LONDON IRISH REVIEW: GOOD SHOW, BAD AUDIENCE.

LONDON IRISH REVIEW:

GOOD SHOW, BAD AUDIENCE.

London Irish has been pedelled for the last few weeks as a unique as a new young/20-something comedy; one of many Channel 4 has now produced with the edition of Fresh Meat and The Inbetweeners. Written by Lisa McGee of "Being Human" fame, it introduces the otherwise British majority audience to a quartet of (London)Derry Northern Irishmen (and women), Lisa's native community.

The show was ALWAYS going to be an acquired taste, for many reasons, whether it be because an otherwise successful but dramatic writer moving into the comedy spectrum, the slightly other-worldly combination of Irish and British cultures forming the Northern Irish heroes, or the fast talking ascents. Personally, I enjoyed it... but then again I'm morbid, foul mouthed, and London Irish is something I would jump at the chance to co-write on. That being said, a recent habit I've develop as of late while watching shows is to hop onto twitter as soon as a break comes my way. Undoubtedly,  Lisa has definitely struck a nerve with folks, as 70% and up of the tweets were repetitive tweets about it being "shit", "shite", or "stereotypical".

I have no problem with people and there opinions, and, like I said, there was nowhere everyone would like this. But it's extraordinary that people couldn't do some simple research to find that the show was written by an actual Irish person. I'm not saying that excuses perceptions of stereotype, but I am saying not everything is PC; sometimes the reason there's a stereotype about the Irish might be because we may have had something to do with starting it. We're not a nation of drinkers...but...to quote the show... "we drink until we're sober".

The show is very fast paced, very brutally honest, and quite surreal. Definitely not for people who are slow. I'm not saying 70% of the people complaining are too dumb for the show... just possibly mentally defunct. Along with that, the show has a sincere modesty about it. It's like every minute Lisa is saying "this is what's happening... I'm not sugar coating it". It's on a Tuesday at 10pm on Channel 4.... of course there are going to be unholy swears and references to a man's amputated hand.

What is the future of the show? We may very well be seeing something of a new Spaced or Monthy Python; something only a niche of people will appreciate.

My ONLY gripe with the show is the insecurity I feel about having two dim witted characters. Though it did work for Friends, so why not.

Rating: 7/10. Too early to call, but going to be interesting none the less.

"London Irish" is available of 4OD and broadcasted on Channel 4 every Tuesday at 10pm, and again an hour later on Channel 4 +1.