The Sitcom Trials
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox television
| image = SitcomtrialsTVshow.jpg
| caption =
| runtime = 24–25 mins
| location = HTV Studios, Bath Road, Bristol
| creator = Kev F Sutherland
| presenter = Kev F Sutherland
| starring = Wanda Opalinska, Dan March, Victoria Jeffrey, Louisa Gummer, Gerard Foster, Simon Wright, Neil Mullarkey, Richard Vranch, James Holmes +
| first_aired = {{start date|2003|2|13|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2003|4|11|df=y}}
| num_series = 1
| num_episodes = 8
| country = United Kingdom
| company = Carlton Productions
}}
The Sitcom Trials is a stage and TV show devised, produced, and presented by Kev F. Sutherland. Beginning in Bristol{{Cite web| title=More from Sitcom Trials | work=bbc.co.uk – Bristol | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2005/05/27/sitcom_trials_new_feature.shtml | accessdate=5 May 2005 }} in 1999, it showcases new sitcoms and comedy items in a head-to-head format. The audience then vote for the one they like best and only see the ending of the winner.
History
The Sitcom Trials began life on stage in Bristol and London in 1999, its original venues being The Comedy Box in Bristol and the Comedy Pub{{Cite web| title=7 Mins Away From Something You Might Prefer | work=travel.ciao.co.uk | url=http://travel.ciao.co.uk/Sitcom_Trials_at_the_Comedy_Pub__Review_5357971 | accessdate= 22 May 2009 }}{{Cite book
| last = Hulley
| first = Barth
| title = Sitcoms, featuring winning scripts from The Sitcom Trials
| publisher = Auto-édition
| edition = 1st
| location = Strasbourg
| year = 2011
| page = 208
| isbn = 978-1-4477-5298-1}} (main venue 1999–2006) in London. Other London venues have included The Camden Head,{{cite web | title=Announcing the Sitcom Trials Sci Fi Special | work=Sci-Fi London | url=http://www.sci-fi-london.com/news/general/2012/09/announcing-sitcom-trials-sci-fi-special | accessdate=23 September 2012 }} Ophelia Dalston, the Leicester Square Theatre,{{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Final 2009 Review | work=Chortle | url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/misc_live_shows/s/16982/sitcom_trials?review=3 | accessdate=15 May 2009 }} the Canal Cafe Theatre, Finborough Theatre, Soho Theatre, Ealing Studios, The Green Room Club, and the Hen and Chickens Theatre.
The Sitcom Trials debuted at the Gilded Balloon venue at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2001, with a show starring Miranda Hart,{{Cite web| title=Edinburgh Review | publisher=nowt2do.co.uk | url=http://www.nowt2do.co.uk/review.php?id=354 | date= August 2001}} returning in 2002 & 2004. The first TV series was a Carlton production for ITV/HTV, broadcast live from Bristol over eight weeks in 2003. The first Hollywood Sitcom Trials took place in 2005.{{cite web | title=Bristol Sitcom Trials crosses the pond to Hollywood | publisher=BBC | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2005/04/22/sitcom_trials_feature.shtml | accessdate=22 April 2005 }}
In 2008 the Sitcom Trials won the Fringe Report Award for Best Encourager of New Talent.{{Cite web| title=Winner Best Encourager of Talent | work=Fringe Report Awards | url=http://www.fringereport.com/08awards.php | accessdate= 22 May 2009 }}
In 2013 and 2016 The Sitcom Trials returned to the Gilded Balloon at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the So You Think You're Funny competition.{{cite web | title=The Sitcom Trials Edinburgh Fringe 2013 | publisher=The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society | url=https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy/sitcom-trials | accessdate=21 August 2013 }} Heats took place in London,{{cite web | title=The Sitcom Trials So You Think You're Funny London Heats | work=British Comedy Guide | url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/32729/3/50451 | accessdate=8 July 2016 }} Bristol,{{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Bristol Review | work=The Public Reviews | url=http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-sitcom-trials-the-wardrobe-theatre-bristol/ | accessdate=30 June 2012 | url-status=usurped | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130629094453/http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-sitcom-trials-the-wardrobe-theatre-bristol/ | archivedate=29 June 2013 | df=dmy-all }} Cardiff,{{cite web | title=Cardiff Comedy Festival line up 2015 | publisher=theatre-wales.co.uk | url=http://www.theatre-wales.co.uk/news/newsdetail.asp?newsID=5675 | accessdate=16 June 2015 }} Manchester,{{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Manchester 3 star review | work=Large Manchester | url=http://www.largemanchester.com/untitled-resource9.html | accessdate=3 July 2011 }}
{{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Manchester | work=ents24 | url=http://www.ents24.com/web/event/The-Sitcom-Trials-Lass-OGowrie-Manchester-2511212.html | accessdate=2 July 2011 }} Birmingham,{{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials at the Old Joint Stock | publisher=oldjointstock.co.uk | url=http://www.oldjointstock.co.uk/whats-on/the-sitcom-trials | accessdate=3 July 2015 }}{{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Cleans Up | publisher=iloveaaron.co.uk | url=http://www.iloveaaron.co.uk/#!Sitcom-Trials-Cleans-Up/cxma/5598d0fb0cf28e68712b2d45 | accessdate=5 July 2015 }} Glasgow,{{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Glasgow | publisher=yelp.co.uk | url=http://www.yelp.co.uk/events/glasgow-sitcom-trials | accessdate=8 September 2015 }} and Edinburgh{{cite web | title=News: The Sitcom Trials – The Verdict | work=Beyond The Joke | author=Bruce Dessau | url=http://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/3065/news-sitcom-trials-verdict | accessdate=25 August 2016 }}
.
The stage show has been produced by Kev F Sutherland (99-present), Simon Wright & Declan Hill (07-09), James Parker (09-10), Vince Stadon (Bristol 2012–present{{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Bristol Review | work=The Public Reviews | url=http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-sitcom-trials-the-wardrobe-theatre-bristol/ | accessdate=30 June 2012 | url-status=usurped | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130629094453/http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-sitcom-trials-the-wardrobe-theatre-bristol/ | archivedate=29 June 2013 | df=dmy-all }}) Lisa Parker, Michelle Ashton and Sean Mason (Manchester 09-present), Aaron Twitchen (Birmingham) and Colin McQuaid (Glasgow). The 2003 TV show was produced by Mark Ashton.
In 2010 Declan Hill and Simon Wright, who produced the Sitcom Trials in 2007 and 2009 launched a similar event called The Sitcom Mission.{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/sitcom_mission/about/|title=The Sitcom Mission: About|website=British Comedy Guide |accessdate=18 February 2010}}
At the 2004 Edinburgh Fringe The Sitcom Trials auctioned on eBay the chance to have your script in the show. This was won by Liam Mullone who starred in his own sitcom, along with Isy Suttie, Duncan Edwards, Ed Petrie and Andy Bone.{{Cite web| title=Edinburgh Fringe 2004 | publisher=incredible.org | url=http://www.incredible.org.uk/incredible/fringe-2004/week2.html | accessdate=18 August 2004 }}
Performers who have appeared in The Sitcom Trials over the years include Miranda Hart,{{Cite web| title=Writers are you game for a laugh? | work=bbc.co.uk – Gloucestershire | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/theatre/sitcom.shtml | accessdate=2 April 2002 }} Neil Mullarkey, Richard Vranch,{{cite web | title=Comedy Store Players in The Sitcom Trials | work=British Comedy Forums | url= http://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/23202#P836420 | accessdate=6 January 2012 }} Suki Webster, Tony Robinson (Baldrick), Wanda Opalinska, Gerard Foster, Charity Trimm, Dominic Frisby, Waen Shepherd, Laura Solon, James Holmes, Justin Lee Collins, Russell Howard, Mark Olver, Aaron Barschak, Emily Lloyd, Danny Robins, Dan Tetsell, The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre, Rosie Holt, Lucy Porter, Nick Ewans, Louisa Gummer, Anne-Marie Draycott, Dan March, Rich Johnston, Anna Bennetts,{{cite web | title=The Same Paige on screen | work=Anna Bennetts | url=http://annabennetts.com/tag/uk-sitcom-trials | accessdate=28 October 2011 }} Simon Treves, Steve McNeil and Sam Pamphilon.
