Shane

SHANE has to be one of the worst sitcoms of all time. Skinner is about as funny as a hangover on a hot day. Is that how to write a sitcom, just line up a load of schoolboy one-liners and attempt to write them into the dialogue. Who are the executives at ITV who commission such dire rubbish and why are they still employed.

It is bad when we have to suffer such bad attempts at comedy but ITV always end up with the BBC and Channel 4 "has beens" although in Frank's case a "never was". But good luck to Skinner for front, he certainly has no artistic pride in whatever he seems to be invoved in, he may be a decent bloke but as a comedian and writer he stinks.

The trade descriptions people should prosecute Frank Skinner and the ITV producers for stealing prime time entertainment slots. If Skinner and ITV had got their comedy timing right, SHANE would have gone out at 2am in the morning so as to ensure a bit of sleep for the insomniacs.

Well there's only other actually, called Blue heaven. There's a lot of snobbery in some of the comments made here about this programme. It does NOT claim to be the most original thing since sliced bread. Those who say there is no real plot are correct. It is a bit on the crude side BUT it is really really funny and appeals to my simple sense of humour. Conffession time....Frank comes from my part of the world and supports the same football team. I do, however, like all of his programmes and this is no exception. It is NOT an all time classic, but like someone else has commented I like way a joke continues throughout the episode. I also really like the episode when he has the night vision goggles.

I'm really enjoying this series. Very talented cast, with Skinner well supported by the excellent young actor Tony Bignell, who displays great comic timing.

Kelly Scott looks to have a big career ahead of her as she excellently plays Shane's pretty late-teens daughter Velma, while Schneider, Norris and Berrington assist Skinner with their experience as comic actors.

The jokes are funny, the actors give good performances as likeable characters and the plots are amiable enough. Good, light-hearted entertainment; there is certainly space on the market for good quality sitcoms such as this.

For me there is always doubt over any sitcom, or perhaps any comedy in general broadcast on ITV. Their track record just doesn't match the BBC in recent years. However, watching 'Shane' I found myself laughing almost constantly.

Admittedly 'Shane' is almost totally a vehicle for Frank Skinner to deliver more of his one liners and occasionally dirty jokes and it relies upon these a lot more than the plot, which is never strong. However, the supporting cast (none of them are any more than that) do a really good job, with special mention going to Shane's son, who seems to have grasped the art of comedy at a frighteningly young age.

'Shane' isn't really a sitcom. It is just a different form of stand up comedy for Frank Skinner. Even without the basis of a good plot it works, purely because Skinner is a very funny bloke. I don't know how someone couldn't find 'Shane' even grudgingly funny.

If you are a Frank Skinner fan like myself then you're gonna love this! He wrote & starred in all seven episodes and made the show his own with spot on comic timing, plenty of sarcasm around the subject of sex & a really catchy theme tune to boot which he too wrote and sung. I found out recently that Frank Skinner has just completed series 2 of Shane back in April and waiting to grace our screens again! Bring it on I say, it's gonna be a treat! Other titles by Frank Skinner include: Frank Skinner Live, Frank Skinner Live At The Apollo, Frank Skinner Live At The London Palladium, Frank Skinner Live In Birmingham & Skinner & Baddiel Unplanned, all certified 18. My advice to newcomers who don't know what Frank's about, watch Shane & the stand ups & I guarantee you won't look back!