TV Review | Comedy Inc. 5.1
Why does Comedy Inc. continue to be renewed when there is such passionate hatred for it? Its cheapness doesn’t explain a five-season run. History Bites is similarly cheap, and attracts its fair share of hate. History Bites also has fans, since that show doesn’t talk down to its audience.
Comedy Inc. can make decent comedians like Winston Spear and Gavin Stephens look like they’re shit. This isn’t very hard to do, as the show is made up of stand-up comedians performing sketch comedy. Why is the show formatted this way when the format has never worked? Even after five seasons, Comedy Inc. suffers from terrible timing.
The fifth-season premiere of Comedy Inc. is more of the same from this show. The sketches are all obvious and/or rely on shock humour. The comics overplay their roles. Three sketches are the exact same “psychiatrist talks to animals” gag, with no variation.
The laugh track is pasted on, making the sketches seem even worse than they already are. If you’ve seen Comedy Inc., you know how this show plays on television, and I feel for you.
Also, what is with that overbearing laugh track?! It’s used on both Comedy Inc. and Comedy Now! A 2010 show shouldn’t look and sound like a second-generation dupe of Royal Canadian Air Farce circa 1995.
I blame Sandra Faire for this show. She’s the executive producer of both this and Comedy Now! Ivan Fecan is president and CEO of CTVglobemedia. Faire and Fecan are married. It doesn’t take a genius to see the conflict of interest. Even if Fecan and Faire keep business and personal relations separate, Faire doesn’t improve the quality of her shows.
The premiere episode of Comedy Inc.‘s fifth season has a 2008 copyright. That’s never a good sign. I guess CTV wants shot of Comedy Inc. once and for all. Why even air the season, in that case? Burn it off on Star! or something. Don’t air Comedy Inc. on CTV, where people will watch it.
Comedy Inc. is the closest thing to welfare Canadian television offers. I honestly hope this is the show’s final season. If Comedy Inc. makes it to a sixth season, then there is no hope for the industry.
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Pingback by Tweets that mention TV Review | Comedy Inc. 5.1 | URBMN -- Topsy.com — June 16, 2010 @ 5:12 am
OH NO!
I haven’t seen Comedy Inc this year but I am shocked it is back on TV at all, I thought it was booted off the air years ago. I hoped it was anyway.
I have seen it in the past and agree with you 100%, thanks for the link too to see how everyone seems to hate this show it is good to see we are not alone. This show is maybe the worst sketch series that I have ever seen! If it comes back I will swear off TV forever!
Comment by William Mulling — June 19, 2010 @ 1:07 pm
Comedy Inc is the WOST SHOW OF ALL TIME!!! Seriously it is so bad it makes me angry knowing it was ever on TV at all.
Comment by danny — August 8, 2010 @ 8:57 pm
comedy inc should go to hell and take the “comedy” network with it, sorriest excuse for a comedy network and sketch comedy show of all time.
Comment by robinson — October 13, 2010 @ 10:41 pm
COMEDY INC SUCKS DEAD GOAT BALLS AND THEN DIES IN A FIRE.
Comment by SM — October 29, 2010 @ 2:31 pm
I agree with you 100%. I don’t like to bash anything but Comedy Inc. is just absolutely horrible. I’ve made many attempts at the show just hoping that I might like 1 sketch but it has yet to happen. The sketches themselves have no good premise and rely completely on shock humor (like you said) and is hacky to say the least. The actors could benefit from an improv class or two, but my biggest tip is… get it off the air.
Comment by kyle — November 1, 2010 @ 5:34 am
A show loaded with talent, but desperately in need of better writers and, most especially, creative producers. The skits are so groan-indusing it’s almost embarrassing, yet there’s nothing really wanting in the players. The fact the Exec. Producer is the wife of the network head speaks volumes as to why this show is still on the air…that and all of the federal grant money it gets. Take a year off, can the producers, get new writers and start taking shots at politicians and you may just have something worth watching again.
Comment by Stormcrow — November 3, 2010 @ 7:25 am
Although I disagree on everything you’ve said, most of it is opinion which everyone is entitled to. However, you statement about the pasted on laugh track, at least for the first season, is complete BS. The show was filmed in front of a live studio audience.
Comment by Joe — July 2, 2011 @ 1:25 am