Starts 4th Jan on BBC 2 if I've read this right.
Ffs - keep trying to copy a link from Beyond the Joke but phone won't cooperate.
Anyway - Ed's in it. Can't remember who Sue Pipkin is but that character is in it as is Tim Downie as not the Clemfandango one. The article explicitly says there is no word on if Clemfandango will appear but surely...
Hope its not shit. I rewatched a selection of episodes few months back and forgot how much I enjoy it.
Will post link as an edit if I can.
Larry David's in the first episode, apparently.
My balls are about to fizzzzz
Quote from: paruses on December 14, 2021, 01:40:21 PMTim Downie as not the Clemfandango one
Danny Bear :-D
Thanks for the headsup. I'm looking forward to this.
Quote from: paruses on December 14, 2021, 01:40:21 PMStarts 4th Jan on BBC...
Will post link as an edit if I can.
Happy to help.
Here you go (https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/toast-of-tinseltown/)
The Channel 4 Toasts are all now on BBC i player but, seem to be missing the pre-credits Clem Fandango stuff...
There's a Clem Fandango supercut video on YouTube, I think on Channel 4's, um, channel.
Quote from: Peacock Johnson on December 19, 2021, 03:33:07 PMThe Channel 4 Toasts are all now on BBC i player but, seem to be missing the pre-credits Clem Fandango stuff...
Watched a few from series 3 last night and all the pre-credits scenes were there.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on December 14, 2021, 05:06:12 PMLarry David's in the first episode, apparently.
Wow, that's a pretty big get, innit. LD guesting on someone else's show is a rare thing indeed.
Quote from: Old Nehamkin on December 19, 2021, 04:09:09 PMWow, that's a pretty big get, innit. LD guesting on someone else's show is a rare thing indeed.
Sadly I think it must be bollocks. The only source was an article on Chortle, which has disappeared. Beyond the Joke mentioned it as part of an article too, but that bit has now been removed.
So it's either nonsense that one website stole from another, or they broke an embargo.
Maybe it'll be like when Bob Mortimer turned up as 'Kevin Spacey'
Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PZcg_7EmJ0
Unsure if it was on the original link when posted or not.
Quote from: Malcy on December 21, 2021, 11:24:28 PMTrailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PZcg_7EmJ0
Unsure if it was on the original link when posted or not.
Haha!
Yes!
Yess!
Yyyes!!
YES!
YESS!!
YYYYESSSS!!!!!!
Just giving this thread a bump as a reminder that it starts tonight on the beeb.
Rather hoping that it is dropped on iPlayer in its entirety after the first ep and that Clem Fandango makes it to Hollywood.
Quote from: Tony Tony Tony on January 04, 2022, 06:46:39 PMRather hoping that it is dropped on iPlayer in its entirety after the first ep and that Clem Fandango makes it to Hollywood.
You got your wish on the iPlayer drop. Weirdly, all three series of Toast of London are up there too.
Thought the first episode was a bit flat, but I've already laughed out loud three times in the first minute of Episode 2. Particularly at the:
Spoiler alert
Homer cameo
...so hopefully it picks up.
Watched the first 2 eps and not sure what to make of it so far. Really enjoyed 1st one, not just for *that* opening cameo, but other than that it felt like a standard ToL episode, no bad thing at all really. But then it felt quite ponderous, wondering if its suffering from being a few minutes longer to fit the standard BBC length rather than C4.
Quote from: Wayman C. McCreery on December 19, 2021, 04:44:38 PMSadly I think it must be bollocks. The only source was an article on Chortle, which has disappeared. Beyond the Joke mentioned it as part of an article too, but that bit has now been removed.
So it's either nonsense that one website stole from another, or they broke an embargo.
Er...
Enjoyed episode 1.
Not in the US yet so will have to see how that works. Will Ed, Jane etc still be in it? Presumably Jane will be on the phone.
Good to see the other vampire involved.
I wonder what new viewers would make of it? It is quite an odd show really.
No musical numbers so far anyway thank God. These were always a low point.
Are we supposed to know who the guy at the end of episode 1 is?
Quote from: Virgo76 on January 05, 2022, 06:05:35 AMAre we supposed to know who the guy at the end of episode 1 is?
