Saxondale

Steve coogan is mainly known for being Allan Partridge- a character he and his brilliant team Armando Ianucci, Patrick Marber, Rebbecca Front and Doon McKickan developed over a period of ten years to perfection. This growth of the character plus the genius of mainly Marber as an actor were one key to the Partridge success. Saxondale is his first stand alone character to go through two complete series. Saxondale works surprisingly well. The ex roadie turned pest controller with an anger management problem is unlike Allan not a character you laugh at but you laugh with- in other words he is "funny but with dignity". A lot of the ideas are very original and Coogan is a master in creating expectations of what will happen next and then not doing it not unlike the late John Hughes. The first series is entertaining but not great. Hardly ever do you laugh out loudly but some of the gags stay with you and make you chuckle for quite a while. One of the reasons why series 1 doesn't quite deliver is that Coogan over acts Saxondale. The second series however is superior in essence. The timing of the gags and jokes is perfect, again the standard of writing is very high and Coogan is more restrained than in the first series which makes it much funnier, like the conversations with his nighbour when Saxondale deadpans every attempt at humour. Each show begins with a very funny anger management therapy session and also has an exchange between Saxondale and dimwit secretary Vicky played very well by Morwena Banks.

Maybe you have to be a similar age to Tommy Saxondale to really appreciate a lot of the humour. Well, I am and Steve Coogan has created one of the most unique comic creations ever seen on TV.

Look out for the subtle use of tics and mannerisms that make Saxodale such a watchable character. And fantastic support from all.

Rasmus H. is just right as Tommy's assistant, basically playing the same character he portrays in "Lead Balloon". Ruth Jones is dead sexy and Morwenna Banks is a treasure.

This is a multi-dimensional comedy. Always varied and not just playing on the idea of an ageing "hippy" out of place in the modern world. Poor old Tommys' encounters with some squatters was pure comic brilliance.

I love it.

The Character that Steve Coogan has created, or rather perfected, of Tommy Saxondale is deeply, profoundly demented. But it's Coogan's mastery of the nuances of bitter, disillusioned, middle aged neurosis that makes his character so appealing, so universal. It's impossible not to identify with the short tempered, self centered, frustratingly inflexible, outrageously arrogant pest exterminator. And he's joined in his excellent performance by a rich constellation of equally quirky and brilliant supporting characters, such as the chatty, oddly attractive pest control company dispatcher so wonderfully played by Morwenna Banks. It's hilarious, the casual ease with which she presses his excruciatingly sensitive buttons - perhaps lovingly teasing him - and thus with a few sharp, well placed jabs utterly undermines his ruggedly assembled self-image. It's like watching a Medieval fortress collapse under the weight of a playful butterfly.

Saxondale's life is all behind him. He lives in the past where all his great heroes and great ideals were born and died along with his philosophy & references & hair style & car. Actually, the yellow fastback Mustang is quite fashionable and very cool, but that's about all he's got left to show for his former career as a professional rock band roadie where everything, understandably, was so much more exciting, outrageous, wonderful, vivid and meaningful. Tommy now finds himself nearly alone in an absurdly shallow & tedious world of crass, corny, crappy materialism overly populated by semi-intelligent optimists; his once noble passions increasingly doused by the conspiring encroaching forces of suburban mediocrity, or so he likes to believe.

His adoring and sweet but occasionally flustered wife, Magz, owns an alternative lifestyle shop in the mall where she conceives tee shirt slogans to shock and disgust the straight world which she does this with the casual innocence of a florist. Magz may sometimes test Tommy's brittle patience but somehow she avoids his fiery wrath because, well, he loves her. His rage unleashes at the most absurd inappropriate moments, usually after someone has failed to grasp the obviously stunning genius of one of his savagely witty if awkwardly esoteric quips.

Saxondale is a hostile hybrid of Ricky Gervais' "The Office" and any other show in the history of broadcast TV that features a misunderstood dreamer. It's an undervalued, criminally ignored treasure of a programme that has saved me from many a laugh-less evening. Series 2 actually surpasses the first. One of my all time favorites that grows more wonderful each time I climb aboard for another action packed adventure in the fast paced, wild & wacky world of commercial pest control.

Saxondale is right up there with the best of British comedies. Steve Coogan has created a fantastically original, well played, scripted comedy on a par with his other great Alan Partridge. All the characters are brilliant, even the small parts like angry man at the anger management sessions I thought were great. His expressions sheer class. Needless to say Tommy Saxondale's character is especially funny. His little nuances, expressions, and all round persona highly entertaining.

The second series I preferred to the first as it introduced even more interesting characters like angry man, annoying neighbour. The musical score is also top notch.

I'm disappointing that it ended in just 2 series, I think it could have gone on longer for maybe 3 to 4 series. The talent to create more episodes is there. 10 out of 10 for sheer comedic entertaining.

Having been one that has enjoyed the brilliance of Steve Coogan's comedy in it's various visages; before i watched Saxondale I wondered if Steve could keep up his spotless record. Once again Steve failed to disappoint me. Saxondale is not about a bitter man but a man who shook the pillars of heaven as a youth but like many of us has been slowed down by the cruel joke known as 'age'. Unlike most of his comedy this one has a tender side that shows itself at unpredictable times throughout the series. Steve really hits the trigger on this one and i don't doubt there are many like me who know where Saxondale is coming from and where he is heading. This series reveals Steve Coogan for the comedy and indeed, acting genius that he is. I look forward to series two.