We started to watch this the other night and after 15 minutes, my fiancée turned to my and said "this is sh1%, I am going to sleep". Not exactly constructive criticism, but to the point and all too accurate. This was tortuously unfunny, which is sad because I really wanted to like it. The two leads are so funny and likable in Gavin and Stacey- but this is a sketch show, a totally different animal. The writing, performing and set up is different to a sitcom series, and the decision to apparently give them creative control has got to be questioned on this debacle. I have to question who was watching the sketches and nodding approval? They should have been offering advice or telling them straight "this isn't going to work, it's just not funny". If you look at recent sketch show success (and there isn't a lot) such as Little Britain, The Fast Show, Harry Enfield and chums and compare them to this, they are poles apart. New (better) writers and less "yes men" required and I fear the new film "Lesbian Vampire Killers" will be as poor. Corden and Horne's stock is currently high, but will not remain so if they keep this up. Awful.
13 Reviews
Awful sketch show
DavidYZ24 April 2017
This BBC Three sketch show was broadcast in 2009. It's a badly-written, badly-acted mess that repeats jokes which were worse than mediocre the first time.
After the success of Gavin and Stacey, two of its actors, Mathew Horne and James Corden, tried to become a comedy duo. They failed miserably at that.
After the success of Gavin and Stacey, two of its actors, Mathew Horne and James Corden, tried to become a comedy duo. They failed miserably at that.
It wasn't THAT bad...
IndecisivePigeon9 May 2009
It was OK i guess, i wasn't really expecting much. I'm a 15 year old girl so i thought i would give the show a try and see how it was. The majority of my friends hated it.
The series has finished now and its quite forgettable as i'm struggling to pick out a funny scene.
I was kind of disappointed with the show actually, i liked them both in Gavin and Stacey but this wasn't as funny as i wanted it to be. The same with the movie. Which i was reluctant to see.
If you like repetitive, ongoing jokes you will enjoy this show, but overall it's just OK.
The series has finished now and its quite forgettable as i'm struggling to pick out a funny scene.
I was kind of disappointed with the show actually, i liked them both in Gavin and Stacey but this wasn't as funny as i wanted it to be. The same with the movie. Which i was reluctant to see.
If you like repetitive, ongoing jokes you will enjoy this show, but overall it's just OK.
I can't believe it's comedy
VictorianCushionCat26 March 2009
Firstly I'll confess to being one of those strange people who don't think that Gavin and Stacey is the most wonderful sitcom in history, but as much as I could do, I tried out Horne and Corden with as open a mind as possible.
I need not of bothered, I can sum it up by saying throughout the shows I've seen, my mouth has literally dropped open in amazement, at just how unfunny and lame this show is.
The 'studio' segments are dismal only serving to show up James Corden as a deeply irritating 'man of the moment' and sadly once into the sketch parts, it doesn't improve. Numerous 'ha ha look at Corden's belly jokes' are bad enough but the 'gay northern reporter' is comedy reaching a new low.
I'm all for offensive comedy personally, but to work it really has to be funny, nothing I saw in this debacle reached that level.
I need not of bothered, I can sum it up by saying throughout the shows I've seen, my mouth has literally dropped open in amazement, at just how unfunny and lame this show is.
The 'studio' segments are dismal only serving to show up James Corden as a deeply irritating 'man of the moment' and sadly once into the sketch parts, it doesn't improve. Numerous 'ha ha look at Corden's belly jokes' are bad enough but the 'gay northern reporter' is comedy reaching a new low.
I'm all for offensive comedy personally, but to work it really has to be funny, nothing I saw in this debacle reached that level.
Complete trash
communistleprechaun9 April 2009
I'm angry at myself for a start here, after falling in love with the show "Gavin and Stacey" I, very stupidly, got very hyped for this. Needless to say, it did not satisfy my hype. Although just to make clear, I am not judging this as bad simply in comparison to "Gavin and Stacey", as a stand alone show I found this utterly unbearable.
