"The Sketch Show" talkback

[SirLemming]

This was actually VERY good. And I was kind of assuming it would be very bad. A lot of it was reminiscent of Monty Python's Flying Circus, but it wasn't trying hard to be that. Just the general format is the same, and the humor is sometimes on a similar level.

I laughed at least once at every sketch. I laughed almost constantly during the Phobias sketch, although I do wish it came to a bit more of a climax. Still, this show has a lot of potential, and I hope it gets the ratings it needs. Of course, I also hope it doesn't run out of steam for at least a few years.

For anyone who didn't see it, the format, as I said, is basically like Monty Python's Flying Circus. It's not like Saturday Night Live or Mad TV, since there's no "external" zone of hosting, and the sketches are generally shorter and sometimes tie in to past sketches in the episode. I'm not sure if this will always be the case, but it started with a few very quick sketches that were basically one gag. For example, two knights stand at a hotel front desk and ask "Do you have a room for two knights?" (imagine the audible pun). These were before the intro. After the intro the sketches got a bit longer.

[Carolina Red]

It kind of reminds me more of Laugh-In, since the sketches tend to be shorter and more rapid-fire. The wedding photo and the astronaut scenes were my favorite parts.

Mary Lynn Rajskub sure acts a lot different in comedy; you may know her as Chloe on 24.

[ManicWebb]

It's sorta like watching a British sketch comedy show, like Monty Python or Dead Ringers. The sketches are short, quick, and shown in rapid succession. It's totally different from SNL and MadTV, as their sketches (especially SNL) tend to drag on for way too long. It's really funny stuff, too. They delivery the funny, but without trying to get too raunchy or juvenile.

It's too good to be on Fox. And us fans of Firefly and Tru Calling know what that means...

[Peter Paltridge]

He's right. Don't get attached, folks, sorry. We're all familiar with the Fox habit of putting on very creative shows from out of nowhere, and then pulling them off just as fast (though Tru Calling IMO wasn't creative at all). I don't really know what the point is.

[langden alger]

i like the idea of bringing in another sketch comedy show...this one is def. a good alternative for people who don't like the "raunch" comdey of chaplelle, mad tv and crank yankers and i've got no prob with that but it's not my style at all. i'm way more into the mad tv/snl format. i find the biting parodys of the media,pop culture, politics etc..alot more fall down funny (and the world today is really screaming for a kick me sighn) none of the jokes had me laughing out loud really. the cast seems alot like an improv comedy troupe..particually the "paranoia" sketch. it looked like one of those routine improv games where each person has a role etc...this will prob be another "downer channel" and dissapear after a few eps like that show did on nbc..but hopefully it's not the end of experiments like this. and fox is pretty much the only network left thats going to try it.

[tigerrunner]

It's sorta like watching a British sketch comedy show, like Monty Python or Dead Ringers.

If I'm not mistaken, it actually is based after a Brittish show of the same name. I liked The Sketch Show a lot- which is amazing, because I though it would suck. Sure, some of the puns at the beggining ("A room for two knights") were lame, but the longer sketches (like the ad for the hearing impaired and the song recording at the show's closing) were really funny. I've actually laughted harder during this show than I have during recent episodes of SNL and that's saying something, considering TSS is an hour shorter. I can't wait for next week's episode (hopefully it did well enough in the ratings to stay alive- I'll be pissed if FOX cancels it).

[Master Moron]

I didn't care for it. I only saw the first two-thirds of it though. Most of the sketches didn't make me laugh, in the sign language translator sketch I laughed at the joke at at the end with the 25% off chicken, but it seems like the sketch took way too long to get to that one funny joke.

[SirLemming]

The second episode was not quite as good. If it doesn't get any worse it'll still be worth watching. Hopefully it gets a little better so that it's a must-watch.

[Master Moron]

The first two thirds of this episode were awful. But, that imaginary person sketch near the end was actually pretty damn funny. It surprised me. And the whole Bob Newhart dream sequence at the end was a lot funnier when Family Guy did it.

[Spastic Minnow]

It's appropriate that it has such a generic name. It may be passably funny but there really is no hook to the show. Well, there's Kelsey Grammer- but what kind of hook is it for a sketch show to drop the name of someone that has nothing to do with sketch shows? It's almost like a audition reel for each of the actors. In a couple years when most of these guys are on SNL or MadTV this is what they'll show the producers to get them in.

[Classic Speedy]

Watched the third episode tonight. It's definitely a lot like Laugh-In, updated for the 2000s. While it was pretty hit or miss, I definitely loved the segment with the woman interviewing the British jockey whose words were pretty much unintelligible. The English class segment was pretty good, too; not very LOL, but it was creative how they took each character and gave them a different speech problem.

I think the fast pace is what helps this show. In fact, it's almost a sigh of relief after the "don't know when to quit" philosophy of SNL for the last few years.

[ManicWebb]

The thing that gets me about this show (and the American remake of The Office, too) is that it doesn't make me laugh out loud as much as it entertains me enough to keep me grinning like the jack*** the whole time. I enjoy that. The sketches are also short enough to stop me from getting bored and changing the channel... like SNL tends to do.

[SirLemming]

I didn't get to see this one because of... y'know... Easter. Surprised they even bothered with a new episode, but I guess with this show and Arrested Development they're willing to "risk" it.

[Master Moron]

I didn't watch this because it was a new episode of Desperate Housewives last night, and it was hilarious. What the hell happened to that Desperate Housewives talkback?

[The Penguin]

I didn't watch this because it was a new episode of Desperate Housewives last night, and it was hilarious. What the hell happened to that Desperate Housewives talkback?

It's right here. A little search'll do ya.

[MovieGuy]

I didn't get to see this one because of... y'know... Easter. Surprised they even bothered with a new episode, but I guess with this show and Arrested Development they're willing to "risk" it.

Actually, all of Fox's shows (except 'Simpsons' which has been having a lot of repeats lately.) were new last night. In fact, it seems that a lot of shows on different networks were new.

[Spastic Minnow]

Actually, all of Fox's shows (except 'Simpsons' which has been having a lot of repeats lately.) were new last night. In fact, it seems that a lot of shows on different networks were new.

Simpsons is saving up in order to show new episodes for May Sweeps. Arrested Development etc. aren't necessarily going to be on then and they're clearing out their new episodes to make way for Family Guy and American Dad. I don't know about the other networks.

[Good Ol' Batmanuel!]

I saw it for the first time this weekend and I loved it! It's like a breath of fresh air. Same as The Office. I hope both shows are given a chance to grow.

[Carolina Red]

Don't forget the last one from Sunday's show:
"Sir, would you like to switch long distance providers?"
(Kelsey)"But this is the crisis prevention hotline."
"Oh...will you switch long distance providers or I'll kill myself?"