Rob Gilroy: Making A Stand #53

This has led me to think about how I view comedy and I’ve found that I’m pretty damn snobby.

I’m better than I used to be, but even now I find myself avoiding certain shows based on little more than one of the actors, or the fact it’s opening credits use Helvetica.

These pointless prejudices stop me from watching the shows but who am I really hurting; the programme makers or me? While no doubt the industry thrives on viewing figures, I think the real answer to that question is ‘me’.

Comic snobbery is always present and non-more so than in the battle between studio audience sitcoms and single camera shows.

Every time Mrs Brown has a new boy or Parks has a new recreation – people are quick to try work out which format is better. It is a pointless, futile debate and one I stopped putting any weight on.

Studio sitcoms have always been funny. They have also been terrible. The exact same can be said of single camera comedies, sketch shows, panel shows and Noel Edmonds vehicles.

The format isn’t important; it’s down to how good the show is. There’s no point disliking something just because you can hear people laughing, unless it’s dangerous misuse of Nitrous Oxide.

The same goes for disliking a sitcom because it’s on BBC 3 or because it has an ex-Soapstar Superstar contestant in it. If it makes you laugh then surely it’s worth it? It seems an obvious point but one that is easy to forget.

Some of my favourite comedies were ones I happened across by accident. What’s to stop these shows from being the same? Maybe it’s time to give them a chance.

It goes back to that old saying; “Don’t book a judge by the cover”. And that’s the problem with snobbery – often when you’re hiring a magistrate you focus on the level of insurance you need.

Don’t be a snob, love comedy.

Pages: 1 2