My main gripe with this show is the fact that it seems so awkward all the time. Every single scene, it seemed like they just weren't comfortable with their parts and of course, didn't pull it off well. Add this to the fact that, at least as a comedic duo, there is no chemistry between the two lead actors, it just makes it incredibly hard for what I imagine would be a lot of people.
In my opinion, they neither got the acting right or the writing. Maybe if they had got better writers on the show, then it could have been a far better show. Although, even with the best writers, I just don't see Matthew Horne and James Corden as a suitable duo for a sketch show.
My main gripe with this show is the fact that it seems so awkward all the time. Every single scene, it seemed like they just weren't comfortable with their parts and of course, didn't pull it off well. Add this to the fact that, at least as a comedic duo, there is no chemistry between the two lead actors, it just makes it incredibly hard for what I imagine would be a lot of people.
In my opinion, they neither got the acting right or the writing. Maybe if they had got better writers on the show, then it could have been a far better show. Although, even with the best writers, I just don't see Matthew Horne and James Corden as a suitable duo for a sketch show.
It Ain't No Gavin And Stacy!
impossiblecreature12 March 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Last night I turned on BBC3 a few minutes before this was due on. I had been looking forward to it all week, to my disappointment I sat though 25 minutes of total rubbish television.
The show started with them standing in front of a live studio audience and James Corden running around like a hyper 10 year old which was just pointless, then it got to the sketches dear god the sketches why oh why! First of all all the sketches were just just stupid and had non of the charm or intelligence that Gavin And Stacy did. The connection between Horne And Corden seemed non existent unlike that of Alan Carr and Justin Lee Collins or Ant and Dec. Most of the sketches were about how fat James Corden is which gets real boring and its so unimaginative and the others were just stupid, I thought it would be interesting to see them do their sketch to the audience but that was so dumb and childish how to draw a "cock" as they put it was distasteful and went on for far to long. Overall its such as shame because I am now doubtful whether their journey into the realm of film with Lesbian Vampire Killers is going to be worth watching or not.
P.S if your reading this Horne and Corden BRING BACK GAVIN AND STACY!
The show started with them standing in front of a live studio audience and James Corden running around like a hyper 10 year old which was just pointless, then it got to the sketches dear god the sketches why oh why! First of all all the sketches were just just stupid and had non of the charm or intelligence that Gavin And Stacy did. The connection between Horne And Corden seemed non existent unlike that of Alan Carr and Justin Lee Collins or Ant and Dec. Most of the sketches were about how fat James Corden is which gets real boring and its so unimaginative and the others were just stupid, I thought it would be interesting to see them do their sketch to the audience but that was so dumb and childish how to draw a "cock" as they put it was distasteful and went on for far to long. Overall its such as shame because I am now doubtful whether their journey into the realm of film with Lesbian Vampire Killers is going to be worth watching or not.
P.S if your reading this Horne and Corden BRING BACK GAVIN AND STACY!
Thoroughly ignorable, frustratingly unfunny.
ajcstevenson25 March 2009
Not only because of the puerile, idiotic subject matter of the sketches but also because of the simple lack of comedy are Horne and Corden utterly depraved and without hope walking alone in the comedy world. A degree of skill in comedic acting of course does not imply a skill in comedic writing, Horne & Corden being the perfect example. How the two ended up with creative control
well, I shudder to think how the producers couldn't seem to tell them that the material being filmed just wasn't funny. I disliked it from episode one but I gave it a fighting chance. However, instead of fighting it floundered, and not once in three episodes have I laughed. And don't get me wrong, I'm a fun guy. I'll crack a smile at the worst of times, only Horne & Corden was worse than I thought possible. And it's a shame, too. I really was prepared to like it. I like them both so much. Or at least I thought I did.
The sketch show is of course a dangerous beast, the best some do is pack a decent amount of laughs into the first few episodes before the whole affair gets stale, but these two idiots have managed to produce a purely depressing programme in which the sketches drag on with no real jokes of any possible identification. Sit through a Xander sketch and try not to squirm. Switch off as the two morons dressed in super hero outfits ramble on about God-knows-what, but it sure as hell isn't funny. Then turn off the TV.
