Catherine Tate Christmas Special
BBC2
Some things seem to arrive without precedent or trace. They emerge for no reason, exist solely on fresh air and seemed to defy laws of longevity, morality and good sense.
"The walking embodiment of a one-trick pony, this fraud is aggressively unfunny in a way you usually associate with men."
The rise of Catherine Tate is one such thing. The walking embodiment of a one-trick pony, this fraud is aggressively unfunny in a way you usually associate with men.
Her show consists of running characters with patented catchphrases, some of which appear to have infected the national consciousness. The set-ups are telegraphed in seconds and every sketch is over before it's begun.
"It is watched by largely the fat, the depressed and the drunk. You're broadcasting to a nation of Robbie Williams's."
In Catherine Tate we have somebody so convinced of their comic ability that she has managed to bamboozle television executives and the public to believe in it also.
Christmas TV often has an air of desperation about it. It is watched by the fat, the depressed and the drunk. You're broadcasting to a nation of Robbie Williams's.
This is reflected in the output. You're reduced to celebrity guest spots with the premise: "Wouldn't it be weird if schoolgirl Lauren met Richard Park from Fame Academy? What would she do?". Witlessly repeat her catchphrase, perhaps? Just a wild guess.
And Charlotte Church meets foul mouthed Nan. That those divine hips were squeezed into this pile of nonsense was a source of much anguish in Casa Aerial.
Where did Tate come from? Well, she featured in Big Train - beloved of Spaced bores and Father Ted 'fugees - and appeared in comedy antichrist Dawn French's Wild West. And now she's here. And everywhere.
"Catherine Tate seems destined to leave this life a shit-stained, puncture wound riddled corpse at the age of 40."
Catherine Tate seems destined to leave this life a shit-stained, puncture wound riddled corpse at the age of 40. The terrifying thing is that she's still funnier than Lenny Henry, My Hero and the Ben Elton sitcom.
And no I fucking didn't enjoy the Christmas telly.
The best thing about it: The appearance of Charlotte Church who Aerial Telly rikee velly much.
The worst thing about it: Its existence.
The verdict on Catherine Tate Christmas Special: Little Britain lite.
Marks out of 10: 1
Contact
Aerial Telly
| 
