Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

"Nina's eyes popped out of what was left of her back. Why oh why had she opened that tomb? The sand turned red. This was because she was bleeding on it. Blood - ruby-red blood, her blood. Blood... and piss and shit. This was the worst day of her life."

Short-lived and underseen, it is also one of the funniest shows ever made. Brought me to the point of painful laughter in each of its six episodes. For anyone who enjoyed this show, there is also an even lesser-known spin-off show called "Man to Man With Dean Learner" where Richard Ayoade hosts a fake talk show in character.

first time actually sitting and watching it front to back, and yeah it's a top 15 or so show of all time and the greatest one-and-done. even better than the iannucci/morris stuff that influenced it. please never reboot this or tarnish it in any way, thank you.

This genius inspired me to become an author, dream weaver, visionary, plus actor.

The quality of the writing here is superb. Each episode begins with the Marenghi character reading an excerpt from one of his wretched novels until the show-within-a-show begins, moving encyclopedically through every possible way that a film or television production could go wrong -- hammy acting, oblivious racism, rampant sexism, shoddy special fx, nonsensical plots, and (best of all) Richard Ayoade blurting out every line in a rapid monotone with zero comprehension of anything he's saying.

But I'm not Jesus Christ...I've come to accept that.

Probably the best so-bad-it's-good spoof ever created. Matthew Holness and co. are geniuses in this regard, the show doesn't just lazily rely on pastiching the tropes and calling it a day, it goes out of its way to be funny with the insanely stupid storylines, excellently silly creature effects, comedic fuck-ups in the show (mostly thanks to Dean Learner) and the brilliantly edited interview throwbacks -- yet it still keeps a deadpan seriousness all the way through.

I have spent years trying to describe this show to people and failing to convince them it even exists. But it does, and it is immaculate.

Bone-chilling. Just the thought of going to Rumford gives me the screamies.

I wish I liked it better. I love the spot-on capturing of the look of shows of the time, but it just wasn't as funny as I'd hope. A lot of the jokes are essentially recycled from episode to episode. I enjoyed it, but it was never a particular favourite.