (just watch The Day Today and see how it is done). "You'd want to be pretty au fait with politics and the media to appreciate it". Yeah, Dermot O' Neill jokes are really "of the moment". The programme is like an unfunny panto and about as relevant.

Alright fine, go ahead. If you want to dismiss the show as unfunny and a waste of time after the first episode be my guest.

But for those of you who have any sense I suggest you that dont be so silly. I mean Ill accept criticism when the series has finished but in my view its totally unreasonable to be making sweeping statements after just the first episode. As I've said several times it looks like some people are just looking for something to moan about and as per usual rte are an easy target.

cashback · 26-04-2007 11:21pm

I'm not sure what I made of this. The impressions are excellent and I actually think Cooper does a pretty good Pat Kenny.
Whether or not it was funny I'm not sure. I did like the way Bertie kept ringing McDowell and basically bullying him. The little George Hamilton was pretty good. I'm not writing it off yet.

Robbo · 30-04-2007 1:46am

It's an awfully weak programme. Whilst Cooper is a talented mimic, he really can't hold it together in what's essentially a fast paced sketch show held together by a really ropey narrative stream. It really is strange that Stembridge is feeding such weak material to Cooper as well. The whole thing reeks of a piece of election themed filler that was thrown together on a slow Friday afternoon in the Montrose canteen.

Oh and Marshy, no point giving it a "few weeks" to get into. It's a 4 episode run. You might give a US run length sitcom a few weeks but over 4 eps you really can't afford to be slow off the line. It's not as if the second episode was a marked improvement.

Lump · 30-04-2007 8:52am

The guy trying to be Pat Kenny was crap. I switched it off after 15 minutes. Rubbish.

John

Sandwich · 30-04-2007 7:07pm

Episode 2 as bad as the first.

Stembridge's reputation has been built on it, but I'm starting to think that Dermot Morgan was the real spark behind Scrap Saturday, as well as the mimic, rather than Stembridge.

Deflector · 30-04-2007 7:35pm

I disagree. I think the first episode was good/average, while the second one was very good indeed - highly entertaining. A number of laugh-out-loud moments amongst the otherwise subtly humourous script.

I thought last night's had a great narrative to it; there was a pacy flow, with all the various scenes and events intertwining neatly to humourous effect. Pat's script was particularly hilarious this week in contrast to the previous episode's rather predictable characterisation, while George Hook and Martin Cullen were marvellous. Cullen, while rather banal as a character to mimic, was pulled off to a tee - he was absolutely perfect.

To be honest this programme is not aimed at the average punter like Bull Island or others - it's directed very specifically at those who live on a diet of RTÉ news and current affairs from week to week across its television and radio services. In many respects, it's actually something of an in-house joke, almost made for RTÉ staff and its loyal radio and television audiences. Which is partially why it's scheduled for 25 minutes on a Sunday night - it isn't intended to be a programme of mass appeal as many here seem to think it is. For example only those who know Cullen from Prime Time and his notorious broadcast news soundbites will appreciate the subtlety of his characterisation in this programme. Of course it should have at least broad appeal, which is why there's enough in there to keep others happy - obviously you can't cater for everyone.

Of course there are slow parts, and dodgy scenes and pieces of script, but by and large it's pacy, humourous, and charmingly cheap and cheerful.

Marshy · 30-04-2007 9:37pm

Yeah last nights episode was very good. The only thing that I dont like is the fact Pat Kenny goes off in a tangent the whole time. But in general I find it very good.

It seems most of the posters on this thread are dismissing the show without actually saying what specifically is wrong.

Utopia Parkway · 30-04-2007 11:21pm

Marshy wrote:

Yeah last nights episode was very good. The only thing that I dont like is the fact Pat Kenny goes off in a tangent the whole time. But in general I find it very good.

It seems most of the posters on this thread are dismissing the show without actually saying what specifically is wrong.

The material is weak and it just isn't funny. How about that for a start?

scargill · 01-05-2007 9:34am

Marshy wrote:

It seems most of the posters on this thread are dismissing the show without actually saying what specifically is wrong.

Some of the impressions are dire - Cooper has to tell you who he is doing.

missdemeanor · 01-05-2007 1:13pm

I'm not someone who watchs political programs often and I still thought it was brilliant......thought they really laid into mcdowall which I loved and I like the way bertie is just a scheming voice....it's very entertaining.:D
people always say that RTE don't take chances with new comedy (Fr Ted)
and miss out... so they took a chance and I for one think it has paid off!

Robbo · 01-05-2007 4:32pm

missdemeanor wrote:

I'm not someone who watchs political programs often and I still thought it was brilliant......thought they really laid into mcdowall which I loved and I like the way bertie is just a scheming voice....it's very entertaining.:D
people always say that RTE don't take chances with new comedy (Fr Ted)
and miss out... so they took a chance and I for one think it has paid off!

Father Ted was never pitched to RTE. Ever.

The State of Us was hardly taking a chance, was it? You have Risteard Cooper who's been flogging the Apres Match impressions with varying degrees of success for years ago and Gerry Stembridge who was involved in Scrap Saturday, amongst other things. Not exactly going out on a limb.

State Of Us

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