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Product Description
BAFTA award-winning Armando Iannucci confronts the world head on in this surreal comedy sketch series from 2001. Joined by Hugh (an old man who talks about the good old days) and the East End Thug (who has a unique way of problem-solving), there has never been a more entertaining way of looking at the peculiarities of modern existence.
"All of Armando Iannucci's life is contained in 'The Armando Iannucci Shows' which are based on actual events. The programmes, when viewed in numerical sequence, follow his life in exact chronological order."
Extras - Deleted Scenes, Director's Commentary, Writers' Blog.
Product Description
Actors: Armando Iannucci, Hugh Cecil, Karen Ascoe, Melanie Hudson, Tony Gardner
Director: Adam Tandy
Manufacturer: Fremantle
Director: Adam Tandy
Manufacturer: Fremantle
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful
By tomsk77
Format:DVD
Armando Iannucci is well known for his role in some of the best recent British comedy (Alan Partridge, The Thick Of It etc) but a lot of people seem to have missed this series. That's a shame as when he does his own stuff it's often brilliant, with a bit of a surreal edge. I watched most of the series when it was on telly and some bits stuck in my head for years so I was really pleased when it came out on DVD.
Each of the episodes is sposed to be on a particular theme, but you don't really need to know that! What is important is that some of the stuff in this series is genius. A common themes is people basically being rubbish and/or naff. The first episode has two brilliant bits - the witty bloke at a dinner party being literally fed his funny lines, and the 'tw*ts' bit (especially the bloke singing his song about Princess Anne's birthday). Other highlights are Armando The Great Adult, and when he does a comedy slot at the end of a conference using powerpoint slides to get across his jokes.
Sometimes - a bit like his Observer column! - the joke doesn't quite work or it goes on too long. So it's definitely a hit & miss DVD. But the best stuff is so good it's worth ploughing through to get to. And the extras are pretty good too - the commentaries are pretty funny. One word of warning - if you don't want to know the result of the Arsenal-Barcelona Champions League final don't listen to the commentaries...
Each of the episodes is sposed to be on a particular theme, but you don't really need to know that! What is important is that some of the stuff in this series is genius. A common themes is people basically being rubbish and/or naff. The first episode has two brilliant bits - the witty bloke at a dinner party being literally fed his funny lines, and the 'tw*ts' bit (especially the bloke singing his song about Princess Anne's birthday). Other highlights are Armando The Great Adult, and when he does a comedy slot at the end of a conference using powerpoint slides to get across his jokes.
Sometimes - a bit like his Observer column! - the joke doesn't quite work or it goes on too long. So it's definitely a hit & miss DVD. But the best stuff is so good it's worth ploughing through to get to. And the extras are pretty good too - the commentaries are pretty funny. One word of warning - if you don't want to know the result of the Arsenal-Barcelona Champions League final don't listen to the commentaries...
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By D. Rowthorn
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Perusing the 5-star reviews of 'Little Britain' and the latest Michael McIntyre DVD in an act of cultural masochism, complete with the classic 'all those fans can't be wrong' comments, I remembered the genius of the Armando Iannucci Show. Popularity is sometimes the sign of quality, sometimes a sign of accessibility, and mostly a case of the lowest common denominator. What separates throwaway popular comedy, and music for that matter, from the deeper art is longevity. While Michael McIntyre's DVD will be snubbed by even car-boot sales in 10 years, something tells me that this show will only get more popular as its inherent quality is discovered. Part of the reason for this is that the show does not focus on obvious observations of current cultural phenomena, but takes a systematic and complex comic look at the human condition, which never changes. Every joke in the show starts with a basic idea and develops it, connecting it to the greater theme of the episode and Iannucci always pushes a joke to its comic conclusion. If anyone suggests watching Michael McIntyre, show them instead this, particularly the Ibiza Uncovered Opera, with iannucci's hilarious reactions from the balcony, or better, the PowerPoint presentation stand-up routine.
