Village idiot? Matt Lucas in Little Britain
Photograph: BBCChristmas comes this time each year, said the Beach Boys, and they were right on so many levels. Well, mainly one level. But it's a very important level.
And, let's face it, although they said "Christmas", they could so easily have been talking about the British Comedy Awards, couldn't they? Because they come round this time each year as well. Just in time to pump up the sales to desperate DVD buyers with no idea what their teenage relatives actually like, and to stimulate the saliva glands of anyone stuck in the middle of a family Christmas. Watching the very same programmes on TV, probably.
This year's shortlist (and you can read it in full here) seems to be a face-off between Extras and Little Britain. So tonight these two Beeb-babies will do battle for the most prizes. It's quite a battle: modern comedy that brings something new, different, and exciting; something that offers laughter and pathos. Yes, that's right, you've got all that on one side, and Little Britain on the other.
Sorry, I don't know what's happened to me, I used to be so fond of all things puerile: all things penis-, poo- and puke-related, but then something happened, and it means I just can't connect with the Little Britain thing. Oh! I remember! It was secondary school, that's what happened.
And while series one just about leapt the poo-gag-saturation-point barrier for me, series two and three have just nestled in next to it and started making grunting noises. I just don't get it. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't go over my head, more under my nose. And it just smells a little tiny little bit past its sell-by-date, ifyouknowwhatimsaying.
There are a few other quality shows that get a look-in, but sadly there's only tiddly acknowledgment of the utterly, utterly fabulous Peep Show, and really, the heavyweight titles are expected to walk away with it - one the carefully crafted comedy stylings of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant in Extras (although, let's face it, it didn't have to be that carefully crafted - after The Office they could have filmed themselves quietly cooking baked beans and it would be nominated for at least a dozen prizes), and the other two shouty men mugging in drag. Sorry, I mean Little Britain.
It's good to see the genius of Curb Your Enthusiasm highlighted in the Best International category, criminally hidden away in the TV schedules though it is. And it's always nice to see Ant and Dec nominated for Best Personality, recognising, as it does, precisely how many personalities they have between them.
But of course, that's all just my opinon. Many people like Little Britain a lot - some of them, surprisingly, whose testicles have actually dropped. It's a multi-award winning, bestselling, extremely popular show. Just like Benny Hill, right?