That was my thoughts as well. It was definitely a signpost that he is likely to play a big(ish) part in upcoming episodes.
Enjoyed the first one a lot as it elicited a few belly laughs. Looking forward to binging the rest on iPlayer. That's my Friday night sorted.
Enjoyed Des Wigwam immensely, always good work from Kayan Novak, as well as the the Larry David cameo.
Quote from: Virgo76 on January 05, 2022, 06:05:35 AMAre we supposed to know who the guy at the end of episode 1 is?
Having watched up to the third episode,
Spoiler alert
he's Toast's new roommate in America. No, we're not meant to know who he is yet, just an introduction of a new character.
I know he's been ill, but it was a bit of a blow to see Harry Peacock seems to have forgotten how to do Ray Purchase's voice.
Quote from: ASFTSN on January 05, 2022, 07:26:08 PMI know he's been ill, but it was a bit of a blow to see Harry Peacock seems to have forgotten how to do Ray Purchase's voice.
Only initially, I feel, in his post-anger state.
Seen the first three so far today and it has been a tonic and a joy. An absolute treat.
I'm trying to pace myself so I've only watched the first one so far, but thanks for the recommendation everybody.
It feels like a lovely holiday.
Quote from: Tony Tony Tony on January 05, 2022, 04:21:36 PMEnjoyed Des Wigwam immensely, always good work from Kayvan Novak
Yes, he was my favourite thing in E1 too. His "2 years ago" picture made me laugh the most, and was that one of Harry Enfield's scouser shellsuits from the BBC props dept?
Really enjoyed the first one but I really hope Mrs Bloody Purchase isn't in it anymore
Only seen episode 1 but it felt like it had never been away. In a good way though.
Usually when a sitcom returns after a long hiatus things feel off, the actors have forgotten how to play the characters and it all feels a bit forced. This just felt like a classic piece of Toast.
This is brilliant. Watched the first one last night and plowing through the rest tonight.
Just stuck on episode 4 and the opening scene is great for this alone.
Spoiler alert
Larry David uttering the words - "Yes I can hear you Clem Fandango" is not something I thought I'd ever hear!
Really enjoying it. Opening scene of episode 2, the cast, the story, whole lot is just bloody brilliant so far.
Took me to ep 3 to realise
Spoiler alert
his American agent is Doon Mackichan. Can't believe I didn't see it at first and now it's so obvious.
His housemate reminds me of Tom Hanks.
Quote from: Malcy on January 05, 2022, 11:52:10 PMTook me to ep 3 to realise
She's clearly having the time of her life playing that character. Weirdly I didn't recognise
Spoiler alert
Rashida Jones until she started speaking English.
Quote from: The Guppy on January 06, 2022, 12:16:32 AMShe's clearly having the time of her life playing that character. Weirdly I didn't recognise Spoiler alert
Rashida Jones until she started speaking English.
Had to Google that one. No idea who it is.
She's one of those Americans they have nowadays.
Freaked out a bit, a friend of mine who I haven't seen in decades was playing Ashes To Ashes Bowie.
Nice callback to the painting of his pal Francis Bacon's father (originally seen in series 2, episode 6). Pointed this out to Mr Attila who had no idea what I was talking about.
But then again, had a raging argument with him that Toast's LA agent is played by
Spoiler alert
Doon McKichan
What's up with Doon Mackichan's eye? Her left one looks all puffy and inflamed.
Quote from: SteveDave on January 06, 2022, 10:27:38 AMWhat's up with Doon Mackichan's eye? Her left one looks all puffy and inflamed.
Yeah, I wondered that too on the first episode. I thought it was setting up something.
I was wondering if I hadn't noticed it before and it was part of the character, it looks fine in the new series of Two Doors Down.
Loved that the actor doing a perfect impression of
Spoiler alert
Edward Fox
was
Spoiler alert
his own son.
This has been a little source of joy in this murky month. I'm up to 3. I always liked the timeless fantasy London in Toast and its LA counterpart is just as pleasant.
Watched the first 2 two last night. Not sure what to make of it. I'm enjoying it, and I like that they've really leaned into the 70s aesthetic. The folk-horrory music when Toast arrives at Wigwam's.
