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Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing

Started by ColinPopshed, June 09, 2018, 01:26:55 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

non capisco

Yeah, I'm coming round to the negative after three episodes. There is a contrivance to this setup that's swamping the affable naturalism they're going for, which could presumably have easily achieved if they'd just filmed them for hours and let them forget there was a camera on them then edited it later. For such an ostensibly 'gentle' show there seems to be a mania in Bob to make funny conversations happen and a weary sense of duty in Paul to react. For all my reservations about Andy Dawson his chemistry with Bob on 'Athletico Mince' is much more tangible than it is between Bob and Paul on 'Gone Fishing'.

The two whole minutes that are pissed away at the beginning on the same intro every pigging week doesn't help.

Sebastian Cobb

So basically it's like a less good version of 3 men in a boat?

Twit 2

I'm enjoying seeing Norfolk celebrated, I like them both, and it does work as ambient TV but I found that last one a bit much. The contrived nature of it all is too apparent - look how many edits there are in a conversation that should be one shot. The reason it feels forced is because they're probably on take 4 cos 'Dave wants to get a low camera angle from over there'. If it was filmed guerilla style on shakey cam it might be funnier, but then it wouldn't have the bucolic, glossy supplement look.

Like I say, I'm still kinda enjoying it but that last one was almost fascinating in how boring it was. It was just...nothing. Catch minnows. Spray on hair. Be brought a pie. End.

And what's with the forced role play thing? In the 1st episode it was the police/breathalyser act, in this one the train conductor bit. Bafflingly unfunny, even if it's meant to be knowingly bad. I'm even getting annoyed with the phrase 'heart healthy food' and the way he pronounces it. Is there any healthy food which is bad for your heart?

I think it's definitely true that Bob has more improv chops whereas Paul's talents lie in minicry and acting to scripted stuff. I mean, he's incredible in stuff like Help (the fishing bit btw: https://youtu.be/zvBmYkrWF6E) but I imagine he'd struggle more on WILTY.

St_Eddie

Quote from: BeardFaceMan on July 14, 2018, 06:17:20 PM
Still not sure where the critical appraisal fits in. There hasnt been much criticism other than 'its a bit gentle and not much happens', which again, is the point of the show, its not a comedy. How would you improve the show? Better writing and script editing? Better sets? Fair enough if you dont like it, no one is saying you have to, just seems odd to say the only reason other people like it is because of the people involved when thats the entire point of the show and why people watch in the first place. Its not because theyre fans of fishing.

Equally, I'm not saying that people don't have to like it.  It's all good, or not, as the case may or may not be.

Ferris

Quote from: Dr Rock on July 14, 2018, 08:03:43 PM
I'd watch Nikki Six and Béla Bartók play pool.

Yeah and me actually. Could be onto a winner there

BeardFaceMan

Quote from: St_Eddie on July 15, 2018, 02:12:27 AM
Equally, I'm not saying that people don't have to like it.  It's all good, or not, as the case may or may not be.

Quote from: St_Eddie on July 14, 2018, 04:28:45 PM
I just feel that perhaps some people are perhaps being a tad disingenuous, in regards to the show's inherent quality.  In essence, I think that a few people are possibly giving the show a free pass because of a predisposition to like its two stars.  There's a certain amount of bias involved with its critical appraisal, I feel.

Three ways there of saying that the show is objectively crap and that people are wrong to like it. Like I say, your observations, or criticisms, or whatever you like to call them, are a bit odd and/or contradictory. You wouldn't like Alien 3 if it was the same script but directed by Uwe Boll and starring Ricky Gervais as Ripley would you? Eh? I think that proves that Alien 3 isn't a high quality film and the only reason you disingenuously like it is because you have a predisposition towards the franchise so theres a certain amount of bias in your opinion.


the science eel

Quote from: Hecate on July 14, 2018, 10:06:34 PM
They're both quite shy and sensitive types, aren't they? They were probably both pissed to the gills whenever they socialised in the past.

I think that's it. Like those reunions where you have to face someone who was your best mate at Uni, and now it's all cold and light and polite and the conversation is all about kids and work.

It's worth watching the second one again, by the way. It's pretty good.

What's the standard order of broadcast in terms of best/worst episode? Second-best first, best second, worst second-to-last...? We might just have seen the worst and the next one will be better. Oh I don't fucking know...

