I HIGNFY is a great idea for a show, but it’s so inside as to British news that it goes over my head largely. I went to the youtube link, but can you give me a clue as to what you’re referring? Is Deayton the host? Can you give a hint as to what to look/listen for?
Angus Deayton was the host since the beginning, until he himself was involved in a scandal*, that was the big news on one of the show’s broadcast weeks. Paul Merton ribbed so mercilessly over the scandal, that Deayton (whose sole job was to read from an autocue) was completely flustered. Eventually he was let go from the job over the scandal.
*The scandal, incidentally, was that Deayton had gone out with a woman who turned out to be a high class prostitute.
It got fairly nasty, with some genuine bad feelings. Stephen Fry has said he’ll never go on HIGNFY because of how Angus was treated.
I recognize Angus from somewhere. Didn’t he work with Rowan Atkinson? I’m seeing Rowan when I see his mannerisms and hear his intonation.
I just watched it on youtube. It got a bit savage, but that show seems like it could get a bit savage on whoever is in the news. And after a story like that comes out, is there any way to get over it gracefully?
IMDb does shows him as “Man on Park Bench” in an episode of Mr. Bean. (He was on a first series episode of Blackadder, but if you recognized him as one of the Jumping Jews of Jerusalem you’ve got a better memory than I.) He was the neighbor on One Foot in the Grave, and had a cameo as himself in Coupling, illustrating Jeff’s theory of why celebrities hook up with other celebrities.
I second Cracker, Black Books, Spaced, House of Cards, Jonathon Creek, and One Foot in the Grave - some episodes of that made me laugh uproariously one moment, then almost burst into tears the next.
I’ll add Coupling and Drop the Dead Donkey. They’re both easy to find online in torrents or streaming episodes. Coupling is seriously under-rated; it has some of the funniest set-ups I’ve ever seen on TV anywhere. Find the clip of Jeff chatting up the Israeli woman even if you don’t want the rest. 
HIGNFY and MtW are two of my favourite shows, but I’m not sure how well they’d translate to other countries - they’re too tied into British current affairs and British pop culture.
Apart from the stuff mentioned by Robot Arm, Deayton often played the straight man in Atkinson’s live shows.
That’s what it is, but where? I went quickly through his live show that I have (Jesus as a really good magician, the resentful play-actor loser), but I didn’t see him.
I know, he was the voice of The Invisible Man on Rowan’s Live Show. I wonder if that’s the only thing I know him from.
He was in the live show recorded at Boston University. I know this because I’ve just finished watching it at Google Videos.
Possibly the most realistic portrayal of Guys From a Certain Area (and it dips WELL below the 49th parallel). I watch it to keep in touch with my peeps, but I’m not sure how it would sell south of Chi. (thinking) They fish, sometimes with illegal tackle, screw up home improvements, blow shit up, and destroy cars they are trying to fix? Okay, it’s pretty universal. Favorite character: Edgar Montrose, the one who is actually PAID to blow shit up. Played by Graham Greene, who recommends a few well-placed sticks of dynamite to solve all of life’s problems. His clothes are always smouldering and he’s missing several fingers. Favorite line: “I saw that one. You know, the native guy was okay, he should have got the Oscar. But the rest of it… was a yawn. Now what they needed there was for one of those buffalo to get backed up with methane, catch his hoof on a piece of flint, go off like a big furry grenade! KA-BOOM!.. Talk about your burgers to go.”
Note that Greene was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor for “Dances With Wolves.”
Unfortunately, or fortunately if your MIL and her sister are American Hyacinth Buckets, that means you have to work your way through the rest of the series to appreciate it. Without the personal connection it becomes rather pedestrian, except for the brilliant performances by Patricia Routledge.
Heh, fair enough (and why there is a grinning smiley). 
OK, good to know. I haven’t seen any episodes post-series 3 yet (not sure I’ve even seen them available in NZ).
These specials seem to be something of an interesting oddness of British TV shows and their inclusion or exclusion in DVD season sets is rather erratic. (Which explained why I could remember a particular Creek show from TV but was initially mystified when it wasn’t in the series 1-3 discs I bought). 
I believe he was also the presenter when Rowan was doing his Shakespearean actor lecture.
Yeah, I kind of agree. His career was based on mercilessly mocking people who publicly screwed up, so how could he expect any less for his own screwups? But what I’ve heard is that there was already quite a bit of tension backstage, and it just got ugly, I guess. I don’t know all the details.
Here’s a show you might like, if you are good at understanding Brits with thick Geordie accents: Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
Hopefully not too off-topic, but I loves LOVES me some People Like Us, but can’t find it for sale in the US. Any leads?
It will be released on DVD on September 1.
People Like Us: The Complete Series
**Coupling **and One Foot In The Grave have already been mentioned, but I think those two have got to be the funniest British shows I’ve ever seen – even Monty Python comes in second (and I LOVE Monty Python!). The episode mentioned when Geoff chats up the Israeli woman is called “The Woman With Two Breasts.” I think I came close to having a stroke from laughing so hard!
Last of the Summer Wine is another good show. It’s not uproariously funny, but I find it immensely enjoyable to watch.
In the same enjoyable vein are: As Time Goes By and Mulberry
The first season of Green Wing is available on Hulu.
I accidentally spent a day watching it.
Not only Geordie accents, but Liverpool, London, Birmingham and Bristol. Only three of them were from Newcastle after all.
Dennis, Neville and Oz - Newcastle
Barry - Birmingham
Moxy - Liverpool
Bomber - Bristol/West Country
Wayne - London
I always found Bomber’s accent the most impenetrable. Though I’d imagine Moxy the stuttering Liverpudlian might defeat someone who was not from these shores.
God, I loved Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
I fancied Neville something rotten. And he must be the biggest drip ever to be seen on telly. How weird was I?
Deayton also played Victor Meldrew’s nemesis ,Patrick,(or was Victor Patrick’s nemesis?) in One Foot in The Grave.