As part of Channel 4's "Generation Next" season (to find, funnily enough, the next generation of TV talent), here comes another UK attempt to crack a US staple: the daily satirical news show. You know it best as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, although protégé Stephen Colbert has taken the format a step further in The Colbert Report -- by pretending he's a right-wing news commentator, in a glorious parody of Bill O'Reilly.
We've been here before, of course. The 11 O'Clock Show, exactly 10 years ago, launched the careers of Ricky Gervais and Sacha Baron Cohen (whose Ali G segments became the only reason people watched). The careers of hosts Iain Lee and Daisy Donovan were crushed underfoot (never to fully recover), although contributor Mackenzie Crook escaped to The Office with Gervais.
Tonightly is another Daily Show wannabe, presented by likeable comedian Jason Manford, best known as a team captain on 8 Out Of 10 Cats. He's our Jon Stewart, casting a satirical eye over the day's news and events, with the help of smiley co-host Andi Osho.
Like The Daily Show, there are plenty of "comedy characters" to interact with via satellite link-ups or faux news reports. Ironically, where the 11 O'Clock show failed with its studio-based comedy and succeeded with its sketches, the reverse is true for Tonightly. Jason Manford is good-humoured, confident, self-deprecating and able to spin strands of gold from comedy straw. Comedienne Andi Osho is mostly sidelined as "co-host" (perched on the edge of Manford's desk), but she's also very appealing. Both make you think Tonightly's been running for months, such is their professionalism and ease in front of the camera.
Unfortunately, most of Tonightly is given over to its "characters". There are a few good ideas sprinkled around (a Baghdad-based "I-ROQ" radio DJ, the last MP left in Parliament during the holidays, etc), but the strength of material wasn't there. Consumer conspiracy theorist Steve Lipschitz had a few amusing ideas, but his shtick came across as sub-Chris Morris. Overexcited TV reviewer Ollie Roberts has potential, and was enthusiastically portrayed, but he didn't really click. And isn't he just a less outrageous Avid Merrion?
Tonightly seems to overflow with these characters; probably the result of an intentional scattergun approach. I mean, during this three-week run, a few are bound to tickle the nation's funnybones and perhaps capture the zeitgeist like Ali G. Aren't they? Well, that's the hope. It remains to be seen if they'll unearthed another Paul Kaye -- whose pioneering celeb-heckler Dennis Pennis was born on The Sunday Show in the mid-90s. I reckon they'd be happy with finding the new Leigh Francis.
12 writers work on this, so there's no excuse for a tepid quality of comedy. Friday's premiere was notably funnier than Monday's -- hopefully not because the writers had longer to prep for it. One thing a daily satirical comedy show needs is quick-thinking, limber writers. Maybe that's why UK productions tend to shy away from daily comedies: we'd prefer to take our time and make an excellent weekly show, instead of knock out hit-and-miss dailies.
Still, Tonightly already has a confidence most new shows struggle to achieve after a few episodes -- thanks to its presenters relaxed styles. In Manford and Osho, "Generation Next" looks to have found its stars of the future. Let's hope the writing improves to do them justice. Or will British fans of satire have to scurry back to the bosom of Jon Stewart and pretend to know half the politicians he pokes fun at?
1 & 4 August 2008 (continues weeknights)
Channel 4, 11.05 pm
We've been here before, of course. The 11 O'Clock Show, exactly 10 years ago, launched the careers of Ricky Gervais and Sacha Baron Cohen (whose Ali G segments became the only reason people watched). The careers of hosts Iain Lee and Daisy Donovan were crushed underfoot (never to fully recover), although contributor Mackenzie Crook escaped to The Office with Gervais.
Tonightly is another Daily Show wannabe, presented by likeable comedian Jason Manford, best known as a team captain on 8 Out Of 10 Cats. He's our Jon Stewart, casting a satirical eye over the day's news and events, with the help of smiley co-host Andi Osho.
Like The Daily Show, there are plenty of "comedy characters" to interact with via satellite link-ups or faux news reports. Ironically, where the 11 O'Clock show failed with its studio-based comedy and succeeded with its sketches, the reverse is true for Tonightly. Jason Manford is good-humoured, confident, self-deprecating and able to spin strands of gold from comedy straw. Comedienne Andi Osho is mostly sidelined as "co-host" (perched on the edge of Manford's desk), but she's also very appealing. Both make you think Tonightly's been running for months, such is their professionalism and ease in front of the camera.
Unfortunately, most of Tonightly is given over to its "characters". There are a few good ideas sprinkled around (a Baghdad-based "I-ROQ" radio DJ, the last MP left in Parliament during the holidays, etc), but the strength of material wasn't there. Consumer conspiracy theorist Steve Lipschitz had a few amusing ideas, but his shtick came across as sub-Chris Morris. Overexcited TV reviewer Ollie Roberts has potential, and was enthusiastically portrayed, but he didn't really click. And isn't he just a less outrageous Avid Merrion?
Tonightly seems to overflow with these characters; probably the result of an intentional scattergun approach. I mean, during this three-week run, a few are bound to tickle the nation's funnybones and perhaps capture the zeitgeist like Ali G. Aren't they? Well, that's the hope. It remains to be seen if they'll unearthed another Paul Kaye -- whose pioneering celeb-heckler Dennis Pennis was born on The Sunday Show in the mid-90s. I reckon they'd be happy with finding the new Leigh Francis.
12 writers work on this, so there's no excuse for a tepid quality of comedy. Friday's premiere was notably funnier than Monday's -- hopefully not because the writers had longer to prep for it. One thing a daily satirical comedy show needs is quick-thinking, limber writers. Maybe that's why UK productions tend to shy away from daily comedies: we'd prefer to take our time and make an excellent weekly show, instead of knock out hit-and-miss dailies.
Still, Tonightly already has a confidence most new shows struggle to achieve after a few episodes -- thanks to its presenters relaxed styles. In Manford and Osho, "Generation Next" looks to have found its stars of the future. Let's hope the writing improves to do them justice. Or will British fans of satire have to scurry back to the bosom of Jon Stewart and pretend to know half the politicians he pokes fun at?
1 & 4 August 2008 (continues weeknights)
Channel 4, 11.05 pm
