Royle Family Christmas 'specials' have been rubbish from the start. It seemed that Aherne and Cash (the so-called writers) hit on a formula for these shows, which consisted of pulling out odd bits from previous programmes that had gone down well, sticking them together with cellotape, and calling them a 'Special'.
Well, the first one was rubbish, and they haven't got any better.
The only ones having a laugh are Aherne and Cash - skipping off to the bank with our (licence-payers') money to the tune of what? £50K, or more, per show?
If you haven't watched this year's - here's a tip. Don't bother.
The beginning was good and the end was quite moving, but the Joe bit in the middle was pathetic. Dave has no got learning disabilities now it seems or has become Malcolm from Mrs Merton. I nearly turned it off but stuck it out til the bitter end.
If they'd cut Joe out of it it would have been okay.
I stayed with it but did glaze over at the Joe's dating scenes......
Same here, I thought this was like a bizarre dream sequence in a movie, definitely not part of the show I've loved from the start!
And not even mentioning Anthony and his girlfriend was just ridiculous, as was the kids' absence! Part of the appeal of this show for me was the believability of it all and being thankful you're not them! But this really was not a good episode at all, even the jokes were lame, like a four-pack of polo mints given as a Christmas present, and Dave's "dicky" was just cringemaking!
I also missed Cheryl, but at least she got mentioned, unlike poor Anthony!
Biggest load of rubbish on over Christmas I'm embarassed to say my family and I watched it for about 20 minutes until someone had the guts to say 'turn this bloody crap off'
Ditto, had a quick look a few times when it first started and never watched it since. Also can't stand either Aherne or Tomlinson.
I can't stand Tomlinson or that fake 'laugh' he does. He makes my skin crawl.
I thought Aherne was good in The Fast Show and as Mrs Merton, but that's about all
Not sure how much you can blame Ricky Tomlinson (or Sue Johnston for that matter). Except that as reasonable actors they should hold out for decent scripts!
It's down to Aherne and Cash, and of course the gutless producers who should ALSO refuse to work with such shite.
Seems that once you've got a reputation, like Aherne and Cash, you can scribble any old tosh and charge large sums for it.
I didn't bother watching. I saw the last two Christmas Specials and realised this wasn't the same show it used to be anymore. After seeing the advert with Dave's stupid diatribe about the corned-beef key, I suspected it would be much the same as the last few specials and I really wasn't interested.
It used to be a very subtle, observational comedy, which wasn't so much about giving you big old belly-laughs, but about making you titter because you recognised almost every character in it as somebody you knew. Now, like many good comedies, it's become a parody of itself and every character has become a total caricature. Dave and Denise have gone from believably daft to so bloody deficient they'd be in an institution if they were real people.
It's completely lost the essence of what it originally was and now plays for cheap, obvious laughs. It's a farce now, and, sadly, they seem to be quite happy with that. What a shame.
Same here, I thought this was like a bizarre dream sequence in a movie, definitely not part of the show I've loved from the start!
And not even mentioning Anthony and his girlfriend was just ridiculous, as was the kids' absence! Part of the appeal of this show for me was the believability of it all and being thankful you're not them! But this really was not a good episode at all, even the jokes were lame, like a four-pack of polo mints given as a Christmas present, and Dave's "dicky" was just cringemaking!
I also missed Cheryl, but at least she got mentioned, unlike poor Anthony!
Anthony still in the titles though, it was dire, cash & aherne have flogged the horse to death, I will be surprised if it returns.
I can't stand Tomlinson or that fake 'laugh' he does. He makes my skin crawl.
I thought Aherne was good in The Fast Show and as Mrs Merton, but that's about all
I'm not sure what's worse about Tomlinson:
his lumpy plasticine nose or his gummy mouth, complete with tiny milk teeth.
You lot are all sad miserable ***s!, it was probably the pick of the Xmas evening schedules, a program that all the family could have a laugh at with an apt ending.
Maybe you lot should have stuck with Keith Lemon, now that is funny - not!
Oh really, perhaps you think it's funny to insult those of us who can see what a downward spiral the show has taken since its beginnings. It was toe curlingly bad..that scene with Barbara finding the drill down the back of the sofa....utterly ridiculous and not remotely funny.Oh and don't tell me what programmes I should stick with..that's plain rude as is the language at the beginning of your post.:mad:
it was probably the pick of the Xmas evening schedules, a program that all the family could have a laugh at with an apt ending.