And it's very weird, which is nice. The bit where
Spoiler alert
Fred Armisen is staring through the bedroom door while Toast is sleeping
made me laugh.
All the cameos though...quite jarring. I guess people like Paul Rudd have 'alternative' comedy credentials (Tim and Eric).
I'm assuming that the Lynchian tone is due to
Spoiler alert
this all being some sort of hallucination or fever dream and that Ray Purchase actually put HIM in the hospital. It's all a bit Mulholland Drive.
Enjoyable but few laughs.
Love the opening credit sequence
Yeah, this is very watchable but weirdly laugh free. I can't tell how intentional the off-ness is. Feels like a very different program at times and Toast seems too likeable.
It's all a bit like a movie.version of a 70s TV series - not as good and all over the place but again, Mathews and Berry would be savy enough to know that.
I love the idea that this must mean that Larry David is a fan of the show and would have sat there wondering who the fuck Bruce Forsythe was.
Watched 1 + 2 the other night. Mostly agree with the more negative posts on this. It seems quite flat at the moment despite the odd good belly laugh. Is very good that everyone can still play the characters after all this time, particularly Matt Berry.
Agree that the volume of cameos (or guest actors or big(ger) name actors) is a bit jarring. Also didn't recognise Rashida Jones until she spoke English but weirdly immediately spotted
Spoiler alert
Doon
. Also think they haven't got he weird names quite right. They seem too try hard and stand out. Des Wigwam though is brilliant - I would happily change my username to Des Wigwam. K Novak excellent as Des too. Really laughed at the
Spoiler alert
don't say it out loud
bit. Is Sue Pipkins an old recurring character?
Loads of bits I did like. Love the timeless feel as usual, love the US being exactly as Toast imagined it
Spoiler alert
cue leggy women in Stars and Stipes bikinis marching past with assault rifles in the background
, love Fred Armisen's weirdness, love that general sense of foreboding and uneasiness, love the fact that his tiny room in LA still has an Oriel window for some reason.
Are some of the names in the closing credits pseudonyms? ANALAX DO-DOO or whatever?
Quote from: the science eel on January 07, 2022, 02:20:12 PMAre some of the names in the closing credits pseudonyms? ANALAX DO-DOO or whatever?
One certainly is but not sure if there are more or why there would be.
Quote from: paruses on January 07, 2022, 01:55:58 PMAlso didn't recognise Rashida Jones
Me neither, it was only when I looked it up because I thought I should recognise her.
The last episode has some enjoyable art imitating life business going on
How come it's moved from C4 to BBC?
Anyone know?
Really enjoyed episode two. Like the upping of the weirdness but not so keen on the celebs.
Oddly the the bit that made me laugh the most was "Romley Compton" which could have been from any series.
Doon is brilliant.
Oh and the music is brilliant too
The incidental Crossroads riff is a thing of majestic beauty.
The stunt casting, cameos and returning heroes
Spoiler alert
Rashida Jones, Larry David, Lewis Macleod, et al
show the cachet Matt Berry is building up, er, everywhere.
I don't know what's next for Toast but this has been a most welcome tonic for the New Year.
Quote from: jobotic on January 05, 2022, 10:29:35 PMReally enjoyed the first one but I really hope Mrs Bloody Purchase isn't in it anymore
Weirdly, I didn't recognise her and thought they had got someone else to play the part.
Quote from: Poobum on January 07, 2022, 01:29:51 PMI love the idea that this must mean that Larry David is a fan of the show and would have sat there wondering who the fuck Bruce Forsythe was.
I was imagining him begging 'Can I say the line? Lemme say the line!'
Quote from: Tony Tony Tony on January 05, 2022, 04:21:36 PMEnjoyed Des Wigwam immensely, always good work from Kayan Novak
Yes, he was great. 'Singing bowl amphitheatre' made me laugh out loud.
To be fair, the celebrity cameo thing is nothing new. Toast of London always managed to get lots of local celebrities (plus some not so local, e.g. Jon Hamm, Josh Homme)
Quote from: Virgo76 on January 05, 2022, 06:05:35 AMNo musical numbers so far anyway thank God. These were always a low point.
