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BBC’s new comedy, Life’s Too Short, produced in tandem with HBO, is the latest brainchild of writing duo Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais. Their genius is almost beyond argument, The Office changed the face of modern comedies and launched Gervais into the public consciousness. But is their latest offering any good?
The show revolves around Warwick Davis, played by Warwick Davis. Warwick suffers from spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, and as a result stands at 3 ft 6. The sitcom is a ‘mockumentary’, a genre, as with The Office, and focusses on the failing marriage and career of Warwick, together with his dire financial situation and troubled business (a talent agency for other little people). His character is essentially that of a small man with small man syndrome. Warwick has also deluded himself that he is a famous actor, but it turns out no one has seen Willow.
Before the show was released, Gervais and Merchant faced a barrage of criticism for making a show mocking little people. How people knew before the show was released is interesting, but they were certainly wrong. Davis’s character happens to be short. It is occasionally the source of the joke, but never the butt. In fact, the show has avoided the temptation (so far at least) for the cheap laugh of a shot of Davis stood near 6 ft 7 Merchant. The show does not shy away from confronting Warwick’s height, but through this it examines societies treatment of little people. When Warwick arrives at a restaurant for a date the Maitre D tells him his date is already here, and guides him to a fellow small person. This woman is Warwick’s date, but as he states, how could the Maitre D have known? Throughout the show we see the struggle of Warwick trying to live an independent life, not wanting to ask people for help.
All this is admirable, and sounds like the making of a great show, but it is not all good news. Firstly there are many uncomfortable moments of physical comedy. It is clear that Davis takes a fall wonderfully, and often these moments come just as his character has reached his big-headed zenith, working well to ground him. This was perfectly demonstrated in a scene where, Warwick, on a date, decided to try and impress another woman, and consequently fell backwards off of his chair, taking the table cloth with him. However, for each moment like this there are two where Davis simply falls out of his 4×4 or over something on the floor, creating an awkward moment where the viewer may question if it is okay to laugh. However, as I am sure Gervais and co would say, if a able bodied person fell in such a manner you would laugh, and so is not laughing because he is disabled in itself prejudicial?
As with Extras, Life’s Too Short is peppered with cameos, from Johnny Depp to Right Said Fred. The problem is that in Extras, the cameos sort of made sense. If you haven’t seen it, Gervais plays a struggling actor working as an extra who eventually writes a successful sitcom. As an extra he meets many famous actors on set, and then as a celebrity in his own right he meets people on similar terms. And there is Barry from Eastenders. Well, in
Life’s Too Short these cameos come from a variety of sources, from people Warwick works with to friends of Gervais. And there is Barry from Eastenders. Indeed, the cameo of Liam Neeson gave rise to one of the funniest, most excruciating scenes in the whole series. I do not want to spoil it for you, but Neeson seeks Gervais’ advice on a stand up career, in a very dead pan way.
However, I have one major problem with Life’s Too Short, and that is the supporting cast. The Office had a wonderful menagerie of believable characters, and Extras had Maggie and the other extras. Life’s Too Short has Merchant and Gervais, Warwick’s ex-wife and her lawyer / partner, Warwick’s accountant, and Warwick’s assistant Cheryl. Firstly Merchant and Gervais play a version of themselves; holier than thou big shot stars who appear to dislike Davis, but string him along nonetheless. The relationship with his ex could provide good material, he clearly still wants her back, and she has moved on to her divorce lawyer. In fact, thanks to Warwick’s behaviour it becomes easier and easier to empathise with his ex, and forgive her leaving him. His lawyer, is a slimy stereotype, found in countless comedies before. The real problems come in the shape of Warwick’s accountant Eric, and his assistant Cheryl. Eric is incompetent. He has left Warwick facing a huge tax bill, and is helping Warwick in his divorce, as they cannot justify spending money on a lawyer. However, Eric treats this as an opportunity to muck about with one of his two clients (‘well, three, I do my own books’). However the character lacks depth, and, regardless of his finances, it is inconceivable that Warwick would stick with Eric for so long. At the start of the series we see Warwick recruit Cheryl as his PA. She again, plays an idiot, with no grasp on the nuances of conversation, secrets or, apparently, her job. Whilst Rosamund Hanson, the actress behind Cheryl, has a great way of looking to the camera at times, reminding us that this is a ‘documentary’, the character again has no redeeming features. In fact, Cheryl is of so little use to Warwick it would be easier for him not to pay her and to do everything himself. Maybe that is the joke, but with Warwick surrounded by two similar characters, it does seem like overkill.
