The Micallef Program

Excellent sketch comedy show, which got even better in its second series. It combines surreal humour with very clever and precise writing and production. Shaun Micallef is genuinely interesting and charismatic. The best series of sketches was probably the claymation p***take "Attentione, il est Myron", with "Sotto Voce", and the "holding the door open for people" sketch coming a close second.

The world's not short of half-hour sketch shows, but this is one of the best I've seen in a long time (On the UK's Paramount Comedy Channel). Satirical, surreal, and wonderfully played by a small regular cast (Wayne Hope, Francis Greenslade, Roz Hammond... and Miron, he's made of plasticine, but no less funny for it). Imagine an Australian "A Bit Of Fry And Laurie" if you know it, with elements of Monty Python & Kids In The Hall. Shaun Micallef in his role as chat show host/presenter/interviewer would be among the highlights; a cringe-inducingly smug, bitter, inept and offensive man - he is the Australian Alan Partridge. Despite being an Australian show, there's very rarely a joke of reference that I don't 'get' here in the UK. I ordered the DVDs online, the shows really stand up to repeated viewing.

I caught an Episode of 'The Micallef Programme' by accident one day and ever since then I've been hooked. I entirely agree that there are elements of Alan Partridge, The Fast Show and Monty Python in there which just makes it all the more appealing for me.

It's original, so well written and performed and moves at a quick enough pace. The mixture of one-liners and longer sketches is an excellent one.

I too think that a mainstream UK channel should pick the series up and show it - Shaun Micallef deserves to be a huge star in the UK!!

I've managed to tape a few episodes of the second series but I would love to catch all the ones I've missed.

My favourite sketch so far is the wine cellar one. I screamed with laughter at that one.

So, to all the programme buyers at Channel 4, the BBC, ITV, SKY One - Please, please, please give this man the mainstream exposure he deserves!

By the way - I also think he's a bit of a heart-throb.

The Micallef Program/Programme/Pogram really is quite a unique show. It is unlike American sitcoms, classic British comedy or, to a good degree, the television show that spawned Shaun Micallef, "Full Frontal".

Micallef and his crew (Francis Greenslade, among others) pursue this unique style of humour that can perhaps be described as taking things literally and then turning them on their head. Some of the sketches are classics- the Sergeant and the Constable for instance. On occasions the strange sense of humour fails to hit its mark, but when it does, it is, to many people, very funny.

Shaun Micallef is truly a talented comedian, and it can be hoped that there will be a fourth season of The Micallef Program.

I knew very little about Shaun Micallef prior to watching his show on cable last week: yet now I feel like lobbying the UK TV channels to demand they buy and show everything he's ever done. Combining elements of Monty Python, Alan Partridge, Chris Morris and the Fast Show, this show is excellent and very amusing, with a truly talented bunch of performers in evidence.

I regret to say I have seen only two shows so far, so I'm hankering desperately for more instalments. One sketch in particular, simply involving Shaun as a rather tipsy host braving his cellar to fetch a bottle of wine, had me convulsing with merriment.

It's evident that Shaun and his co-writers are well steeped in many comedy influences, yet they still create a show that feels wonderfully fresh and hilariously original. Top marks!