User reviews

Can't believe this is another great comedy that will be shown and then disappear into oblivion. Written and starring Dan Clark (Johnny Two Hats from Mighty Boosh), the atmosphere, comic subtleties and characters impressed me no end. The main story is based on 'dickhead' Don who is informed and delighted to hear he inherited his grandmothers house, this brings along a mortgage and Don's dead grandmothers carer Eddie, a fantastic original character who ends up caring for Don without asking for anything back, his strange upbeat caring persona is a brilliant comedy addition. With bills to pay he ends up renting a room to girl of his dreams and ex classmate Abby Jones unaware she has a serious relationship with anally retentive boyfriend Karl getting in the way. A joy to watch, hopefully a DVD will come out but can see it being another 'Snuff box'. What this comedy isn't is something trying hard to be crazy and wacky for the "youf". Will be keeping an eye on anything Dan Clark writes in the future.

If you love British comedy you will love how not to live your life. It is the Inbetweeners for thirty somethings.

It tells the story of Don Danbury, a late twenty something no hoper, aimlessly plodding through life, going from one comedic failure to the next.

His character starts out as a shallow, hollow sketch of a man, but by the end of the second series he has developed in to a well fleshed out thinking and feeling man, helped by his "carer" Eddie and Don's quest to find the girl of his dreams.

I suggest you start with series 1, then go on to series 2, rather than jumping in to random episodes to fully understand all the characters and get yourself ready for series 3 (starting soon on BBC 3, I can't wait) Series 2 leaves us on a cliffhanger. Will Don, or won't Don? My only complaint and its a very minor one, is that I hope series 3 shows less of Mrs Treacher and more of Eddie. Her character, although at times hysterically funny, is often superfluous.

If you like the Inbetweeners, the Young Ones, 15 Stories High, you will love How not to live your life.

I don't know why some of these people are saying its not funny or cant act, or ugly people. what is wrong with these reviewers??

Samantha is Really Hot, and the others are a decent looking bunch. I really enjoy all three of the series and i hope they make many more. Its always good for a laugh, it always cheers me up.

Since this show is now into its third series i wondered how they would continue to keep it entertaining and interesting, but they do. although every episode has a different topic the show still has underlying themes such as; Dons lack of tact, his inability to commit to a relationship, his lust for his flat mate first Abby, then Samantha, his reliance on Eddie, Eddies willingness to care for Don in every way. Its never boring.

This series has been fantastic!!!! There hasn't been a single episode that hasn't made me laugh out loud hysterically! The casting is absolute perfect! The characters are so funny together. Mrs Treacher especially because you don't expect such vulgar language from an old woman which makes it all the more funnier.

Eddie is a complete weirdo but he is great and as for Don he is one FUNNY guy!!! Hot chicks make this work too So many funny lines. I'll be gutted when it's over and I hope they do a series 4!!

I don't know I even came to watching it but glad I did. Don the main character aka "d1ckhead" just rips the p1ss out of everyone that comes in contact with him. He is vain, shallow, a complete loser but yet at the same time he is completely lovable

The fact that he is written this himself makes him a complete comedy genius in my opinion.

I guarantee you will not be disappointed with this some of the scenes are so outrageous you can't help but laugh and poor old Eddie is so naive he gets so much stick!

This BBC3 comedy is one of the best things I've seen in a long time, and it takes a lot to make me laugh heartily. The writer, Dan Clarke is a diamond and his acting is both hilarious and flawless. The actress who played Abbey (in the first series) was poor although I can see that the character fit in well and looked the part. The main character really hits home to me and I'm guessing he does for a lot of people in their late 20s/ early 30's, especially non-students or ex-students.The new series is even funnier than the first so far with a slight cast switch around. Why isn't there more stuff like this on TV? Can't wait to see if there will be a third series! Here's prayin!

