If I can get serious about UK comedy and SNL UK for a moment...
Like many, I didn't have high hopes for SNL UK, then I watched it. I've loved it. It's a must watch for me now and I'm looking forward to September.
But I was trying to work out why it's so refreshing for me and I realised we just haven't had silly, energetic, cutting, sketch and character comedy like this on telly for ages in the UK.
Back in the 80s and 90s there were loads of character and sketch comedy on TV, from Harry Enfield to The Fast Show, Spitting Image, Vic and Bob, The Real McCoy, Goodness Gracious Me, Smack The Pony, The League of Gentleman, Jam, hell I'll even include things like Hale and Pace or even Russ Abbot in this.
But they seemed to disappear throughout the 00s and 10s largely replaced by panel shows like QI, 8 out of 10 Cats and the like, plus the rise of the sitcom after the success of The Office.
There are a few exceptions. Little Britain had its moments but was often punching down. Mitchell and Webb, felt more "clever" mild chuckle than laugh out loud.
But with that loss I feel like we lost some sort of shared language. Things we recognise, can quote and imitate with our friends. Parodies of things. We recognised Kevin the Teenager, imitated Suits You Sir or the Stott brothers. Scorchio! and You're my wife nooow Dave. John Major was defined by a puppet more than the actual politician. Going Out For An English was seminal.
All of these phrases were part of my and my friends' shared vocabulary for years, but not much new was added, apart from the small bright spot of Peter Serafinowicz's show.
So thank god for SNL UK. So many new shared characters and phrases that are just going to be folded in to my everyday now. Sir Keir has somehow humanised Keir Starmer a little for me. Meep meep. The Woman Who Can't Be Ignored. Feel The Rain On Your Schrempf. What is wrong with my fucking 'and? Raging Mario. 3 Glasses of Wiiiine. Irish Granda'. Shall We Get Started? Skin On Skin with your Dad. And so many others.
A specific example: Part of me wonders if Made In Chelsea has only got away with existing for so long because there was no one elsewhere on the telly creating Butt-cheeks and Bacon (again).
I hope this triggers a change in UK mainstream comedy. I'm glad to be here to witness it and I think we needed SNL for it to happen. Thanks Americans.
Thamericans.