Simon Amstell is branching out into writing comedy. His series Grandma's House started a week or so ago (so this is rather overdue).
The first episode takes place, as the title would suggest, at Simon's (Simon Amstell) grandma's (Linda Bassett) house. He is there with his Mum , Tanya (Rebecca Front), Grandad (Geoffrey Hutchings), Aunt Liz (Samantha Spiro) and cousin, Adam (Jamal Hadjkura), whilst they await the arrival of Simon's Mum's new partner, Clive (James Smith).
The filming is done in a way that is reminiscent of the BBC's wonderful Outnumbered. As a viewer you definitly feel like you are in the house with the characters. Especially in scenes such as one set in a spare room, where it definitly feels quite cramped.
Amstell's character 'Simon' is quite obviously him playing a version of himself. He is breaking the news to his family that he wants to leave the game show he presents because he thinks he is being too cruel. Apparently, he would like to do something good with his life, as he is apparently a Buddhist.
This news doesn't go down very well with his family. Tanya declares that Simon's success is a 'the only thing that makes her happy' and his grandmother doesn't like the idea of Tanya being upset either. Indeed, watching his panel show seems to bring the family together.
The new man Clive doesn't seem to be liked by Simon. In the descriptions we're offered about him before he enters it would seem his only attributes are owning a big house, a big TV and having Sky HD. It is also revealed that he got divorced the first time on account of him running over a tramp!
When he finally appears, he has not been built up to be likeable. And he really, really isn't. His job is to make and supply cardboard boxes. Seriously. He is one of those people that has to be really loud and making really bad jokes all the time-the sort of person that makes me want to run a mile.
Really, the only character that is bearable is Simon's granddad, who is troubled with the idea that he may or may not have Prostate Cancer-he googled it and believes he has some of the symptons. This in itself is sad as the actor, Geoffrey Hutchings, passed away earlier this year.
As for the rest; the grandmother is incredibly controlling and quite rude, Tanya is pretty self-involved and cruel to her sister Liz, who in turn isn't the nicest person in the world, and seems to have taken a shine to Clive.
There's a little part of me that wonders whether the other characters in the programme have to be horrible in order for an audience to find Amstell likeable, I found him grating and cruel when he presented Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
There are some laughs in it though. The vegetarian option for Simon being an avacado. And just an avacado at dinner. And the Grandad, when loading up the computer and finding an advert for porn websites, remarking, 'Well, she's definitly not from my area'. Also, the subtle jibs at Clive about his driving skills are also quite amusing.
I'm not sure about this. It has potential. But...it just leaves me feeling a little bit...'meh' about it.
The first episode takes place, as the title would suggest, at Simon's (Simon Amstell) grandma's (Linda Bassett) house. He is there with his Mum , Tanya (Rebecca Front), Grandad (Geoffrey Hutchings), Aunt Liz (Samantha Spiro) and cousin, Adam (Jamal Hadjkura), whilst they await the arrival of Simon's Mum's new partner, Clive (James Smith).
The filming is done in a way that is reminiscent of the BBC's wonderful Outnumbered. As a viewer you definitly feel like you are in the house with the characters. Especially in scenes such as one set in a spare room, where it definitly feels quite cramped.
Amstell's character 'Simon' is quite obviously him playing a version of himself. He is breaking the news to his family that he wants to leave the game show he presents because he thinks he is being too cruel. Apparently, he would like to do something good with his life, as he is apparently a Buddhist.
This news doesn't go down very well with his family. Tanya declares that Simon's success is a 'the only thing that makes her happy' and his grandmother doesn't like the idea of Tanya being upset either. Indeed, watching his panel show seems to bring the family together.
The new man Clive doesn't seem to be liked by Simon. In the descriptions we're offered about him before he enters it would seem his only attributes are owning a big house, a big TV and having Sky HD. It is also revealed that he got divorced the first time on account of him running over a tramp!
When he finally appears, he has not been built up to be likeable. And he really, really isn't. His job is to make and supply cardboard boxes. Seriously. He is one of those people that has to be really loud and making really bad jokes all the time-the sort of person that makes me want to run a mile.
Really, the only character that is bearable is Simon's granddad, who is troubled with the idea that he may or may not have Prostate Cancer-he googled it and believes he has some of the symptons. This in itself is sad as the actor, Geoffrey Hutchings, passed away earlier this year.
As for the rest; the grandmother is incredibly controlling and quite rude, Tanya is pretty self-involved and cruel to her sister Liz, who in turn isn't the nicest person in the world, and seems to have taken a shine to Clive.
There's a little part of me that wonders whether the other characters in the programme have to be horrible in order for an audience to find Amstell likeable, I found him grating and cruel when he presented Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
There are some laughs in it though. The vegetarian option for Simon being an avacado. And just an avacado at dinner. And the Grandad, when loading up the computer and finding an advert for porn websites, remarking, 'Well, she's definitly not from my area'. Also, the subtle jibs at Clive about his driving skills are also quite amusing.
I'm not sure about this. It has potential. But...it just leaves me feeling a little bit...'meh' about it.
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