This comedy show is great and breaks away from the "norm". The first season is a bit quirky, but once you get to know the characters, they really surprise me how well they somehow mesh together. I think that the first couple seasons were spent developing the characters and the direction their stories will take. Season 4 is fantastic and everything seems to come together because while almost every episode poses some random challenge or oddity, the simple back story still develops and has really progressed in this season. There seems to be a trend of the negative reviewers of this show in that they are all over- analyzing and taking things way too seriously for a comedy. It's supposed to be funny, not intriguing and mystifying. "You gotta think with your balls" as Don would say.

I really can't believe how BBC Three decided to cancel this show after three seasons. They're definitely mental in the face. I've seen A LOT of comedy shows in my life, almost none of those could make me even smile. Some did of course, but these are shows that are regarded as the best ever made (Seinfeld, Chappelle's Show etc.). A feature a lot of sitcoms share, is that they're fun to watch, and are made interesting because by adding drama, but if you want a laugh, you're probably better of watching Dara O'Briain. I happened to come across this show and watched only five minutes after which I knew there will probably be nothing better on TV on all +200 channels. At this moment I watched, and enjoyed every episode. In the first season, it is made clear very quickly that Dan Clark is a comedy genius. Despite having a terrible cast (apart from David Armand), Clark was able to write a show so full of creative, unorthodox jokes, that the focus is only kept on him and Armand, while the other characters are only used to add some emotion to show. After one season, the cast changes however, taking an amazing turn for the better. With Laura Haddock, who is both funny and good looking, the writers are able to write hilarious banter between her and Clark, giving the show one star, and two great actors in supporting roles. The somewhat bad parts of the show, like a lack of decent minor characters, are so easily camouflaged by great writing, and the great chemistry between Clark and Armand, and Clark and Haddock. And I'll repeat: I can't believe how this show has been canceled, either a lack of marketing by the network, or just a network full of idiots. Everyone who's watched this, show can consider him/herself lucky for experiencing the great everyday phrases with Clark's twist like, insane in the mind, mental in the face, gaymen, roundhouse in the prick, and so on. I will definitely be on the lookout for future work of Dan Clark, as I'm sure it will be another piece of genius.

This show is freaking hilarious... I mean, side busting funny and for all you all who gave it a 1 star I feel sorry for you because you have absolutely no sense of humor what so ever... at all... none.. zero.. zilch... this show will crack you up almost immediately and the best part of it all is that each episode gets funnier and funnier as the series goes along. Bunch of sticks stuffed too far up some of these folks butts...that they need surgically removed I suppose. Its okay, not everyone is smart enough for a comedy like this, but for those with more refined flavors, this comedy will be at the top of your list. So this is kind of a hit and miss type show that totally hit with me, again, almost immediately because of the physical comedy that is involved. Not to mention the characters are well written much like the IT Crowd, but I think this takes the cake as funniest series. Good job Mr. Dan Clarke.. you are a funny chap keep up the good work and here is to pulling sticks out of people's butts!

Whats wrong with you guys, this is hilarious, probably the best comedy series currently showing.

The characters are funny, the guy looks cool and whats that about 'the people are ugly' whats that got to do with anything? comedy is comedy, looks don't matter.

when i was young i thought Mr bean was funny but now i think its stupid and depressing. 'only fools and horses' is probably the best comedy series but even that gets depressing now and then.

one of the worst comedies ever is 'hot fuzz' and it was soo over rated everyone thought they loved it. i fell asleep twice trying to watch that crap.

why are people following the crowds? think for yourself!

I'm always baffled why some people find the most dire comedies funny - 'Teachers', 'Game On' and now the hideous 'How Not To Live Your Life'. The character of Don is simply a straw man; he is a purely invented stock character with no development. All he does is say stupid things and act like a complete tosser.

This poor offering is incomparable to a stroke of genius like Gervais and Merchant's 'The Office'. Whilst David Brent may be a prat; he's a real prat. He's someone we've met before and we can cringe at him and pity him in equal measure. The character of Don is a nondescript cipher; there is nothing real or tangible about him. David Brent is pathetic (which makes him human and believable) whilst Don is beyond pathetic. The whole programme is one wretched, excruciating bore that makes me want to eat my own hair. Waiting half-an-hour for a bus on a cold, wet Sunday afternoon in rural Lincolnshire would be less boring than watching this execrable pile of dross.

