The Fast Show (Fast Show, The)

Member Name: polydeuces

Product:	Fast Show, The
Date:	10/08/08 (42 review reads)
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The Fast Show has now ended but it will live on in the memory for a long time. It will of course continue to be shown in repeats and on satellite for years to come. Many of the sketches though have already become very familiar due to the excellence of the writing, the performances of the acting principles, the characters they created and of course the catchphrases which are etched into our sub-conscious.

After his success as support to Harry Enfield, and it has to be said his increasing knack of stealing the show with Enfield, Paul Whitehouse was the leading performer in The Fast Show. From the subtle underplaying of the gardener Ted to the geezer Dave who would nick anything and of course as one of the Gents outfitters to whom everything 'Suits You Sir' Whitehouse is a brilliant comedy actor. Whitehouse portrays his laconic characters to perfection and his timing and the quality of his writing make him one of the funniest men on TV. A shame his recent drama comedy was such a boring load of tosh. Charlie Higson was also excellent in the Ralph and Ted sketches which was so subtle it seemed out of place in the quickfire parts around.
John Thomson too has a superb way of acting. He has an apparently effortless style as can be seen in his Jazz Club presenter (Nice) and his actor in makeup preparation (after 5 hours in makeup he dons a ridiculous wig to complete his transformation). He has a superb dead-pan delivery which makes the funny side shine through. Simon Day also grew in stature with his excellent portrayal of a jealous former comedy star Tommy Cockles and as a mad misguided eco-warrior. His competitive dad ran superbly through the series until in the last show the son told competitive dads father off. This was comedy at its best. Poignant and real.

There were also sketches presenting everyday events ending in the catch phrase Which Was Nice, the spoof South American TV station with weather girl Caroline Aherne and the perpetual Scorchio forecast, Jesse and his diets (This year I will be mostly eating....) or later his couture. There was the man who always refused to conform to the conversation and on realising his error withdrew saying I'll get me coat'. There was an amorous car salesman Swiss Tony to whom everything could be explained as an analogy of making love to a beautiful woman. The list goes on and on.
The final show even included a guest appearance by Johnny Depp who was a huge fan of the show. Although the sketch involving the Suits You characters did not fully come off it was worth trying.

The Fast Show though could not go on indefinitely and on occasions it got a little repetitive. Some of the differentiation in the sketches was not sufficient to create a new gag. The impression sometimes came in that you were being told the same joke but with the words slightly rearranged. Some fill-in parts like the family running around with their cases or the man imploring a stream to race away were little more than devices to break up the action.
However I am perhaps being a little too unkind if I were to concentrate on a few minor negatives against such an overwhelming display of originality in writing and characterisation. Add to that the performances of the actors and The Fast Show is probably one of the greatest sketch shows ever.

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