1.The recent BBC4 documentary Frost on Sketch Shows suggested that the sketch show was in the doldrums because all the best comedians want to be stand-ups these days. Well Frosty should pay more attention, because there are plenty of aspiring performers out there planning to prove you wrong. The difficulty is not making sketch shows, it's making good ones. Three episodes into its second series, Watson & Oliver is actually not bad and is often quite clever and subversive for a mainstream comedy, but it could definitely be improved. They could start by toning down those way-too-bright opening "stand back, we are wacky and full of beans and coming atcha" credits. Aargh, my eyes...
2. Stronger punchlines needed. Last week two sketches in particular, the One Direction recurring sketch and the "I'm from the future" sketch started with a bang and ended with a whimper.
3. Enough with the accents already. Almost every character seems to be Scottish, American or from the future.
4. Less of the Distracted Police please. While I appreciate the Rosencrantz & Guildenstern concept of all the big action going on behind them, I've had Rock Me Amadeus constantly going through my head since last week's episode. (Very funny, but another example of them doing a comedy accent).
5. I'm starting to wonder if they can sustain their Female PM trying to avoid domestic duties for the rest of the run. It was a very good gag to start with, but mainly because Lorna Watson gave such good Angela Merkel.
6. Did I mention stronger punchlines needed?
7. I do like the TOWIE-type women, but it does feel like a discarded Catherine Tate sketch. I guess in comedy everything comes round again if you wait long enough. Similarly their "Kooky Girl" song was beautifully observed, but on the live circuit comedian Cariad Lloyd does it even better with her queen-of-ditz, Joey Bechamal.
8. I realise how hard it is to write sketch comedy. This may be the reason why there is a shift towards stand-up if that's the case. And I know that W&O are saddled with the pressure of following in the footsteps of French & Saunders. When they are good they are very good, but even for a format that is known for being hit and miss they are very hit and miss. It's mainly the writing letting down committed performances. Can't they get Charlie Brooker to write for them? I know this is BBC2 but anything to make them just a teensy bit more edgy...
9. The biggest problem is W&O doesn't have an identity yet. Sometimes it feels as if they are just raiding a fancy dress basket and coming up with sketches to fit whatever clothes they happen to pull out. Sometimes they do a scene set in a flat and you think for a moment they are playing themselves, a la Morecambe & Wise, until they go into a more overt comedy routine. They do a few recurring characters but not as many as the Fast Show or Little Britain.
10. Sorry, I take that back, the biggest problem – or maybe I've already said this? – is it needs stronger punchlines.