This is truly a fantastic show and although it looks like most Americans don't understand this kind of humour ,you really do have to watch this show as it only gets better from season to season which is quite unusual.Brilliant writing ,great acting and wonderful characters.Just so you all know Dan is an amazing writer and even a better actor so to be honest i am really hoping a fourth season will be created.So if you have written a previous review please watch the whole thing before making a blinkered and dramatically bad statement that you clearly know nothing about.

PS. Do not miss this even if you are American because the grass can be greener on the other side.

Of course humour is a personal thing but to rate this as a one star is suggests maybe the reviewers like comedy where you can see the gags coming from several miles away. HNTLYL is probably too off-kilter and unobvious for their tiny minds to comprehend. Fact is, it is one of the few BBC sitcoms that is laugh out loud funny. The plot lines are offbeat and the characters of Don and particularly Eddie are original. The camping trip is possibly the best episode here. Then we have Sinead Moynihan as the object of Dan's lust, and understandably so as she is drop dead gorgeous. Perhaps it's a good thing the BBC only kept it to three series. As demonstrated by other recent BBC sitcoms like Outnumbered and My Family it's usually best to quit while you're ahead.

I came across this series by chance in the local library and was very pleasantly surprised. It is a great new take on a sitcom. Lacks much of the typically staid and predictable drama of so many comedies. Also, what happens is mostly believable and not totally outlandish.

There is some really original content, but what makes it is the delivery by the main character "Don". Also, there is no canned audience laughter which definitely improves the watch-ability.

I would liken it to "Men Behaving Badly", but it's perhaps a bit less laddish and slightly more sophisticated. If you enjoy that you will probably love "How Not to...."

I look forward to getting series 2 & 3 - I hope it can maintain its fresh originality.

This is the best show I have ever seen. Sorry for any Americans that have put this show down, but most people here wouldn't know good TV unless it was purchased from the UK and Americans replaced the actors.

It's been six years since originally watching this show and I still watch it at least twice a year. I can't imagine this not being in my rotation with Chappelle's Show, 30 Rock, Parks and Rec, Misfits and the IT Crowd. If you like those shows this is right there.

I have recommended this show to anyone who will listen, but a couple people weren't crazy about the first season. While I really enjoy it, I can understand as the second and third are far better. Anyone who made it to the second season was hooked though.

Dan please bring this show back and if you could get Robert Sheehan in the mix you might be untouchable.

To all those detractors of this great series I'd just like to pause here for many moments and imagine what I would like to do them ..... Now that's out of the way, I'd like to say that it is one of the most original works of comedy I have seen in a long time especially by some one who can act the part too. Self-deprecating humor is handled in a novel way though it some times goes a bit far, but it is great comedy still. The characters of Eddy Singh and Abby and Miss Cheek bones are great esp Eddy Singh. How not to live your life is not your run of the mill droll, it is different and it is great comedy. The expressions of the main character, who is the director,actor,writer ,... is ultimate. So I would suggest everybody to see this show at least once because you never know what will come next. Don Rocks *****

Dan Clark's caricature of himself, "Don" is one the most likable dimwits I have ever seen on TV. The show has the dark, scenario-based humor of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, the daft charm of Workaholics, but the culture and setting of city-life in England. For any Americans that claim "Well, I don't really like British humor"; How Not To Live Your Life might be a good place to start if you're on the fence about British TV. Yes, it has that classic dry, British wit, but Dan Clark is such an Ameriphile that anyone on both sides of the pond can't help but crack up at the preposterous and sometimes uncomfortable situations "Don" gets himself into.

This is a brilliant comedy to sit down and enjoy. Yes, it's not the most clever of comedies and it doesn't have deep characters, but the laughs are plenty. Don is a simple lay about trying to find his way in life. Is he gay, is he straight, does he fancy old women, what job is he good at etc. And the supporting cast are just as brilliant. With his man servant, an old rude lady "Gollum" who lives next door and his gorgeous flat mate who he continually tries to bed, when not going after her brother....