I like his music so they were always a high point for me. The short sequence allows the proceedings to breath for a moment in my opinion and oddly add humility to quite a nihilistic show.
Quote from: AsparagusTrevor on January 08, 2022, 09:44:08 AMTo be fair, the celebrity cameo thing is nothing new. Toast of London always managed to get lots of local celebrities (plus some not so local, e.g. Jon Hamm, Josh Homme)
Sadly, they never managed to land Jock Hummmmm.
Quote from: Brundle-Fly on January 08, 2022, 09:47:09 AMI like his music so they were always a high point for me. The short sequence allows the proceedings to breath for a moment in my opinion and oddly add humility to quite a nihilistic show.
I disliked the musical numbers first time round but have come to agree completely with you.
Quote from: AsparagusTrevor on January 08, 2022, 09:44:08 AMTo be fair, the celebrity cameo thing is nothing new. Toast of London always managed to get lots of local celebrities (plus some not so local, e.g. Jon Hamm, Josh Homme)
Jon Hamm was quite a big name and I suppose Brian Blessed. Who else has there been - I can think of Roy Hudd (or have I imagined Roy Hudd?). Maybe it's just that I don't think of them as celebs because they're familiar faces on British TV.
A while back someone posted a link to a video on youtube of Matt Berry presenting some kind of youth tv show in the 90s, and he was speaking much more naturally than he does these days - I was just wondering, does anyone know where that video might be, I've searched for ages (well, over ten minutes) and can't seem to find it anywhere...
Quote from: Small Man Big Horse on January 08, 2022, 10:58:25 AMA while back someone posted a link to a video on youtube of Matt Berry presenting some kind of youth tv show in the 90s, and he was speaking much more naturally than he does these days - I was just wondering, does anyone know where that video might be, I've searched for ages (well, over ten minutes) and can't seem to find it anywhere...
Kaboom
https://youtu.be/8Y6SP-yeKk4 (https://youtu.be/8Y6SP-yeKk4)
Quote from: The Bumlord on January 08, 2022, 11:27:09 AMKaboom
https://youtu.be/8Y6SP-yeKk4 (https://youtu.be/8Y6SP-yeKk4)
You sir are an awesome human being, thank you so much for that.
Similarly, footage of Richard Ayoade with a more unaffected voice and mannerisms. It genuinely seems they both let their Darkplace characters inform their actual personalities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNJXC9n0prs
Had to Google to be reminded that Bellender Bojangles was Will's Mum from " The Inbetweeners" !
That first episode is astonishingly laugh -free.
Quote from: SteveDave on January 06, 2022, 10:27:38 AMWhat's up with Doon Mackichan's eye? Her left one looks all puffy and inflamed.
One eye is made up, the other one isn't. I'm guessing it's just a semi-hidden gag.
Quote from: Thosworth on January 08, 2022, 12:17:38 PMSimilarly, footage of Richard Ayoade with a more unaffected voice and mannerisms. It genuinely seems they both let their Darkplace characters inform their actual personalities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNJXC9n0prs
Do you mean personas? I've met Matt and he doesn't talk like the 'Matt Berry' character.
Quote from: KennyMonster on January 07, 2022, 10:50:02 PMHow come it's moved from C4 to BBC?
Anyone know?
Reckon it is down to how TV works in the 'free market' age. BBC was actually forced, a few years ago , as part of the terms of its licence renewal to outsource a good percentage of its programme making hence giving outside production companies a chance to get on the hallowed Beeb airwaves.
Also I am sure I recall that when C4 was initially set up it was simply buying in output from production houses so to make things more equitable i.e.fairer competition, the BBC was brought into line to a certain extent with that model.
This means that production companies can hawk their output round to the highest bidder. You might recall things went in entirely the opposite direction when the Great British Bake Off went from BBC to C4. It does seem rather odd to change horses mid stream but the guys making Toast probably got a better offer from the Beeb or maybe got fed up with waiting for C4 to commission series 4.
All the above is guesswork from half remembered articles so may well be complete bollocks.
