Tonight our team captains are...

The winners of the Edinburgh Festival Comedy Awards have been announced. The names change but it's all predictably familiar. As usual the winner (Josie Long) of the best newcomer award hails from an Oxbridge (why is it never Camford?) University. Now either these Universities attract the cream of new comedy talent, (separating the Hugh Lawrie's from the John Cleese's by an exam and a viva "So Miss Long apart from "surprise and fear" what are our four main weapons?") Camford students are genetically funnier, or the judges like to award things to fellow alumini. You know with the success these Universities have in the field of comedy I'm surprised they don't demand it's immediate inclusion in the University performance league tables. I'd imagine some opposition. If you were the Vice Chancellor Of Queen's University Belfast would you want your success to be measured by the number of Patrick Kieltys you produce?

I digress. According to the BBC the winner, Canadian Phil Nicol was a "flamboyant comedy character on the Fringe who blew everybody away with an outstanding show". His show "describes a debauched weekend in Amsterdam when he comes across drug dealers, taxi drivers and racists" Good to see he's avoiding the easy targets. I'm sure his diary is now full of invitations to appear on smug BBC2 panel shows. A fate that will be shared by the runners up. This year they included "a gay Asian GP Paul Sinha, Bristol stand-up Russell Howard, Irishman David O'Doherty". So a Canadian beat a gay Asian, an Englishman and an Irishman. Is this supposed to be some sort of a joke?

And this is me

Watching the History of Light Entertainment last night. This week they were focusing on "impersonators and impressionists". Needless to say Rory Bremner was mentioned - with the breathless reverence the man responsible for "N-nineteen Not Out" deserves. Apparently his show is full of biting satire and wit. I'd have to agree. Think of all those great sketches which beautifully lampoon current affairs and have become firmly embedded in the public conciousness. Like....... er........ mmm...... ahhh..... ummmm.... "N-nineteen Not Out"
The problem with Rory Bremner is twofold. One he's preaching to the choir and two he isn't as funny or ridiculous as the people he's supposedly sending up. It's toothless, comfortable, cosy satire for Daily Telegraph readers in the Home Counties. Presumably the same people who thought his spoof cricket record was funny enough to actually go out and buy it.

Advertising Claims - Now "New" and "Improved"

"New" and "Improved". Interesting. If something is "new" it hasn't existed before. If it hasn't existed before how can it be "improved"?

Advertising Claims - Tescos Car Insurance. Very Little Help

Apparently Tescos are offering a great deal on car insurance for everyone.
Except for people who fall into the categories listed in the on screen disclaimer.

..and so it begins

And if you are reading this welcome to my blog. The media tell us blogs are eroding peoples reliance on the traditional form of mass communication. In the future there'll be no newspapers or news websites, (and no heaven too) just the world reading blogs. So seeking to shroud myself in the spurious legitimacy such empty headed claims give here's mine.

Enjoy....