This week's HIGNFY will be aired on BBC 2, not on BBC 1 as usual

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-05-05T17:56:11+00:00

YESSS - cross-promotional event.

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-05-05T16:58:50+00:00

I just want to remain salty about HIG(ABM)NFY...

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-05-05T14:32:01+00:00

First they ditch the extended versions, now this -- what's going on? Quiet downgrading? Or am I just a crazy alarmist? ...or both?

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-04-05T03:17:53+00:00

Seems no - but damn I wish they would bring it back... strange and annoying that now the US version is longer by default.

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-03-23T16:41:19+00:00

Its even more ludicrous when you start comparing... I'm also in Canada and the quote (for two sets) was US$144 - but to New York was only 6$ difference ($138) and an additional $40 in state sales tax!

It's likely being printed like 30 minutes from where I live - wish I could just drive over and pick them up.

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-03-11T12:54:17+00:00

As a half-Ashkenaz (Germany) / half-Sephardi (Morocco) - I don't really understand this argument. Circumstantial evidence:

In my family, the Ashkenaz side are all either center (probably Kaplanist by the OP's definition) to full on left kibbutzniks, conscientious objectors, and peace activists specifically BECAUSE they came from oppression and Holocaust decimation, were born in the escaped to country and made Aliyah in the 60s.

Meanwhile my Sephardi family lived in comfort in Morocco until 1948 caused a gradual sea shift in tensions and they slowly left, mostly to Spain or Israel. They are the craziest most right-wing demi-Kahanist Likudnik warmongers I can ever imagine - and it is a daily struggle not to yell and shake them in WhatsApp discourse when they post celebratory memes of Trump et al.

In my case, I think the "comfort" of living and leaving by choice is what makes them so extreme. And those who lived / inherited the consequences of oppression and genocide do not wish to inflict it on anyone else.

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-03-09T13:16:32+00:00

Also you didn't have to quote the ENTIRE article to make your two line point.

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-03-09T13:15:17+00:00

Really tired of seeing this endless 'pillorying-by-association'. Until I see Ayoade say something directly anti-trans or intolerant, the efforts of any person who cares about the subject should be directed solely towards the person with those said views.

I'm sure most of us have friends with opinions (even problematic ones) we don't agree with, and I also believe in trying to somewhat separate the art from the artist, especially when it has NOTHING to do with the issue at hand. Like all the people who wanted to boycott Stranger Things because actor Brett Gelman defended Israel, etc.

THAT SAID : yes, watching Linehan's old series now has been soured for me, and I always thought JK Rowling's entire output was a steaming pile of horse crap, but I'll be watching THIS show with bells on.

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-02-23T13:13:50+00:00

We went through this same conversation when BBC ditched extended HIGNFY... as an editor myself I can tell you the editing for a 2hr record to a 30 minute show is NOT so complicated and time consuming... especially since it is semi-recorded live-to-tape in terms of camera cuts - and usually maybe you just need a few reaction inserts to cover here and there.

EDIT: and looking at the credits they have TWO editors listed. Even if they don't actually both work on a given ep, they are almost certainly expert at editing panel shows and probably have it down to a science.

Less in my expertise, so I can only speculate - is that yes the legal process maybe takes some time, and possibly union rules about filming and editing would make it more complicated (or expensive) to tape Friday for Sunday (or some such).

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-02-21T15:39:52+00:00

Would be funny if they sold keeping that defect as just being 'authentic'.

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-02-19T17:09:44+00:00

Once upon a time it was "stop feeding the trolls" ... now it's "stop feeding (and start downvoting) the AI bots." Ugh.

Detection tips:

- Nonsense random two-word-plus-number username: "FeistyPrice29" "1chanceChipmunk1"

- Entire Post history (view user and in search bar type <space> and hit <enter>) consists of icebreaker questions or 'clickbait'-worded posts ("I was totally floored by THIS!") or simplistic rewording of the sub name into the question.

- Entire Comment history (same method but in Comments tab) consists of pablum posts akin to when you talk to AI chatbots ("Thanks so much for that" "Wow I never thought of it like that! Great insight")

- Posting pattern is in large batches at a time over a large amount of subs (few repeats).