Quote from: Thosworth on January 08, 2022, 12:17:38 PMSimilarly, footage of Richard Ayoade with a more unaffected voice and mannerisms. It genuinely seems they both let their Darkplace characters inform their actual personalities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNJXC9n0prs
A bit unfair in Berry's case.
The comedy projected voice he uses for most of his roles is clearly different from the everyday voice he uses normally and in interviews. He's quieter and has a less posh voice in reality. He's not changed his personality.
Exactly. Berry doesn't actually talk like that in real life.
I don't think Roy Hudd was ever in Toast of London. Michael Ball and John Simm appeared and a few others. Rashida Jones is fairly well known from Parks and Recreation and The Office amongst other things.
I enjoyed the new series although felt like it fizzled out a bit. A few of the episodes ended very suddenly.
I also really liked the title sequence. I know it's nothing new (and others have commented on it) but I also really like the weird sense of timelessness. The roman numeral at the start says 1974, Orson Welles is still alive and some of the characters are dressed in 1970s fashion. But clearly it's not really supposed to be in the 1970s.
Was expecting more about his inability to scream.
Quote from: Thosworth on January 08, 2022, 12:17:38 PMSimilarly, footage of Richard Ayoade with a more unaffected voice and mannerisms. It genuinely seems they both let their Darkplace characters inform their actual personalities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNJXC9n0prs
I remember years ago someone here describing Ayoade in
Darkplace as (paraphrasing) 'a man who is so bad at acting that he is unable to convincingly play the part of a man who is bad at acting'. Still makes me laugh.
I'm not sure he's such a bad actor. His timing is often very good on The It Crowd.
What was wrong with Daniel Peacock? Was he very ill?
Quote from: the science eel on January 07, 2022, 09:24:21 AMEnjoyable but few laughs.
Love the opening credit sequence
Looks like it might be an homage to the title sequence of 1970s spooky anthology series
Shadows: https://youtu.be/cLtD21kjRDU
I've had a couple of goes at Toast and can't see the appeal. There's no pace, no rythym, and what few laughs there are are ploughed into the ground.
- You should call her, pronto.
- Hello Pronto.
- Why are you calling me Pronto?
- I don't know, I was told to call you Pronto.
- Well don't call me Pronto.
Real George & Mildred-level stuff; it would sit nicely at 8pm on a Tuesday on ITV in 1982.
Quote from: Lfbarfe on January 08, 2022, 09:47:06 PMDo you mean personas? I've met Matt and he doesn't talk like the 'Matt Berry' character.
He did a great Adam Buxton podcast where he came across really well. He's got a softly spoken Essex(?) accent.
Quote from: poodlefaker on January 09, 2022, 03:35:18 PMI've had a couple of goes at Toast and can't see the appeal. There's no pace, no rythym, and what few laughs there are are ploughed into the ground.
- You should call her, pronto.
- Hello Pronto.
- Why are you calling me Pronto?
- I don't know, I was told to call you Pronto.
- Well don't call me Pronto.
Real George & Mildred-level stuff; it would sit nicely at 8pm on a Tuesday on ITV in 1982.
It's not actually much like George & Mildred is it?
I binged all three series of Toast of London since Christmas having never seen it before, and loved it.
But I'm halfway through Tinseltown and I'm finding it a real slog. The third episode with the sexologist was a real low point. As others have said, it's become almost totally laugh-free.
I miss Soho, Ray Purchase, Mrs Purchase, Ed, the flat... This series feels like it exists in a completely different universe, which I suppose is the point - but this universe isn't half as much fun. It's as jarring as season 4 of Arrested Development.
Oh well. Are the last three episodes any better?
Enjoying this but as others have said, not many laughs. I like the visual design of everything and the nightmarish atmosphere though.
Quote from: poodlefaker on January 09, 2022, 03:35:18 PMwhat few laughs there are are ploughed into the ground.
It's pronounced 'pluff', btw.
I've finished them all now and I've loved it, but in a different way to the other series, I agree it hasn't had as many laugh out loud moments but i find I have a constant smile on my face, I just like spending half an hour in Toast's world
Quote from: Virgo76 on January 09, 2022, 02:44:45 PMI'm not sure he's such a bad actor. His timing is often very good on The It Crowd.
