Don’t you ever shave?
Thanks for watching the thing last night, those who did. There were 202,000, which means it can’t just have been readers of this blog, unless it’s somewhat better-read than I imagined. This is a fairly healthy tally for a pilot on a digital channel so that’s good. The actual reaction to the show was fairly benign. There were some pretty harsh tweets/facebookings, but there were more positive ones. Obviously, one’s fans tend to be nice and encouraging about everything, but then to balance that out, ‘haters’ tend to really let rip on Twitter in particular, and the casual nature of TV-watching really brings it out (you should’ve seen some of the things people wrote to me about We Need Answers). So if you allow the extremes to cancel each other out, I would say most people more or less enjoyed it.
I’m less personally wounded by criticism of it than I normally would be, because I didn’t come up with the format – I was simply hired to host it (once they’d called it Improvisation My Dear Mark Watson, I guess I was the natural choice). So it’s not like I was slaving away on it for three years only for people to call it shit. Nonetheless I did work hard to do the best job I could on it, same as everyone else involved, so it’s nice to get praise. As I think I said last night, the point of a pilot is to see what does and doesn’t work, learn lessons, then (if appropriate) make it better and press on. But people tuning in quite naturally take the view that a TV show is a TV show, pilot or not, so it should be good. I hope at least some of it was good. Subject closed for now. Thanks again to the considerable number of pleasant feedback-ers.
Of course, there’s a bigger question about why people bitch and moan about bad TV so much, when it’s the easiest thing in the world simply to turn over. I quite often glimpse TV shows which I think are rubbish, but it’s no more than a glimpse because a few seconds is enough to give me the idea of turning to one of the other 6784 channels we have these days. I wouldn’t dream of seeking out the person who’d made the unsatisfactory show and having a go at them. It’s not like the show is a personal injury; it’s not like someone deliberately made it to piss you off. But there we are – some people live their lives very much as if everything wrong is specially tailored to upset them specifically.
And on that note – this is absolutely true, and you’ll probably hear a version of it on stage soon, but – today I was just walking in the park when the following exchange took place between me and a stranger, a 50-ish woman sitting on a bench:
HER: (SUDDENLY) Don’t you ever shave?
ME: Sorry…?
HER: Don’t you ever shave? I see you on television and you always have a beard. I hate beards. Why don’t you shave?
ME: Er… I didn’t realise that people, er…
HER (THEATRICALLY TURNING HER FACE AWAY): I can’t even look at beards.
ME: Oh. Er. Bye.
Like I say: true. Now this woman was probably a nutjob, not to put too fine a point on it, but you couldn’t ask for a much better metaphor for being in the entertainment industry: you do something which you’re pretty sure isn’t hurting anyone, and someone suddenly yells at you from a bench.
It’s not even much of a beard at the moment.
Funny old world, isn’t it? We’ll find out at some point whether the improv show ends up being a series. I would say it’s 40/60 against, but hey, I’ve done pilots where I knew the moment it was over that we were about 10/90 or indeed 0/100. As for the beard, I have every intention of extending its contract into a new series.
Posted by Knox on July 8, 2011
Beards are brilliant. The lady clearly was not used to that level of awesomeness on a face.
I watched Improvisation MDMW with my Mum. She actually laughed at some of the jokes (this is amazing, as my Mum rarely gets comedy), and recognised you and Stephen K Amos. Tonight she recognised Jack Whitehall (not by name – just because his show was on Dave before the Impro) – i’m worried i may be brainwashing her with comedy…
Brilliant to see the show with the graphics. Rap was awesome. Mind reading bit was ace. Fingers crossed for more!
‘not to put too fine a point on it’ – :0)
Posted by Lydia on July 7, 2011
I do agree with you to an extent. And that extent is Georgie Shore. I have never watched it but it still makes me angry.
Beards are fine as long as they’re clean. Which I assume yours is. I think the lady was definitely mad. I am a bit wary of crazy people these days. The last guy I got into a weird conversation with turned out to be a murderer. I’m not joking.
Posted by MusicalLottie on July 7, 2011
I was working so I didn’t see it, though it pleases me to know Dave are repeating it, hoorah!
I’m not a fan of beards but each to their own – your facial hair, your choice. Now if you had a really long, unkempt, and clearly unhygienic beard, the nutjob may have been at least in the same galaxy as a valid point … but yours isn’t, so she’s just insane.
Negative comments really are a waste of energy. I was nearly tempted to comment on a radio interview with Jim Parsons (who was his usual gracious, sweet self) in which the interviewer made some comments about geeks, nerds, and autistic people that I found offensive. But it was taking so much time and energy to try to politely get my point across that I gave up. I’d much rather use my time, if I’m going to comment, to type positive things!
Posted by Steve Doherty on July 7, 2011
Pogonophobia – The fear of beards.
