Laughter in the dark

January and February bring with them the usual glut of depressingly inevitable irritants – the post-Xmas spell of penury, the awful weather, Fine Gael’s half-arsed attempts at resembling a political party. But do not abandon all hope, ye who enter year, for there is a much more noble New Year’s tradition to celebrate: top class new comedy shows discreetly tucked away in the Channel 4 and BBC 2 schedules.

Two programmes to look out for are The Richard Taylor Interviews and Marion And Geoff. The former show was one of the more engaging experiments to emerge from the hit-and-miss Comedy Lab series, and sees the little-known Mark Dolan taking advantage of his anonymity to gleefully subvert the job interview process.

Dolan’s triumphs to date include convincing a management consultant to extemporise a business philosophy based on a shit in a jar (that’s a shit in a jar), and successfully encouraging an aspiring teacher to viciously critique Einstein’s special theory of relativity. One of the most inventive comedy programmes this writer has happened upon in some time, The Richard Taylor Interviews continues its run on Wednesday nights on Channel 4.

Marion And Geoff, meanwhile, has now had its old ten minute slot stretched into a full half-hour. That the show works at all in its new format – never mind its status as one of the most richly detailed character studies currently showing on TV – is one hell of an achievement, given the fact that throughout, the camera remains firmly rooted to the dashboard in the central character’s car.

You’d scarcely notice though, such is the brilliance with which Rob Brydon essays his part. Seperated from his wife Marion, our hero chaffeurs around a spoilt American brat, all the while bemoaning the break-up of his marriage, lambasting his wife’s new partner Geoff, and pining for his kids. The first episode contained any number of subtly delivered comic gems – try this one on for size: “I’ve been thinking about giving Marion a ring, but it wouldn’t be right. Wouldn’t be legal either.” Marion And Geoff can be seen on Wednesday nights at 10 o’clock on BBC 2.

Chris Morris fans should note that the elusive comic’s first foray into filmmaking, the intriguingly-titled ten-minute short, My Wrongs # 8245-8249, is set to receive a DVD relese courtesy of Warp Records. Based on a sketch from Morris’ brilliant late-night radio series, Blue Jam, My Wrongs features 24 Hour Party People star Paddy Considine as a man so out of control of his own life he gets taken for a walk by his dog. Extras include remixes of the film and soundtrack from internet-based cut-up specialists Cartel Communique and Osymyso. Meanwhile, the word on the Morris grapevine is that a DVD release of his controversial 2000 TV venture Jam is also imminent.

Finally, Laughlines was present recently when its favourite Irish comedian, the ever fearless Dave McSavage, ran into one of his intermittent spots of crowd-related aggro during a street performance in Temple Bar. Annoyed at the noise emanating from a certain worse-for-wear looking member of the audience, McSavage pleaded for quiet, whilst acknowledging that the troublesome gentlemen, “may be finding things tough without the methadone.”

Taking issue with the comment, McSavage’s antagonist sought to redress the matter courtesy of some alarmingly aggressive behaviour. Eventually convincing the man to calm down, a mightily relieved McSavage drew breath and composed himself. “I appreciate your applause,” he acknowledged of the crowd’s response, “but the next time someone’s about to kick the living shit out of me, could you maybe help me out instead?!”