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Little Britain USA

David Walliams and Matt Lucas in Little Britain USA
  • Posted at 4:05pm
  • 16 October 2008
  • by AlisonGraham-RT
  • 22 comments

Can you hear that sound? It's the final nails being hammered into the coffin of Little Britain with the truly dismal Little Britain USA.

It's pitiful stuff, something I say more in sorrow than in anger (though I am a little bit angry). I've loved Little Britain since it began life on Radio 4 and the first BBC TV series remains one of my all-time comedy favourites, a treasure-trove of fantastic characters and some brilliant catchphrases. So thank you, Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

But it's instructive to look at the progression of Little Britain since that first series. Succeeding Little Britains became increasingly lewd and cartoonish, and lost a lot of their warmth.

New characters were uncomfortable to watch and were clearly introduced purely for their shock, rather than their comic, value - notably Harvey, the grown man who breast-feeds from his mother, and the grotesque Bubbles Devere.

Once the series were over we had a couple of half-hearted specials and the staggeringly successful Little Britain tour. And then Lucas and Walliams announced their return to television with Little Britain USA.

But oh dear, what a mistake it's proved to be. The old characters are inevitably predictable, while the new American ones are weak and don't work. (Is there anyone who sees the point of the woman who takes orders from her dog?) Worse, it's quite outrageously filthy.

Let me say straightaway I have no objection to anything mucky or tasteless - bring it on! - but it has to be funny. There's simply no point in being mucky and tasteless just for the sake of being mucky and tasteless.

Look at Curb Your Enthusiasm, broadcast on Little Britain USA's home network HBO. It doesn't have any of Little Britain's grotesque characters, but its sheer offensiveness is clever and witty and not merely grafted onto weak scripts purely for shock value.

On the other hand, Little Britain USA's tastelessness is deadening and sour, with characters served up merely to outrage. And, without wanting to sound like Lord Reith, the two-men-in-the-gym sketch at the end of last week's episode was a step too far.

I know the series is always larded with warnings beforehand from the presentation announcer. But the sight of two men shaving each other's albeit prosthetic private bits was deeply, deeply icky. And it wasn't funny because there wasn't a smidgen of comic potential in the scene, which simply died without ceremony.

What Little Britain USA does have is an undercurrent of real nastiness (look at the Rosie O'Donnell/Marjorie Dawes Fatfighters sketch from episode one) that "proper" Little Britain rarely had. A shame.

**

Alison Graham is TV editor of Radio Times - read her column in the latest issue of Radio Times magazine, on sale now.

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Comments

  • Posted on 15 October 2009
  • at 6:23am
  • by alan

Late i nthe day, but I agree totally with the above comments. Seems like a very "British" thing to do, create a funny show that is ground breaking, then do it to death, telling the same jokes over and over and over, just look at the Fast Show, My God how many times can the same joke be funny.

  • Posted on 30 January 2009
  • at 3:14pm
  • by Edward

These two over-rated morons started to believe their own publicity and lost the plot.Unfortunately no one at the BBC had the kahunas to say 'this is rubbish'.

  • Posted on 26 December 2008
  • at 6:06pm
  • by Crouchback

I think this whole debate indicates how shallow and tatty the BBC has become: the term "BBC comedy" has now become an oxymoron. I still listen to the 6pm Radio Four news; I can't wait to switch off at the end of it in case I am subjected to what the BBC (and, apparently) hopelessly hysterical studio audiences, consider Radio Four comedy. What an insult to The Goons and Hancock. I am also sickened at the way BBC executives publicly shudder at the propect of advertising paying for the BBC, when today, both radio and TV and stuffed with adverts for BBC products and forthcoming programs. Whats the difference?

The BBC as we knew it up to 1980 (i.e. before Birt) is dead. Let the cadaver rot in peace.

  • Posted on 24 November 2008
  • at 6:08pm
  • by Sinclair

LITTLE BRITAIN USA Last series

What on earth are the BBC thinking in transmitting this abject rubbish - when these two started they were fresh and very funny if somewhat irreverent but like many shows they just did not know when to stop. Two series of Little Britain UK was fine but it got painfully worse as they made a third and went into more rubber suits and women that appeared naked, vomited over people, peed in supermarkets and tried to be so cleaver that I am sure they felt they were only there to amuse themselves rather than the public.

And now after six episodes of the USA version, I am amazed that HBO allowed it by paying for it and that the BBC allowed themselves to transmit it. The naked men in the shower was not funny from the first episode and frankly their constant appearances belittled the original talent that Lucas and Walliams once had.

I am very hopeful that the BBC will not allow any more to be made or transmitted and I am sure our American cousins did not find this form of British "humour" at all to their taste. HBO must be mad if they given them a second series. Even the laughter track is half hearted and both Lucas and Walliams looked uncomfortable throughout the whole enterprise. Move on - like Catherine Tate who is by far more intelligent, witty and talented.

  • Posted on 07 November 2008
  • at 10:13pm
  • by Bobby Man

I actually completely disagree. I think this series is the best yet. The humour is cutting and car crash - in a good way. I never much liked the previous series' but this one had a lot of bite, the old lady and talking dog particularly good.

