Help

I wasn't expecting  a great deal from Help (Sundays, BBC2). I've never been a big fan of Paul Whitehouse ('The Fast Show'  never did it for me and it certainly wasn't BRIILIANT!) but I've got to say that, based on the opening episode, this is comedy genius.

Forget the fantastic make-up jobs (and trust me, you will) and concentrate on the brilliant character comedy instead. This show  runs the whole comedy gamut - from broad and silly stuff ("I like to squat in people's minds), dark irony ("Some of them is black") to the bittersweet ("Still, it could be worse..."). For every belly-laugh there's a moment that tugs hard on your ice-cold soul.

And it's all anchored superbly by Chris Langham. It makes a nice change to actually see him, and finally, I can place a face to the voice in People Like Us.

Anyway, if it keeps this up we could be looking at a classic. I just hope that some of the characters we meet here return in subsequent episodes. I want to experience that story about the guy who didn't want therapy but really, really needed it. Ok, it's a cheesy idea but it was brilliantly delivered.

Have I mentioned that I liked it yet?

Comments

[paul haine]

I thought that this was going to be terrible, but you're right - it was superb. You weren't laughing all the way through, but you were never bored, and seeing Paul Whitehouse transformed like that was very impressive.

I particularly liked the moment of tension when that guy sat in Langham's chair.