User reviews

It is more than ten years since the debut of The Fast Show, and attention spans are greatly reduced. So it is hard to believe that the show was born of what at the time was a rather unique concept - keep the laughs coming by keeping comedy sketches as short as possible, firing them out one after another, and being as precise as possible with barbs and gags.

If you are familiar with the British alternative comedy crowd - French and Saunder, Lenny Henry, Ben Elton, Rick Mayall - you understand why the notion of brevity and precision was somewhat revolutionary. The alt-com crowd had a tendency to squeeze every possible laugh or chuckle out of an idea, to - in short - end up flogging a dead horse. Arguably, the reason for such a habit was that making your point was more important than getting easy laughs. The Fast Show turned this around, asking, what was the point of comedy if you were not getting a stream of laughs that never let up?

The Fast Show featured a collection of talented comedians - all relatively young, with their own appeal, but who were also great character actors and impressionists - twisting the mundane into the absurd. Family dinners, foreign news programs, the country-house set, all became fodder for laughs. And, over the half hour of the show, sketches flew by.

Over the course of The Fast Show's run, certain characters became extremely popular, and there were numerous concepts that could have been rolled into sitcoms or movies. However, the greatest success of The Fast Show is that it reintroduced a certain slickness to sketch comedy, something that had existed with shows like Not the Nine O'clock News, and previously had been toyed with by Monty Python's Flying Circus, but had been largely banished by the alt-com crowd.

The Fast Show bears, in an interesting way, a resemblance to Laugh In, the American variety show from the 60s/70s. Both shows were frivolous, sharp, often silly, and zippy. The difference is this: The Fast Show, relying more on character comedy, and drawing it characters from the stable of English and European "types", will never seem as dated as Laugh In.

For some reason 'Little Britain' proved popular with Americans. Little Britain is not bad but the show from which it was obviously influenced...is 10 times better.

The characters on 'The Fast Show' rely more on outright humour than on coarse language or toilet humour. I'm no prude but when shows over use those nuances, it shows they are lacking in ideas and after a cheap laugh.

The Fast Show does not do this.

Characters like Bob Fleming, Ted and Ralph, The competitive dad, Johnny Painter (it's black, black!),The Jazz Club, Monkfish, Ron Manager, Roy and Renee,Suits you tailors, Swiss Tony and Unlucky Alf will have you in stitches.

If you liked Little Britain then I suggest you stay near a toilet as you may need to go quickly as The Fast Show makes Little Britain seem about as funny as toothache, sudden baldness and explosive diarrhea suddenly appearing at a job interview.

It's Brilliant...Fantastic!

The Fast Show is very funny. I used to watch it all the time, before Blackadder beat it out for the title of "My Favourite Comedy". I shall now review each individual series, and tell you whether it is good or forgettable...

I only have the video "The Best Bits of Series 1", so I haven't seen the whole series. Being the first series, it shouldn't be at its best, having its weaknesses improved in later series. But that is not the case with this. From what I saw, Series 1 is something of a classic - some sketches very funny indeed. Of course, there have to be weak sketches, and the Patagonians I didn't find very funny. But Channel 9, Bob Fleming and the Suit You tailors are all at their best in this series, stealing the show and giving us the main laughs. This was a great deal better than most modern comedies.

But it was Series 2 that I found the best of the lot. The sketches got even funnier, and the Channel 9 sketches had an entirely new face. And we were introduced to new characters - Competitive Dad, Insecure Woman, and the Jazz Club, all very funny, and giving us new situations, styles of humour and laughs, as well as helping make this series the best of the lot. This truly was the Fast Show at its best, and should be seen by everyone as a taste of 90s comedy at its best.

