"The Fast Show" (1994) TV series 1994-2001

Writers:

Jane Bussmann (writer)
Dave Gorman (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | unknown

Release Date:

30 March 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Sketch Comedy

Awards:

6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Paul Whitehouse	...	Various Roles / ... (23 episodes, 1994-2000)
Simon Day	...	Various Roles / ... (23 episodes, 1994-2000)
Charlie Higson	...	Various Roles / ... (23 episodes, 1994-2000)
John Thomson	...	Various Roles / ... (23 episodes, 1994-2000)
Arabella Weir	...	Various Roles / ... (23 episodes, 1994-2000)
Mark Williams	...	Various Roles / ... (23 episodes, 1994-2000)
Caroline Aherne	...	Various Roles / ... (21 episodes, 1994-1997)
Eryl Maynard	...	Various Roles / ... (21 episodes, 1994-2000)
Paul Shearer	...	Various Roles / ... (20 episodes, 1994-2000)
Maria McErlane	...	Various Roles / ... (15 episodes, 1996-2000)
Colin McFarlane	...	Various Roles / ... (14 episodes, 1994-2000)
Donna Ewin	...	Chanel 9 Girl / ... (13 episodes, 1996-2000)
Rory Jennings	...	Toby / ... (11 episodes, 1995-2000)

Also Known As:

Brilliant! (USA) (cable TV title)

Runtime:

30 min (25 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

Roger Nouveau Football Fan: Of course, it wasn't always like that. I used to support... er? Manchester United. But then, you had to support them where I came from in... erm... Hampstead.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 50 Most Shocking Comedy Moments (2006) (TV)

The good stuff easily outweighs the weaker moments

The Fast Show is a sketch show, and as most such animals it doesn't always work. Some jokes are brilliant, some a bit thin.

The most characteristic ingredient of the Fast Show are its repeated characters and their catch phrases, like the car salesman who compares everything to "making love to a beautiful woman", or the guy whose "...which was nice" is the pinnacle of his emotional reactions. This device is perhaps a little overplayed at times (and the English soccer international Chris Waddle will curse them for that, since he will be remembered for the rest of his life as the catch phrase of Channel 9) but when it works it is extremely effective. My personal favourites are Jazz Club, a terrific satire on late night toffee-nosed music programmes; and also the bloke (played by Paul Whitehouse) who has no opinion of his own and agrees to every argument put to him.

Although this review may look rather mixed, the shows are generally unmissable because the good stuff easily outweighs the weaker moments.