Are You Laughing At Us Or With Us?
It's always fun to attend the recording of radio comedy shows, especially if that involves a live audience. The new series of Ellis & Clarke, for example, was recorded at Pacific Quay a few weeks ago and the producer has worked with our online team to provide a few extra treats from behind-the-scenes.
That includes part of the audience "warm-up" routine from Glasgow comedian Raymond Mearns (pictured below). This is a vital part of the process and that was never more true than the time we were recording in the public foyer and the automatic slide doors to the building malfunctioned. They began to emit a horrible high pitched squeak and we had no choice but to jam them open and allow the icy December wind to blast across the Clyde and straight into the audience seating area. Imagine all those eager listeners sittting in their coats, hats and gloves. Luckily we had a few sketches about Christmas so the atmosphere was appropriate.
Usually the warm-up is designed to get an audience in the mood for laughing out loud. Nods and smiles just don't cut it on the radio. I'm sure you know that.
The other thing that live audiences seem to love is when things go wrong. A fluffed line or mis-timed sound effect can often get as big a laugh as a gag from the actual script. This always annoys the writers who are usually sitting among the crowd going through mental somersaults of insecurity.
If you go to the Ellis & Clarke programme page you can hear examples of all of this.
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Comments
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I love the show and it's really very funny! However as an exponent of the Scots language I loved it when BBC Radio Scotland took a chance on Desperate Fishwives a while back - it was desperately funny! I really do hope it gets another airing.
Jeff - what are the chances of more Scots Language programming on the BBC generally? BBC Alba is all very well, but it has a Gaelic bias and we need to remember that there are not just two languages in Scotland, but three. The Scots language that I grew up hearing on my mother's side of the family is quite special and has it's own humour and subtleties. I think that given the chance most Scots can deal understand it and feel couthy whilst listening - even if they never speak it themselves. Of course, I would love it if there were some full-on Scots language programming, but even just something akin to the 'A Kist O Wurds' programming put out by Radio Ulster would be great. I'd be happy to help out, but remember you have the great Robbie Shepherd on tap if you need him - and I'm sure he would agree!
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Jim
We're hoping that Desperate Fishwives will be back at the end of the year and including a Christmas special. We've had various formats for Scots lanaguage including panel games...and there has been a themed Zone on Scots language which is bound to reappear. Thanks for the feedback.
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That's good to know! I did enjoy all of those programmes. Cheers Jeff!
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