David Mitchell death stuns nation

Dead

Britain is in mourning today following the death of David Mitchell. The star was beloved by many as the fat one out of Peep Show, and that other thing - didn't he advertise iPads? - but recent weight loss, and his insistence on appearing on all TV programmes and sometimes in the paper and on the wireless and occasionally just showing up in city centres and shouting at passers-by, led to accusations of over-exposure and him just not being funny any more.
Last night's 10 O' Clock Live confirmed it, with the former prep school wank sock spluttering his way through a series of horrendous interviews. 
Leading TV reviewer and friend of all beasts AA Gill says Mitchell is not the first star to suffer this way. He said: 'Dara O Briain is still technically funny but just looks sinister these days. And who can honestly say they didn't think Frank Skinner had got the Aids a few years back?' 
Mitchell's agent Robert Meringue led the tributes, saying: 'I'm gutted. He was the Micky Quinn of satire, and now he's gone.'
Comedy partner Robert Webb added: 'I'm devastated. David fell up the stairs last week while carrying a tea tray and I thought for a second "he's back". But last nights show finished him off.'
Micky Quinn was unavailable for comment.

Jerry Sadowitz, Leicester Square Theatre 7/1/11

So who's from out of town?

And so the maestro returns. This was the start of Jerry Sadwoitz's month(ish) residence at this venue, and the second time I've seen him here.
The first thing I noticed was the number of empty seats as kick-off approached. A good third of the theatre was empty, which is the first time I've seen him not sell out.
Even though it's a new show there are some familiar themes - oh Madeleine McCann! - and the usual mix of extreme isms.
And that's the problem - for all that Sadowitz does it better and has been doing it longer than, say, Frankie Boyle, the fact is this kind of 'he didn't say that, did he?' material is getting regular airings on TV.
Added to that, it's unavoidable that the initial 'shock' of seeing Sadowitz live dips a little with each viewing. And this was my fourth time seeing him.
Sadowitz is a brilliant performer and his material is mainly top stuff, but after a superb opening 30 minutes, he dipped massively, and I was actually a little bored for a bit. Maybe that's the wrong word, but I was definitely frustrated because he did hardly any magic, which is what Sadowitz has over other comics peddling similar, if inferior, stuff.
He's a brilliant magician - absolutely incredible - I've seen him do stuff where it had to be magic because there was no other explanation for it. But that was at the more intimate Soho Theatre.
This venue is a bit big to really get the best from his slight of hand stuff so maybe that's why he's not doing it. The 'what's on' bit in the Sunday Times this week said there would be no magic at this run so maybe he'd put it about that this was the case. But I was massively disappointed and missed his card tick at the end because I went for a wee.
By that time though he'd peaked again (but I couldn't hold on any longer) so perhaps with a few more shows the material will tighten up and maybe he'll dump some of the stuff which seemed a bit weak. In the meantime it's still probably the best show around, but by his own standards, a bit of a let down.

TIckets available here

Hats off to... Everybody Loves Raymond

Ray Romano

Up until this week when Channel 4 INSANELY binned it off in favour of the lamentable According to Jim, one of the most consistently ace US comedies of recent years filled the channel's coveted 7.45am spot. 
Everybody Loves Raymond, from David Letterman's Worldwide Pants production company, ran from 1996 to 2005 and starred Ray Romano, a stand-up of some repute, in the title role. 
He plays a sports writer who lives in Long Island with his wife Deborah (Patricia Heaton - phwoar!) and kids. Over the road is Ray's mum and dad, Marie (Doris Roberts) and Frank (Peter Boyle), and Ray's older brother - the real star of the show - Robert, played by Brad Garrett, also a successful stand up. He's the less successful son who resents how easy his brother has it. 
Garrett is a superb comic actor, as seen when he played the demented mechanic in Seinfeld. He has that hangdog look but also he's massive, and his timing is dead on. In the last two series Robert marries Amy (Monica Horan) and I think moves out of his parents' gaff, although it's difficult to remember. Hey this is free, I'm not checking). 
The situations are apparently based on the real life experiences of Barone, co-creator/producer Philip Rosenthal and the writing staff, with the other characters loosely based on family members of Barone and Rosenthal. 
Like Seinfeld, the main character is often the one around which the real humour revolves, with the other characters often getting the bigger laughs. And also like Seinfeld it's the dialogue and delivery that makes it a cut above. 
When you see this and compare it to almost any British comedy of the last 10 or so years, maybe The Office and Peep Show excepted, there's no comparison. Even something like The Trip, which has been good and got ace reviews, is hugely lacking on laughs compared to the good American stuff.
Most of Raymond takes place in his house, a lot of it in his kitchen, but it doesn't seem claustrophobic. There are a few episodes where they branch out - the trips to Italy and the Superbowl - but unlike, say, Friends with their abysmal London/Vegas episodes, Raymond can make the jump.
To give it the gist, Ray loafs about, Deborah gets on at him, Marie makes digs at Deborah's domestic skills, Frank abuses everyone, but mainly Marie, and unfortunate things happen to Robert, who splits up with Amy every so often. And that's about it.   
What sets it apart slightly is that it's pretty family-friendly stuff but doesn't seem twee. There are some ace lines:


Frank: 'What's for brunch, Marie?'
Marie: 'Ham. 
Frank: 'Excellent. I shall put on my ham pants.'


But also real moments of affection between characters who are always at each other's throats, yet it doesn't seem schmaltzy, which some Yank sitcoms do. Yes, YOU, Scrubs ('I guess deep down we all want to be loved.' Of fuck off, wanksplat.) 
There are also some good recurring characters too: Amy's parents, Hank and Pat MacDougal (the superb Fred Willard, scene stealer from lots of Christopher Guest films, and Georgia Engel) and their weird nerdy son Peter (the also ace Chris Elliott) are particularly good. Doug and Carrie Heffernan (Kevin James and Leah Remini - phwoar!) from King of Queens occasionally feature as well. 
So that's it. Get it watched, you puff.


Previously:
Eric Cantona
Stacey Solomon
Jim Broadbent