Radio shop (happening)/radio show (not happening)
A couple of pieces of radio news, one of them admittedly a piece of non-news.
So, thanks to the heavily Watsonian-backed live radio pilot, we now get to do a series of Mark Watson’s Live Address To The Nation. There will be six more shows of frantic generalisations, jingles, banter, running-out-of-time, jokes that I manage to finish and jokes I have to skip to the end of. As before, we will be trying to allocate tickets to large numbers of people like you who will be psyched up to laugh like drains. It’ll be a case of signing up on here and solemnly promising to come, as before. However, we don’t quite know yet when these fabled performances will take place. The problem is the poor availability of Basden and Key, who are constantly busy doing a million and four things including experimental poetic comedy and film-making in China. It could well not be until October/November/December that we are all together in one room and that room is a recording studio (we’re likely to be in someone’s lounge before then, but it might not be a great idea to put that on the radio.)
The ONLY way to know when these tickets are available – as promotional literature often says – the ONLY way is to keep reading this blog. Or you could try the BBC site nearer the time. Or read Chortle. Or just rely on word of mouth. If you really are keen, you could just go down to Broadcasting House now and hang around until we turn up. Anyway, thanks for the enthusiasm which allowed the original show to be successful and got the series commissioned. I think it will be pretty good, when it eventually happens.
The non-news is about a 24-hour radio show. I was going to do a 24-hour show BUT ON THE RADIO, for Radio 4 and various other BBC radio stations working in conjunction, during Edinburgh. I’d hinted this to a couple of people on Twitter and so on. But the thing is, every bugger these days seems to be doing endurance comedy shows. Walliams of course did his marathon panel show. Chris Moyles recently did 1,000 days on radio or something of the kind. Tommy Tiernan, a more renowned comic than myself, did a 24-hour live show not too long ago. So unfortunately I feel like the ‘brand’ has been somewhat ‘diluted’. I’d hate to bash through 24 radio hours only for people to say ‘yeah, Moyles did something like that.’
What do you think? Will there ever be room for another 24-hour show in the future? I’ve flirted with the idea of one day doing one last big one, but it feels like the era when it was my own ‘thing’ might have passed. But does that even matter?
Anyway. Live shows happening. Good.
Posted by Kate W on April 10, 2011
Excellent news about Live Address; it was so much fun that my hopes were pretty high, but commissioning works in mysterious ways.
Re another 24 hour show, I’m with Laura-B – a big part of what made it so special is the sense of community that develops amongst the audience when everyone’s in it together. I don’t think it matters at all that other people have done long shows (yours are completely different from either Moyles’ or Walliams’), but I think there’s a big difference between a live show with a live audience and something purely for broadcast when people can easily dip in and out, or get distracted. I’d say do one if/when you feel like it’s the right time for you, and because it would be fun.
Posted by Natalie-Helen on April 8, 2011
Ooo. this is excellent excellent news. I am please to have been a part of it. And will definately keep my eyes open for further dates.
As for the 24hour thing. I really dislike the fact that I haven’t been to one but understand completely. Ever time someone said something about walliams I started to mumble half under my breath “Yer. Well, Mark did it first…” Which really make me look a right bitch. Fair play to him butI wouldn’t want it to look like you were clawing back an idea after it became really popuar if you see what I mean (this types alot harsher than is meant or would be said. Sorry about that)
^_^
xxx
Posted by Laura-B on April 7, 2011
On 24 hour shows…
YES! Definitely, absolutely, yes!
But with conditions.
On Tuesday night, I met up with Rick Procter, a man I only know because of the 24 hour shows. We hadn’t seen each other in 3 years, but we had a lovely chat and caught up on old times. That friendship exists purely because of the long shows. I still speak to so many people from the long shows – people that I have something amazing in common with. It’s a brilliant experience to look back on, and something very special that we were a part of. It meant something to those who were involved.
Doing something like Moyles/Walliams has done would not be the same. I watched bits of the Panel People, but was really struck by how it was funny, but everyone was so detached from it. The audience kept changing and there was no sense of belonging. The problem is that, as you are now really quite famous, if you did anything big it would attract a totally different crowd.
If you were to do one again, it should be as a reunion, or some kind of last hurrah. If it was done as something comparable with Moyles or Walliams, it would be shit. If it was open to everyone to dip in and out of, it would be shit. What made it good was the commitment, and how ridiculously funny stupid in jokes got after 15-odd hours. Other endurance shows aren’t the same – they don’t have the same spirit. Don’t try to measure ours against that.
In short…. long shows – YES. But with care.
