Showbiz

Modern-day comedy is 'stale and old-fashioned', say Reeves and Mortimer

Updated 09:03am on 18 Aug 2009

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer have hit out at the "stale" and old-fashioned state of modern-day comedy.

The comedians, who are bringing their cult "quiz" show Shooting Stars back to TV screens, gave The Mighty Boosh the thumbs up but said new comics like Michael McIntyre would not have been out of place 20 years ago.

Returning: Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer say there is nothing new in today's comedy

The pair were asked by the Radio Times if it was harder to keep mucking about as they got older.

But Vic, 50, told the magazine: "There's more energy in this than anything we've done.

"We're not crippled and incapable yet. I think comedy probably is a young man's game, but it's gone a bit stale at the moment."

Bob, also aged 50, added: "It doesn't feel like there's been that much new. I think The Mighty Boosh are quite good. But I could have been watching this new crop - Michael McIntyre and people - 20 years ago."

Vic added: "When we were doing Vic Reeves Big Night Out, they were the kind of people that were around, and we came along and did something different.

"And they're still there. There's nothing new."

Reeves also said the pair would like to update their 2004 surreal sitcom Catterick.

Bob added: "We're thinking of just doing it ourselves and putting it out on 'computers', because I think there's more to be said with Catterick."

The pair denied that they were cashing in by resurrecting Shooting Stars.

"It didn't feel cynical bringing it back - there's nothing much like it", Bob said.

"There's a big difference between this and the other panel shows.

"I don't think Shooting Stars has ever successfully been replaced. There have been a few attempts - ITV2 did one (Celebrity Juice) with Leigh Francis, a sort of madcap thing.

"And a few of the quizzes, even like QI, took a bit of Shooting Stars on board with silly buzzers and things, but it's a gap that's never been filled."

Reader views (11)

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These two are about as funny as an outbreak of rabies in a guide dogs home,on or off the screen,-and I speak from experience.

- Jacob, Canterbury Kentish wasteland, 18/08/2009 16:54
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These two were never in the least bit funny, ten years ago or today. Bring back the likes of Morecambe & Wise if you ask me - 28 million viewers for one of their Christmas Shows in the '70s, when today, programme schedulers are thankful if they get 5 million.

- Yvonne, Doncaster, UK, 18/08/2009 16:42
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Celebs on the comeback trail try to kickstart their flagging career by making controvertial statments in the press SHOCKA!
Yawn...

- Alan, London, 18/08/2009 16:09
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Well at least they amuse each other.

- Adb London, London, 18/08/2009 15:57
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were these pair ever funny,they join the other z list crowd and do come dine with me now, why dont they get a proper job away from television

- Anon, leicestershire, 18/08/2009 15:35
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Reeves and Mortimer basically stole their act from Morecambe and Wise. So they can hardly talk.

- Lindsay, london, 18/08/2009 15:07
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Like they would know !!!

- Davidke, ramsey isle of man, 18/08/2009 12:41
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These two are simply tragic in their delusion. The idea that their 'madcap' antics have been missed is almost as preposterous as the wife of the least funny of the two.

- Phil, London, 18/08/2009 11:54
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Call me old fashioned but I'd choose McIntyre over these two any day of the week.

- Isabel, Woking, 18/08/2009 10:58
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Reeves and Mortitmer, Mighty Boosh and the like are funny in their own way but all the time, I don't think so, tedious more like. Most people I know pay to see them all Reeves type and Lee Evans, McIntyre and Chris Rock.

The silent movie comics were doing Reeves & Mortimer so was Max Wall, Dick Gregory and Richard Pryor more in the Chris Rock style. Vic should bear in mind that audiences are not one dimensional even though he is in danger of sounding. It is actually why one can appreciate him in Shooting Stars and his very good Jack the Ripper documentary. Careful Mr Reeves like all of us you still need the money.

- Amazonmothe, hasting, 18/08/2009 10:44
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Oh dear...a case of pot calling kettle black! Vic and Bob were brilliant back in their heyday, but Shooting Stars had got hopelessly stale and dull by the time it was axed - of all the shows from the 90's that deserve to be brought back, this is the last one I'd want to see again.

Catterick on the other hand was very good, I'd far rather see Vic and Bob doing their own thing and coming up with new and interesting stuff, not trying to reanimate the corpse of Shooting Stars...

- Alison, London, 18/08/2009 09:49
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