Video killed the Radio Star...

[DanaC]

Or did it? Were there any witnesses? Maybe video was set up...



I have a vague recollection of starting a thread about radio shows a long time ago, but damned if I can find it. And it seems a bit of a cheat to keep posting these in the Brit Telly thread...

So, this is a thread to put radioshows that are interesting, funny, inspiring etc.

I don't really know what the radio landscape looks like over in America, but in the UK radio still has a strong presence in terms of comedy and drama. Yes, there are a lot of mainly music channels, or mainly talk channels, but there are also lots of radio plays, sitcoms, documentaries and comedy panel shows. In fact I'd say radio probably accounts for about half of the comedy I enjoy.


I'm going to intermittently add shows here. But what I'd really like is to hear what's out there in other places. Are there any cool little sketch shows on air in America or Australia? Any interesting documentaries, or interview shows? If so, please post!

Here's one that caught my attention whilst I was trawling about dah toob, looking for any Victoria Coren clips.

It's an old episode of a show called Heresy, hosted by Coren and in this episode features David Mitchell (now Coren's partner) as one of the guests, along with Diane Abbott (Labour politician) and Reverand Richard Coles (ex-member of The Communards pop group, now a Anglican vicar).



Cultural note: the Labour Party had a leadrship election in which two of the contenders were brothers (David and Ed Milliband) the brother everybody thought would win, lost. And his way less photogenic, less personable, generally less impressive brother Ed won the vote.

[DanaC]

Just so the Milliband jokes make sense:


David Milliband:




Ed Milliband:

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by DanaC

I don't really know what the radio landscape looks like over in America,

Barren, at least in the way you're meaning. We have tons and tons of music, and lots of serious talk radio--usually political, and usually on the AM band instead of FM--as well as the peculiar creature known as morning radio where a collection of 2-3 local DJs will talk about humorous everyday topics and news stories, hold quiz-like contests with callers, and occasionally have small-time guests on promoting something.

There is no such thing as fictional performance of anything, unless maybe NPR is rebroadcasting something from the UK.

[be-bop]

Sorry to change tack on your thread but I must state my opinion that Victoria Coren is such a babe **smitten sigh**

[Flint]

I don't know who that gal is, but she looks smart-hot.

I just ain't got no wood for dimwits.

[DanaC]

She is smart, and sexy and a world class competetive poker champion.

She's also very funny.

[Sundae]

"It's not psychic!"
Good girl.

[DanaC]

hahahah . You saw HIGNfY this week then?

I love Victoria Coren. Also her brother. He's damned hot.

[Sundae]

I did see Kirsty Young's unrestrained breasts wriggling about!
I spent far too long trying to work out whether she was wearing a bra (my guess is yes, but an inadequate one).

Now I have to stop myself Googling Coren's brother.
And 3..2..1...
Hmmm, dunno. He obviously has the smarts but I think I'd need an accent.
He reminds me of a certain Mr Dyson *

ETA just placed him (thanks Wiki) as the TV partner of Sue Perkins.
I'd do him if she came too

* Another Jewish man so I was in the right ballpark. Speaking of a whole race it's a pretty big ballpark though.

[Beest]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

Barren, at least in the way you're meaning. We have tons and tons of music, and lots of serious talk radio--usually political, and usually on the AM band instead of FM--as well as the peculiar creature known as morning radio where a collection of 2-3 local DJs will talk about humorous everyday topics and news stories, hold quiz-like contests with callers, and occasionally have small-time guests on promoting something.

There is no such thing as fictional performance of anything, unless maybe NPR is rebroadcasting something from the UK.

Indeed, market, therefore ad revenue, driven no room catering to a fringe market.

We are desperately seeking a good morning radio show, with some music, rock oriented, and some chat, but no the three bobble heads (two guys one gal) waffling is the formula.

"Wait, wait, don't tell me" on NPR is as far as I can tell,( haven't really listened to a show, it's on on Saturday mornings) would fit very well in the UK , being a current affairs satirical quiz.

When you say UK radio, you mean the BBC for the plays quizzes and discussions don't you?

Extorting a fee from every household and spending it on what people need rather than just what they want, sounds terrible.

[wolf]

American radio consists of music, more music, different music, music that claims to be different but is still the same music, news, and talk. Talk is further subdivided into sports-talk, right-talk, religious talk, left-talk (which is extremely rare, they tried a national channel that promptly went out of business). Most of the talk stations have to devote most of their weekend schedule to really awful infomercials for highly priced vitamin drink products that taste various kinds of awful.

News radio is a special beast all it's own. Most stations include some kind of news report, but there is usually a dedicated station that repeats the same stories over and over and over again but gives frequent updates for weather and traffic, which is mainly why people listen to those channels ... the news almost becomes filler between traffic and weather.

I enjoy radio drama, especially the mysteries, and occasionally find time to listen to classic radio.

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Beest

When you say UK radio, you mean the BBC for the plays quizzes and discussions don't you?

Extorting a fee from every household and spending it on what people need rather than just what they want, sounds terrible.

I do generally mean BBC yes. Though there are some fun shows on some commercial stations too. Absolute Radio for instance.

I don't really see the licence fee as 'extortion'.

[DanaC]

Ok, another radio show

Bleak Expectations

I love this. It started out in series one as a straight up spoof of Dickens. Then over four series it's tranmogrified into a kind of strange steam punk fantasy.

Very funny. Anthony Head as Mr Gently Benevolent (ironically a complete bastard) is brilliant. He also plays the journalist who spends the series taking down the elderly Pip Bin's life story.

Here's the beginning of the first series as a taster;

[Sundae]

Seeing as we're just appreciating radio, and it doesn't have to be intelligent...

I almost never miss Danny Baker on Five Live on Saturday mornings.
I might not listen all the way through, but he has excellent guests and I will use the Catch-Up service if I have to be out and about before they come on.
I rack my brains every week for anecdotes for his widely ranging topics, but so rarely have anything that comes close to those that are broadcast. Being a News/ Talk/ Sports station, the theme is usually sport-oriented, but being the BBC the standards are high and the laughs come frequently. Home of the Sausage Sandwich Game.

Before The Summer Of Sport trashed 5 Live's usual schedule I would then catch Fighting Talk with Colin Murray afterwards. Now even I cannot keep up with all the references. Not suggesting I am a super-brain, but they wander through a whole world of sport in detail - history, geography, tabloid spats, in-fighting, horse-racing to darts and curling to triple jump with a wholly British slant.

It's a panel show for pundits, journos and occasional sports-minded comedians. Generally irreverent, opinionated, biased and with a random scoring system (as many of the best panel shows).

[DanaC]

I don't often tune in, but I quite often listen to it on catchup. I love Danny Baker. He's so quick and clever. But never nasty.