But Series 3, to be honest, was a bit of a letdown. All of the previous characters were back ready to do a new series, but they just weren't as funny this time. Yet even more new characters appeared - Dave Angel Eco Warrior, Swiss Toni, Squeamish Zoo Keeper - neither of them giving as much laughs or effect as any of the others, and frankly letting down the show. The writers must have been losing a bit of faith - as far as I know, no new series was commissioned after this, and probably for the better. I rather wished my eighteen quid had gone on something more like Series 2. The Christmas Special was good, but the best new sketch of this series was Artist Johnny, the man who was driven crazy by the word "Black". It might not have been clever, but it was funny, and tried to help this rather limp fish of a series.

Near the new millennium, Fast Show Live and "The Last Fast Show Ever" were made, but they just could not beat the old heroes. 1995's Series 2 was the best easily, and can never be beat by any other sketch show. Not even "Little Britain".

I give Series 1 a 9, Series 2 a 10, and Series 3 a 6, which amounts to an average of just above 8. But for being a respected classic of British TV which I like very much, I give it a 9, and look forward to watching it many times more in the future.

The Fast Show represents some of the finest comedic writing, performances, and timing since the very early days of BBS comedy (which is huge praise). The format is based around mostly quick sketches of characters that are not only funny, but immediately identifiable. Every single sketch is magic, not only being outright funny, but many also mixing comedy, with tragedy and usually with a poignant comment on society. The acting is, to use a Fast Show catch phrase - Brilliant!, with the performers going over the top when needed, but also being subtle and somehow surprisingly dramatic just at the right moments. With that said though, there are many laughs to be had, and I still get a good laugh out of it five years after the series finished up (and having seen all the episodes many times before). For those of you that need big names mentioned before you'll give a show a chance, then watch the last Fast Show ever which stars Johnny Depp in a scene with two of the funniest characters from the whole series (Depp was a huge fan of the show, especially the driving force behind it - Paul Whitehouse)

An astounding piece of work! Memorable characters abound and the performers are top notch. Paul Whitehouse is perhaps the greatest character actor in the world, with no end to the amount of accents he can master. Every episode is crammed with gags(usually the same one) but the variations of the repeated gags are so fabulous that the anticipation of the line you know is coming is the fun in itself. From the sublime Ted and Ralph, Swiss Toni, Chris, The Suits You tailors, Channel 9, Jazz Club, Rowley Birkin, to the all too real Competitive Dad, this is side splitting stuff. Special mention must go to the awesome "A right royal cockney barrel of monkeys" which must have made Guy Ritchie crawl behind his sofa! Magnificent!

Almost every sketch in the show is a winner, and the cherry on top is that unlike other sketch shows of the time, over time plenty of the characters actually grow and change (I'm thinking specifically of the storyline that develops between Ted and Ralph, which is of such high writing quality that it could easily have been it's own series). Other classic skits include Jazz Club (nice) where the presenter slowly grows disillusioned with the music on his show, Unlucky Alf, who's luck decreases exponentially as the show progresses and of course The Off-roaders, which is just brilliant satire. There are a few weak characters imo (I never found Swiss Toni or the Suit You Sir guys to be very funny, despite the fact that they were the most popular characters). Regardless, it's a milestone in TV comedy and, while maybe not remembered very well, has obviously influenced plenty of modern comedies. Highly recommended.

I have watched so many episodes of this because so many people I know rave about it. It's complete and utter rubbish in my humble opinion. I just don't get its popularity. Each to their own I suppose.

I would not recommend this guff to anyone

The British lead the world in comedy by a long way. I love Australian comedy, but as far as consistancy, quantity and quality, the Brits have it all over us. The US, on the other hand, have so many poor quality shows, it's disgraceful. There are some gems, such as Seinfeld, earlier Simpsons, and The Tom Green Show, but all in all, there's a lot of cliched garbage. The Fast Show is a fine example of great British humour. There are so many great characters to enjoy- Monkfish, Dave Angel and Carl Hooper being some of the very best. Butmy favourite by far and away is Swiss Tony. The first episode I ever saw of the fast show, had 'the big O', Swiss Tony sketch. Then and there I realised that this was a classic show, and I haven't missed an episode since.

