Tag Archives: Humour

That Mitchell and Webb Look- Series 1(2006)

The first series of ‘That Mitchell and Webb Look’ is by far the best. It came along at exactly the right time, 2006, when sketch comedy shows seemed moribund. Melding their contrasting ‘Peep Show’ personas with outright absurdism, it was very silly and often inspired. There was ‘Numberwang’, the quiz show with no discernible rules;Continue reading “That Mitchell and Webb Look- Series 1(2006)”

Album Review: Arab Strap- Half-Told Tales

This new album, the ninth from the inimitable Falkirk duo, sees Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton on fire. It’s not often that a band gets a new lease of life later into their career, but then, they’ve always been one to buck trends. Few speak to the creeping malaise as accurately as The Strap. FromContinue reading “Album Review: Arab Strap- Half-Told Tales”

Some Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Predictions

****! A title will have a swear word and the accompanying poster will have a suitably provocative image, which will be catnip/rage bait to Quentin Letts. Gilded Balloon,7.30 pm 68 Guns Despite featuring music by The Alarm, this gory new musical, written by David Ireland, focuses on The Troubles. Traverse Theatre almost wet themselves withContinue reading “Some Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Predictions”

Darlene’s Poem

‘Roseanne’ was such a radical sitcom for the time. It focused on a sardonic, overweight working-class couple, Roseanne and Dan Conner, and their equally wayward kids DJ, Becky and Darlene. Even by series three, the seeds of Goth Darlene were being sown. Impeccably portrayed by Sara Gilbert, she was a wisecracking tomboy (as was theContinue reading “Darlene’s Poem”

A Round Robin From the Yeardleys

Season’s Greetings, All! What a year we’ve had. The Yeardley family has been unusually busy this year, what with our business ventures, restaurant reservations, holidays and bitcoin endeavours. Elon, eat ya heart out, the Yeardley family is coming for you! LOL. And sure, Leonard may have had his head turned by Savannah, his hot yogaContinue reading “A Round Robin From the Yeardleys”

TV Review: Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham

Eschewing the tired celeb travelogue format, Brummie trickster Joe Lycett’s quest to visit every American Birmingham on the map -fifteen to be precise- is a nice spin on it, in a both true and idiomatic flipping the bird sense. The sees him hanging out with US eccentrics: everywhere from bat caves, to a place wonderfullyContinue reading “TV Review: Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham”

Moira Rose Forever🌹

Few comedy icons make me cackle like the late, wonderful Catherine O’ Hara and her Schitt’s Creek character Moira Rose. Where to start ? Her high fashion, bordering on Gaga ridiculous; her feral wigs, her quasi- European accent and arcane euphemisms and language, the many levels of delusional that she was… She’s simply one ofContinue reading “Moira Rose Forever🌹”

Favourite Cover Versions:Guitar Wolf- Summertime Blues

That there Adam Buxton is a cheeky boy and no mistake. There are some questionable choices in this video, but I like this cover version of the classic rock ‘n’ roll song made famous by Eddie Cochrane. It’s perfect for the late June heatwave.

Sunday Hymn

How’s this for a Sunday banger? I’m not crazy about the whole album ‘The Girl Is Crying In Her Latte’ from which this song came. But this is one of the few tracks I really like. It’s classic Sparks. Who else but the Mael brothers could craft a song about a newborn baby, sensing life’sContinue reading “Sunday Hymn”