TV review: The Ginge, The Geordie and The Geek

It’s difficult to criticise sketch comedy; inherently it is a jumble of ideas thrown at a wall. Some stick and some slop to the floor in a puddle of confused premises and unoriginality.

The Ginge, The Geordie and The Geek debuted on BBC Two tonight, starring Graeme Rooney, Paul Charlton and Kevin O’Loughlin.

If you hadn’t guessed; one of them is ginger, another is a Geordie and the final one is a geek…apparently because he wears glasses…which definitely proves it.

Moving from their live shows to the TV screen for the first time, it was apparent that several of the sketches were indeed originally intended for the stage, including the dance numbers.

The live audience track felt slightly odd too, perhaps too loud, or too over powering, giving the whole thing the feel of a recorded stage show, without any of the charm that comes with it.

Full to the brim with pull back and reveals, some of the sketches went on that little bit too long with an anti-climactic titter worthy payoff, while others fell completely flat i.e. ‘spies not understanding women’ sketch.

It also felt a little dated, with references to James Blunt being in the army and a lot of jokes that tried to find humour in men being in any way feminine.

There were a couple of highlights, one of which stuck out; the big bad wolf forced to meet with his victims i.e. one of the little pigs and little red herself.

It was delightfully sinister, reminiscent in tone to the crack fox from the Mighty Boosh – and if they were a little bolder, it might have been just as funny too.

While the trio did give some good performances, and certainly threw themselves into the show with energy and enthusiasm, ultimately The Ginge, The Geordie and The Geek belong on stage – which is no bad thing at all.

The transfer to TV feels forced, and once there it doesn’t quite stack up against the likes of That Mitchell and Webb Look, The Armando Iannucci Shows or Rich Fulcher and Matt Berry’s Snuff Box.

The Ginge, The Geordie and The Geek airs Sundays, on BBC2, at 10pm.