They work really well together and there are some brilliant short story lines and moments here. I feel that if you enjoyed other shows such as Geen Wing and Pete vs Life then you will enjoy this. 8.3 Out of 10 tells you everything! Give it a go.

I watched the first 3 episodes and realised I hadn't laughed a single time. Not once. I'm very surprised at all the great reviews it's had. Dan Clarke just isn't that funny, or likable as his character Don (who's most likely probably just Dan playing himself). He's just not relate-able to the common male audience. I found myself rooting for Karl, who likely represents the average viewer more than Don. He was the geeky nice guy that got the hot girl, while her complete jerk of flatmate lies and does immoral acts, sometimes right in front of Carl, to win her over.

You can do a complete ass but keep it funny and likable, so Larry David on Curb Your Enthusiasm or Ricky Gervais on The Office. But Dan Clarke doesn't make it work here.

The "5 things" is never funny - it's sort of like some of those "Whose Line Is It Anyway" skits where they take an object and think of funny things to do with it. Except on this show, they just aren't funny.

The rest of the cast seems pretty talentless when it comes to comedy. They're just "there" as extras while Dan provides the only humour, rather than becoming their own character.

The one thing I thought showed promise in the first episode was the interactive between Dan and his boss. That seemed to only last one episode and ended the only bit of interesting interaction between characters.

I'm amazed this is still going strong at 4 seasons. Perhaps it gets better as the seasons move along, as comedy often does, though I'm not sure where the story could possibly go when you only have one person attempting to provide all the humour.

Great show, great humour, would love to see more of Dan Clark on TV in general. I was in my early 20s when this was on and it would have been way more popular if BBC had given it the proper air time it deserved, instead it out the show on BBC three which had limited viewers compared to one and two, it was also on a Thursday if my memory serves me correct. But rewatching these has made me realise just how funny it was. There was a change in the cast between S1 and S2 but Laura Haddock was an excellent addition to the show in the 2 later series. Wish Dan Clark would do something else on TV or film as he's an excellent comedian.

I don't understand how the BBC can axe the wonderful 'Pulling' and then re-commission this dross. But then I see that others find it funny - humour is a strange business. Personally I think Dan Clark, who I'm told is a talented stand-up, doesn't tick one box as an actor. The scripts I find laboured and smug - I especially dislike the '3 things/5 things' segments which always leave me utterly stony-faced. David Armand has his moments, but can't help wondering if he wasn't going home after work each day and crying into his pillow wishing he was back with Donna, Karen and Louise. The daft thing is, I hate it so much I almost find it compelling - I suppose that's how people feel about the twins on X-Factor.

Episode 1 is a bit quirky for about ten minutes, then it's downhill all the way. Here's a so-called comedy without laughs. The situations are stupid, the script lazy and the characters - leading or incidental - are irritating, boring or ugly.

I can almost see how a pilot might have persuaded the world's greatest optimist that a series might work but it doesn't. How anyone could have commissioned more of this rubbish defies belief. Dan Clark must be the least funny writer and least charismatic actor ever to have been granted a series.

One embarrassingly bad scene follows another. 'Little Britain' and 'The Catherine Tate Show' did their best to plumb new depths of awfulness but 'How Not To Live Your Life' is worse. Its only possible value would be as compulsory viewing for TV producers under the title of 'How Not To Make A Comedy Series'.

This show is truly awful, every line is a bad, contrived "gag" none of which are funny. None of the characters are remotely believable and none of them ever say anything that any person, wacky comic character or not, would ever say. It is all the worst elements of British comedy writing in one show, painfully painfully unfunny and with no understanding at all of how to build scenes, characters, drama, jokes or anything else that makes a good show. The only thing more depressing than watching it is the fact that there have been 3 seasons of it and that there are people on here who are fans of it, actual fans - how can this possibly be? Put yourself in for a lobotomy if you like this show, seriously.