St_Eddie

Quote from: BeardFaceMan on July 15, 2018, 07:25:02 AM
Three ways there of saying that the show is objectively crap and that people are wrong to like it. Like I say, your observations, or criticisms, or whatever you like to call them, are a bit odd and/or contradictory. You wouldn't like Alien 3 if it was the same script but directed by Uwe Boll and starring Ricky Gervais as Ripley would you? Eh? I think that proves that Alien 3 isn't a high quality film and the only reason you disingenuously like it is because you have a predisposition towards the franchise so theres a certain amount of bias in your opinion.

I absolutely am not saying that people are wrong for liking the show.  I'm really not.  I'm just interested as to why people like it.  Not any of my business really but there you go.  Having said that, a show about two old comedian mates, going fishing, which I don't personally care for and have only watched the first episode of, is a bit of a bizarre hill to die on, so I should probably leave it there.

Spot on about Alien 3, by the way.

Episode five was great, a lot better natured and funnier than the rest of the series combined.

Wet Blanket

Quote from: the science eel on July 15, 2018, 10:41:09 AM
I think that's it. Like those reunions where you have to face someone who was your best mate at Uni, and now it's all cold and light and polite and the conversation is all about kids and work.

In an early Athletico Mince from a couple of years back Bob makes reference to going fishing with Whitehouse, so I think the setup is genuine. The awkwardness might actually be that they're contriving to recreate for TV a dynamic of novice Bob and old-hand Whitehouse shooting the shit on a riverbank as if they've never done it before, when actually it's been one of their hobbies for a while.

I'm also coming round to the 'meh' consensus. It could have used more structure. Someone upthread made a sarky comment of it being like a shit Three Men in a Boat, but actually it might have been better served by more travelogue shit and interactions with locals. Bob's offbeat patter with the woman in the supermarket a couple of episodes back was a highpoint.   

Last nights episode was a cracker, a prime example of that new feel good genre, Heart Healthy telly.

Pseudopath

Quote from: Fried Egg Sandwich on July 19, 2018, 04:06:01 PM
Episode five was great, a lot better natured and funnier than the rest of the series combined.

Yeah. They actually came across as if they liked each other in this episode with only occasional incursions from Pissed-Off Paul.

gmoney

I liked last night's a lot, but it did highlight what I feel like the show is missing for me. There were a few times that their comedy history was brought up and they began to give a bit of insight into their careers and then... the show moved on to some fishing or something. Basically, I realised I want a show where they just talk comedy and their careers.

the science eel

Bob Mortimer can't be that lovable, surely?

I'm loving this.

"I'm very easy to tell off, Paul."

Bob is such great value on anything. He has to be my favourite comedian.

Ballad of Ballard Berkley

Quote from: the science eel on July 19, 2018, 08:40:26 PM
Bob Mortimer can't be that lovable, surely?

If he isn't, then he's one hell of an actor. Impressively committed too, as he's been appearing as 'himself' in public for over 20 years.

the science eel


dr beat

Found lots to enjoy in ep 5, particularly Bob's waiter shtick.

Blue Jam


shiftwork2

Quote from: Blue Jam on July 25, 2018, 04:43:42 PM
Feta cheeeeeeeeeeeeeese

Makes the pointless recap of the titles worth it doesn't it?  I have to watch that now.

thugler

Enjoyable last episode.

Sometimes they have a little conversation about something and I want them to go into a bit more detail, that's my only real criticism though. The eulogy bit was very sweet.

jobotic

"Bonne chance Marie" made me laugh a lot for some reason.

chrispmartha

I enjoyed the series but not as much as I thought I would.

The eulogy bit seemed to be a straight rip off from the Trip though

the science eel

I think Whitehouse needled Bob a bit with the 'would of' stuff, but he made up for it later.

'Would of', no greater crime. Whitehouse right to make a stand.

the science eel


Wet Blanket

I like Bob's posh voice that I bet he employed as a lawyer. He used it when he was talking to the doctor

petril

I like to pretend Bob would use his lawyer voice but casually slip in a swearword, and when the person listening went "what did you just say?" he repeated what he said without the swearword

Hecate

Bob in his silky white pyjamas filled my heart with joy. I think it's been worth it just for that.

Bad Ambassador