This programme would have been thoroughly ignorable if it hadn't been for the BBC's hype of it and the popularity of Gavin and Stacy.
The sketch show is of course a dangerous beast, the best some do is pack a decent amount of laughs into the first few episodes before the whole affair gets stale, but these two idiots have managed to produce a purely depressing programme in which the sketches drag on with no real jokes of any possible identification. Sit through a Xander sketch and try not to squirm. Switch off as the two morons dressed in super hero outfits ramble on about God-knows-what, but it sure as hell isn't funny. Then turn off the TV.
This programme would have been thoroughly ignorable if it hadn't been for the BBC's hype of it and the popularity of Gavin and Stacy.
Absolutely pitiful.
co010c665014 March 2009
This truly was 30 min of dismal, dreary, pathetic, amateurish, puerile drivel. A series of tedious, unfunny 'comedy' sketches which feel as though they were knocked up on the back of a fag packet by 2 blokes who clearly see themselves as national treasures. It would appear that they were given licence by the producers to do their own thing in this attempt to showcase their 'comedic' talents and this has proved to be a big mistake. The fat one in particular seems to think that the sight of him being semi-naked is hilariously funny as he seldom resists the opportunity to strip off and start wobbling his sumo-sized belly. Oh my ribs. The end result is a miserable failure that's about as funny as a dose of food poisoning. Watch this at your peril.
Pinnacle of comedy.
godsend-conspirator1 April 2009
I quite enjoyed Gavin and Stacey, so I was looking forward to seeing the two boys with their own sketch show. "What could go wrong?" I asked myself. And the answer, was nothing. From the joke where the fat one wobbles his belly to the joke where the thin one rolls around on the fat one, I was in creases for the entirety of the first episode. By the time second episode came around, I was a little cautious - could they have lost their touch? Would the material have gotten stale after the first, mindblowing, series of sketches? It was a worry, to be sure!
Once again, however, I was not disappointed. This time around, the fat one and the thin one were being superheroes, with an hilarious homosexual subtext as the fat one hugged the thin one for a clearly uncomfortable length of time, and touched his leg as well. But, even should this prove a little too "close-to-the-bone", as it were, for some viewers - fear not. There were still some classic moments, such as the sketch where the fat one wobbled his belly again, or the camp news reporter getting into all sorts of sticky situations - much to the dismay of his boss back in the studio!!
I'm four episodes in now and I can't wait until next week's. I hope the fat one and the thin one do some dancing again, because that was just the bee's knees of comedy. The only complaint I have is that I could not be in the audience for the studio section - Fingers crossed for a season 2!!!
Once again, however, I was not disappointed. This time around, the fat one and the thin one were being superheroes, with an hilarious homosexual subtext as the fat one hugged the thin one for a clearly uncomfortable length of time, and touched his leg as well. But, even should this prove a little too "close-to-the-bone", as it were, for some viewers - fear not. There were still some classic moments, such as the sketch where the fat one wobbled his belly again, or the camp news reporter getting into all sorts of sticky situations - much to the dismay of his boss back in the studio!!
I'm four episodes in now and I can't wait until next week's. I hope the fat one and the thin one do some dancing again, because that was just the bee's knees of comedy. The only complaint I have is that I could not be in the audience for the studio section - Fingers crossed for a season 2!!!
excruciating
shaunmahaffey19 March 2009
I've always felt that Horne and Corden are overrated in the flavour of the month Gavin and Stacey but it seems they are beginning to believe their own hype.
This " sketch show" represents the nadir in a shameful line of allegedly comic failures the BBC has produced in recent years.
The arrogance of the duo is that anything they do is funny and they don't really have to try..they're not the first TV celebrities to think this of themselves and they probably won't be the last.
The thing is: fat people are not intrinsically funny, homosexuals are not intrinsically funny.
The thin one is not funny and quite dour but he is not offensive.The fat one is just downright annoying.He has no talent at all.
Avoid...and pray they don't get a second series.
This " sketch show" represents the nadir in a shameful line of allegedly comic failures the BBC has produced in recent years.
