Chewin' the Fat

As far as I remember the TV series does not retain the framing device of the two stars, er, chewin' the fat so it's all sketches. I may be wrong as have only seen occasional episodes in the distant past.

But that chat glue (as Alan Partridge might say) certainly makes the show seem particularly suited to radio. You're listening in to their talk and responding to their personalities. And the idea that it's just two guys having a laugh which you're eavesdropping on excuses the not very good American (and other) accents in the sketches; the show is held together by their conversation, which can go off on the oddest tangents. Incidentally, given the breakneck pace I'd love to know how prepared or scripted those shooting the breeze sections were.

As for the sketches, while not everything works I like the fact that the writing can suddenly go dark, as with the husband who cannot permit his wife the tiniest conversational victory in company. Not sure how universal it is but certainly if you're from the West of Scotland you can recognise the types in the sketches, and the TV show (available on DVD) was a big hit in Scotland, if being subjected to catchphrases from all sorts of people is any guide.