BBC2: Two Pints of Lager...

Advantages: a fresh view of younger lifestyles
Disadvantages: a bit crass for some viewers tastes

It has to be said that the sit-com has undergone a transformation as we go into the 21st century. The sofa based scenarios based around a misunderstanding or sticky situation of the seventies were finally laid to rest with the arrival of the likes of the Royle Family a show that for all its front room environment was more of an observational piece about a certain segment of society. Its brash brand of reality combined with nothing a totally dialogue ...
...up the idea that sit-coms could be daring again. One of the shows that emerged from this new wave was Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps Please. Strange title? Strange times. Two Pints… can be seen as Hollyoaks meets the spirit of the Young Ones in many ways, having the subject matter of the former and the language and attitude of the latter. Based around two couples and a small number of supporting characters it is the tale of the lives ... Read review

Advantages: The crude humour (farting, nosepicking, my-arse-this my-arse-that etc.)
Disadvantages: No Splodgenessabounds, and some people won't like the crude humour. Oh, and Beverley Callard could frighten young children.

The first disappointment is Christian Henson's theme music - why haven't they used the Splodgenessabounds track after which the show is named? Centring round the lives and loves of five twentysomethings, Two Pints reunites The Royle Family's Ralf Little (as Jonny) and Sheridan Smith (Janet) as boyfriend and girlfriend. And what a lovely couple they make. Affectionately greeting each other with lines like: "Hello, stinkyarse..." Although nowhere ...
...use the same earthy humour. Johnny using a toothpick to scrape under Janet's toenails then putting it back in his mouth in the second episode was a moment to rank alongside Albert Steptoe dropping pickled onions into the bath and putting them back in the jar in the 1960's. The supporting cast is thick with well known faces (a sure sign that the script is a bit thin) It's a sort of sit-com by numbers. With the stars taken from Hollyoaks (set in Chester), ... Read review

Advantages: Good theme tune, good cast and funny script
Disadvantages: The characters of Munch and Louise are too silly to be real

BACKGROUND This series written by Susan Nickson has been on BBC2 since 2001 and it's currently just ended its 4th series. Since BBC3 started, it's shown on there first and then repeated on BBC2 at a later date. It's usually on at 9pm or 9.30pm on Monday nights. The show basically chronicles the lives and loves of 5 friends living in Runcorn. Janet works in a cake shop, Louise is currently ruining her job at the National Statistics having just completed ...
...factory but has decided to go to college, Gaz is a mechanic and Jonny doesn't seem to do anything. Oh and they all drink alcohol a lot in the local pub, hence the title of the show. What is firstly amusing about "2 Pints..." is the main cast. Featuring "Emma" and "Antony" from The Royle Family as Janet and Jonny is a stroke of genius. It's great to see Ralf Little and Sheridan Smith play such different people and at first, it was strange seeing them ... Read review

Advantages: Great cast, good writer, decent scenarios
Disadvantages: can be a little predictable

Now ive seen pretty much every episode of these and to be honest i have cried at the sad moments and cried from laughter - Two pints is set in runcorn with a bunch of mainly 5 friends - it started when they all went out on the pull and Janet and Johnny ended up meeting - Gaz is a friend of Johnnys and donna and louise are friends of janet. and so the story began of ups and downs affairs tight situations and general banter. Gaz played by will mellor ...
...character - i think confirmed by his over use of the phrase "I'm stunning me" he finds any oppurtinity to take everything as an innuendo for sexual experiences. Oh hes also a hunky mechanic. Johnny played by ralf little from the royal family plays quite a sensitive 20 something - a bit dozy and always on the dole. He's quite disgusting in a sense with his weird food combinations and his sexual antics in the bedroom. he finds friends in inanimate ... Read review

Advantages: New, young cast and writer...give it a go
Disadvantages: Not exactly the funniest thing on tv....

Hmm…I’ve just seen the second episode of “Two pints of lager…” and I wasn’t hugely impressed. It has some merits, but it just doesn’t bear comparison to some of the more well established sitcoms on our TV screens. I like the idea of a young group of actors, trying to pull off an ensemble piece like this, and I’m pleased that some new young writing talent has been unearthed, in the form of 22 year old ...
...edges at points, the cast were not quite experienced enough to give a much needed dose of credibility to the action. The plot concerned itself with weight loss, sex and being a bastard. Ok, it isn’t Frasier, but I feel it attempted to do what it set out to fairly well. Nickson seemed to enjoy using a few “shock tactics” to keep the TV audience involved, finishing one scene with “blow job” as the punch line. Ok, it was ... Read review