The arrogance of the duo is that anything they do is funny and they don't really have to try..they're not the first TV celebrities to think this of themselves and they probably won't be the last.
The thing is: fat people are not intrinsically funny, homosexuals are not intrinsically funny.
The thin one is not funny and quite dour but he is not offensive.The fat one is just downright annoying.He has no talent at all.
Avoid...and pray they don't get a second series.
Some highs but a lot of lows.
Lopez783 November 2011
First of all I would like to say if your a Gavin and Stacy fan it doesn't mean your going to like this. If anything you will probably feel more disappointed than someone like me who never got into it. This is because you probably have become fond of the duo and anything they do from now on will not compared to the hit BBC series.
Horne and Corden is a sketch show so if your not a fan of shows like Little Britain or The Fast Show steer well clear! The show itself shouldn't be talked about in the same vein as those just mentioned as these shows are in a different league.
The program itself is aimed at young adults and isn't the kind of thing your parents are going to enjoy. The main problems I found with the show was that there were parts that failed miserably. At these points I think a lot of people switched off and then told there mates that "It was crap!". Like any sketch show getting into the characters is essential and the more you see them the more familiarly and funny they get but this show didn't have enough of these strong characters. Each week there was a array of new characters that didn't always work.
There were a lot of very funny bits for example the Anti-Gun crime live piece was great and the Xander character was really original. Overall it had some highs and a lot of lows. They could of put the good stuff into three really good episodes, instead they made six.
Horne and Corden is a sketch show so if your not a fan of shows like Little Britain or The Fast Show steer well clear! The show itself shouldn't be talked about in the same vein as those just mentioned as these shows are in a different league.
The program itself is aimed at young adults and isn't the kind of thing your parents are going to enjoy. The main problems I found with the show was that there were parts that failed miserably. At these points I think a lot of people switched off and then told there mates that "It was crap!". Like any sketch show getting into the characters is essential and the more you see them the more familiarly and funny they get but this show didn't have enough of these strong characters. Each week there was a array of new characters that didn't always work.
There were a lot of very funny bits for example the Anti-Gun crime live piece was great and the Xander character was really original. Overall it had some highs and a lot of lows. They could of put the good stuff into three really good episodes, instead they made six.
Superb, but not if you're looking for Gavin and Stacey
ningmoss18 March 2009
I'd heard dreadful things about the first episode of Horne and Corden, but having watched the second episode I thought that it was hilarious. For sure if you're a Gavin and Stacey fan looking for more of the same, then this isn't for you. Admittedly, the beginning of the program isn't the best bit, when the pair introduce the show, but I think the sketches are very funny, and I laughed out aloud loads. Perhaps they would have been better if they kept it as a straight sketch show, with a bit less of the 'live' performance in front of a studio audience (who were kept behind barriers!). A good start and hopefully they'll keep it coming, as I'll keep watching.
Worst Sketch Show Ever?
chris-foxx19 March 2009
No. But with the amount of hype given to it by the BBC this falls WAY short of what is expected. I watched the first episode and gave it a second chance this week, out of hope more than expectation. I won't be watching next week.
Lazy homophobia, fat jokes, lack of gags, Horne is utterly charmless. The Gervais sketch was appropriate given that Horne is attempting to become a Gervais/Pegg facsimile himself.
I'd go as far as to say this program is the nadir of the British sketch show. Hopefully it'll act as a ground zero for genuine talent - not 'rising stars' who are given a vehicle and carte blanche and produce such depressing rubbish.
Did you catch the first two episodes of Horne & Corden? I did. FML.
Lazy homophobia, fat jokes, lack of gags, Horne is utterly charmless. The Gervais sketch was appropriate given that Horne is attempting to become a Gervais/Pegg facsimile himself.
I'd go as far as to say this program is the nadir of the British sketch show. Hopefully it'll act as a ground zero for genuine talent - not 'rising stars' who are given a vehicle and carte blanche and produce such depressing rubbish.
Did you catch the first two episodes of Horne & Corden? I did. FML.
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