Boomers - new comedy coming to BBC One, 15 August
BritFlicks1
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Boomers follows the ups and downs of three couples living in Thurnemouth, 'Norfolk's only West facing resort'.
There's Alan and Joyce (Phil Jackson and Alison Steadman), who are coming at retirement from very different directions; Alan wants to slow down, Joyce wants to speed up. Alan tries to avoid as many of Joyce's social commitments as possible, but downsizing to a bungalow has meant there are fewer places for him to hide.
John and Maureen (Russ Abbot and Stephanie Beacham), living in their gadget filled dream house, adventurous in every aspect of life including the bedroom. For them 60 is the new 40, however there's a reminder of what's around the corner with Maureen's ever present mum Joan (June Whitfield).
And finally there's Trevor and Carol (James Smith and Paula Wilcox) who've got non communication down to such a fine art, that if Carol spent a weekend away, Trevor might not even notice.
30 years of living in each other's pockets have shown the benefits and drawbacks of the group staying friends...
Each couple takes a long hard look at who they've ended up with, there's so much more they could achieve in their own lives, do they want to spend the rest of it with each other?
We follow their adventures including an anniversary celebration that ticks all the wrong boxes, the arrival of a blast from Alan's past on the group, and a World War Two Nostalgia Night causes battle lines to be drawn up.
There's Alan and Joyce (Phil Jackson and Alison Steadman), who are coming at retirement from very different directions; Alan wants to slow down, Joyce wants to speed up. Alan tries to avoid as many of Joyce's social commitments as possible, but downsizing to a bungalow has meant there are fewer places for him to hide.
John and Maureen (Russ Abbot and Stephanie Beacham), living in their gadget filled dream house, adventurous in every aspect of life including the bedroom. For them 60 is the new 40, however there's a reminder of what's around the corner with Maureen's ever present mum Joan (June Whitfield).
And finally there's Trevor and Carol (James Smith and Paula Wilcox) who've got non communication down to such a fine art, that if Carol spent a weekend away, Trevor might not even notice.
30 years of living in each other's pockets have shown the benefits and drawbacks of the group staying friends...
Each couple takes a long hard look at who they've ended up with, there's so much more they could achieve in their own lives, do they want to spend the rest of it with each other?
We follow their adventures including an anniversary celebration that ticks all the wrong boxes, the arrival of a blast from Alan's past on the group, and a World War Two Nostalgia Night causes battle lines to be drawn up.
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Comments
Maybe when June Whitfield is in it it may liven up.
Odd juxtaposition in my mind, Nigel Planer from the Young Ones alongside Russ Abbot from Mad House, as friends.
I probably would have got more out of it if I'd concentrated on it though.
Could you let us in on where the jokes were? You know - those things that any decent sitcom has, however 'gentle'.
Well I'm the wrong demographic, if Baby Boomers is the show's demographic.
I'm also the wrong demographic for most of the Radio 4 comedy I listen to.
They feel like they come from two different generations but in fact they only come from different comedy traditions. The Young One is 61, the old one is 66. :eek:
Was only half watching myself, might give a proper go next week.
Stephanie Beecham unconvincing accent and the usually reliable Alison Steadman seemed to be playing the same part as in Gavin and Stacey.
I agree, I'm going to give it a bit longer to see how the characters develop. It was underwhelming but had a really good cast who were doing their best with the material, it's just the comedy was rather predictable and any jokes were telegraphed ahead. I wasn't familiar with the writer, Richard Pinto, but from a quick Google he's written for Citizen Khan which I can't bear to watch but also Armstrong and Miller who can be very funny. So sitting on the fence for the moment.
Well said. I really don't know what viewers expect from programmes these days. Everything is terrible. All scripts are terrible. Nothing is funny. Everything is a waste of talent.
Stephanie Beecham: "I hate humanist funerals. They go on forever. Every few minutes someone gets up to read a bloody poem or play the guitar! That's not a funeral, that's Britain's Got Talent!"
I know it's not roll around the floor laughter, but it's observational comedy. It is meant to depict a natural relationship between people who know each other by default. The incident with Paula Wilcox driving around and around was exactly the same as when my sister-in-law did it in Worthing! It is not hilarity in the programme that is needed. It is warmth. And given time, I think it will have that in abundance. Once you get to know the characters you warm to them. I enjoyed it. Yes, it had moments that were unnecessary and silly, but overall it has great potential. Far more than most new sitcoms these days.