Packet of Three

Packet of 3 was an odd Channel 4 stand up - soap opera hybrid that aired in that pre-graveyard dead zone...in this case it was second fiddle to the then contraversial - now long forgotten - youth magazine The Word.

Enough's been said about the 3 leads; the 4th wheel was an accordionist called Billy Moore who was the warm up guy. Some internet sources claim he was a backup to The Beatles - which they dispute.

A quirky little series put on by Channel4 in the Uk. It launched the dubiously unfunny Frank Skinner and Jenny Eclair onto the TV stage. The format consisted of an imaginary theatre where the trio (Mr Normal faded back into the obscurity from whence he came or at least changed his name)put on a weekly show with guests even more mediocre than themselves. Largely devoid of wit or any thing remotely interesting, I watched as Jon (Blair the producer) was a neighbour of mine in Highbury and I was desperately trying to sell him some formats. I couldn't think of any other reason to watch this insomnia cure apart from wondering what Frank Skinnners' early beginings where.

This show with it's cheap production values and non-existent writing shows the poor state of british alternative comedy in the early 90's.