I haven’t got Dave.
Someone told me once to put a search on a “famous” tweeter (any of them) and see the level of nasty / distrubing / nauseating oddness that gets sent to them in an average hour. Try it. (They also get nice things said!)
Yours (with a beard) SD
Posted by Andrew on July 7, 2011
I forgot the show was on (if only someone with a vested interest and a daily blog had thought to advertise it IN ADVANCE, rather than the next day! – it’s OK, I know the circumstances of that particular oversight) and, most unusually for Dave, it doesn’t appear to be on five more times this week, or indeed any more times. Which is a shame, as I would have liked to give a more or less objective opinion (like you say, the opinion pages of the internet are largely peopled by fawners or haters, so it feels quite radical to be considered about something.)
What I can say, however, is that Dave recently awarded a series to Alexander Armstrong’s Big Ask based on a truly appalling pilot episode (nothing against Armstrong, whose work on Pointless I am particularly enjoying at the moment, but the format was awful), so if yours was even half-decent it’s got to have a shot.
Posted by amycool on July 7, 2011
Oh and for the record, your beard is good.
Posted by amycool on July 7, 2011
It’s probably a good job I stayed inside yesterday considering the number of weird encounters everyone had.
I watched some clips of the show, and according to Dave it will be repeated on Saturday from 9pm, which is Mark Watson night. So I shall endeavour to put my TV on. I found the red colour a bit jarring but the comedy seemed good.
The only TV show I watch on purpose to piss me off is The Big Questions on a Sunday morning. I’m like a moth to a flame when it’s on because it’s so unbelievable that the BBC could air something so one-sided on their main channel. And with questions like “Does the afterlife exist?”, where the answer is surely to be found in the question (we shall know after life), who can resist watching a group of right-wing evangelists discussing this pointless topic? I certainly can’t.
Even so, I wouldn’t bother to go to the website and say how shit it is. Robin Ince usually takes care of that on his twitter.
Posted by Allie on July 7, 2011
I think your facial hair is lovely. It is a very strange world we live in, I had a bizarre thing happen to me yesterday too. I was going home from work on a bus, opposite me was a 30ish year old man with another couple, they all drinking cans of Special Brew. I could see this man looking at me and when I looked up he was gesturing with his hands and saying “lovely tits love” !!! I didn’t know quite whether to thank him or slap him, at this point everyone is looking at me, (just to add, I had my work clothes on which are in no way revealing, and I’m 41 years old!) This was quite a long bus ride too, I just wanted to get off but far too far to walk home!
Did laugh about it later on though
Oh and I enjoyed IMDMW too, hope they want to do more x
Posted by Joelle on July 7, 2011
I think beards on men that can pull it off look nice, and you definitely pull it off. Although I’m lesbian so that may not be helpful in defending you against this park nutter as someone else but nonetheless!
I’m glad there was lots of positive comments towards the show, hopefully it will go further
Posted by Helen on July 6, 2011
Rather sadly, I don’t have Dave so I couldn’t watch it. If you make more though then hopefully I can come along to a recording, because it looks good from the youtube clip.
I am very baffled by the park bench event.
Posted by Rachael on July 6, 2011
It’s weird that you used the word ‘nutjob’ because it is just what I was thinking as I read that! People are so strange.
Posted by Corey on July 6, 2011
I liked it, I didn’t like it as much as We Need Answers but I still liked it. Whilst on the subject of strange interactions with strangers I was on an overnight ferry the other day having a few drinks with my mates and a couple of strangers disecting the David Haye boxing fight and this fella from Manchester said to me ”I like your face, I’ve not spoken to you as much as this fella (pointing to my mate) but I do like your face. You look like you understand me, few people understand me” It was very odd and I soon left to hide in my cabin…..
Posted by Rhian on July 6, 2011
I’m afraid I wasn’t paying enough attention to the telly last night as I was busy preparing a ransom note. I will pay more attention when the series is commissioned
I have never seen my dad without a beard. I am 36.
Posted by Suzanne aka Senior Watsonian on July 6, 2011
Hmmm, talk about random … oh, you just did!!!
Right, I was just reading the preceding comments with the sound off (well, it isn’t quite an all singing/dancing blog yet, is it!) when a man’s voice said, “I can’t enjoy it now either …”. PLEASE explain … it definitely came from my laptop but who, how, what, why, etc, etc??? Or perhaps I was actually sitting on a bench in a park and spoke to a comedian with a beard … HELP!!!
And please cut out all those remarks about dementia!!! Just because I’m … um, well … Senior!!!