What was wrong with Daniel Peacock? Was he very ill?
Harry Peacock? He suffers from lupus, which most recently meant that he wasn't able to star in the Brian and Roger play.
Thanks! That's who I meant.
Quote from: poodlefaker on January 09, 2022, 03:35:18 PMI've had a couple of goes at Toast and can't see the appeal. There's no pace, no rythym, and what few laughs there are are ploughed into the ground.
I've had the same experience. All the ingredients are there for me, I really like Matt Berry, the premise, Arthur Mathews, the music, the surrealness of it but it often fails to make me laugh and I've never quite understood why. Gave Toast of Tinseltown a go and same thing, just can't get into it.
Quote from: Rolf Lundgren on January 11, 2022, 11:50:04 PMI've had the same experience. All the ingredients are there for me, I really like Matt Berry, the premise, Arthur Mathews, the music, the surrealness of it but it often fails to make me laugh and I've never quite understood why. Gave Toast of Tinseltown a go and same thing, just can't get into it.
That's funny because I had the opposite experience. I never liked Matt Berry nor any of his previous work, I didn't realise that Matthews was the good one out of Father Ted, I'm not bothered about the music, and I'm extremely sceptical about comedy shows that are described as surreal. However, I saw the Kikini Bamalam / Bruce Forsythe episode first and was immediately sold on it.
Ha! I've just discovered there's a craft ale called Kikini Bamalam: https://store.theheadofsteam.co.uk/store/pomona-island-brew-co-kikini-bamalam-ipa
(https://head-of-steam.imgix.net/2020/11/Photo_1604233823786-scaled.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ixlib=php-3.3.0)
Doon's bad eye is the result of a real injury - a taxi she was in slammed its brakes on and she flew head-first into the card reader.
Anyway I've bailed on this after four episodes. Completely laugh-free, and all the ingredients that made London great just aren't there. I can see what they've tried to do with it, but it's just not for me. I had to watch an episode of London afterwards to remind myself that it's a great comedy.
First couple of episodes were pretty promising but then it petered out quite drastically. 3rd episode had most of the low points. Picked up a little bit for the final episode. I like the series a lot but if you remove its odd surreal moments, lightly amusing mispronunciations and two of its catchphrases nearly all much of the show is completely jokeless.
I thought the first four were pretty funny - maybe I'm just easily amused. However, I think the only thing I really laughed it in the fifth one was
Spoiler alert
the tiny canteen of water Toast was given for his trip into the desert.
The series wasn't Toast at its best, but it did reinvigorate it in a superficial sort of way, as it is, as others have noted, reliant on variations on similar gags, and the different settings at least gave them something new to play with.
The fifth one was a bit Mighty Boosh I thought.
Mind you I loved the first series of that.
I've really enjoyed this.
Quote from: Jumblegraws on January 09, 2022, 03:04:49 PMLooks like it might be an homage to the title sequence of 1970s spooky anthology series Shadows: https://youtu.be/cLtD21kjRDU
This is amazing, thank you for posting this link.
I liked Laredo appearing in Episode 5 (although then sad to hear it burned down not long after they recorded there).
Hey, that terrestially broadcast second episode was clearly meant to be the first episode, wasn't it?
I really enjoyed the first two and the fifth episode, but the others, while containing the usual weird and implausible situations of Toast, were at the same time being pretty light on anything actually funny happening. The last episode was particularly disappointing in that regard.
I, for one, miss Toast's fourth wall-breaking singing, and as a result he seems more like a typical obnoxious loser sitcom protagonist (that we have seen many, many, many times before), lacking any of the sympathetic depth the songs gave him in previous seasons. I suspect that if any of this season had been my first exposure to Toast (instead of the magnificent John Hamm episode from season 3), I would not have been inspired to seek out the rest of the series.
Spoiler alert
The cameo in episode six from 'Mike Nesmith' was a nice accidental tribute to the recently departed Monkee man.
I like the little Easter egg callbacks to his other shows;
Matt Holness: Toast, your Doctor Acting is really good. Have you played a doctor before?