Having written and appeared with Kev F. Sutherland in the predecessor of the Trials, Situations Vacant in 1996 (clip can be found on YouTube), Inbetweeners writer Iain Morris went on to name one of the main characters in the series (Neil's dad) Kevin Sutherland.List_of_The_Inbetweeners_characters
Miranda
Miranda Hart's eponymous sitcom, now on BBC 2, first appeared as part of The Sitcom Trials at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2001.{{cite web | title=Miranda in The Sitcom Trials | work=The Sitcom Trials website | date=4 November 2011 | url=http://sitcomtrials.blogspot.com/2011/11/blog-post.html | accessdate=4 November 2011 }} It featured Miranda, working in a joke shop that sells penis pasta, with a diminutive blonde sidekick, originally played by Charity Trimm, and the love interest in the café, played then by Gerard Foster. The camp character played in 01 by Dan Clegg went on to be played in the TV series by James Holmes who, coincidentally, was the star of the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe Sitcom Trials.{{cite web | title=Jimmy James solo sitcom | work=The Sitcom Trials website | date=30 December 2011 | url=http://sitcomtrials.blogspot.com/2011/12/jimmy-james-sitcom-trials-solo-sitcom.html | accessdate=30 December 2011 }}
Competition seasons
The Sitcom Trials has run a number of competition seasons, with heats and a grand final, in 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2016. 2013 and 2016's's seasons were part of the So You Think You're Funny competition, with heats in London, Manchester, Bristol (13), Cardiff (16), Birmingham (16) and Glasgow (16) and a grand final at the Edinburgh Fringe. 2013's final was won by Rosie Holt's sitcom Never Better,{{cite web | title=The Sitcom Trials Final 2013 | publisher=The Sitcom Trials | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-xVAvFLYmY | accessdate=29 November 2021 }} and 2016's final by Like-A-Looks by Kate Bowes-Renna and Vanessa-Faye Stanley.{{cite web | title=News: The Sitcom Trials – The Verdict | work=Beyond The Joke | author=Bruce Dessau | url=http://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/3065/news-sitcom-trials-verdict | accessdate=25 August 2016 }}
The winner of the 2009 10th Anniversary Season was End To End by Steve McNeil & Sam Pamphilon.{{Cite web| title=Sitcom Trials winner 09 End To End | work=MeFeedia | url=http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/26252324 | accessdate= December 8, 2009}} Spring 2009's winner was Riga To Rotherham by Dean Hardman.{{cite web | title=Sitcom success for first-time comedy writer | work=Nottingham Trent University News | url=http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/news/84963-15/Sitcom_success_for_first-time_comedy_writer.aspx | accessdate=1 June 2009 }} Autumn 07's winner was New Zealand team sitcom Sweet As.{{cite web | title=Sweet As | work=Katrina Thompson website | url=http://katrinathompson.co.uk/?page_id=8 | accessdate=30 December 2011 }}
Judges at the 2009 10th Anniversary Sitcom Trials in London included David Quantick,{{Cite web| title=Sitcom Trials Heat 1 | publisher=Encyclopedia.com | url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/video/Aubpflpa_Wg-sitcom-trials-heat-1-oct.aspx | accessdate=19 October 2009 }} Iain Morris, Bill Dare, Katie Tyrell, David Schneider, Laura Lawson, Ashley Blaker, Daniel Maier, Nev Fountain, Carrie Quinlan, Michelle Farr, Marc Blake and Tom Price..
Reviews for the show have ranged from the Leicester Mercury's "We were screaming with laughter... move over Friends", through the London Evening Standard's "We're not watching stand-up, we're watching comedy history", to Chortle's "The Sitcom Trials are performing a vital service".{{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Final 2009 Review | work=Chortle | url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/misc_live_shows/s/16982/sitcom_trials?review=3 | accessdate=15 May 2009 }} There was also Metro's notorious review of the 2002 Edinburgh Fringe show: "I would happily have voted to have my own eyes gouged out with hot spoons rather than endure another moment."{{Cite web| title=I would've happily voted to have my eyes gouged out with hot spoons rather than endure another moment | work=Metro | url=http://www.metro.co.uk/home/article.html?in_article_id=2341&in_page_id=1 | accessdate=2 August 2002 }}
Episode guide TV series 1
- Episode 1 – "Policevets in Casualty vs Do You Think They'll Cotton On?"
: Police comedy by Stephen Dinsdale, vs Brian Meenagh's behind the scenes TV producers. All episodes hosted by Kev F Sutherland.
- Episode 2 – "Go Wild in the Country vs The Client"
: Divorcee returns to school reunion, by Jane Simon, vs office romance & ructions by Harris, Blakewill & Wainwright
- Episode 3 – "Cardinal Sin vs Nemesis"
: Two historical costume comedies by Andrew Barclay and Sam Elsden
- Episode 4 – "Improv Special"
: The Comedy Store Players Neil Mullarkey, Suki Webster, Niall Ashdown & Richard Vranch present two contrasting sitcoms from audience suggestions.
