Goodness Gracious Me

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Aug 2006, 17:15

Anyone watch this?

You may have seen it on BBC2 originally but its currently showing on Thursday nights on one of the Paramount Comedy channels, pretty funny comedy series made in the late 90's, with an all Asian cast (including Sanjeev Bhaskar and others). Some great send ups about how the British see Asians/Indian people or they see themselves.
Incidentally one of the most popular, funniest sketches was the "Going For An English" one where 5 guys go to an "English" restaurant (instead of a curry)

Some skits are really quite funny - like the Mr Everything Comes From India ones - where the father (Bhaskar) keeps telling his son everything important in the world, Shakespeare, shampoo etc is Indian

The songs are funny as well.

(Geek mode: Though the word shampoo is Indian - from the hindi word "champu" to knead or massage - Geek mode off)

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 25 Aug 2006, 21:03

Third series suffered a bit, the first two were very funny

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 25 Aug 2006, 22:17

Yeah, loved series 1-2

I can't remember a 3rd series?

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 25 Aug 2006, 22:41

Yeah, you're not missing much

Actually, that's harsh. There were some good bits, but like a few comedies, they stretched some characters too far, so they went beyond the jokey part. Still worth watching though

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 25 Aug 2006, 22:58

I've seen the show occasionally. Didnt think it was all that great, but didnt dislike it either. I just watch it when they had interesting guests on.

When it comes to comedy, I'm more into the political satire, and dry-wit and roasting stuff which happens on other shows the BBC has (like that news-show, and ofcourse 'They think it's all over' which has brilliant comedy)

I've never been fond of sketches. Often way too staged and o.t.t. Ofcourse there are times the good ones make me laugh, but it also often seems that many fall flat (for me)

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 25 Aug 2006, 23:07

Have I Got News For You has some of the sharpest wit ever. The random presenters is a reasonable way to show it, after Angus Deayton had to leave, but he did bring a nice touc to the proceedings.
Not sure about getting it on DVD though; it's a topical news quiz. Not quite as funny years down the line; doesn't have the same bite.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 26 Aug 2006, 00:13

Actually, I think it might be pretty cool on DVD, as it's just a cool way to look back at what was in the news a couple of years ago. usually you will still remember the news...

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 26 Aug 2006, 00:14

It's all a matter of time. I've seen some of the earliest episodes and they don't seem as funny. Now, that could be because it just wasn't as funny as it is now, or that it's dated... I don't know

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 26 Aug 2006, 08:14

Yi I loved "They Think Its All Over" - I recently rented the 10 anniversary DVD (Nick Hancock was presenter for 10/11 years) and laughed my ass off. Great stuff.
I liked the story about the guy who was turned away from a footy ground as they wouldnt like him take his father's ashes in there in a glass container, after he'd died.

I mean, its coming to something when you can't take a bottle of "Pop" to the game...

The older episodes of HIGNFY (with Angus as presenter) were still funny IMO.

As for Goodness Gracious Me, I love the sketch about the son in the Indian family who has become a Jew, and he comes in looking/sounding like Woody Allen - "Jesus dad, you're so melodramatic!"

And the Bhuddist mouse catcher - "I intend to make them think about their actions..."

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 26 Aug 2006, 09:14

I quite liked Goodness Gracious Me, before it started to get repeatitive.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 26 Aug 2006, 09:19

Some of it was catchphrase comedy (like Fast Show/Little Britain), which is repetitive I guess.