The Armando Iannucci Shows
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| The Armando Iannucci Shows | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sketch show |
| Running time | approx. 24m30s (per episode) |
| Creator(s) | Armando Iannucci |
| Starring | Armando Iannucci |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original channel | Channel 4 |
| Original run | 30th August, 2001–18th October 2001 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
The Armando Iannucci Shows is a series of 8 programmes directed by Armando Iannucci and written by Iannucci, Andy Riley and Kevin Cecil. It was shown on UK's Channel 4 in October 2001. Each show had a rough theme, often somewhat existentialist in nature, around which Iannucci would weave a series of surreal sketches and monologues.
Recurring themes in the episodes are the superficiality of modern culture, our problems communicating with each other, the mundane nature of working life and feelings of personal inadequacy and social awkwardness. Several characters also make repeat appearances in the shows, including the East End thug, who solves every problem with threats of violence; Hugh, an old man who delivers surreal monologues about what things were like in the old days; and Iannucci's barber, who is full of nonsensical anecdotes.
The show is also notable for its use of music, the quality of its direction and the often extensive use of CGI effects.
A DVD of the series was released on September 4, 2006 after years of wrangling. [1]
[edit] Recurring chracters
Most of the sketches and characters in the Armando Iannucci shows were one-offs, but a few characters did recur:
- Armando's Barber (Steve Brody) - A Cockney-Italian barber who would regale Armando with bizzare theories and andecdotes while cutting his hair.
- The East Eng Thug (Alan Ford) - A middle-aged Cockney Villain who can solve almost any problem through the medium of violent gangland threats.
- Hugh (Hugh Cecil) - an old man who visits Armando and recalls his past, his reminiscences containing a modern twist.
- The Television Executives (Tony Gardner, Darren Higham, Melanie Hudson and and Stephen Mangan) - a group of TV executives unable to conseive anything other than in terms of a TV pitch. Usually end up congratulating themselves with a conga ("We're so good at telly").
