Nighty Night - The Complete Series 1 (2004)

Some turn to scary movies for squirms, others to comedy. For the latter, the BBC's Nighty Night packs more squirms into a single episode than an entire season of The Office or Curb Your Enthusiasm. Combined. In other words, this blacker-than-black Britcom is so dark it could almost qualify as horror. Simply put, Jill Tyrell (writer/creator Julia Davis, Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself) is the hairdresser from hell. She may lack the horns and the forked tail, but her approach to life couldn’t be more demonic. The vicious fun begins when preternaturally passive hubbie Terry (Kevin Eldon) is diagnosed with cancer--a malignant brain tumor, no less. After he's hustled off to the hospital for treatment, Jill tells everyone in town, including compassionate vicar Gordon Forks (Michael Fenton Stevens), that Terry has died and drops by the local dating agency to find a suitable replacement. Meanwhile, the ever-optimistic Cath Cole (Rebecca Front), who has MS, moves in next door. Upon meeting Cath's selfish spouse, Don (Angus Deayton, One Foot in the Grave), Jill decides he's the one. Her seduction plan begins by using Cath to get to him. When Don, who favors more pneumatic types--like the vicar's wife, Sue (Felicity Montagu)--proves resistant to her charms, Jill sets her sights on their teenaged son. Produced by Steve Coogan (24 Hour Party People), Nighty Night premiered in the US on the Oxygen Channel. Although there are only six episodes in the first series, the terrifying Mrs. Tyrell wreaks an admirable amount of havoc in each, culminating in one of the most hilariously squirm-inducing season finales in the Beeb's storied history. --Kathleen C. Fennessy Amazon.com

Nighty Night

There will never be anything like Nighty Night!! If you like dark comedy, you'll love this. February 8, 2008

The Wicked Witch of the West Country...

There's not a lot I can add to what previous reviewers have said about this show. Suffice to say that Julia Davis' writing, and timing, are impeccable as ever, and if you haven't scene her deadpanning her way through her gig in The Alan Clarke Diaries as the secretary of the eponymous anti-hero (Played by John Hurt), then that's definitely worth a look, too.

I've got a bit of a "comedy exchange" thang going on with a mate in Australia, and mailing this over is my response to Summer Heights High, the latest "mockumentary" comedy by Chris Lilley on ABC over there. That one's the best comedy (anywhere) since Kath & Kim (although I personally think that a second series would be pushing it - without entirely new characters), and it's raised the bar so high, in terms of sick, cackle-inducing spectacle, that Nighty Night is the only UK-produced comedy I can think of that lives up to it. Little Britain? Forget it! Anyway, sketch shows are doomed to repetition.

That said, I wouldn't bother with Series 2 of Nighty Night again - which I caught when it was aired on BBC2 - as there are limits to which even I can stretch my disbelief, even if the soft-rock soundtrack was a hoot. Lord knows, nothing can shock me - maybe I'm even a little jaded - and Ruth Jones is great again as downtrodden Linda, but when Davis has her concealing a large trout in her nether regions for no particular reason other than a cheap laugh, it's time to give it the wide berth that recent John Waters films deservedly get these days. It's a bit like watching a precocious nephew or niece high on Asti Spumante at a wedding. November 13, 2007

Shameless and hilarious

If you like shows about really bad people (like Seinfeld) being shamelessly awful...and hysterically funny at the same time, you'll like this. The main character has no scruples, no shame, no limits. You'll be horrified and exhilarated by her wicked ways! Very, very funny. August 31, 2007

Absolutely Brilliant!

Series One was an eye-opener because, as many other reviewers have noted, the lead character is beyond description. You'd never want to meet her like in person because she never fails to find the best in herself--at the expense of others. I just watched Series Two in London, and I couldn't believe the lengths she goes to capture her man. (After you've seen the artificial insemination scene in the hospital you'll understand completely.) Here's a call to the BBC to release Series Two in America. The actress/writer said she can't imagine there'll be Series Three because she's not sure where the story might head. Let's hope she changes her mind and that Cath, Glenn, Don, and "Linder" will find the light of day again.

As to the reviewer who complained about the endless filler at the start, I have no idea what he's talking about. My DVD player zipped through the ads, etc., straight to the show. Ignore that review. August 2, 2007

Worst DVD I ever bought.

This DVD forced me to watch the advertisements for the FBI, studio, and about a hundred other DVDs. All the remote control buttons were disabled. It seemed like hours. My other DVDs all allow either the menu button, next button, or fast forward button to work. Not this horrible product. By the time I was allowed to see what I paid for, I was so irritated, that I could not enjoy the program.

Next night, I tried to watch episode two. But, it tried to force me to watch all the advertisements again. At least the "Open" button worked. The only way to watch this ****, is to insert it before fixing supper. After eating it might be ready to show some entertainment. July 6, 2007

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