Shows (S)
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle
Show Details
Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle
Show type: TV
Starring Comic:
Stewart Lee

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle


+
Description

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle marks the return to television, after a decade's absence, of one of Britain's most highly regarded stand-up comedians. BBC Two. Six 30-minute shows. First aired: March 16, 2009

+
Reviews

Original Review:

In comedy circles, Stewart Lee has long been acknowledged as an influential, intelligent and principled stand-up almost beyond reproach. But it was nonetheless a courageous move for BBC Two to order a series from him that’s equally likely to alienate viewers as widen his niche. Given the debate raging about the BBC and public service broadcasting, the long-overdue decision to back his smart wit, rather than the raucous dumbed-down comedy that seems to win so many commissioning budgets, has to be applauded.

Demonstrating a strange misunderstanding of Lee’s demographic, the first instalment of his Comedy Vehicle was bookended by trailers featuring Horne and Corden – whose much-derided BBC Three sketch show seems about as far from the platonic comedy ideal Lee strives for as it is possible to get. It’s as if the BBC was saying ‘don’t worry if this isn’t for you – we also make comedy revolving around fat men wobbling their obese bellies’.

The sort of laddish celebrity culture that James Corden, especially, seems too enthusiastic to embrace was a main theme of Lee’s debut. The topic was bad literature, with forest-wasting tomes by the likes of Russell Brand, Jeremy Clarkson, Dan Brown, So Solid Crew’s Asher D and Chris Moyles being skewered by his poisonous wit. There’s perhaps an unacknowledged debt to Robin Ince’s live Book Club shows in this subject matter and derisive attitude, but Lee makes it all his own.

This Oxford graduate is elitist and proud of it. No, he hasn’t read Harry Potter – he’s 40 years old for Chrissake – but yes, he has read the complete works of William Blake, thank you very much. He has the unshakeable belief that his entire audience is as educated and erudite as him; or at least that if they’re not, they want to appear to be. Thus he reinforces a middle-class intellectual ambition, rather than playing dumb to broaden his appeal. He might be pandering to his audience as much as any comedian, but it’s an audience that’s under-served on TV.

Lee destroys his topics with the precision, relentlessness and brutality of a medieval torturer; repeatedly and meticulously attacking the same small point until it becomes weakened to the point of collapse. The entire oeuvre of Dan Brown is dismissed as: ‘The famous man looked at the red cup’ – and it will be impossible not to think of that phrase whenever the Da Vinci Code author is mentioned again.

The presentation matched the content, producing a show didn’t feel like a traditional stand-up production. The mood was more muted and intimate – the showbiz glitz of Live At The Apollo replaced with the understated class of a gentleman’s club. As he did on his recent DVD, Lee sometimes addresses the camera directly, as if making eye contact with the home audience, rather than leaving them as passive observers.

The pace wasn’t all bang-bang-bang jokes either, though Lee has some brilliantly inspired lines. Segments such as the over-extended routine describing in unnecessarily precise detail what a rapper is and where you might find one deliberately stretch the patience. Shorter jokes would be funnier, but nowhere near as transfixing, as the audience are compelled to see just how far he dare push it, and left to marvel at the man’s sheer audacity. There’s some tension as to whether it will work or not, and occasionally it doesn’t, quite – but that’s again a refreshing antidote to the over-polished presentation of most stand-up on TV.

Lee’s pauses are as important as his words; he builds up expectation and tension in those gaps that only a laugh can reveal. Who else could elicit chortles for dusting the mic stand with his hand or fiddling wordlessly with one of the light fittings?

The thoughtful monologue is interrupted by sketches, Dave Allen style. The quickies that illustrate the point Lee was making work well, but others don’t. Paddy McGinlay’s Goat seemed especially self-indulgent – though that’s a hard charge to level at Lee given that his entire show, indeed career, is built on self-indulgence. Still, it’s nice to play ‘spot the comedian’ with the likes of Simon Munnery, Miles Jupp, Tony Law, Tara Flynn, Paul Putner, Kevin Eldon and Michael Redmond in the ensemble.

Some other respected names are involved, too. Executive producer Armando Iannucci’s role is well-known – and he conducted an hilariously lofty interview with Lee as a ‘red button’ extra for digital viewers after the broadcast. Look carefully, and you’ll also spot that the script editor is one Christopher Morris.

This really is the comedy elite, and if they, led by Lee, can’t prove that a show can be literate, edifying and funny all at the same time, no one can. Thankfully, they’ve succeeded perfectly, making an appointment-to-view programme for everyone who believes comedy is art as well as entertainment. Great stuff.

Reviewed by: Steve Bennett
March 2009
+
Comments

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3

Crisps. Crisps. Crisps. Toast. Toast.

bloated rat corpse, May 2011

Stewart Lee is a liar, Dan Brown never wrote the words Lee assigns to him to enable Lee to make a point... Therefore the point becomes null and void.

