The easiest way of describing Newzoids is to say that it is probably quietly hoping to be the new Spitting Image. Or at least have some of that show's acclaim. The trouble is that Spitting Image is such a hard act to follow. Over the years Headcases and 2DTV have tried to pick up the animated satire baton and failed. So could Newzoids succeed?
Well, with the first episode just finished, guess what, the jury is still out. It certainly had its plus points but also plenty of minuses. I was expecting something a little more topical, but a lot of the sketches could have been written last week. Or, in the case of Gary Barlow’s song about his tax affairs, last year.
There were some good gags but they were sometimes lost amid a lot of mainstream easily-accessible gags. In fairness to the show it is on ITV1 at 9pm, so its hands are slightly tied when it comes to being truly subversive. Some clearly talented writers have a hard task on their hands. One of the best moments were when it took a pop at its own broadcaster. In a sketch portraying Prince George as a chav, complete with Dapper Laughs reference, it was suggested he hang out with Holly Willoughby only for Charles to say snobbily “she’s far too ITV”.
Elsewhere the gags often wrote themselves. Jeremy Clarkson’s anger management issues were present and correct, while the Queen and Prince Phillip slumming it as Mrs Crown’s Boys definitely felt like it had been done before, except putting in a different sitcom. A lot of sketches felt like they started with the title and simply dropped a famous face in, ie Ed Milliband taunted by Ant & Dec in I’m A Catastrophe, Get Me Out Of Here.
Clegg on Jeremy Kyle and Farage as an old school stand-up comic were simple ideas that did the job well and got out quickly, while Mel & Sue hosting a vet show and dealing with a sick animal in their quirky lightweight style was spot-on. Russell Brand was pretty funny, even if his florid wordsmithery is a fish-in-a-barrel target.
As for the big guns, I don’t think their portrayal of Kim Jong Un as a tyrant is going to bring the wrath of North Korea down on ITV and Putin might even be flattered to be shown topless. I liked Olivia Colman blubbing at the drop of a Broadchurch script though.
The dolls were an interesting mix of live puppetry and digitally manipulated mouths. I just wish there had been something a little more current for them to say. Lewis Hamilton being squirted with champagne and Andy Murray’s wedding night appeared to be the most up-to-the-minute moments.
As for the political satire, I did like the Billy Bunter-ish Cameron rocking up to the drive-thru McDonald's in a sedan chair and when asked if he wanted pickles thought they were talking about Eric Pickles and said he didn’t, but “he’s the nearest thing we’ve got to a commoner.” Best line of the night, even if Pickles is essentially a modern-day Prescott with a more pun-worthy surname.
But did the show have teeth? I’m not sure. Although the ones in Prince William’s mouth were massive. There were laughs, but more would be good. Along with more bite.
Newzoids, Wednesdays, 9pm, ITV1.
Read a review of Jack Dee's Election Help Desk here.
Read a review of Ballot Monkeys here.
