“Part of the reason that panel shows have become so popular in Britain is that the topical panel shows are the primary source of satire. Late night talk shows don’t exist in Britain (their chat shows are weekly, instead of daily), and as such, panel shows are the place where Brits turn for a funny look at current events. One such example is BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, which airs at 6:30 on Friday evening, and offers a somewhat genial comedic look at the week’s news. The even more popular TV version, Have I Got News For You(HIGNFY), has become the beloved elder of the television panel shows. Other topical shows have popped up in it’s shadow, including it’s younger, swearier BBC Two cousin Mock the Week, and the survey based 8 Out of 10 Cats on competitor Channel 4.”

Oh how I wish BBC America would air these. Or that American audiences were receptive to them. *sighs*

manquer:

A post for Anna.

This is all I managed to find in my bookmarks for now, but as I come across others I will add them.

• Religion has had its day. (Argumental) Marcus Brigstocke argues FOR while Rory McGrath argues AGAINST on Argumental, a comedy debate show shown on UK television channels Dave and BBC2.
• The theory of evolution is nonsense. (Argumental) Dara O’Briain argues FOR while Marcus Brigstocke argues AGAINST.
• Dara O’Briain on God Moments and Evolution
• Dara O’Briain on Catholicism and Creationism; Frankie Boyle on Sarah Palin and her views on Creationism
• Dara O’Briain on a mixed marriage. A girl from Cork who was Catholic and a guy from Edinburgh who was Protestant. A mixed marriage.
• Marcus Brigstocke on the three Abraham Religions (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism) Equal opportunity criticism of three of the main world religions.
• Marcus Brigstocke rants about religion Not a fan of Ann Widecombe? Neither is he.
• Dylan Moran on religion On his religious crisis, growing up in a religious country, prejudice, religions, and imaginary friends. Absurdist and brilliant.
• QI on Christianity, Christmas, and Mithras. Why is Christmas Day on 25 December? Outlines the similarities between Mithras, a Roman god of the Sun, and Jesus Christ. “Is he a tribute band?”
• Jimmy Carr defends Atheism. Jimmy Carr grew up Catholic and converted to Atheism as an adult.
• Unlikely lines to read in the Bible. (Mock the Week)

Not a comedian, but Stephen Fry’s views on whether or not the Catholic Church is a force for good in the world, part one.

This list is full of so much win. Because comedy is a method for seeking truth through absurdity, comedians are often the best people to turn to when it comes to separating religious truth from fiction. I love it. 

(via manquer-deactivated20110911)

fuckyeahpanelgames:

Drew Carey has signed a deal with GSN for a new improv-based TV show, which the network described as “a lively, unpredictable, and hilarious half-hour of improvised sketch comedy.” I’m … excited that this ups the chance of another improv-based show in the U.S. We need an American version of Mock the Week, and we need it right now.

Ooooh! I hope so!

Although, honestly, I feel like Never Mind the Buzzcocks has a better chance of succeeding in America than Mock the Week does. Mock the Week would be compared too much to The Daily Show and Colbert Report and people (and the media) wouldn’t know what to do with it or how to classify it. But Buzzcocks is all about music and we don’t have anything quite like it in America. Plus the balance of comedians and music-related-celebrities would probably be a bigger hit with American audiences. 

Then again, I tend to forget I’m not the typical American audience member. American audiences do like what they are already familiar with, so Mock the Week would probably do fairly well over here. I’m just hoping the comedians they’d get to fill that sort of panel would be actual good comedians — not Dane Cook or Jeff Dunham or some bullshit “comedians” like that. Get good, smart comedians on the show. Patton Oswalt, Louis CK, Chris Hardwick, Mike Birbiglia, Jeff Mulaney, Michael Ian Black…

David Mitchell, Mock the Week (via That Mitchell and Webb Tumblr)