Paul, June 2010

Having so far watched 5 vehicles…I would have prefered watching vehicles from any angle including straight down the exhaust with the engine running. I continue to watch out of amazement at how unfunny this is… he has made me snigger but once when talking about getting your willy stuck in a zippe. Anyone could get a laugh with that! It amazes me how he likes to repeat the same thing several times, likes to repeat things several times, repeat things several times, several times, times.

Stuart, April 2009

On last night's episode I watched at least 6 minutes of Kevin Eldon chasing a man smashing up the set of an apple shop. I am alarmed, baffled and elated in equal measure.

Jon, April 2009

I won't rest until I get to see Stewart Lee, David Mitchell, Stephen Fry and Bill Bailey together firing comedy missiles at the unsuspecting public.

Phippster, March 2009

I now know what a rapper is and where to find one. Thank you, Stewart

Richard, March 2009

Anyone who is familiar with Stewart Lee will understand that part of his arrogance etc is part of his on stage persona. It's also worth mentioning that the goat was played by Michael Redman (featured in Stewart's famous "Joe Pasquale" joke) and was probably included as a nod to him regarding original comedy material. I think Stewart Lee is amazing, he is the comedians' comedian, respected by his peers yet relatively unknown to the masses. I agree completely with Dean's comment too...

Jamie, Leicester, March 2009

Tom, your irony is exceptionally clever. Are you a comedian?

Nick T, March 2009

@Dean. Ok, Ok, you got me! I take your point, there are far far worse crimes than what Stewart did, on what passes for Entertainment these days. I shouldn't have responded so soon after catching it on iPlayer as my problem was that Stewart had managed to push a couple of my "Grumpy Old Man" buttons. Apart from Moyles being an easy target my main issue is with people who try to justify their position with this type of argument. Basically I was disappointed because, in my view, he just didn't need to include it. Anyone reasonable person watching him, who perhaps hadn't seen him before, would have formed opinion that he is an articulate, intelligent person so why add in a reference to a relatively 'high brow' figure from literature to reinforce it. Anyway, I will go away and reprimand myself. I suppose I should have also added that I will be watching the rest of the series as, as other people have mentioned here, it's about time the BBC gave someone like Stewart a slot in the prime time comedy slot. Yours 'with tail between legs'.....

Martin, March 2009

I really don't know what to think... perhaps here in lies the problem ?

Nobby Plancton, March 2009

My m8 uses this website and WTF!!!! Moyles iz well betta than this shitheaded okford idiot!!1!!!!!!!! Him and comdy dave shit all over his rubbish show!!!!! Cnt beileve i pay my taxes for this shit the BBc shold make good programs like balls of steel and jackass!! infact get moyles to do a program where he takes the piss out of this wanker!!!!!!! and OMG not knowin what a rapper iz!! wt sort of grandad iz he!>!>?!??!? so yeah dnt watch this shit watch horne and corden instead a decent program frm the BBC for once not the usaal tax wasting shit like this!!!

Tom, w, March 2009

I've also read the complete works of Blake but I try to avoid mentioning it.

Henry Hill, March 2009

I think Martin's comment reveals an important point. You can go on TV and threaten, insult, berate and mock people because you're fitter, richer, got more fashion sense, are a better sportsman, better businessman, better chef, better at drinking, fighting, shagging, a better dog trainer, better housewife or better cleaning lady even and you'll be praised for it, but if you dare to suggest you're smarter or more intellectual, you're a pretentious wanker. The show was awesome, long may it continue.

Dean, March 2009

What is it with comedians and Moyles? I like Lee but thought as an opening episode it was all very predictable and not very original. Celebrity books are rubbish ... err No Sh1t Sherlock!! Plus, what really irritated me was when he justified his whole "I'm cleverer then you" stance by stating he's read the complete works of Blake. I'm afraid my first thought was "Pretentious W@&k3r"!! and I agree he dragged it on way too long.

Martin, March 2009

Wait hold on, I was pretending I didn't get the joke to make the joke even better-when really I did get the joke. That is why I am the comedy insider.

Comedy insider, March 2009

Ahh that would explain it! Thank you Mr Bennett. Note to self pay more attention!

Comedy insider, March 2009

At last - an antidote to the asinine Peter Kay-ification of comedy

Gary Morris, March 2009

'Comedy Insider' needs to read the article properly. Interviewer Leeanne Stewart is an invention of Stewart Lee (did the name not give it away), like it says on the top of the piece

Steve Bennett, March 2009

Stewart Lee doing what he does best, and doing it really well too, which altogether adds up to pretty damn good television. Watch him or fail.

Nick, March 2009

Did anyone read Saturday's interview with Sewart Lee in the Guardian? (http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/mar/14/comedian-stewart-lee) I couldn't decided if the journalist hated him or if this was some sort of parody... Saw a bit of his show yesterday the bit about Chris Moyles book - i liked it, though I thought he did labour the point a bit.

Comedy insider, March 2009

Glad to see the BBC has finally invested in some decent quality comedy again. Tip-Top stuff!

julie, newcastle, March 2009

Simply brilliant, at last something worth watching on the BBC!

Scott, March 2009

Have your say:
:
:
:
 
+
These comics also appear in: