Sunday, 3 February 2008

TV: Thank God You're Here - Season 1, Episode 4

This week, Paul Merton's improvisational sketch show finally hit its stride. So far it's been a sporadically amusing affair, with most of the guests (who are thrust into a sketch they know nothing about and must make it as funny as the can) struggling to get many good laughs. Even the host himself, a master of improvisation on Have I Got News For You, frequently flounders in the one sketch he does every week.

But not so this week, with all six sketches and the two sets of linking clips managing their fair share of decent humour. It was also quite nice to see most of the guests messing with the regular cast members, throwing them the odd line or direction that had them struggling to keep up for a change.

Obviously the quality of this show will always hinge on the guests and what they can do, meaning that there's never any guarantee of a consistent standard. Thus far they seem to have struck a good balance with guests and given them mostly strong enough starting points that those with enough ability can do with it what they will. Hopefully they can keep it up -- and keep people watching -- because it's fast becoming one of my favourite comedy shows.

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