Posted by Jamie/James on April 6, 2011
You should take it to the next level.. My ideas:
1. An underwater gig. Probably visual sketch comedy or mime. Unless you can find an underwater mic.
2. A moving gig. Comedians tell jokes whilst running at moderate speeds.
3. A comedy battle. Two comedians compete on either side of the room, with the audience in the centre, choosing which side they prefer. The winner gets to keep the audience.
4. Chinese comedy whispers. As you imagine, with the comedian starting it. It could work if it involves other comedians at certain points.
5. Comedy tig-tag. Comedians walk around telling jokes, until they see another comedian who they can then tag and that comedian have to stop and tell jokes until they tag someone. This can be replaced with the likely much more entertaining, Comedian Stuck in the Mud.
Posted by DiB (Sue) on April 6, 2011
You looked very dapper on “Adam Hills in Gordon Street Tonight” and came across as intellegent and witty. I had to look up charcuterie.
As for the 24 hour show… yes, in the week I am in Edinburgh please. No pressure. (Aug 12-19)
Posted by MusicalLottie on April 6, 2011
Oh hooray! Congratulations
I am very, very pleased that the Radio 4 powers that be recognised they have Something Good on their hands – First Cabin Pressure, now this … *does a happy dance*
As for 24-hour shows, I honestly have no opinion either way: if you want to, then do; if you don’t want to … you get the idea. I barely am able to stay awake for 12 hours at a time, so a) I’m hugely impressed by anyone who has that kind of stamina, and b) I couldn’t commit to come and be a supportive audience member – I’d offer to come to keep numbers up and sleep in a corner somewhere, but you don’t need your numbers kept up, and I gather that would be entirely against the spirit of the thing!
If you wanted to do it, you would definitely have the support. Re: David Walliams: my only concept of a 24-hour show is based on what I’ve heard of yours, so I was really quite disappointed to find he wasn’t hosting the thing. I’m not overly keen on him anyway so I didn’t bother to watch much.
From what I gather yours are still unique
Posted by Amy B on April 6, 2011
Ahh excellent news! And I’m moving to London in September, so the upside of them not being recorded for a while would be that getting there would be significantly easier for me.
As for the 24 hour shows, I think you should definitely do more. Admittedly that’s partly because I never got to go to one, and that makes me very sad, but it’s not just that. I think there’s a major difference between your 24 hour shows and someone like Moyles doing his version. I think a major part of the appeal of /your/ 24 hour shows comes from the friendliness and silliness, and that /is/ unique to you, even if the idea of ‘endurance comedy shows’ isn’t anymore. Anyone who says “Oh. Moyles has done that” doesn’t understand that, and those that do understand will attend or listen and love it, so who cares? Plus- the whole blog-reading Watsonians gathering that went on at the radio show was great fun, and that but for 24 whole hours would be really excellent and special. So I say do it.
Posted by Hannah on April 6, 2011
Hooray for more Live Address To The Nation! Loved the first show and can’t wait for 6 MORE! Yays.
And 24 hour show? Well I think you already know your fans’ answer to that! Despite the fact that others have done similar things, the novelty is still strong.
Posted by Sam on April 6, 2011
Hello,
fantastic news about the series, I doubted it would be on. I evidently did not have enough faith in the commissioners of Radio 4. I will endeavour not to doubt them again.
This fits in with the blog, but my comedy society as our end of year (academic year so June) show are putting on a 12 hour nightime show to raise funds for the local theatre which very kindly lets us put on comedy nights there but are sadly under threat of closure. Do you have any tips for us in terms of marketing, how to go about it and any personal insight you have into it? Sorry for again devaluing the brand of the endurance show, we felt we needed something spectacular to end the year on and this is now it.
If you could email me any advice (I’m sure you can do some fancy thing and get the email from this comment) then it would be ace.
Thank you, congratulations and apologies.
Sam
Posted by Rick Procter on April 6, 2011
I reckon your 24-hour shows should be allowed to continue to pass into legend, without the pressure or expectations of doing another one. Easy for me to say as I was there for a large amount of them so I didn’t miss out, but still…
Most often when bands reform, it feels somehow like their time has passed and their new shows are not quite going to capture the magic of the original glory days.
I would say, if you were ever going to do another one, firstly it should still be quite some while ahead in the future, and secondly there should be some kind of different, extra special twist about it. God knows what – but I bet you could think of something…
Posted by Helen on April 5, 2011
Hooray for the commission! That is great news.
I’d love for you to do another 24hour show because I’ve never seen you do one and have always wanted to. If you want to do one last one then I think you should do it.
