The Armstrong and Miller Show (Series 3 - Episode 1)
Having sat through the turgid, tedious and endlessly tautologous tripe that was six epsidodes, of the, if one can believe it, third (!) series of Harry and Paul this was a true breath of fresh air in what I had feared, subsequent to the less than stellar offering from Messrs Mitchell and Webb, had become a rather stale and stagnant form.
From the first sketch, which in its short span captures our attention with what is clearly a leadup, with no obvious laugh, followed quickly enough by what is nearly a single frame visual punchline, hitting with more force than Enfield and Whitehouse could muster up over three hours.
I am pleased to say the hilarity in no way stops there, and in terms of laughs per sketch this first episode is one of the best I have seen in the last few years, managing as it does at least a 1:1 ratio.
A particular favourite of mine was the two vampire, and also the surgeon with a long memory is something I am sure will appeal to all those who were not best pleased with a certain aspect of compulsory education.
Armstrong and Miller deliver where a sketch show should, not in stock catchphrases (though there are a couple) but in establishment, and in humour, two things, alas, missing in the wake of Little Britain and Catherine Tate.
To compare anything in the last five years to anything involving Mitchell and Webb is a compliment, to suggest they have surpassed (although I am thinking only of series 4) is praise indeed.
*****
From the first sketch, which in its short span captures our attention with what is clearly a leadup, with no obvious laugh, followed quickly enough by what is nearly a single frame visual punchline, hitting with more force than Enfield and Whitehouse could muster up over three hours.
I am pleased to say the hilarity in no way stops there, and in terms of laughs per sketch this first episode is one of the best I have seen in the last few years, managing as it does at least a 1:1 ratio.
A particular favourite of mine was the two vampire, and also the surgeon with a long memory is something I am sure will appeal to all those who were not best pleased with a certain aspect of compulsory education.
Armstrong and Miller deliver where a sketch show should, not in stock catchphrases (though there are a couple) but in establishment, and in humour, two things, alas, missing in the wake of Little Britain and Catherine Tate.
To compare anything in the last five years to anything involving Mitchell and Webb is a compliment, to suggest they have surpassed (although I am thinking only of series 4) is praise indeed.
*****