Was there ever a Mitchell & Webb Look sketch that wasn't funnier when it was on the radio? Much of their comedy achieves its effect through linguistic precision and relentlessly pursuing the logic of an idea to a degree that goes further than people would normally ever consider (for example, in this episode, a pair of BBC commissioners establishing how The Apprentice will work in perpetuity as a programme in which the contestants must be idiots, and the audience will have to either be idiots to take it seriously or smug ironists congratulating themselves for noticing the premise's idiocy). Without pictures this intelligence felt very nimble and quick-witted. On television, however, I'm continually noticing the costumes and make-up, the set, David Mitchell's unease at playing most of the characters, etc. and it starts to feel a lot more laboured.
The thing that most amused me in this edition was the pair taking receipt of a pair of Mitchell & Webb action figures, props with a tactile interest that I'd like to examine further.
(This must be the only programme that I own on DVD where all four series are on different labels - Contender, Fremantle, BBC, Network!)
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