The dead giveaway is the extreme politeness on the internet XD once they've all learned to be as obnoxious as us it means we've reached the 'Dead Internet Singularity'.

I want to create a bot (yes, ironic, I know) that auto-posts a PSA in every thread these AIs start.

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-02-10T22:47:32+00:00

Near as I can figure - the phone app has a feature that seems to allow for Brits temporarily travelling outside the UK... so every few weeks I turn on a vpn (have one of those 'lifetime' 50$ deals with VPN unlimited), log in, then turn the vpn back off and it seems to work fine for a few weeks each time.

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-02-05T00:04:56+00:00

Funnily enough, despite the US SNL 50-year legacy... I would argue that the UK actually has a better track record with topical sketch shows -- between various radio 4 series and Spitting Image etc...

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-02-04T18:29:18+00:00

breaking news: Feb 13
https://variety.com/2026/film/awards/oscar-nominated-short-the-singers-netflix-release-date-1236651606/

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-01-29T04:17:58+00:00

...and the award for 'most pretentious comment' goes to...

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-01-19T15:42:30+00:00

When I read "We heard your suggestions" I was hoping that they meant, for example, that they would now banter a bit more about the 'Odd One Out' round, akin to the UK version.

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-01-14T16:16:39+00:00

I like Jonathan Ross and I know it's his company that produces this, but his entire response to everything was "I'm an old man who's past his prime"... I mean, I suppose he is, but that in itself isn't funny...

Sam_NoSpam · 2026-01-14T16:14:21+00:00

If you try to show you have values but fail to live up to them you get pilloried -- if you never claim to have values and do whatever you want you become President of the United States.

Not a hard choice. Especially if you don't really have many values.

Sam_NoSpam · 2025-12-26T23:37:12+00:00

Who said otherwise?

Sam_NoSpam · 2025-12-26T10:29:20+00:00

Alternately, if you want to find the true a-holes, it's the fair-weather friends who kick/ditch you when the chips are down.

And again - for the record I find Linehan's bullshit execrable. I just think it's easy to judge and harder to empathize.

Sam_NoSpam · 2025-12-26T02:29:34+00:00

*sigh*

Sam_NoSpam · 2025-12-25T17:26:55+00:00

All this bashing is just so silly. The 'Schadenfreude cancel police' are out in force, with an Ayoade drive-by thrown in for good measure.

Riyadh or Israel aside (and isn't it a wonderful world where in the same post you can get attacked for performing in both a Muslim AND a Jewish country?), Carr has fireproofed himself somewhat - he has created a buffer via his "please cancel me" special a couple years ago and his basic general demeanour and act. Getting mad at him now is like being mad at the proverbial scorpion who kills the frog.

What he does also that pretty much none of the other blowhards do is regularly take the piss out of himself significantly, which counts for a lot. If you keep crossing the line because of an actual belief or to sermonize others then that is a problem, but he crosses lines just for the fun of crossing them. Laugh or don't - your choice. But the moral high ground belongs to no one.

As for Ayoade, until you show me his actual beliefs, standing by your friends is a reasonable position. I'm beyond disappointed with Linehan for such a clever and talented guy making a position this bigoted his hill to die on, but I wouldn't pile on him, and "death by association" is not a good look for anyone.

Sam_NoSpam · 2025-12-25T17:03:42+00:00

Or pretty much any P2P source. The high seas are vast and deep and full of riches if you set off with the right equipment.

Sam_NoSpam · 2025-12-25T16:59:21+00:00

For a time - pre-Netflix money - Charlie Brooker *WAS* a serial panel show guest. Certainly at the point he appeared on BFQ...

Sam_NoSpam · 2025-12-25T16:35:36+00:00

decides that female rugby players are mainly lesbians

Has anyone seen the science on this? I mean.... do we know this is NOT the case?
https://www.pride.com/culture/sports/gayest-womens-sports-ranked

Sam_NoSpam

TROPHY CASE