Newzoids (2015–2016) User Reviews

Hit and miss but I want more

[Sleepin_Dragon · 7/10 · 17 October 2015]

I fall into the age bracket that grew up on Spitting Image, I was a kid and knew who the Politicians were, what Party they were in, and had an idea of what was happening in the world, a lot of it was down to Spitting Image.

Newzoids went some way towards satisfying the gap, I liked the production values, the characters themselves, they certainly looked the part. Some characters I enjoyed more then others, I don't think i'll ever forget Mrs Crown's boys. The highlight for me every week had to be Nigel Farage's stand up comedy show, so funny.

I imagine the show was helped by the timing of the election, the whole country's interest in Politics had increased, and the characters were relevant. I would like to see more from them, imagine the fun they could have had with Cameron's past, Jeremy Corbyn, Farage etc.

I don't think i'll ever forget Nigel Farage's Ordinary bloke, or the Election song, both were amazing.

We need more political Satire. Series 2 please.

Series 1 - 8/10. Series 2 - 6/10

[mcrocket-33814 · 7/10 · 2 August 2022]

I am from 'across the pond'. So, many of the Brit politicians/celebrities? I knew little/nothing about (especially the latter). Plus, I saw this in 2022.

For instance?

They kept mentioning 'bacon sandwich' in regards to Ed Miliband. Which went RIGHT over my head. I had not a clue what they were talking about.

But once I learned what that (and all the other) jokes were about? The series became much, more fun to watch (for me). I now enjoy the first series, greatly. And it's still funny to re-watch. And - bonus - I have learned a lot more about British politics.

Why the first series preference? Because it focused far more on politics (which interests me). Rather than celebrities (which don't - no matter their nationality).

The obvious comparison is with 'Spitting Image'. And I find them largely similar. With Newzoids looking a little, lower budget.

But the difference means little to me. They both look fine. The writing and the voice overs are what matters. And both series seem very similar, that way.

I think SI is more on character focus. Less 'sketches'...but often, a bit more detailed. Also, SI uses their imagination a little more (it seems). Goes more out on the ledge (like when both PM Johnson and POTUS Trump - apparently - make 'love' to the coronavirus.).

But if you like one. I seriously doubt that you will dislike the other.

Overall, Newzoids? A great, VERY refreshing series. Especially today (2022) with the sad, hyper-PC state of the world. It maybe started to run out of gas towards the end. Though, apparently, the first series was during/about a national election. So, there would obviously be political material to write about then.

Either way - I am sorry it did not last longer.

Again...First series? 8/10.

Second series? 6/10.

Nothing resembling subtlety

[mattmanganon · 3/10 · 24 September 2016]

This show is trying so hard... It's trying so... So hard...

It's good that we are getting political satire back on television. And it's a shame, because the voice actors are great and the puppets work for what they need, the problem is the writing.

This is the least subtle show I have ever seen. 90% of sketches follow this formula:

1) Have character come on screen and call out their 1 character trait (E.G. Eric Pickles is fat, so he comes on and demands food or Lady Gaga wears silly outfits, so she's talking about where she is going to get her next silly outfit)

2) Build up to a joke

3) Tell joke

4) Proceed to beat the joke to death by shoving it in the audiences face in a "DO YOU GET IT YET?!?!?" MANNER.

This show lacks any form of subtlety. I hate relating this to Spitting Image, because it's what everything else does. But this show really needs to take a read from their book. Your characters walk in, they build up to a joke whilst taking small jabs at similar topics, then they tell the main joke and then they leave it. That formula worked.

I mean, one sketch I saw was pretty much a solid minute of "Eric Pickles is Fat" jokes, with maybe a "Ed Miliband has big teeth" joke thrown in. Come on, anyone that knows about comedy knows that you don't stand about for a solid minute going "Wasn't that joke funny? It works on so many levels!"

And for the last time, dropping the F-bomb is not a joke in and of itself. You use the F-bomb to emphasize the main joke.

Saw this on tv and Ive always remembered how bad it was

[cumbercuboid · 1/10 · 28 October 2019]

Honestly trash comedy only funny to the 20 percent of the country who are slab heads