Russell Brand's Ponderland

infobox television
show_name = Russell Brand's Ponderland


caption =
format = Comedy Entertainment
runtime = 30 min per episode
starring = Russell Brand
country = UK
opentheme =
network = Channel 4
first_aired = October 22, 2007
last_aired = present
num_episodes =
imdb_id = |

Russell Brand's Ponderland is a BAFTA nominated comedy aired in six parts on the British television station Channel 4, presented by comedian and actor Russell Brand. [ [http://uk-tv-guide.com/programme-details/S4C/7+November+2007/02:10/Russell+Brand's+Ponderland/Documentary/ Russell Brand's Ponderland on S4C at 2:10am November 7th, 2007 - UK TV Guide ] ] The show consists largely of Brand giving a series of monologues in a stand-up style, interspersed with old television and video footage. [ [http://www.channel4.com/4laughs/feature/4laughs_a_day/oct/oct26.html Channel 4 - 4Laughs ] ] A second series has been confirmed but it is not clear when it will be aired. The first series is set to be released on DVD on 10 November, 2008. [ [http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=846158 Russell Brand's Ponderland] HMV.com]

Episode guide

eries 1

*Childhood
*Science
*Crime
*Sport
*Love
*Holidays

eries 2

Known topics for series 2 (in no particular order)
*Class
*Pets
*Education
*Family

Critical reception

Critical reaction was mixed, with Rachel Cook in the New Statesman describing it as "a pretty safe kind of laughter" improved by Brand's taste for the surreal. [cite news | last =Cooke | first =Rachel | title =The really wild show: Russell Brand's "anarchic" comedy is as carefully coiffed as his hair | publisher =New Statesman | date =2007-10-27 | url = http://www.newstatesman.com/200710250038 | accessdate = 2007-11-06 ] Patricia Wyn Davies in the Telegraph too commented on his "unconventional mind" and said the show also included surprise telephone calls, for instance to the comedian's father. [cite news | last =Davies | first = Patricia Wynn | title =Last night on television | publisher =The Daily Telegraph | date =2007-10-23 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/10/23/nosplit/bvtv23last.xml | accessdate = 2007-11-06 ] Alexi Duggins in Time Out also suggested that it was unoriginal, comparing it to Harry Hill's TV Burp, [cite news | last =Duggins | first =Alexi | title =Russell Brand's 'Ponderland' | publisher =Time Out London | date =2007-10-22 | url = http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/features/3672.html | accessdate = 2007-11-06 ] and Alex Clark of "The Observer" wondering why Brand felt the need to resemble Tarrant on TV though appreciating the insights Ponderland gave into Brand himself. [cite news | last =Clark | first =Alex | title = Birth of the original good-time girl | publisher =The Guardian | date =2007-10-28 | url = http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2200407,00.html | accessdate = 2007-11-06 ]

References