It's traded it's family appeal for some actual funniness, yes at times gross, but at times great.

  • Posted on 07 November 2008
  • at 6:45pm
  • by Karis

While I agree it's designed purely for shock value these days, I still think it still has a few laughs in it. I've enjoyed the last six episodes, mainly out of nostalgia for the old days, but it's still made me laugh in quite a few places. I can't imagine what the Yanks think of it, though.

  • Posted on 07 November 2008
  • at 4:58pm
  • by Andrew

When people like Richard and judy say they like it you know its crap. They are the sort of people who just like it because they think thats what people want them to say. Sorry turned into a rant about Richard and Judy.

  • Posted on 07 November 2008
  • at 2:50pm
  • by Trev

LB never has been good entertianment for me and my family we all cringe at the smuty so called humour. How the BBC can think that the majority of TV watchers want to watch this really crude and often distasteful programme beats me.

  • Posted on 07 November 2008
  • at 9:00am
  • by Si

It's very difficult to talk about art only on the basis that the debut was so very good. Comedy is an evolution and I'm sure that the fact the two men behind the comedy are much the same mean that it is still designed with the warmth for the viewer in mind. I think that we, the viewer are privileged to be let in to see what Matt and David feel about the funny side of America, a country whom I have always enjoyed a comic look at.

To constantly question each new comedy moment and ask "is it local?" surely defeats the point of widening comedy horizons, as they always are.

  • Posted on 02 November 2008
  • at 5:39pm
  • by Hope

I thought the voice of Matt Lucas' little girl in bunches was genius - after that I got bored. Poor writing and repetitive.

  • Posted on 02 November 2008
  • at 1:57pm
  • by Gill

I couldn't agree more with Alison! This isn't funny anymore, guys! Move on..........

  • Posted on 22 October 2008
  • at 11:02am
  • by Taz

Sorry but LB USA is brilliant, just as funny as the previous series. IF you don't get it, well there is no hope for you. LB is as popular as ever, they wouldn't keep making otherwise. Some need to get a sense of humour!!!

  • Posted on 21 October 2008
  • at 8:20am
  • by Tony

And I agree, too. I have no problem with a bit of dirty humour, but LB has, as Alison says, lost it's warmth. The script is poor and the lines predictable. A shame.

  • Posted on 19 October 2008
  • at 8:58pm
  • by John

I agree. I have progressively gone off the series more and more with each episode and only watch it if I forget to change channel. I rarely laugh at any of it now and have changed channels several times recently in desperation to find anything more entertaining. ANYTHING!

  • Posted on 19 October 2008
  • at 5:48pm
  • by Kim

I have to say I agree that LB USA is dire! It was just lewd, rude and not funny. I can't believe they would stoop so low to get a cheap laugh; well actually I can believe it, but I was ashamed of them. What started out as amusing, clever and witty has completely deteriorated.

  • Posted on 19 October 2008
  • at 3:07pm
  • by Cathy

Thanks for the warning Alison, I won't bother watching it. While I found LB funny, I've never understood its enormous success. To me there are only two or three consistently funny characters: Vicky Pollard, of course, Marjorie Dawes, and the 'lady' Emily. And even they wore thin after four or five programmes.

  • Posted on 19 October 2008
  • at 10:30am
  • by PJ

I agree, LB USA is a dreadful embarrassment and it is with some regret that I realise it will be broadcast in the USA. It's hard to comprehend the impression that that will give to that nation.

  • Posted on 18 October 2008
  • at 11:26am
  • by Noggins

The Little Britain concept was to make fun of British stereotypes that it was politically incorrect to lampoon. Their big mistake in this series is to transpose the characters not the concept to the US. They should have constructed a show around American stereotypes that no-one dares to ridicule. That would have given the shows some bite and originality.

  • Posted on 18 October 2008
  • at 9:01am
  • by MazY

I can't say that I share the view about Little Britain USA being tasteless or "mucky".

However, there is no denying that the characters and gags just aren't as funny as they once were. Matt and David could do worse than follow the likes of Ricky Gervais, and learn to kill off a successful comedy series at its peak, as opposed to waiting until the collective sigh of contempt is heard over the signature tune. Little Britain is way past its best before date.

  • Posted on 18 October 2008
  • at 12:36am
  • by Alan

I too agree with Alison' views.I'm afraid L.B. has become smutty rubbish,and definitely not worth another series. I switch over at 9.30pm,Friday nights,to ANYTHING but Little Britain!

  • Posted on 17 October 2008
  • at 11:13pm
  • by lastgang

The first series was a breath of fresh air, the second series was so-so but by the third Little Britain had become predictable and stagnant, very much like the USA version. Very, very poor

  • Posted on 17 October 2008
  • at 2:33pm
  • by Dan

I pretty mucnh agree; LB should have called it a day after the second series. But, I DO think the old lady who takes orders from her "talking" dog is the best new character. A funny dig at people who anthropomorphise their pets. And it was originally the point of LB to poke fun at society oddballs like that, so those skethes play like a welcome throwback to series 1 for me.

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