Compilation DVDs are tricky things. What may have seemed fresh and funny when it was on TV, especially with a deliberately topical show, doesnt always stand up as well on digital disc, even if it has been edited down into what is essentially a highlights reel. Russell Howards Good News has been one of BBC3s biggest ever hits, and indeed it works extremely well as a weekly half-hour of topical humour (although the mystery guest has always been and remains a pretty cringe-inducing segment), with the Mock The Week funnyman riffing on the weeks story and searching out some of the odder things that have been going on around the world.
The DVD brings together the highlights from the first eight episodes and distils them down into a 75 minute package. It all okay, but lacks the zest it had on TV, partially because so much of it is based on a particular weeks events, that separated from that time, it isnt as funny. Its rather like watching repeats of Have I Got News For You or indeed Mock The Week on Dave – still funny but also much flatter than when it all seemed new and done virtually as it happened.
Dont get me wrong, theres some good stuff. Howards rant about Nick Griffin on Question Time is great, and hes good at picking out weird and wonderful news stories, but I suppose the real problem is that now were displaced from the time it was happening, there are fewer real comic gems than youd hope. Its a show where everything has to be found, shot and shown in a week , meaning theres far less time to hone and perfect the comedy. An audience knows that on TV, but its more difficult to go with on digital disc.
The Russell Howards Good News DVD is 75 minutes of smiles rather than belly laughs. Its a bit of a shame, as Russell pops up at the beginning and end of the main feature, as well as in the special features, to explain whats going on and what were gonna see, and its obvious he has huge enthusiasm for it. And so he should, as on TV and when its topical it works a treat, but cut down and on DVD, its humorous but also somewhat listless.
The extras however are pretty good. Theres a series of extra sketches and moments that never made it into the broadcast show, with Russell popping up to explain why they were cut normally because they were deemed too near the knuckle or the audience just didnt go with it. The comedian also offers up a good commentary, which is sometimes funnier than the main feature, and theres also a short unaired pilot (which is more a proof of concept piece than an entire show), and a short look behind-the-scenes.
The people behind this DVD are obviously bringing it out to feed into the Christmas market and because Russell doesnt have a separate live disc coming out this year and are assuming that 99% of sales are going to be festive gifts. However while the person receiving it may be happy when they open it and theyll smile while watching it once on Boxing Day, after that its likely to sit on the shelf, never to be opened again.
Overall Verdict: On TV Russell Howards Good News is great fun, but chopped down to highlight and on DVD, it lacks the topical freshness it needs to really zing.
Special Features:
Audio Commentary
Unaired Pilot
Never Before Seen Sketches
Behind The Scenes Featurette
Reviewer: Tim Isaac