4. Al Murrays Multiple Personality Disorder (ITV1, 2009)
Watching Al Murrays Multiple Personality Disorder is a bit like watching an articulate and talented comedian be reduced to doing cheap gags that are completely beneath them. Actually, its literally that. But then again, its an ITV comedy so thats to be expected. A big problem with Multiple Personality Disorder is that (bar a few sketches starring Lee Nelson creator Simon Brodkin) Murray is carrying the show by himself. All of the best sketch comedians are double acts like Fry and Laurie or troupes like Monty Python. A successful sketch comedian needs a close partner whos had a hand in creating the material to play off of rather than actors who are just hired hands. Admittedly the programme does have some moments that raise a few giggles but beyond that, the sketches are just dire. Murray's Pub Landlord persona is ample proof that he can do character comedy but here he just doesnt have any good characters to play. The Pub Landlord was a well-observed satire of outspoken nationalists but theres none of that wit or satire in Multiple Personality Disorder. Compare the Pub landlord to a character like Horst Schwul (a gay Nazi in a bright pink uniform) and the gulf between Multiple Personality Disorder and Murrays other work is clear. And of course, special mention has to go to the Big Baby sketches. A recurring sketch about Murray as a grown man dressed as a baby who works as a business executive and switches between his adult and baby mentalities at random points. Having seen how articulate and intelligent Murray is when not in character and doing other programmes, it just feels like pretty much everything in Multiple Personality Disorder is far beneath him. Hes an educated man with a lot of comedic talent yet in Multiple Personality Disorder, hes reduced to wearing a nappy and bonnet and shouting Big Baby want wee wee or something equally unfunny. Its not just disappointing because of specific flaws in writing but also because Murray has shown he can do better and its a shame to see him not firing on all cylinders.
What Are Its Redeeming Features? The sketches starring Simon Brodkin as a proto-Lee Nelson character.