Seinfeld it ain't! (Baddiel's Syndrome)

Member Name: Captain Kidd

Product:	Baddiel's Syndrome
Date:	05/02/01 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny in places

Disadvantages: Slightly annoying

'Baddiel's Syndrome' is the first offering from David Baddiel in a role as writer and actor and is currently being shown at 10.00pm on Sky One.

I had high hopes of this show before it was aired as I had always liked Baddiel's work since his days with 'The Mary Whitehouse Experience', 'Newman & Baddiel, 'Fantasy Football League' and, more recently, 'Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned'.

To say I was underwhelmed by this show would be an understatement. It has a very familiar format, so familiar in fact, that it is a direct rip-off of 'Seinfeld' - something that no British actor/writer/comedian should even contemplate trying as they will immediateley fall flat on their face.

Baddiel plays the lead role ('David') alongside Morwenna Banks as the illegal immigrant housemaid 'Ava'. Other characters include the inconceivably irritating, American 'Ethan'. Could this character actually be any more cringeworthy?? 4 out of 5 of his lines start with "Like....." and end with an upward accent on the last word (you'll understand if you watch and listen to him!) And another character whose name I can't remember whose sole purpose is to issue upper class witicisms.

Baddiel himself, who doesn't look uncomfortable in an acting role, can't seem to deliver his lines without a hint of uncertainty which, sadly, makes him look rather wooden. Banks fairs rather better - maybe it's her Slovenian accent that covers it up.

I may be being a bit harsh as there are one or two good gags in the show, but on the whole, it is bland. Sorry Dave!

I'm sorry, but as a huge 'Seinfeld' fan, anything that comes even remotely close to copying the format just won't be able to do it justice. I will persever however as these things often get better with time such as 'Perfect World' and 'Black Books'.

Summary: