The Tony Ferrino Phenomenon

One of Steve Coogan's funniest characters, Tony Ferrino gave the actor another chance to shine. Not only can he really sing - his duet with Mick Hucknall, whom he addresses as 'Simply' was nearly fairly matched - his spoof of 1970s and 1980s European variety entertainers was priceless. Taking itself seriously and pretending to be one of many episodes in a series (the opposite was true, since the BBC only made two), Ferrino gave the sense of an entertainer who was misplaced in time. His original songs, as the earlier reviewer noted, were hilarious but actually quite well composed, while Ferrino's lines - 'I sing, I dance, I chitty-chat: all in all, I have the big package' - were suitably cheesy and funny at once.

I, too, found it unfair that this show was panned at the time - if only reviewers allowed themselves to let go for an hour into the Tony Ferrino Universe and enjoyed this show for what it was: a great variety number taking place in an alternative universe where Tony Ferrino was once, and in his mind, still is, king.

Unfairly Panned by stupid TV critics,Tony Ferrino was a superb send up of cheesy Euro Entertainers like Sacha Distel.with loads of funny songs like Bigamy at Christmas,Other mans wives,fishing for girls and the Silence of the lambs.this was a fantastic show.The BBC only made two shows with Ferrino yet both were classics unlike Dr terrors house of horrible which is laughfree.i would of loved Alan Partridge to have interviewed Tony Ferrino.Kim Wilde proves to be a Dab hand at comedy.a true masterpiece.a shame the BBC have not released it on DVD.

If these jokes and type of comedy were barely passable in the 90s, then in 2020 we can call it exactly what it is. Xenophobic and sexist. Didn't even make it to a full 10min; simply unwatchable.

Recently watched this again, (two "episodes"), and I just can't fathom why it was poorly received. What it sends up, it sends up to absolute perfection. Maybe a lot of the humour was too subtle for some. Anyone who grew up watching cheesy Saturday night TV entertainment will revel in the sheer perfection of the presentation. The songs are funny and at the same time you end up whistling the tunes for long after ! Deserves another showing, 'cause, as another poster commented, Coogan managed to produce a whole series which didn't contain much to bring a smile to one's face. I refer, of course to, "Dr. Terrible's House of Horribles ". IMHO Steve C. should stick to what he does best. His sojourns into the film world are OK, but the half hour comedy short, just seems to suit him. Alan Partridge may have run it's course, but I bet Coogan's got another set of "Coogan's Run" in him somewhere. I always expected him to give Gareth Cheeseman another go. "Dearth of A Salesman", just has to be one of the top 10 funniest and smartest Brit comedies ever brought to TV.

Steve Coogan or in this case Tony Ferrino is an amazing artist and in this impersonation is really Great. Tony Ferrino the Portuguese Latino Casa nova Phenomenon a funny character that can show to all the real Portuguese way of live. If you don't know that he is making an impersonation you will think that is a real Portuguese Person .I am Portuguese and I find Steve one of the best in this field. I would like to see Tony Ferrino back in our TV screens. Another grotesque Coogan character. Tony Ferrino is a smarmy, romantic Portuguese singing star with tight trousers, a loud shirt, big hair, deep tan, sexy moustache and an ego the size of Jupiter.

In this special Tony Ferrino arrived on TV with a fully developed history that depicted his early career, singing in a group with his brothers (who then mysteriously disappeared) before achieving international fame as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.