Toast: *shrugs*
And the bit where Toast's US agent congratulates "Natasha" on her new gig on "the vampire show"
Overall quite disappointed with that I think. Little bits here and there made me laugh but the driving feeling was bemusement and awkwardness at things that were supposed to be funny but didn't hit for me. All just a bit odd for the sake of it, which the original Toast didn't usually stray into somehow. The wine tasting scene was great though, and Toast sat next to the bin on set getting pelted with random items. Generally the stronger bits were those that just featured the original characters being daft.
Enjoyed it, but Toast of London was consistently funnier.
I enjoyed the 'Death Valley' episode, as a sort of self-containted bit of nonsense.
I hate the habit of binge-watching but it was still how I consumed Toast of Tinseltown. The ending seemed to me like an admission that the makers had embarked on something they then lost interest in, early on but a bit too late to drop before completing it.
It's too much mucking about. The hit and miss aspect of it (and of House of Fools) had been part of the appeal, but a few degrees more complacency or first draft-ness, to me, has made a flimsy burger of it. Gherkins and sauce in the form of Larry David and the others that I've forgotten already always felt in need of picking out and sticking to the underside of the enduringly figurative table.
I prefer to confine my negativity to compromisng my own happiness and quality of life, terminating my own projects in self-loathing, etc, but I love Berry's shtick and also think he's probably got something in him more disciplined if we can gently nudge him away from years of mucking about.
(By the way, would it be correct to say that he's spoken out about The It Crowd but not a bandmate of his?)
Thanks for listening, and apologies for any enervation caused.
Far gentler than London, I thought, the comedy diluted. But the water diluting it was warm and pleasant, and we laughed out loud both at actual jokes and flimsy whimsy (Mike Nesmith & Jaws, a natural pairing). Nice to see Benedict Wong in anything, though he hardly needs the work these days. That also lets me call yet another franchise "That thing with Benny Wong in it... You know, the Chinese one." For some reason I didn't find Armisen that funny, which is odd, and I'd have liked to get a better view of the names in Doon's car/office.
I was stumped by one of the denizens of the drinking club in episode one: I got Melly, Mark E. Smitg, Vivienne Westwood, and Tom Baker, but was stumped by him in the round glasses.
That's a young David Hockney, isn't it?
I think the main problem is that Toast has no agency whatsoever in this. Of course he's always bandied from pillar to post, but he normally has some input into his own destiny. In this, not so much. And it's not so funny as a result.
Quote from: Cuellar on January 21, 2022, 02:33:42 PMThat's a young David Hockney, isn't it?
Yes! Thankyou!
Quote from: Virgo76 on January 09, 2022, 02:34:20 PMI also really liked the title sequence. I know it's nothing new (and others have commented on it) but I also really like the weird sense of timelessness. The roman numeral at the start says 1974, Orson Welles is still alive and some of the characters are dressed in 1970s fashion. But clearly it's not really supposed to be in the 1970s.
I guess it's more due to Matt Berry being born in 1974.
Not the strongest Toast, but still enjoyable (and beautifully perculiar) all the same.
It were wank
I loved it. It definitely felt like they removed a lot of the jokes in favour of more weirdness, but personally I love the weirdness.
I haven't read the thread because I'm avoiding spoilers, but, in case anyone is interested, Matt Berry seems to be doing the continuity announcements on BBC2 this evening in character as Steven Toast. Not sure how long for, but he's done the last two.
How successful was this version of Toast in the end?
Most people seem to have been disappointed by it.
Is it likely to return?
I unwittingly watched the shows out of sequence on YouTube ( where they had been mislabelled), so put one or two posts up on 'ere that may have seemed a bit odd. That " The Last Movie" referencing Death Valley episode strikes me as the best 'un, even though I've not seen the final episode yet. The one with Will's mum was easily the weakest, despite the presence of Natasha Thingy ( Vampire lady, Stath's sister).
I quite liked the doctor episode, I think purely for the bit where he's made to wait for 3 hours for 'Carmen' to arrive and eats the huge bowl of chocolate; the bemused look on his chocolate-splattered face during the subsequent meeting had me in hysterics when they kept cutting back to him. Also 'Bellender Bojangles'.
Toast is a treasure trove of simple pleasures and I hope they make more.