W1A

[Bryn]

Ace series: such a good fit in our never more incomprehensible, nonsensical world.

Yeh, right. Cool.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yeh, right. Cool.

[Dave2002]

Ace series: such a good fit in our never more incomprehensible, nonsensical world.

So I'm told, though the only bit I really found amusing was the football commentary. Made us realise just how good the regular commentators e.g Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer are - even if we don't always think so. I liked the line which went something like "A draw's not a win in my book."

The documentary programme about Cassini was much better TV though, IMO.

[LMcD]

I've just watched it - not much different from previous series, suggesting perhaps that the promise of the basic premise has now been exhausted.

[Barbirollians]

The scene in Mary Berry or was in Nadija Hussein or perhaps even Frankie Howard in the second episode is priceless .

[vinteuil]

I've just watched it - not much different from previous series, suggesting perhaps that the promise of the basic premise has now been exhausted.

... yep, I thought they were just walking thro' their parts; it's all a bit thin now. But it was good in its day.


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[Nick Armstrong]

... yep, I thought they were just walking thro' their parts; it's all a bit thin now. But it was good in its day.

I had the same feeling too, watching the first episode....

[ardcarp]

Me too.

[french frank]

Strange thing about a formula. Some people lock in on the unchanged formula, others on the differing details. I watched Have I Got News For You back when it began, and after a few occasions became bored by the same programme every week. Others are still laughing (if it's still on ever).

[Barbirollians]

I don't think that W1A is formulaic at all . At present , it is showing how cynical many public sector redundancy programmes are amongst other things .

[Dave2002]

Perhaps Bryn can report on whether it's worth switching on for the 2nd episode - having watched it on Me.TV or is it BBC.me?

Barbs seems to suggest that there is at least one laugh in there, though does that justify sitting through 30 minutes?

[french frank]

I don't think that W1A is formulaic at all . At present , it is showing how cynical many public sector redundancy programmes are amongst other things .

The formula lies in putting it within the same context of BBC management and the various characters. Some formulas survive longer than others. Not having watched this or any series, I was going by the similar reactions of the recent posters and it seemed to coincide with my own experience, though I would have to admit that would also include I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and other BBC series which others never seem to cease to find hilarious.

But then, I'm not keen on comedy <po-facedemoticon>

[Barbirollians]

It is not a formula it is a setting .

A formula would be if the stories were the same but with different characters - as in soap operas - where infidelity , illness , financial fraud , alcoholism come round again and again and again .

[french frank]

It is not a formula it is a setting.

I'll bow to your superior knowledge as I've never seen it, but I meant something more precise than just the 'setting': the BBC setting, the set of characters (are they broadly the same from series to series?), the nature or source of the comedy, running gags such as the job titles: I would describe these as having been a 'winning formula', being a combination of these recurring features.

[Nick Armstrong]

I'll bow to your superior knowledge as I've never seen it, but I meant something more precise than just the 'setting': the BBC setting, the set of characters (are they broadly the same from series to series?), the nature or source of the comedy, running gags such as the job titles: I would describe these as having been a 'winning formula', being a combination of these recurring features.

Yes, plus the various characters each have a set of words that they utter repeatedly (in various permutations) in any situation... "Cool yeah no problem yeah cool cheers" / "So that's all good then" &c. &c.