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By C. Pitt
Format:DVD
Like most people I think I was out when this was on first time round (I assume it was put in the graveyard slot) so brought this on faith based on his previous work. I was not disappointed! There are moments of pure genius in this series and Armando Iannucci's delivery is fantastically dry. You get a real sense of a great comedic mind at work finding humour in everyday life and then transferring that into some of the most ridiculous situations imaginable and blowing it out of all proportions. If like me you missed this the first time round then make sure your mistakes are not repeated! However don't expect the controversy or shock value of his works with Chris Morris, the humour here is far more subtle but no less amusing.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By S. Gilbert
Format:DVD
I don't want to bang on and on about this show like a twit so I'll keep this short. I bought this DVD purely as I was keen on getting hold of a copy of Brass Eye and this was in the recommendations. I'd never even heard of it before. This was in 2009.
It turned out to be probably the most informed piece of TV I have ever seen. Abstract yet relevant. I honestly felt a tiny bit changed as a person after watching this. And it's hilarious to boot.
Amazing. Fantastic. Brilliant. Genius. Everyone should watch this series, it should be available on TV on it's own channel all day for everyone in the world to watch. Except for viewers in Scotland.
It turned out to be probably the most informed piece of TV I have ever seen. Abstract yet relevant. I honestly felt a tiny bit changed as a person after watching this. And it's hilarious to boot.
Amazing. Fantastic. Brilliant. Genius. Everyone should watch this series, it should be available on TV on it's own channel all day for everyone in the world to watch. Except for viewers in Scotland.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am tempted to give this 5 stars as when these irreverent sketches work they really work. But some are intrusive and seem very long. But still, buy this for a number of quality moments such as the barber that talks drivel to a bemused Armando, the 'nostalgic' witterings of old man Hugh, racist police horses, an entire congregation that seduces the local vicar and many more. Surreal, random and very funny this is a forgotten gem that will appeal to anyone with a sense of humour that appreciates the absurdity and futility of the modern world. And if you've ever discovered your house is riddled with wombles.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By P. Sturges
Format:DVD
Underrated, undershown, and finally released genious. There is no-one quite like Armando in the comedy world, and although the more recent 'Time Trumpet' was a little disapointing, don't let that put you off buying this masterpiece. Highlights include the East End Thug being deployed to solve fairly mundane problems, such as threatening a washing machine into working, Lucar the barber, and his bizarre tales of clangers and screaming fire, and the revelation that everyone with knowledge is being tipped off, either via bits of paper in their pies, or earpieces spewing football trivia.
Armando, we applaud you.
Armando, we applaud you.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not up to his recent work
That says it all, there are a few gems but I won't be bothering to watch this again - offers welcome!
Published 6 days ago by R
1.0 out of 5 stars
Unwatchable
Asked for this last Christmas and found it unbearable. Moved it on at a car boot for a quid and felt like I'd robbed him.
Published 6 months ago by Paul Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hours of great comedy
Armando Iannucci continues to produce gold with this series. There is not a dull moment. Those who have seen anything of his will know what to expect, but in my opinion this is... Read more
Published 6 months ago by ribenaisgood
4.0 out of 5 stars
Worth it for the good bits
It's a little hit and miss in the main but the highlights are as good as anything ever written in comedy. It's more 'Brasseye' than 'the thick of it'. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Val Banes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Astonishing
Of course I know of Iannucci's enormous contribution to comedy, but I didn't see these shows on their first airing, and only recently became aware of them. Read more
Published 11 months ago by J. Waite
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not epic, but a lot of fun
I didn't need to own this, but it is allright. Iannucci is something of a genious, so it is fun to see him act.
Published 14 months ago by Andreas Wiik
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious
Similar to Time Trumpet & Brass Eye's idiosyncratic humour. Features a man realising his life is a waste because he designs bacon packaging and a deputy headmaster that hasn't... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Pseudonymph
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quality comedy
This is a sketch show of many random situations and social commentary. Because of some of its references it shows its age a bit. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Johnaa
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant
Honestly if you really have reached the point where you would be reading my 5 star review, you most likely already want to purchase this item. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Alexandra Travis
4.0 out of 5 stars
bizarre but enjoyable
i generally perceive this man to be a genius and I do love many of the shows he's been involved in. this programme is a little dated but nonetheless very enjoyable. Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2011 by CM
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