Sir Daily Show

So I saw it last night. Odd decision to repeat a topical news show after the news, opposite Newsnight and Question Time, on the busiest news day of – er- the year. THAT SAID:

The Format – Trev presents, with a panel to discuss items (similar to More 4’s The Last Word but less serious).

The Jokes – Mixture of standard pithy clip stuff, a few video manips but mainly autocue and over the the comedians.

The Comedians: Marcus Brigstock has done this before on his BBC4 Daily Show rip-off, and is OK. Unfortunately as a regular he was the weakest of the three. Uses glasses to pretend he is cleverer than he is though.
Reginald D.Hunter: Got all the big laughs (was often just repeating possible stand-up schtick) but definitely made it less cosy.
Clive Anderson: Gelled nicely, and was abrasive with McDonald stopping the format being too safe. We know he can do this sort of stuff, but his nervous delivery always makes things feel more rude and more live.

The prognosis? It actually wasn’t bad. I laughed a few times, and it was nowhere near as embaressing as, say, Get A Grip. They all seemed to be enjoying it, esp Trev, which made up for potential format flags. It is just a touch unfortunate that the non-regulars were the best thing on it.

Yes I fear Marcus B is the weak link – certainly on the show we saw. Obviously Trev’s schtick is the juxtaposition of serious newsreader and news, but he told his scripted jokes quite well and was happy to be a butt of the other stuff. The Racist and Dead segment was also nice because there was suddenly a bit of emotion in Trev’s delivery, hearing respected newsreader call Manning an offensive white bastard oddly gave the show the bite beyond the frippery.

(Apparently that comment got over 100 complaints. Well done.)

Here is someone who saw it being made:
http://joanies.vox.com/library/post/news-knight.html