The reality is that, on its own merit, Life’s Too Short is not bad. It is not great, and certainly does not measure up to The Office or Extras, but it is not bad. The problem is it will inevitably be compared to The Office. Gervais and Merchant have had to carry the success of that show around with them like a tonne of Gold, and it is the (unachievable) benchmark by which all of their work is now judged.
Gary
“Most of Nevermind is packed with generic punk- pop that has been done by countless acts from Iggy Pop to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band has little or nothing to say, settling for moronic ramblings by singer – lyricist Cobain” – Steve Morse, Boston Globe 1991.
In 2005, the Library of Congress added Nevermind to the National Recording Registry, which collects culturally, historically or aesthetically important sound recordings.
In 1987 bassist Krist Novoselic and guitarist / vocalist Kurt Cobain formed a band. In 1990 they were joined by drummer Dave Grohl, replacing Chad Channing. The band was called Nirvana, and something huge was about to happen.
On 24th September 1991 the band released their second album, their first with Grohl. The album was called Nevermind. Two weeks earlier a single from the album, Smells Like Teen Spirit, was released. It was surprisingly successful. So much so that all of the copies of the album shipped to Northwest America sold out in no time. Geffen, Nirvana’s label, had to shut down printing of other records to react to the demand. Despite this, the album entered the Billboard chart at number 144. It was not an instant hit. However, Smells Like Teen Spirit was getting radio play, and was featured heavily on MTV. Driven by this, the success continued, with the album climbing to number 35 in the Billboard chart by November. Geffen had no idea what to do. They had an album that was a hit, without much promotion or marketing. It was simply unleashed on an audience who could not get enough. They sat back, and Nevermind took over. On 11th January 1992, Nevermind hit number 1 on the Billboard chart, unseating Michael Jackson. Since then the album has been certified diamond in the USA, and platinum twice in the UK. It was bigger than anyone could have imagined.
Nevermind has so far sold over 30 million copies worldwide. That figure continue to rise. You own a copy of Nevermind. If you don’t, you know 20 people that do. In fact, you are never more than 50 yards from a copy.
It is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential albums of the 1990’s. Rolling Stone placed it 17th in their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, ahead of any album by such legends as Bruce Springsteen and the godfather of grunge, Neil Young.
But why? Well, firstly it marked the break out into the mainstream of grunge, a genre encapsulating metal, punk and indie rock. Secondly, Nevermind was successful because of the music. It seems obvious, but if the album was not good, it would not have sold the quantities it has. Nevermind also captured the emotion of the youth of America and the west. Dealing with the breakdown of society, teenage angst, and the pressures of a class system Nirvana were able to say what many were feeling.
It seems cynical, but Nevermind, and the legacy of Nirvana, was helped by the tragic deathof Kurt Cobain, at just 27. His suicide marked the passing of a rock legend, in the ‘live fast, die young’ mould of many before him, such as Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones and Jim Morrison. All of these also died at 27. His passing at the peak of the band’s success also secured a place in the hearts of millions, whilst protecting their legacy.
Even the artwork is famous. The imagine of a naked baby swimming after a dollar on the end of a fishing line has become almost as iconic as the album. It fits perfectly with the disenfranchised view within and says more about the rampant capitalism of the time than many books addressing exactly that subject. It has even made a minor celebrity out of Spencer Elden, perhaps the most famous naked baby in the world.
On saturday Nevermind is 20 years old. There is to be a release of a special edition, withmore extras than you could possibly imagine. I must admit, I don’t remember its release. At the time I was 21 months old, and far more concerned with the exploits of Postman Pat, Fireman Sam and Thomas the Tank Engine than the explosion of seattle grunge music. I first heard the album in full when I was about 12. My cousin played it to me. I remember liking it, but with no idea why. It seemed chaotic, but with a perfect order. Quite verses preceded choruses of rock. Kurt’s expressive guitar playing was tethered by Krist’s incredible bass playing, and those drums! I bought a copy at 14. In those seven years I have listened to it relentlessly. I find myself drawn to it. Nevermind is a beautiful album, with a sound that has not aged, and lyrics still as potent as ever. It is a masterpiece, marking the union of three musicians who compliment each other perfectly.
On Saturday, I will be listening to Nevermind again, from Smells Like Teen Spirit right to the hidden track Endless Names. I urge you to join me.
Gary
‘Those who stand for nothing, fall for anything’, so wrote Alexander Hamilton, in the 18th Century and isn’t it really true today? This year have we stood up for what we believe?
