As a cinephile with decades of experience in the comedy industry, I can confidently say that comedy is indeed a tricky beast to tame. From Bottom to The Thick of It, The Office, and Absolutely Fabulous, I’ve seen firsthand how great comedy often starts from the most unconventional of beginnings.
Performing comedy isn’t an easy feat and it’s currently facing challenges. It gives network executives pause because it’s costly, involves risks, and opportunities for fresh content are limited. In contrast, drama merely requires telling an engaging tale. For comedy, you must not only spin a compelling yarn but also elicit laughter from the audience.
Throughout my extensive comedy-making journey, spanning from Bottom to The Thick of It, The Office, and Absolutely Fabulous, I’ve discovered that exceptional series often originate from unexpected starting points.
Originally, the bottom was a stage performance; The distinctive style of “The Thick of It” came about due to Armando Iannucci using one episode’s budget to finance three instead. “The Office” was essentially Stephen Merchant’s schoolwork – a short film at the end of a BBC trainee directors’ course, where he enlisted Ricky Gervais for help. Lastly, “Ab Fab,” which airs its reunion show this week after 32 years, started as a sketch on French and Saunders.
For great comedy to develop, you’ve got to trust the talent. That, I’ll admit, isn’t always plain sailing. On Ab Fab, Jennifer Saunders had to wait for the comedy spark from heaven to fall, and sometimes it took a while. Sometimes, before rehearsals began, I’d be begging her at the 11th hour – could you at least tell me which sets we’ll be using?
Currently, due to financial constraints leading to increased caution in decision-making, it becomes challenging to foster innovative thoughts. Stifling the opportunity for risk-taking and error can only produce repetitive work or rehashed ideas.
In today’s world, some might argue that the outrageous antics and humor of Absolutely Fabulous would be deemed unacceptable. With its portrayal of smoking, drinking, drug use, jokes about weight issues, alcoholism, and even knitting-needle abortions, it certainly pushes boundaries. However, I beg to differ. The ongoing debate about whether political correctness is stifling comedy is a subject that often comes up in conversations, and I believe it’s frequently used as a shield by comedians who lack the genuine humor required to tackle such topics effectively.
Some things are never funny – like punching down. Comedy should always punch up. But otherwise, if you make people laugh, you can say anything you want. That’s as true today as it’s always been. Look at Derry Girls, a filthy and brilliant comedy about Northern Irish girls during the Troubles that was rude about everything. Viewers loved it and everyone was talking about it.
Generating excitement today can be challenging. comedies tend to be more effective when conversations about them occur at work the following day, sparking curiosity among colleagues who haven’t watched it yet. This shared experience helps create a buzz that encourages others to watch. However, in an era of on-demand viewing and numerous broadcasters and streaming services, finding a large audience watching the same comedy at the same time can be tough.
With Absolutely Fabulous, we hit the jackpot – it took off like a rocket from its debut. Airing on BBC2 gave us room to flourish. During the ’90s, when public broadcasting was prevalent, there wasn’t the same financial strain as today.
Compared to typical dramas, producing comedy is pricier due to extensive rehearsals and a shorter run time of about half an hour, making it more expensive on a per-hour basis. Additionally, there’s a higher risk since comedy can be too culturally specific for international audiences, unlike drama which can garner funding through co-productions. For instance, Jennifer wrote the Absolutely Fabulous pilot in pencil inside an exercise book, and it remains uncertain whether such a presentation would have appealed to US TV executives or major studios like Disney.
Absolutely Fabulous revolutionized television by portraying women acting outrageously on their own terms, allowing for humorous content without limits. Ben Elton, upon viewing the pilot, predicted its future success. To maintain such innovative comedies in the future, it’s crucial to preserve budgets, encourage experimentation, and ensure these productions receive the necessary exposure. Naturally, this may not be everyone’s cup of tea…
The latest issue of TopMob is out now – subscribe here.
Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out will air on Thursday 17th October at 9pm on Gold.
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2024-10-07 18:33