Armstrong & Miller & their mate Steve (Armstrong and Miller Show, The)

Member Name: buttonman

Product:	Armstrong and Miller Show, The
Date:	22/01/01 (1640 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Witty,funny and rude

Disadvantages: Move those jugs!

The fourth series of this show is presently running on Channel Four,the first two having been seen on the Paramount comedy channel.The series stars and is principally written by Ben Miller and Alexander Armstrong,both of whom will be familiar to most in their more mainstream roles.Armstrong stars in the BBC1 comedy 'Beast' whilst Miller was in BBC2's 'Attachments'amongst many other credits.

It's refreshing that while they enjoy mainstream success that they are willing to take part in this alternative and often subversive show.The duo like most of their contemporaries started out on stage and were destined for stardom when they won Edinburgh Fringe's Perrier award.I first noticed them in their late night show on Paramount which although hit and miss never failed to keep your attention.

Channel Four clearly saw potential and despite the same sketch show format more writers and bigger budgets means the show is more consistantly funny.The sketches have returning characters although they do avoid the 'Fast Show' philosiphy of having each in every show.Favourites from the early shows which can still be seen on satelite include 'Parsons and Lamkin...and Lamkin's mate Steve' a pair of 'Professionals' style cops who were always undone by an annoying friend turning up and Swedish rock gods Stryker with their outlandish looks and more outlandish views.

Old favourites still appearing include those saucy vets of 'Nude Practice'.This concerns a group of vets who for some unexplained reason work in the buff.Rude bits are mostly covered with teapots etc,but these sketches never fail to raise a titter.The lovely Sarah Alexander regularly appears in these sketches and previous guest stars include Melinda Messenger who did'nt fit in as she kept her bra on!.

Of the new crop of characters my favourite is Jack Force.In his show 'Force on the case' those dull detective shows are
ripped to bits.Jack is an alcoholic bookselling former detective who bumbles about fantasy cases whilst peeing in his neighbour's letterbox.He is assisted by his imaginary friend Chuffy who never speaks and wears a Casey Jones style train driver's suit.Sounds mad and it is.

Other regulars include a dedicated teacher whose compassion ends when the bell rings and a spoof of 'Big Brother' where two men are hosed down for nine weeks.One off sketches also appear and a recent one about male models roaming free in the woods was a classic.

The show is a bit near the knuckle with plenty of swearing and occassional nudity - see you there!.You'll find it on Channel Four at 9.30 on Friday,just before 'Fraiser',and it really should'nt be missed.

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