"The Smoking Room" (2004) TV series 2004-2005

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

29 June 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Smoking Room

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Robert Webb	...	Robin (17 episodes, 2004-2005)
Jeremy Swift	...	Barry (17 episodes, 2004-2005)
Nadine Marshall	...	Sally (17 episodes, 2004-2005)
Paula Wilcox	...	Lilian (17 episodes, 2004-2005)
Debbie Chazen	...	Annie (17 episodes, 2004-2005)
Selina Griffiths	...	Janet (16 episodes, 2004-2005)
Leslie Schofield	...	Len (16 episodes, 2004-2005)
Fraser Ayres	...	Clint (15 episodes, 2004-2005)
Siobhan Redmond	...	Sharon (13 episodes, 2004-2005)
Emma Kennedy	...	Heidi (11 episodes, 2004-2005)

Runtime:

30 min (16 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

[Barry has been told that he has three minutes until he's interviewed - Barry is dreading it]
Lilian: Oh let's face it Barry. Another 15 minutes wouldn't really have helped your chances.
Monique: Yeah she's right
[gesturing to herself]
Monique: They're either looking for new ideas and fresh input
[points at Barry]
Monique: or the devil they know.

Supposedly a "comedy" set in the situation of a smoking room. That's it!

The guidelines for posting comments suggest not giving away plot points. Oops, the title gives away ALL the plot points.

I wanted to like this, believe me. I thought it was very courageous of the BBC's story/comedy/script commissioners to try to create another success along the lines of "The Office" or "The Royle Family". It was good to see a new writer's work being used. Ultimately, they haven't succeeded.

What a waste of such excellent acting talent, particularly, Siobhan Redmond, Paula Wilcox and Robert Webb - they try their best with the material, as does the director - but watching this series is like watching a single joke from an American observational stand-up comedian repeated throughout each and every half-hour episode. I actually started watching as I was hooked by the theme tune during a trailer and I thought it might compare favourably with "The Office". It doesn't even begin to.

There are good points, the set for one and the lighting, definitely leave me wheezing! But the situation and, as I have already mentioned, the actors, deserve so much better from the script. It all seems so anal, with an eighties focus in the observations and puerile usage of sexual swear words.

This *is* funnier than some recent sitcoms on the BBC, but that is mainly down to the well-drawn, if stereotypical characters; there seems to be very little development of them; as I said, they are well drawn, but it all appears in the first episode. There is a lost opportunity with Robin, the gay character, which I suspect is down to the director rather than the writer: too many of his earlier comments and answers to questions are revealing, by a knowing "look" or reaction close-up; I definitely think the script was attempting some development here.

In summary: it's worth a look - choose any episode you like, you'll pick it up in seconds, like, say "Only Fools And Horses", "'Allo 'Allo" or "Are You Being Served?", because it relies on formulaic repetition of conversations, topics and well-worn character prejudices. Script editors and commissioners have a lot to answer for these days.