I first saw the Count Arthur Strong character via a number of vignettes on the Paramount Channel (now Comedy Central) some 15 years or so ago. The scenario was the Count running a variety club with Terry Titter and they were highly amusing to say the least. Then followed a couple of appearances on late night BBC1 comedy shows and that was the last I saw of him until the last few weeks. You'll therefore gather that the radio show and his live performances have completely passed me by.
So when I became aware that there was to be a TV series and Graham Linehan was the co-writer it was my expectation that this was bound to be very good. Unfortunately it has been something of a disappointment, with the series as a whole varying between average to only mildly amusing. Since watching the TV series I've now listened to a few of the radio shows and there really is no comparison - the radio show is absolutely hilarious and it makes the ordinariness of the TV show even more apparent.
Now converting from radio to TV there were always going to be some changes but surely you don't tamper too much, if at all, with what actually makes the Count funny. Ridiculous rambling and irritable rants are Count Arthur Strong's raison d'etre, however, for the TV show they've been watered down to such an extent that they're barely there at all. They've seemingly chosen to make the Count more rounded, with more depth and more pleasant at the expense of virtually all of the laughs. Why the need to make him more real? At the end of the day he's a larger than life fictitious character. We don't expect him to be real! In addition the Michael character is virtually a co-star. This along with the other supporting characters only reduces the screen time on Arthur. So they've watered down his character and also effectively reduced his screen time. To me, that's clearly a lose lose outcome.
With his past TV sit com successes it would seem reasonable to assume that Linehan has had the lead role in shaping this program and so is more than likely the instigator of these character changes. The changes clearly haven't been successful. Although Linehan has an excellent track record, nobody has a monopoly on being right all of the time. Count Arthur Strong is, after all, Steve Delaney's creation so he should have more influence than I suspect he's had in this TV series.
As regards viewing figures I believe they started at around 1.1m and worked their way down to 800k or so, I don't know what the consolidated figures are. How good/bad these viewing figures are for the 2 slots that the show filled I'm not sure, although I'd guess that they're average at best and don't exactly scream out for a second series to be commissioned. It would be no surprise to me if the second series was actually agreed at the outset, possibly due to Linehan's clout?
For the second series they really need to return the Count to something more like his true character, as portrayed in the radio show, or the second series will surely be the final series. Lineham and Delaney are surely more than bright enough to realise that if you're travelling in the wrong direction making a u-turn is a much better option rather than just carrying on regardless and hoping for the best.
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