The Catherine Tate Show

I laughed all the way through the one show I saw. Catherine Tate sets up several situations...in this case a housewife who jumps at the slightest noise, a new mother who will do anything to keep from waking the baby while people try to give her a birthday party, a hateful grandmother being visited by her grandson, and several others, and revisits their scenes in turn throughout the show. The premises are skimpy, it is true, but I didn't notice that until this other reviewer pointed it out because her characterizations were hilarious. I'm a Californian so I really had to focus to make out what some of the characters were saying as she uses various accents from all over England. I would be very pleased to see more of Catherine Tate.

"Is an old woman swearing funny" - "This sort of comedy is done 100 times better by Matt Lucas in little Britain". Well in that case is a pedantic man in a wheelchair funny? Comedy is subjective, Catherine Tate's observations are spot on, OK granted some of the sketches go on too long, the essex couple (with Lee Ross) spring to mind, but the gran sketch has characteristics present in old people all across the country. Will this be shown in twenty years time, who knows but i was brought up on Not the nine o clock news also and a lot of that Doesn't stand the test of time and is very dated, as is a lot of the young ones. If you don't like it don't watch, but a lot of other people do.............................

I think Catherine is great! i had the pleasure of going to watch the show yesterday and laughed all the way through. she is very professional but also very funny. In one scene she had to open her top and she'd stuck a picture of hairy man boobs on her chest. We cracked up!! then i met her after the show and she is so natural and down to earth. I don't think it's fair people dissing her and saying she's untalented because she is v.v.v.v talented and funny!!! She has been credited as the new dawn French and to be honest if you can be the new DF, then you have to be very special! I also suggest that you watch the new series as it is funnier than all the others. Well done, Catherine!

First of all i want to say this - how is the use of catchphrases on this show "unfunny and trite" when Little Britain (which also does it) is "better executed"? Double Standards here.

Personally, i think this show is FAN-TASTIC! Some of the characters are so accurate, its actually scary. I'm 17, and i go 2 school with several people like Lauren, who are rude and sullen (and i can openly admit that i'm like that sometimes as well!) As Ms Tate has been performing this character in her stand-up shows for years, exactly how is she a rip-off of Vicky Pollard. I think thats the generic response from people who haven't actually seen the show but pan it for the sake of it. Yes Vicky and LAuren are alike, but Vicky is more of a caricature than Lauren - you cant go anywhere in a modern British city without seeing a Lauren! However, i think that Vicky and LAuren should meet in a special sketch, as that would be interesting!

Ms Tate is a virtual chameleon, and her set of hilarious characters include Nan, who is scarily like every old person in this country; the housewife who screams at everything - a classic case of a simple joke that works every time; randy Irish nurse Bernie with her great accent and laugh; the middle-class mother ("Daddy has not been able to pick up some Brie today, darlings" "But Mummy, there is some Wensleydale in the cupboard") who again i'm sure everyone knows; Allie who always puts her foot in it at parties; Amanda the TGI Friday's waitress; the hilariously effeminate Derek Leslie Faye ("WHAT are you insinuating?!" "Just because I shave my eyebrows and listen to Judy Garland, doesn't mean i'm a back-door Deirdre!") who gets in a hissy fit every time someone suggests he's gay; the banal Essex couple who find the most normal thing funny; and in Series one, the rude Estate Agent ("You're a disgrace to ur profession!" "Dont be ridiculous! I'm an Estate Agent!" {laughs crazily}) and the drunk Bride in series 2!

However, can someone answer me this = whats the deal with the burger van people? I never have got that one.

Along with Little Britain, this is one of the best new TV sketch shows i have ever seen!

All in all, Ms Tate, your show is superb, and i think you were robbed at the recent British comedy awards!

I totally disagree with the previous reviewer's comments, although obviously it all comes down to taste in the end.

Catherine Tate is a brilliant comedian. Some of the characters are so spot on it's spooky. Who can believe that the elderly character Nan is being portrayed by the same actress who portrays the sullen schoolgirl Lauren? OK, not all the sketches are as funny but it is worth watching for the absolutely hysterical moments that punctuate this show. Timing is brilliant and some of the characters will I am sure become classics. In the new series the hit rate is even better!

I think Catherine Tate deserves to be called the new Queen of Comedy!