Return of the living desk

by MATT QUARTERMAINE

Good News Week, Channel Ten Mondays at 8.30, returned to television on a different channel (It was ABC) and in a longer format.

A bunch of funny people and celebrities attack the week's news with gusto in the guise of obscure hints in the form of pictures mimes and questions. The good new is it's still funny, but overstays its welcome.

Points are given willy-nilly as the teams attempt obscure quiz questions in order to lead to McDermott written monologues. Cherub cheeked McDermott comperes the anarchy that ensues and delivers his jokes with a naughty grin. He seems positively sedate next to the yelling frenzy of the panel. Mikey Robbins and Claire Hooper are the captains of the two competing teams. The "captain" role is obscure as there doesn't appear to be any leadership qualities other than saying, "Yes, that is our answer".

Claire Hooper is personable and funny, but struggles to get a word in with the "I'm-funniest-first" frenzy. Mikey Robbins is the old school funny bloke who knows every old joke in the book and will read from any page available. He's quick witted, but has a penchant for toilet humour.

The episode I watched had the guest panellists Charlie from Hi Five, Ross Noble, Akmahl Saleh, and Dicko. Charlie was pleasant enough and looked cute, but doesn't appear to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, although at least her restraint was endearing. Dicko was a pleasant surprise, being droll and having plenty of pop culture expertise. Akmahl is amusing with a stilted delivery and an everyman earthiness to his jokes. Noble is the funny pom who doesn't know the name of the Australian Prime Minister, which might be bizarre for a topical show, but his lateral humour is distinct and entertaining. My problem with Noble isn't his humour - he's funny - it just doesn't know when to stop. Is it really ad-libbing if you say everything that's in your head?

The spirit of generosity doesn't run rampant as the panel clamber over each other to get a word in. It's breakfast radio with stilted visuals and an enthusiastic audience. The quiz show element of the show is pointless, but having a funny round table discussion would mean it's The Panel.

Good News Week is done with a sense of naughtiness that is endearing, but the constant jumping on each others lines and trumping the last person's joke means it's a very loud show. The cast seem to be having a great time, which should translate to my lounge room more often than it does. Everybody cheers and applauds themselves endlessly, which in its shorter format was tolerable, but over an hour the cast circle the jokes and repeat them endlessly. The expanded format also means there is less chance to edit out the groaners and dull moments.

The young 'uns will like it, but someone should hand out the valium before the show and let the panel know that louder is not funnier.

This story first appeared in Big Issue.

4 April 2008

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