Happy Days

There are very few "good telly nights" these days.
Indeed there are very few good television programmes these days.

With the advent of digital, multi-channel broadcasting beaming a multitude of programming options, with staggered start times and on-demand movies, not to mention the proliferation of Sky+ and other similar recording devices allowing the viewer to pick and choose what they watch and when, it seems that the schedulers struggle to put a quality consecutive run of shows on a single evening.  All too often the television schedules are filled with Police Car Chase shows and Z-list celebrities either dieting, eating bugs or commenting on the 1980's or the top 100 films, or top 100 comedy moments, etc, etc..

The bar has indeed been lowered and the barrel has indeed been scraped.

However Thursday evenings are starting to really shine. 
Admittedly you still have to span two channels to fill ninety minutes, but at least Thursday now offer a good solid hour and a half of comedy. 

"Extras" season 2 (on BBC2) has really raised the bar this year. 
Not that I didn't enjoy last year's series, I just think that this year Ricky Gervais has moved onto a whole new level of comedy genius.  What's really made it stand out this year though is how he's got his guest stars to act: Ronnie Corbett snorting lines of Coke at the Bafta's, Chris Martin looking to get starving children to hold up copies of Coldplay's greatest hits for promotional purposes and -the series highlight- David Bowie taking on board Andy's pain at having creative control of his sitcom wrestled away from him, and turning it into the most derogative song I've ever heard.  

Marvellous. 

It really is laugh out loud stuff (whilst simultaneously hiding behind your hands whenever Maggie opens her mouth).  This is then followed by the "Mitchell and Webb Look" which, despite having highs and lows, hits the comedy target more often than it misses.  Now we know.  And any show that brings us the genius that is "Numberwang" must get a special place in the Sky+ planner.  And finally, you flip over to ITV2 for "Entourage" which is HBO comedy at its best (well, second best, you'll never beat "Curb Your Enthusiasm" in my humble opinion).  I know, me watching something other than Champions League footy on ITV, who'd have thought it. However, despite usually being the most banal channel on the EPG, ITV has actually bought a good show with "Entourage", a damning yet highly amusing insight into the cult of celebrity in Hollywood.  Yes I know it's the repeat of Sunday's show.. but if I watched the Sunday show then I'd not have my 90 minutes of quality comedy, now would I?

Mind you, before I get to morose about the state of television, at least I have the first episode of Season 3 of Lost to watch this weekend - rejoice!!