Famalam Pilot - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)
Famalam gives us a glimpse of the latest Nollywood blockbuster, reveals who might be responsible for internet spam and introduces us to the real rulers of the world - spoiler alert - it is not the G20.
Broadcast details
Date
Wednesday 20th September 2017
Time
10pm
Channel
Length
30 minutes
Cast & crew
Cast
| Samson Kayo | Various |
|---|---|
| Vivienne Acheampong | Various |
| John MacMillan | Various |
| Tom Moutchi | Various |
| Gbemisola Ikumelo | Various |
| Roxy Sternberg (as Roxanne Sternberg) | Various |
Guest cast
| Akemnji Ndifornyen | Ensemble Actor |
|---|---|
| Emma Pierson | Ensemble Actor |
Writing team
| Ben Caudell | Writer |
|---|---|
| Tom Marshall | Writer |
| Akemnji Ndifornyen | Writer |
| Sophie Duker | Writer |
| Jason Hazeley | Writer |
| Joel Morris | Writer |
Production team
| Tom Marshall | Director |
|---|---|
| Akemnji Ndifornyen | Producer |
| Ben Caudell | Executive Producer |
| Chris Sussman | Executive Producer |
| Gavin Buckley | Editor |
| Charlie Fawcett | Editor |
| Julian Fullalove | Production Designer |
| Jemima Cotter | Costume Designer |
| Ross Marshall | Director of Photography |
| Samuel Karl Bohn | Composer |
| Akemnji Ndifornyen | Composer |
| Susie Munachen | Make-up Designer |
| Matt Bell | 1st Assistant Director |
| Sarah Asante | Commissioning Editor |
| Gregor Sharp | Commissioning Editor |
Video
Phone Sex with traditional girls
Dave is looking for something a bit different from an adult web cam channel tonight.
Featuring: Samson Kayo.
Press
I don't think there's been an interesting new sketch show since Cardinal Burns. The genre itself is tired; so that if one is to work, to be original and fresh, it needs something more - sketch plus. CB brought surreality, a glorious bonkersness. What does Famalam have that most others unfortunately don't? Black talent in its cast, that's what, including Tom Moutchi and John Macmillan. And a lot of the subject matter of its sketches is about black Britishness too.
It's hit and miss - of course it is, it's a sketch show. I haven't seen enough Nollywood for pastiche Shola Settles the Score: Part 29 to mean a lot, even though I enjoyed it and it made me want to see more Nigerian cinema.
Sometimes it hits a nerve, like a (laughable) attempt to improve the diversity of Midsomer Murders. And all the black characters getting killed off first in an alien movie. Sometimes it's just hilarious, like Black British History, brought to you by Scribbler P, in a UK garage style. "And this started time ago / when brothers were still in black and white / and places like Jamaica hadn't developed yet / like no Buju, no Sean Paul, no Vybz Kartel, Bounty Killer, no dancehall full stop ... "
Oh, and I love the real Nigerian prince, who really does have $44m worth of gold bullion, which he really does need to transfer. And yet none of the people he emails believe him, oddly. Poor Nigeria, it gets a bit of a kicking.
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian, 21st September 2017
Preview - Famalam
The latest comedy pilot from BBC Two is a sketch show, which these days is somewhat rare. A sketch show with an all-black cast is even rarer.
Ian Wolf, On The Box, 20th September 2017
One of 12 new comedy pilots commissioned this year by the BBC, Famalam's focus on black British culture will remind over-30s of the much lamented 90s comedy show The Real McCoy. A committed cast, including Vine star Tom Moutchi and John Macmillan, ensure Famalam is frequently fresh and funny (especially the history lessons in a "UK garage stylee"), but it is also hit and miss in that way that sketch shows invariably are.
Ellen E. Jones, The Guardian, 20th September 2017
TV preview: New On Two - Famalam, BBC2
After a lot of fairly trad sitcoms the latest pilot in the BBC's current raft of newbies is a sketch show. And although it is new Famalam feels like it has been around for a while. In both a good and bad way.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 20th September 2017
Famalam: review
After last week's The Other One, this is another promising comedy pilot for BBC Two.
Steve Bennett, Chortle, 20th September 2017