Even at the time, I never thought this was - to quote one of the characters - brilliant. In retrospect, I think what happened is that Paul Whitehouse - obviously the leading light and self-proclaimed 'star' - can do voices, caricatures rather than characters, but not so much write funny material. So the result was to create a stable of cut-outs, each with their own static situation and - most importantly - a catch phrase. Subsequent attempts to turn some of them into sitcoms showed just how little dramatic mileage there was in them. Essentially the show is just a set of revolving catch-phrases - or to put it another way, you see much the same sketches every week.

It does have the odd good moment, and what it has over Little Britain - which is, on the whole, funnier - is that some of the characters are actually likeable. Caroline Aherne for example was feeling her way - slowly - towards the much richer character-based comedy of The Royle Family. On the other hand the 'suits you' sketch is crass and boorish, incredibly off-putting. I thought so at 22 and I certainly think so now.

All in all, it makes you wonder why the sketch show format didn't die off a lot sooner.

PS I just watched the interviews with Whitehouse and Higson - separately - on the DVD extras. They completely confirm my guesses about the genesis of the show. They also include a lot of sneering by Whitehouse about Higson, in the classic only-a-joke-but-I-mean-it manner: 'he's proof that mediocrity can raise to the top, a nuts-and-bolts man that lucked in [out?]'. It feels like Whitehouse believes Higson has had the greater success, and that it's undeserved. Whitehouse obviously sees himself as the talent, and maybe he is - but would he have got the show made by himself? Every George Michael needs his Andrew Ridgeley. Besides, they both lucked in/out: Whitehouse would probably still be working for Hackney council if he hadn't happened to know Harry Enfield.

They're both mediocrities, truth be told - certainly as far as writing goes - but it leaves a bad taste for one to snipe at the other like that.

It also surprised me that they don't acknowledge their debt to Python: the location shooting, the desire to get away from punchlines, and 'Ed Winchester' is a clear nod to their style. Maybe that stuff had filtered through so many layers, by the time it got to them, that they didn't realise its ultimate source. But they were, and are, totally incapable of the kind of organic mayhem that Python created at their best.

An American not familiar with this show, as I was, will probably compare it to SNL (Saturday Night Live).

However, there are four big differences. One, it's not live. Two, no music. Three, no guest stars. Four, it's consistently funny.

Anyone who has watched SNL will know that for every absolutely-roll-in-the-isle-genius-sketch, there are about ten poor ones.

These sketches range from the monotonous to the downright painful. Then there are the painful one-joke movie franchises (Wayne's World excluded).

Then I saw the Fast Show, while living abroad a few years. Each sketch was hilarious or memorable, and each character was inspired and sometimes even vaguely rounded.

The editors are intelligent enough to cut off one joke characters before five minutes of an painful, drawn-out sketch. In the Fast Show it is: character's on, cut to a new character, cut back, cut to a new character, cut back etc. Humor is mostly timing, anyway.

Imagine SNL with much better editing and consistently funny and that's what you've got here. It is disappointing that the talent in the show has gone largely unrecognized to this point.

From start to end, I've always found "The Fast Show" (known as "Brilliant," in America) hysterically funny. It's well written -- very grown up humor, here. Anyone who was hooked on SCTV will adore every moment! I can only hope that they'll produce another run of shows. 'Priceless.

I pity any American reading this, I truly do. Over here we get the absolute cream of the sketch show crop. An absolute masterpiece of comedy writing and acting. In America, the cream of the comedy crop is "Everybody Loves Raymond". Hah!

Some of the catchphrases in the Fast Show are so ingrained into the British national concsience that they are regularly used in just about every type of media outlet. "Football isn't it?" "You aint seen me, right?" "This week I have been mostly..." "Suit you sir!" "Schorchio!" the list goes on. What Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson have created here is legend. If there was a book on how to do great sketch shows, this would be the foundation.

The reason the Fast Show works so well is that it has found the balance. It's funny on the most basic level of physichal comedy and repeated simplicity for those who wish to switch there brains off for half an hour, whilst simaltaneously being sharply satirical and brilliantly observed enough to engage the more cynicaly minded viewer. The fact that Ron Manager, the football analyst now has his own column in a Saturday Sport pullout in the Guardian is a measure of what huge cult figures the characters have become.

So in conclusion I would just like to say:

Son terrenos el kleftikos den teflon do Fast Show est ter keles butros butros Gahli. Faliahala falihala faliahalay faliahala Chris Waddle. Ten deros muchos bonkos hinky sminky pinky meth-eth-eth-eth-eth-eth-eth-eth-eth-eth-eth Nelson Mandela win on penalties. Hava vin doros fendevicos Sheffield Uwednesdaye e hemeriodos ton fig leaf e six gerbils.

In other words

Brillllliaaaaaannnnnnntttttttttt!!!!!!!

The Fast Show is a sketch show, and as most such animals it doesn't always work. Some jokes are brilliant, some a bit thin.

The most characteristic ingredient of the Fast Show are its repeated characters and their catch phrases, like the car salesman who compares everything to "making love to a beautiful woman", or the guy whose "...which was nice" is the pinnacle of his emotional reactions. This device is perhaps a little overplayed at times (and the English soccer international Chris Waddle will curse them for that, since he will be remembered for the rest of his life as the catch phrase of Channel 9) but when it works it is extremely effective. My personal favourites are Jazz Club, a terrific satire on late night toffee-nosed music programmes; and also the bloke (played by Paul Whitehouse) who has no opinion of his own and agrees to every argument put to him.

Although this review may look rather mixed, the shows are generally unmissable because the good stuff easily outweighs the weaker moments.

I can understand why people can see the Fast Show as being simpleminded, or plain not funny and repetitive.

But that's just the point.

It's sketches, it's fast paced wit, it's not deeply intelligent humour. It's in your face comedy.

I especially like Bob Flemming and Clive Tucker. Bob:"I've got a tickle in my..." Clive:"ARSE!"

Also notable is Rowley Birkin who wilst only muttering and mumbling can actually tell you a whole story with a few audible sentences.

Ted and Ralph, as said before, do not rank as being humourous, but more as being lovable characters, although you can chuckle at Ralphs ineptitude in finding the words to say what's on his mind.

One that will also always stay in my memories is one with Jesse: He steps out of his door, looks quite bewildered and says with loud voice:"This week, I have been mostly eating..." slight pause..."PROZAC!"

It's a pitty that they stopped with this show, as for the fans, the highpoint has not yet been reached.

Any repeats are more than welcome!

The Fast show is one of the funniest programs to come out of the home of sketch England. It is full of one liners, running gags and send ups that leave you laughing hours after the show is finished. Characters such as Arthur Atkinson and the news team from channel nine will become timeless classics of British comedy. Also check out previous works by some of the team especially the "Harry Enfield and chums" television program.

I honestly reckon The Fast Show is the best ever British 'sketch' programme - & that includes Monty Python & Not The 9 O'Clock News. Why do i think that? because they're ALL fantastic. Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Simon Day, Mark (We Wanna Be T'GETHER) Williams, John Thomson, Caroline Aherne & the other woman whose name I can't remember: "Does my bum look big in this?" For a long time I had an idea that Paul Whitehouse reminded me of an old friend I just couldn't put a name to. In the end I realised there was no such person. He's just got such a wonderful expressive face. The Fast Show has given us Brits so many catch phrases that are STILL instantly recogniseable, and that's the mark of a QUALITY show, and such fantastic characters. I bet everyone reading this has come across 'dodgy' menswear salesmen and knows someone just like Swiss Tony, or Dave Angel, or Ted. It's really hard to pick the best. All I can say is: Watching The Fast Show is like, making love to a beautiful woman. Enjoy!

When I first saw this it was in between two comedy programmes that I did like and I couldn't be bothered to move because it was Friday,9.30pm and I had clocked up 60 hours that week. I hated the show and thought it was totally unfunny. Next week came and same thing only this time I thought it was OK. Week after, again saw it and instead thought it was very funny. By the following week it was the brilliant show in between two fairly good comedy shows. Now it is established as one of my absolute favourite comedies ever.

