I don't think LB:USA is going to radically improve now we're halfway through, but episode 3 was slightly more enjoyable than episode 2 -- because of some decent sketches for Bing, Emily and Harvey. A few more new characters made their debut, too -- which helped cleanse the sticky feeling of repetition that afflicts Sebastian, Bubbles, Daffyd and Vicky's outings. As usual, here's my sketch-by-sketch:Sebastian: Paul Rudd guest-starred as the French president (doing a terrible accent) in this sketch, where Sebastian becomes jealous of the American/French "special relationship". I'm 90% sure this sketch was a word-for-word copy of an existing Sebastian sketch, and that can't be a good sign!
Daffyd: The "only gay in the village" is now the "only gay on campus", trying to recruit people into his Gay Society at university. As usual, the presence of a ridiculously clichéd gay man (Walliams) frightens Daffyd and his sense of uniqueness, with very predictable results.
Office Cleaner: Finally, a new character – albeit a one-off. Matt Lucas plays a cleaning lady who interrupts two high-powered businessman chatting at the urinals, ensuring them she's not looking at their penises. Only, she is. Sigh.
Bing Gordyn: One of the best new characters, in a decent sketch. A repairman called Sanjit (Lucas) is called round to fix Bing's radiator, but the "eighth man on the moon" is clearly only interested in trying to impress him with the moon-rocks and historical photos his house is adorned with. Quite funny at times, and it's nice to have a character who isn't gay, crude or naked on the show.
Bubbles: The shock-value of a prosthetic cleavage and vagina has long since vanished, and every sketch follows the same boring pattern with the Shirley Bassey-alike diva. Here, Bubbles tries to seduce the Captain of the luxury ocean liner she's on, by dressing up as a half-naked mermaid and getting into his bed.
Emily Howard: Another signature character of LB, making her US debut. Amazingly, the idea behind this sketch was actually quite fresh (bad "transsexual" Emily agreeing to model for an art class, unaware she has to strip naked). The punchline was a bit obvious and coarse, but at least this sketch wasn't totally repetitive in its formula.
Vicky Pollard: The problem child causes her usual commotion and irritation at a girl's boot camp, blah, blah, blah. The most overrated comedy character ever?
American Hunters: Two ridiculously loud and brainless American hunters stalk prey out in the wild; but for all their shouting and bravado, they only ever catch vermin like mice and wasps. There was nothing very clever and insightful here, but the appearance of new characters and sketches are like an oasis compared to the old "classics" being dragged out.
Harvey: The idea of an adult still breast-feeding remains cringe-worthy comedy, and the sight of Harvey's mother's breast squirting milk across a breakfast table to fill a cereal bowl got the desired reaction. It's not big, it's not clever, it's not very tasteful, but it was gross-out comedy at its best.
Andy & Lou: Here, Lou discovers Andy riding a coin-operated children's ride in their apartment, and then catches a news report with security footage of Andy stealing it from a shop. This wasn't especially amusing material, although the punchline (that a photo-fit incorrectly identified the thief as a black man) was the episode's only stab at US culture.
12 October 2008 / 17 October 2008
HBO, 10.30 pm / BBC1, 9.30pm
