AFTER the recent success of Vic and Bob's Afternoon Delights, Foster's Gold Beer are bringing back another classic 90s comedy team.
The Fast Show is being re-worked as on online comedy with Foster's, the lager company who appear to be using sales of their lager to promote a lot of comedy, or is that the other way around?
Originally conceived while Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson were writing for Harry Enfield and Chums, The Fast Show was intended as a new type of sketch show that did away with a lot of the old unnecessary conventions of the format.
The idea proved to be hugely successful, with the show running for three series, a one-off special and several live tours.
17 years after the show was originally broadcast, the cast members have decided to bring it back as an online show to get it out to a whole new generation. With the exception of Mark Williams, the whole cast from the original series has agreed to return, as will many of the original characters.
Despite the show's long absence, it has always enjoyed a cult following on DVD and on tour, and many of the show's catchphrases endure to this day.
The decision to put the show online rather than on TV (despite offers from the BBC), was due to the fact that teenagers and kids now watch almost everything online, and that the new format would not only reach a new audience but provide new creative challenges and opportunities for the creators, as each episode will last ten minutes rather than the previous thirty. Among the creative opportunities, one the cast are most relishing, is the apparent prospect of 'more f**ks'.
So far the show is set to include Ted & Ralph, Rowley Birkin and Swiss Toni. Despite the original series featuring over ninety-odd characters, the new online season will feature a much more modest thirty.
This is reportedly as the shorter episode lengths necessitate less characters and also to try and only retain the strongest characters from the original series.
The re-launch seems to be something of a labour of love for Foster's, who approached the comedy team out of the blue to create the new series. Another extension of Foster's commitment to showcasing new comedy, the creators have been given complete creative control of the project, and according to Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson, it is no way intended as solely being a viral marketing campaign for the drinks company but should be considered a genuine continuation of the show.
Suits me sir!