Well done to the team who created this show it is truly refreshing comedy.

The fast show is a brilliantly made show which makes fast jokes and lets you have a laugh. Things like Channel 9 news, ed winchester,ar*e, rubbish, cheesy peas and bob fleming made me laugh the most. Its great.

BRILLIANT!

Have people already forgotten about this show? To me it is one of the best British comedy shows ever and yet is seems the people who loved it and celebrated it only a couple of years back, as 'Little Britain' is all over the place at the moment, have all "moved on". Let's hope 'LB' won't meet the same fate...

About the show: the format is perhaps not unique but it works, a good 90% of the jokes are simply hilarious, some make you laugh out loud, others make you smile and some even make you think... I would highly recommend the series to anyone who wants to laugh or even laugh so loud you cry!!! It also works well for those who're not used to Britcom and are perhaps a bit skeptic... they most likely won't be after watching this...

this has hysterical moments but more often than not the continuous story of ted and ralph is emotional and moving rather than funny. the best characters are ted and ralph, jesse, competitive dad and channel 9. this is really great so watch it whenever its next on!

I would just like to say that this is one of the funniest TV shows I have ever seen and everyone should watch it! Nothing is more realistic than this show. The most interesting scene is when the actor (I don't really know which one of them) says: "I'm sorry. I've come!"

The jokes aren't funny, the character's aren't funny, the catch-phrases aren't funny, The Fast Show is a huge success. Why? It astounds me that some of my closest friends like The Fast Show. The continual jokes are monotonous and predictable. I watched this programme when I had little else to do in the company of others that like it. I failed to laugh once. What is clearly intended to be clever and witty is simply immature, patronising and extremely dull. Its title is contradicted by the fact that, to the less pleasured viewer it appears to last for hours. The Fast Show is nothing more than a modern day interpretation of Russ Abbot humour. Funny for kids, perhaps, but for me, and many others I know, it is simply a large band of writers and performers proving that too many cooks certainly spoil the broth. Nevertheless, it is extremely successful, which I sincerely hope does not lead to other comedians following in their footsteps and continuing to butcher the evermore tarnished reputation of British comedy. There's some great comedy in Britain, don't let this bunch clog the outlet.

Comedy is an admittedly difficult art form to master. Sketch comedy in particular is difficult, given that each new sketch starts with a blank slate, without plot or familiar characters to form a foundation from which to kick off the writing or carry the audience's attention through the unfunny bits. So it is perhaps not surprising that sketch shows sometimes turn to those staples of sitcom, the running gag, the recurring character and the catchphrase, to fill the void. It's often a sign of desperation on the part of the writers and the results are often unfunny.

Unfortunately, the writers of The Fast Show thought it would be a great idea to have a sketch show consisting entirely of recurring characters mouthing unfunny catchphrases in the same unfunny recurring scenarios over and over and over and over again. It wasn't a great idea, and the results were so painfully cringe-inducing that I often had to change the channel out of embarrassment for the writers. However for some reason this show was popular with the British public regardless. Perhaps the catchphrases gave the viewers a sort of Masonic catechism to exchange, as I can't imagine what other appeal this program might have had.

Unlike many of the great comic characters like Fawlty or Borat or The Young Ones, the characters and recurring situations were no great comic creations, just rather unfunny unremarkable people with one particular affectation and no depth, characters who wouldn't even have been able to carry a single sketch let alone several series. For instance, every episode, we see Jesse stagger out of his shack in his ragged clothes to say "This week I have been mostly eating {insert unlikely food}", then stagger back in. That's the joke, that hardly ever varied. And every character was in a similar vein, essentially a Ray Jay Johnson clone.

Granted the acting was good, and I think I did manage to laugh about 3 times in the several episodes I endured. But unless you think catchphrases are a substitute for actual funny sketches in a sketch show, stay well away from this show, as well as its equally dire imitator Little Britain.