Posted by Cathy (traineeflorist) on July 6, 2011
Hmmm, interesting blog, I guess you might be offended if I said I get the impression you think a bit too long about things? On the other hand, if it wasn’t for people like you, the world would be full of people like me who bury their head in the sand and ignore negativity. “You go round with rose tinted specs on” (a recent observation by a close friend). I admit I am a bit of a lalalalalala! I’m not listening sort of person but it’s a protective thing. If it’s constructive well then that’s a bit different, but bitchy negative comments are never worth bothering with unless you really want to feel stressed the whole time.
I enjoyed the show. I came to the recording with hubby and we were both crying (with laughter, don’t worry!) As a result, I found the TV show a little “bitty” and fast but I think that’s purely because I had been to the recording. Yes it wasn’t perfect in places, as you say that’s to be expected with a pilot, but anyone who didn’t think it was bloody funny obviously doesn’t have the same funny bones I do.
When I lose I marbles I am going to sit on park benches and insult passing innocent young men. Sounds like a mighty fine way to brighten a dull day to me
Posted by Louise on July 6, 2011
Seems like it’s been nutter central today. I was on the bus and a man with a tattooed FACE said to me “do you like pets?” before shoving a box full of bugs and flies in my face.
Seriously.
What on earth is meant to be the reaction to that?!
I was in too much shock to smack him in the face.
and I thought he’d probably punch me back if I did.
Posted by Jen on July 6, 2011
Hehe!Today is the day for random encounters…I was driving into work today and had to overtake a man cycling – I find cars are naturally faster than the average cyclist and so did so carefully and without a second thought…until…5mins down the road he catches up with me at the lights and starts yelling at me…
Man – hey you
Me – hello you ok?
Man – who’dya think you are…****ing overtaking me?
Me – ermmm – I’m in a car I had too
Man – don’t ever do that again – never overtake me!
At this point lights change….and…I overtake him!!
What’s that about??!!hmmmm random…is it bad that I found it quite funny though!!!Jx ps stay true to the beard!!!
Posted by Beth (Bloomability) on July 6, 2011
I didn’t know that IMDMW was on, but I found a few clips on Youtube and they look pretty good. I may have to have a look ’round for the whole thing somewhere.
I think that now you must grow your beard until it reaches the floor, or at the very least your knees. Also, We Need Answers was brilliant- one of my favourite comedy shows of all time.
Posted by Megan on July 6, 2011
Oh, man, dealing with random near-abuse from The Crazy seems to be more and more common. And because I love this story about Random Encounters, I must share:
Recently, a customer (I work at a cinema) complained that we were treating him like an ‘incapable victim’ because our usher tried to help him find a seat in the darkened auditorium.
“Is it your policy to help people find a seat with a flashlight?!”
Actually, yes, if the lights are out, we offer help because a lot of people don’t see very well in the dark.
Then I guess I *am* the victim here and I can’t possibly be right!”
He stormed back into the cinema and, shockingly, needed help from the usher to find his seat again.
ANYWAY, I think the beard suits. That woman is probably a little nuts.
Posted by Alex on July 6, 2011
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaa!
P.S. I like your beard.
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on July 6, 2011
‘I can’t even look at beards’ is one of my favourite blog quotes ever. If it makes you feel better, a patient told me the other day they couldn’t look at me because I look like a ‘dirty Libyan’. Ah well. I’m sure even with your (actually quite pleasant) facial hair and my terrorist background we’ll get through, just.
Posted by Misha on July 6, 2011
I met a man this morning who had a chat with me about the self service machines in sainsbury. Some nutters are nice.
Personally I like the beard, and indeed beard’s in general, even if they tickle your shoulder when you hug.
Posted by sarahthemonkey2 on July 6, 2011
People are strange like that but I enjoyed IMDMW which I watch with my sister. She said it was better than Fast and Loose but not quite Whose line is it anyway. Though it was a good show espically the bit with Only way is Essex.
I do agree with Rufus Hound about Doctor Who, it’s a brillant show but good clever jokes can be really good
Posted by Tibbs on July 6, 2011
I will be watching IMDMW as soon as I get home from work. I am very much looking forward to it, and I’m glad to see the viewing figures were so good!
It makes me incredibly sad that anyone would say something even remotely non-positive about We Need Answers. That show was delightful.
The lady in the park was crazypants.
Posted by LisaD on July 6, 2011
Negative commenting confounds me. I went to look at a clip of John Barrowman singing a couple of months ago and on the comments page were several nasty comments, not about his singing, but about him being gay. There was nothing in the clip itself on the subject so I gather hundreds of homophobic freaks went on youtube expressly to seek out clips of the man and then write hateful things. Honestly I don’t get the appeal; why are people actively seeking out the chance to be horrible? And why on a park bench? There must be nicer things to do while sitting on a park bench than being horrid about someone’s facial hair.
On the bright side, clearly she’s watching you often to have formed such a strong opinion so your big in the nutjob demographic.