I don’t think it matters that other people have done it. Josie Long talks in her ‘Trying is Good’ show about a guy who drew thousands of copies of a painting called The Peacable Kingdom. And she said that it was brilliant because it meant that at the end of his life he could say ‘You can say what you like about anything else I’ve done, but you’ve got to agree…I nailed The Peaceable Kingdom’.
Posted by Margaretl on April 5, 2011
Great news, Mark. Congratulations on the commission.
Like Cathy, I’m wondering if you could think about a 24-hour rest sometime……??
Posted by Cathy (traineeflorist) on April 5, 2011
First of all, yes please I would like to be an audience member (again) so put me down for that if you will …
Secondly, as far as I’m concerned you set the standard for endurance shows and no one has surpassed it. It would be great if you did another one, it’s great when you do anything that we can all enjoy as I’m sure you know. However, of late I have been mildly worried about your impending death at the age of 35 through overwork/stress/jetlag so please don’t kill yourself over it. If you feel like to want to do it, then do. If you don’t … uh … don’t! x
Posted by Alex on April 5, 2011
I think you should do another 24 hour show purely so I can actually come this time. Yes.
Congratulations on the series- brilliant news.
Posted by Beth (Bloomability) on April 5, 2011
Congrats on the commision!
I agree with everyone else on the 24-hour show matter, even though I probably wouldn’t be able to go, no matter how much I’d love to.
Now I’ve just got to get the radio working again…
Posted by Katherine on April 5, 2011
Congratulations on getting the full series, I shall be happy to pop down to London each week to attend (when the time comes) Also as someone who also who has had the misfortune to never attend a 24 hour show (let alone been to the festival or Scotland for that matter) I would still love for you to continue it, you are by far the original and best (from what I have heard) & maybe this year, with the help of your Watsonians, finally visit my first ever Fringe. Alex has told me I must try as it’s far too good to miss this year.
Posted by Sarah on April 5, 2011
Fantastic news on the commission, congratulations to everyone involved in it. This may mean another Watsonian slumber party
As for the 24 hour show. I wouldn’t say “everyone” was doing it. You were the first (and best by what I have heard (although Watsonians may be considered biased)). On a purely selfish level I would love you to do it, and promise to listen/be there if you have an audience. This coming from someone who gets severely grumpy if I don’t get my 8 hours sleep.
Posted by Josie on April 5, 2011
If 24hr radio shows are finished, you could always try a minute’s worth of radio show, and have everyone say it was really good and get it critically acclaimed even though nobody really managed to catch all of it because by the time they tuned in it was over.
In the meantime, I’m sure some very eager Watsonians (including myself) are very excited about your new radio show!
Posted by Lisa D on April 5, 2011
Oh go on, do it! I’m a big believer in doing things because one enjoys them. I saw an interview recently with one of NASA’s current astronauts. He seemed to really enjoy seeing Earth from space and not overly concerned with the fact that someone else got to do it the year before.
Also, isn’t one of your long term goals not comparing yourself to other people?
Posted by Jen on April 5, 2011
lots of exciting news….congrats first of all on the commission….you should definately do the 24 hour thing…i know i won’t be the only one who thought of you when i heard what David Walliams had planned…same with Chris Moyles….endurance comedy is your thing and all Watsonians will agree!
….Plus like everyone has already said you’ve got your unique style which will make it fresh and fun….you must do it……please!!Jx
Posted by Lesley Lowman on April 5, 2011
Hi Mark!Carrying on with the theme of shows that you have done ,I wondered if you have ever thought of reprising the fun experience which was “The Hotel”.I saw it in Edinburgh with my lovely daughter and her friends and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.
Posted by Anna Lowman on April 5, 2011
Awesome news on Address To The Nation – it was such a lot of fun. Never doubted the commission for a moment.
And totally get on the 24 hour radio thing – you’ll make it unique and uniquely brilliant no matter what else has gone on recently. It’d be a joy.
Posted by Lora on April 5, 2011
Congratulations on the series being commissioned! I’m not sure where I’ll be living or what I’ll be doing when it comes around to the time of the shows but hopefully I’ll be able to make it to one recording! Especially due to the amount of fun I had last time! I’d would love another 24 hour show personally because I never got the chance to attend one myself. From my point of view quite a lot of people I know still associate the 24 hour show with you too rather than the others too.
Posted by Lydia on April 5, 2011
I would love to come to one of your radio things. My friend and I have decided to be more adventurous (I know I have lived in Devon too long) next year. So if I’m not broke (which I like to think I won’t be. Apparently Morrison’s pay is all right) I will definitely attempt to finally come to something that isn’t happening in Torquay.
