Steve Coogan, Chris Morris, British comedy of the moment...

[orator]

I really liked the Gervais-Merchant-Pilkington podcast.

Ricky Gervais seems to be better when he has people who knew him before he was a genius around.  Like everyone else.

I hated it, at least when they started charging for it. It's the most lazy shit. The Pilkington stuff especially.

It'd also be easier to like if Gervais didn't have that awful, loud cackle.

[Jouster]

I don't think there's many people who 'hate' the Office.

Have you ever read the AST forum?

The Gervais/Merchant version of The Office is one of the most beloved programs in the history of AST.  The Greg Daniels version has fallen (rightly, to my mind) in people's esteem over the last couple of seasons.

In related news, I could hardly understand a word of the Cemetary Junction trailer.

[wheatgod@hotmail.com]

I know that taste is subjective, but IM ALAN PARTRIDGE is so much better than you are aware of. THE DAY TODAY is also great, but for me, those six episodes of IM ALAN PARTRIDGE are the best three hours of television I have ever seen. My admiration of them runs deep and they hold up like nobody's business.

Maybe you need to not be lifting weights while watching them? 

Tom.

Good people!

Your opinion on this news please!  Steve Coogan: decision on Alan Partridge film 'in a month'

Its not confirmed, but certainly has tongues wagging this side of the Atlantic. And @AIannucci has just heavily hinted he's onboard!

With my British pessimist hat on, I'd have to say that while this is exciting it will struggle not to disappoint. Could the perfection of IAP be transferred to the big screen? I'd say they'd have to do something very different with it. And changing a winning formula.

But if anyone can do it, its Armando I and Steve C!

[Dan in Chicago]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIewbogHK0I[/youtube]

Shockingly similar.

[Martin]

No Oscar for In the Loop. BUT: the interview I recently did with the great Armando Iannucci aired on Swedish radio yesterday, and I've just cut an extended, off-the-air version of it, for your pleasure. I'm not a radio producer so the editing might be a bit messy, but I think it sounds okay. Listen to it here. (Click the ↓ arrow above the wave to download the mp3.)

[effecT]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIewbogHK0I[/youtube]

Shockingly similar.

According to wikipedia he is not unknown to Iannucci:
Hodgson provided a running commentary over an episode of The Day Today on the DVD of the series.[4] Writer and Alan Partridge co-creator Armando Iannucci (of The Friday Night Armistice fame) hired Andy to play a brutally murdered interior designer in his BBC Three show 2004: The Stupid Version[5] as well as a Home Shopping TV presenter in his 2006 BBC Two production Time Trumpet.[6] In 2003 he appeared on Channel 4 reality show The Salon to conduct a charity auction.[7]

from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Hodgson

[Sarah]

Planning to work my way through Getting On today, a very funny and very depressing comedy about a general care ward (mainly populated by elderly women), directed by Peter Capaldi.  There's a fair amount of imminent death and current decrepitude in my life these days, so this is PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[SJK]

No Oscar for In the Loop. BUT: the interview I recently did with the great Armando Iannucci aired on Swedish radio yesterday, and I've just cut an extended, off-the-air version of it, for your pleasure. I'm not a radio producer so the editing might be a bit messy, but I think it sounds okay. Listen to it here. (Click the ↓ arrow above the wave to download the mp3.)

I realized you posted this ages ago, thanks to Sarah this thread just popped up. Great interview Martin! I thought 'In The Loop' was amazing. 

[Sarah]

I do my bit.

[Martin]

Thanks!

[Sarah]

Update:  Getting On is really good.

[jimakaclark]

i've heard good things about the Trip w/ Steve Coogan.  I can also reccomend nevermind the buzzcocks and plenty more obscure british tv...

[LaurenNicole]

the trip is wonderful, here's a little bit...

The Trip - Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon do Michael Caine

[Martin]

The Trip is the best thing on television right now. Seek it out.

[Bryan]

Yes, I'm loving the Trip too. Smart, funny and poignant, plus food porn. It's like my ideal tv show!