Education
In 12 months of the ConDem regime we have lost a listening Secretary of State, replaced by one who has robbed us of Social Partnership and replaced it with dictat; examples include the E-Baccalaureate, canceling Building Schools for the Future, Academization and Free Schools. Academization is theft, why do schools need to trade to make profit? A school belongs to its community; Academies are being given to groups that have little in common with local people, with no local accountability. Despite what Ministers and some sections of the media say, Schools in the UK continue to improve, between 1995 and 2009, the number of Primary pupils achieving level 4 or 5 jumped from 45% to 79%. Parents know this as last year the number of 4 year olds starting Private school dropped by 5.2% at the same time fee increases were the lowest for 16 years. Why spend £1,000s when you have a perfectly good local State school? Some of us believe Free Schools have been created to save Private Education; this is borne out by the number of independent schools converting to Free Schools. If they are going to be so good then why are they allowed to employed unqualified teachers and basically set up anywhere?
Young Britain
Young people have also been directly betrayed; the removal of EMA, apprenticeships slashed, University places cut, fees increased and all this at a time of record youth unemployment. Then to say the Pupil Premium is new but top slice the budget used for every other child, do they think we are stupid? Similarities exist between the Con Dems and the Weevil in the flourmill, when the Weevil has gone what’s left isn’t fit to be used!
Banks
Interestingly, we now hear that it will take until 2019 to reform the banks that got us into this mess and yet it took only a matter of weeks to force major Education change though Parliament. The Robin Hood tax is set to be used in Europe, why not here? There is a Fox in charge of the henhouse. Who caused the most damage to the UK economy, the National Union of Mineworkers in the 1980’s or the Banks in the years leading up to 2008? Correct the Bankers, so how is it we don’t see Investment Bankers being arrested and put into Police vans in handcuffs? Do they really think we are stupid?
Pensions
On Pensions, after the 2005/6 changes the Audit Commission say the teachers’ scheme is already saving £1Billion so why force through changes such as a 50% increase in contributions which will go straight to the treasury which will amount to a tax on teachers who are already suffering as are many other workers; a pay freeze, increased VAT, National Insurance and cost of living rises. To add further insult to teachers, the Treasury still cannot provide information on the funding of the scheme! Negotiations continue but they are really a distraction, we hear that negotiators for one scheme have reported back to their Minister that they have reached agreement only to be told, ‘no you haven’t’! Yes you are right; they really think we are stupid.
Services
What happened to utilities in the 1980’s is happening again to Education and Health. We were told that once British Gas and the Electricity Industry were privatised then we could all own a ‘share’ of them, the point we missed is that when they were National Utilities we all did own them! The most appalling example of this is what they did to British Rail, if you have tried to travel on the railways since you will agree they are not fit for purpose, an excellent national asset has been reduced to an horrendously complicated mess. Then for a Tory Transport Minister to suggest they are a ‘rich man’s toy’ leaves most of us speechless, ‘of course they are mate and you lot created them’!
Health
It is without doubt that as a Nation the NHS is our greatest collective achievement and we should rightly feel proud. However the plans this Coalition has for the NHS come from a very dark place; removal of the cap on private work will lengthen waiting lists for the rest of us, the duty of the Coalition to provide a health service will disappear, also a “hands-off clause” removes the Coalition’s ability to control the system locally and therefore increasing ‘postcode lotteries’. The Lib Dems say they care and yet the Tories got their Health Bill through the Commons with a 65 majority. The really stupid thing is that people say they voted Lib Dem to keep the Tories out. They were right, we really are that stupid. Recently at the ‘save our NHS’ table in the high street one young woman, with a young baby, said she didn’t need to sign the petition as she didn’t use the NHS, when asked if that was so where did she give birth she replied the local hospital, but that doesn’t count
Media
It is said that the UK has the most right wing Press in Europe, whether or not this is true could be debated but it certainly does not have a free Media. This is not to say that it has a Media controlled by the Government of the day as in some countries, no it has a Media and Press controlled by a very small group of very rich men. These men know how stupid we are and constantly prove it with the way they play with public opinion.
Are we really this stupid?
The big question is why are we falling for all this? Don’t we believe in something better, universal high quality education for all, a fair and open society, safe and secure working environment, a health service free at the point of need and not for profit utilities that serve us. This autumn we need to stand for something and stand together. It is time, and now is the right time for the silent majority to act on the truth and be heard.
What do you stand for? ‘Those who stand for nothing, fall for anything.’
Chris
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