Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

[Rackhir]

Hey Rackhir, give it one last chance!

Caught the first two episode, still think it's "eh". I can appreciate the satirical elements, but it just isn't that funny to me.

 

[Tuzenbach]

Caught the first two episode, still think it's "eh". I can appreciate the satirical elements, but it just isn't that funny to me.

So, you found neither "Hell Hath Fury" nor "Skipper The Eye Child" (my personal favorite from the series) to hold humour? Well, I suppose it's a case of "to each his own".

But hey, I'll give you credit for at least "trying" to like it!

I just hope the show generates enough of a following in the US for a DVD release. So far, nothing on the radar. And Sci-Fi isn't helping the matter any by moving its timeslot to "very late on a night preceeding the start of the work/school week".

 

[Rackhir]

So, you found neither "Hell Hath Fury" nor "Skipper The Eye Child" (my personal favorite from the series) to hold humour?

It's not that it's completely devoid of anything entertaining, its more that it never gets beyond "Oh, that was mildly cute."

 

[Tuzenbach]

It's not that it's completely devoid of anything entertaining, its more that it never gets beyond "Oh, that was mildly cute."

So, the concept of the "half-boy, half-grasshopper who never stood a chance" was only mildly cute? When the flashbacks & song happened, I was on the floor! Especially the ending part about them all meeting in Valhala!!!

I'm curious as to what you consider "on the floor" funny.

 

[Villano]

I just hope the show generates enough of a following in the US for a DVD release. So far, nothing on the radar.

According to Wikipedia:

Darkplace originally aired in 2004 and viewing figures were fairly poor, which is possibly why a second series has not been commissioned by Channel 4. However, the channel's cinema division Film Four have asked Holness and Ayoade to write a script for a movie version of their programme, and it has gained quite a significant cult following. Also to come is a long-awaited DVD of the first series; the production of which has been spurred on by the emergence of bootleg 'Darkplace' DVDs on internet auction sites. The following special features have been promised for the DVD, originally to be released on July 3, 2006 but now apparently delayed until early 2007:

Commentaries to all episodes
Deleted scenes
Test footage
Original ‘One Track Lover’ Single (Extended Version)
Over an hour of extra talking heads
Photo galleries
Original radio ads
Original storyboards and storyboard to scene comparisons

Also, something else of interest to Darkplace fans...

Man to Man with Dean Learner is a British comedy chat show to be broadcast on Channel 4 in 2006. It is currently in production and features the characters Dean Learner and Garth Marenghi, played by comedians Richard Ayoade and Matthew Holness.

Originally called Deano's After Dark, the show features Dean Learner (Ayoade), of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, chatting to a range of guests including Merriman Weir and Garth Marenghi played by Ayoade's co-writer, Matthew Holness.

Holness and Ayoade spent time testing out material in front of a live audience in December 2005; the show involved Ayoade fixed in the role of smut-peddling presenter Dean Learner and Holness playing various different characters. These included a sci-fi — or "S.F.", as he preferred it — actor with a new biography detailing his extremely close relationship with a director; folk musician (Holness is a fairly adept guitarist) Merriman Weir, who has a penchant for rather dark songs; and another actor, who delivered a chilling (presumably mainly improvised) monologue.

Holness' main role was back in the shoes of Garth Marenghi, in an interview between the two leading characters. Marenghi described a near-death experience in which he was crushed to the size of a midget by a giant version of his own head whilst filming the feature-length Darkplace motion picture. He was still recovering at the time of the interview, walking with the aid of a walking stick, but stretched back to an approximation of his former height.

Bafta Nominated composer Andrew Hewitt — who scored Darkplace — will also be back to score sections of Man to Man.

The show is planned to be screened on this summer to coincide with the release of the Garth Marenghi's Darkplace DVD. It is being recorded in London in May and June.

So, there will be a DVD release, a movie, and a Dean Learner talk show. Granted, it's Wikipedia, but I'm hoping it's all true.

 

[trancejeremy]

I thought the first episode they showed last night was fairly funny. But they overplayed it - having things on obvious strings is funny - having one of the actors go on talking about how you can see the strings is not.

But the 2nd one, with the grasshopper kid, eh.

 

[Rackhir]

So, the concept of the "half-boy, half-grasshopper who never stood a chance" was only mildly cute? When the flashbacks & song happened, I was on the floor! Especially the ending part about them all meeting in Valhala!!!

I'm curious as to what you consider "on the floor" funny.

Coupling "I have the key to paradise, but I've got TOO MANY LEGS TO GET IN!"

Police Squad "Tonight's Special guest Star - William Shatner!"

The Tick "Hello Tick. I'm your mind. Sorry I haven't been around much, but I'm easily distracted by shiny objects.:"