Thoughts on The PS Show
I think I agree with an earlier comment that this show could actually benefit from a laugh track. I think that a laugh track would help to define what the show is. With it, the show is a straight-forward, comedy sketch show that one is meant to sit back and enjoy. Without it, it makes you question what the show is trying to be is it a comedy or a satire? Is it meant to make you laugh in the same way as, say, Little Britain or is it meant to make you think? There is evidence to suggest that its trying to be both the sketch show format says comedy, the constant TV parodies and absence of laugh track scream satire. Then again, not having a laughter track is a bit of a trend these days, with shows like The Office, Peep Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm to name but a few.
I guess the show is what you make it and depends a lot on how you feel personally about Peter Serafinowicz. Is he, in your opinion, talented and charismatic enough to carry this show? Or should he have assembled an ensemble cast to help him ala Smack the Pony or a comedy partner ala Mitchell and Webb or Little Britain? Peter is also an impressionist so should this show sit alongside the likes of Rory Bremner or Dead Ringers?
Or should we stop making these comparisons and appreciate Peter for his own merits? This show is essentially a tour through Peters warped but highly imaginative mind. Much of it is his personal observations and musings on popular culture, and for that reason I think its interesting and quite amusing.
I wouldnt say the shows laugh out loud funny but some sketches have raised a giggle from me. The talk show with the robot presenter always makes me laugh (Welcome to the show. Smiley face (smiles).), I enjoyed the shopping channel parodies, the telephone chat line incarnations and the news presenter who is reading the news prompted by a buzzer that tells him if hes right or wrong always makes me laugh.
"He murders his wife every night. Other than that, I think he's pretty harmless."