I think you would be fine doing another 24 hour show. It’s technically your concept, so it’s not like you’re copying, and you would do it better because you are more experienced and generally just better than they are.
Posted by alot of rachels on April 5, 2011
big yay on the commission, hopefully will make it to 1 recording or I’ll happily sit and listen to it.
also agree with everyone else on here about the 24 hour show, would be great to do one as I enjoyed the last one so much and yours are so much better than the others which are around (if you did it this year it’d also give me an excuse to go to Edinburgh!)
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on April 5, 2011
Also, why must all your 24 hour shows be in Edinburgh? Could you not record the potential radio one in Ipswich or somewhere?
You’d get at least 20 people, I don’t see what the problem is.
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on April 5, 2011
Personally, I’d like to see Mark Watson’s Radio Shop (as promised in the title).
As for MWLATTN, HURRAH! I probably won’t be able to come to any more of the other recordings, but I can listen to it on the old wireless. It’ll be ace.
Posted by Lizzy on April 5, 2011
What Tibbs said.
Posted by h2osarah on April 5, 2011
I would love for you to do another 24 hour show. It’s completely selfish because I want to be there, and because the last one was so awesome. I don’t really know what to say other than that. But yes, please do it!
Posted by Rachael on April 5, 2011
If there are 6 chances to make it to one of them even I can probably manage that. The first one was probably the only thing I have ever gone out of my way to listen to on the radio.
As for the 24 hour shows, you shouldn’t let Moyles or anyone else deter you, yours would be a million times better!
Posted by Tibbs on April 5, 2011
If you don’t do another 24 hour show I will be very, very, very sad. I’m still gutted I missed the last one. I don’t care how many other people do similar things, they are a poor substitute for the original! If you do end up doing it in Australia though, please give me about a year’s notice to get finances / plane tickets / hostels in order
Posted by ChrisP on April 5, 2011
Loads of people now do 24 hour shows. You were the first. Try something new, I bet you couldn’t do a show upside down for example.
What happened to Mark Watson Kicks Off? I really liked that show (worked far better seeing it in the studio than the edited version with no rude jokes) but because it went out on ITV4 I never actually got to watch it myself because their web page is appalling. I do hope it makes an appearance again some time.
Good to hear about a new series of this though, I heard it on the radio and it was one of the funniest things I’ve heard in a long time. Like MWKO it really benefited from being heard live. That line about breakfast very almost killed me.
Posted by Misha on April 5, 2011
If I start walking now I should reach broadcasting house by June. I wonder if they’ll let me live there rent free.
I think another 24 hour show would be lovely. Lots of the comments re: walliams’ were basically, “But Watson did it and better”
So there.
Posted by Joelle on April 5, 2011
I’m so excited about the radio show! I care not what time I have to wake up in the morning to hear it, I shall be listening in.
Also, you definitely should be doing another 24 hour show. I give you strict instructions, however. Radio you can do any weekend day so those of us that have to attend school and uni and work can listen and if it’s an actual show, you should definitely wait to do it until I’m in close proximity to the town.
You could do it in Australia and it would be a new thing, nobody in Australia has enough focus to do something like that. Melbourne in 2 years is a fine time to do that *nods*
I hope you’re having good week
Posted by Laurs on April 5, 2011
Yay for being commissioned! I loved it and look forward to hearing more! And if I have to keep reading your blog to hear more information, then I’ll just have to put myself through it every day!! :-p
And on the 24 hour thing, there is totally a place for it in the future. Just because others have done it since just means that you started doing them. And that makes you a trendsetter – who can argue if the trendsetter wants to do another one?
x
Posted by Katy on April 5, 2011
Yay! Well done on getting the series commissioned, I thought you were all ace and it deserves to be a full series. Im very excited.
As for you doing another 24 hour show, well it was yours to begin with wasnt it? So you’re more than entitled to do one last massive one should you so wish. We’d all be there with you.
Posted by Lizzy on April 5, 2011
No it doesn’t matter! Yours are better than the others. Chris Moyles’ wasn’t a comedy thing, really, and Walliams’ was a telly thing where he was pretty much just a recurring theme rather than the host or anything. You must do one more. Go on. Radio-wise or just live-wise with an audience. Go on. Either now or sometime in the distant future. (I’d prefer it if it were this year, selfishly :]) So…. go on. It’d be awesome. It could be “The 24 hr show to end all 24 hr shows”… somehow. Perhaps find a judge in the audience who could make it law. I think that’s how laws work. Go on.
And of course yay for the series commission. Woop.