Maybe you lot should have stuck with Keith Lemon, now that is funny - not!
100% Agree with you.. These people seem to get a delight out of picking a programme to bits.
Why watch it? They obviously had no intention of enjoying it when they switched it on.
I loved the Royal Family, it was a Christmas highlight for me and my family..
Oh really, perhaps you think it's funny to insult those of us who can see what a downward spiral the show has taken since its beginnings. It was toe curlingly bad..that scene with Barbara finding the drill down the back of the sofa....utterly ridiculous and not remotely funny.Oh and don't tell me what programmes I should stick with..that's plain rude as is the language at the beginning of your post.:mad:
Maybe if you didn't take yourself so seriously, you might be able to laugh at something light hearted like this.
As far as the drill goes, remember this isn't an episode of The Killing, or indeed a soap opera, its a comedy, in which artistic licence never goes amiss, did you pick holes in the plots of Laurel and Hardy films as well?
I'm another who didn't bother watching it. As others have said, it has been very poor since the episode when Nana died. The last one I saw was the dire caravan one, that was enough for me.
I have never found it funny, although I've watched a lot of episodes because it was supposed to be one of the funniest sit-coms on the box. In the end I gave up, as I just found it boring and coarse.
I watched it all but my god I wish I hadn't bothered. Terrible, It barely raised a smile in this house, whereas we were always big fans. Very disappointed.
Comments
Well, the first one was rubbish, and they haven't got any better.
The only ones having a laugh are Aherne and Cash - skipping off to the bank with our (licence-payers') money to the tune of what? £50K, or more, per show?
If you haven't watched this year's - here's a tip. Don't bother.
A
If they'd cut Joe out of it it would have been okay.
Same here, I thought this was like a bizarre dream sequence in a movie, definitely not part of the show I've loved from the start!
And not even mentioning Anthony and his girlfriend was just ridiculous, as was the kids' absence! Part of the appeal of this show for me was the believability of it all and being thankful you're not them! But this really was not a good episode at all, even the jokes were lame, like a four-pack of polo mints given as a Christmas present, and Dave's "dicky" was just cringemaking!
I also missed Cheryl, but at least she got mentioned, unlike poor Anthony!
Ditto, had a quick look a few times when it first started and never watched it since. Also can't stand either Aherne or Tomlinson.
Went completely downhill after nanna 'died'.
I can't stand Tomlinson or that fake 'laugh' he does. He makes my skin crawl.
I thought Aherne was good in The Fast Show and as Mrs Merton, but that's about all
It's down to Aherne and Cash, and of course the gutless producers who should ALSO refuse to work with such shite.
Seems that once you've got a reputation, like Aherne and Cash, you can scribble any old tosh and charge large sums for it.
A
Perfect.
Anthony still in the titles though, it was dire, cash & aherne have flogged the horse to death, I will be surprised if it returns.
I'm not sure what's worse about Tomlinson:
his lumpy plasticine nose or his gummy mouth, complete with tiny milk teeth.
it was probably the pick of the Xmas evening schedules, a program that all the family could have a laugh at with an apt ending.
Maybe you lot should have stuck with Keith Lemon, now that is funny - not!
Such awful writing, the characters doing things that are very out of character and the amazing chemistry is no longer there.
This says it all.
I must add that I am being a tad sarcastic and will add a smiling face to prove it:)
Oh really, perhaps you think it's funny to insult those of us who can see what a downward spiral the show has taken since its beginnings. It was toe curlingly bad..that scene with Barbara finding the drill down the back of the sofa....utterly ridiculous and not remotely funny.Oh and don't tell me what programmes I should stick with..that's plain rude as is the language at the beginning of your post.:mad:
100% Agree with you.. These people seem to get a delight out of picking a programme to bits.
Why watch it? They obviously had no intention of enjoying it when they switched it on.
I loved the Royal Family, it was a Christmas highlight for me and my family..
Maybe if you didn't take yourself so seriously, you might be able to laugh at something light hearted like this.
As far as the drill goes, remember this isn't an episode of The Killing, or indeed a soap opera, its a comedy, in which artistic licence never goes amiss, did you pick holes in the plots of Laurel and Hardy films as well?
"Aww, I love <insert food item> , me!"
You should give it a go. You might like it now, because it's nothing like it was in the beginning.