Series 1. 26 Jun 06. BBC 2, 10:00 pm
WRITERS: Steve Coogan & Neil Maclennon DIRECTOR: Matt Lipsey
CAST: Steve Coogan (Tommy Saxondale), Ruth Jones (Magz), Rasmus Hardiker (Raymond), Alexander Armstrong (Jerome), James Bachman (Therapist), Adrian Scarborough (Chairman) & Dave (Dave Fulton).
The second episode of a sitcom is often considered a better indicator of a show's quality than the first. This is mainly because opening episodes have a lot of scene-setting to get the characters and the world they inhabit straight in our minds. It's only in second episodes that the laughs can come relatively free of this exposition, and you tend to get a better idea of how funny a show will be...
Well, the second episode of Steve Coogan's new sitcom Saxondale confirms this belief -– most of the time. There are undoubtedly more laughs than last week, but more interesting is how much broader Coogan plays the eponymous ex-roadie. Here, Tommy Saxondale's dour nature is often exchanged for face-pulling vaguely reminiscent of Alan Partridge, while his anger-management issues get a proper workout (as Tommy is riled at his anger-management class, beats up a stuffed squirrel, and gets upset with a celebrity motor enthusiast...)
But not all the comedy is played for easy laughs this week, there's still an emphasis on witticisms and offhand comments that may not provoke belly-laughs, but are achingly clever when you think about them. There are definite signs that Saxondale will be able to get the balance right and produce a sitcom that works in a number of areas.
Episode 2 essentially revolved around Magz's T-shirt shop "Smash The System", which is closed down by authorities unsure if a selling obscene T-shirts next to a Bridal boutique is the best idea. This leads Tommy to help his girlfriend under the grounds of freedom of speech. Meanwhile, Tommy and Raymond arrive at the home of Jerome, a TV celebrity motoring pundit who takes an interest in Tommy's Ford Mustang...
Ruth Jones gets to flex her comedy muscles as Magz a bit more, although her character is still very much the straight woman. Jones brings a believable and warm-hearted side to the show, and will hopefully develop further as the series progresses.
Alexander Armstrong is the main guest star this week as Jerome, a clear parody of Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson. Armstrong is a strong comic actor and manages to embody many of Clarkson's mannerisms perfectly. Coogan himself is no stranger to Top Gear (having guest-starred numerous times), and pokes fun at the show's format and Clarkson's presenting style with reckless abandon.
Overall, this was another strong episode that provided enough indicators that Saxondale could have mileage in its premise. There is a slight concern for me that Tommy appeared to be more of a clear-cut comedy character than last week's restrained performance, but if Coogan wants to just cut loose and have some fun, then who am I to argue? There's still the expected high-quality of writing permeating the entire show, particularly in a mishandled impassioned speech that touches on the merits of Sid Vicious...