- Episode 5 – "What An Anchor vs A Producers Tale"
: Behind the scenes with an anchorman, by Adrian Peck & John Kelly, and a dysfunctional producer, by Roland Moore
- Episode 6 – "Jimmy James vs on the Job"
: A solo writer-performed sitcom with multiple characters by James Holmes, vs HTV's Television Workshop's group creation
- Episode 7 – "Perfect 10 vs Football R For Revenge"
: Political shenanigans at No 10 by Rich Johnston, vs terror on the terrace by Matt Bowdler & Ben Manning
- Episode 8 – "The public vs the public"
: Two scripts selected from entries sent in by the viewers, head to head{{Cite web| title=Sitcom Trials TV episode guide | publisher=locatetv.com | url=http://www.locatetv.com/tv/sitcom-trials/179742/episode-guide | accessdate= September 17, 2009}}
The Sitcom Mission
Declan Hill and Simon Wright, who produced the Sitcom Trials in 2007 and 2009 launched a similar event called The Sitcom Mission,{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/sitcom_mission/about/|title=The Sitcom Mission: About|website=British Comedy Guide |accessdate=18 February 2010}} the first Grand Final of which was in the New Diorama Theatre on Monday 31 May 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/sitcom_mission/shows/|title=The Sitcom Mission: Shows|website=British Comedy Guide |accessdate=18 February 2010}} In Feb 2011 Hat Trick Productions announced their support of the 2011 Sitcom Mission season{{cite web | title=Hat Trick Productions supports Sitcom Mission | work=Comedy Guide | date=10 February 2011 | url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000463/sitcom_mission_hat_trick_productions/ | accessdate=11 February 2011 }}
References
{{reflist}}
- {{cite web | title=News: The Sitcom Trials – The Verdict | work=Beyond The Joke | author=Bruce Dessau | url=http://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/3065/news-sitcom-trials-verdict | accessdate=25 August 2016 }}
- {{cite web | title=The Sitcom Trials So You Think You're Funny London Heats | work=British Comedy Guide | url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/32729/3/50451 | accessdate=8 July 2016 }}
- {{cite web | title=The Sitcom Trials Edinburgh Fringe 2013 | publisher=The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society | url=https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy/sitcom-trials | accessdate=21 August 2013 }}
- {{cite web | title=Cardiff Comedy Festival line up 2015 | publisher=theatre-wales.co.uk | url=http://www.theatre-wales.co.uk/news/newsdetail.asp?newsID=5675 | accessdate=16 June 2015 }}
- {{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials at the Old Joint Stock | publisher=oldjointstock.co.uk | url=http://www.oldjointstock.co.uk/whats-on/the-sitcom-trials | accessdate=3 July 2015 }}
- {{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Cleans Up | publisher=iloveaaron.co.uk | url=http://www.iloveaaron.co.uk/#!Sitcom-Trials-Cleans-Up/cxma/5598d0fb0cf28e68712b2d45 | accessdate=5 July 2015 }}
- {{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Glasgow | publisher=yelp.co.uk | url=http://www.yelp.co.uk/events/glasgow-sitcom-trials | accessdate=8 September 2015 }}
- {{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Bristol Review | work=The Public Reviews | url=http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-sitcom-trials-the-wardrobe-theatre-bristol/ | accessdate=30 June 2012 | url-status=usurped | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130629094453/http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-sitcom-trials-the-wardrobe-theatre-bristol/ | archivedate=29 June 2013 | df=dmy-all }}
- {{cite web | title=Bristol Sitcom Trials crosses the pond to Hollywood | publisher=BBC | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2005/04/22/sitcom_trials_feature.shtml | accessdate=22 April 2005 }}
- {{cite web | title=Comedy Store Players in The Sitcom Trials | work=British Comedy Forums | url= http://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/23202#P836420 | accessdate=6 January 2012 }}
- {{cite web | title=Sitcom success for first-time comedy writer | work=Nottingham Trent University News | url=http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/news/84963-15/Sitcom_success_for_first-time_comedy_writer.aspx | accessdate=1 June 2009 }}
- {{cite web | title=Hat Trick Productions supports Sitcom Mission | work=Comedy Guide | date=10 February 2011 | url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000463/sitcom_mission_hat_trick_productions/ | accessdate=11 February 2011 }}
- {{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Final 2009 Review | work=Chortle | url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/misc_live_shows/s/16982/sitcom_trials?review=3 | accessdate=15 May 2009 }}
- {{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Manchester 3 star review | work=Large Manchester | url=http://www.largemanchester.com/untitled-resource9.html | accessdate=3 July 2011 }}
- {{cite web | title=Sitcom Trials Manchester | work=ents24 | url=http://www.ents24.com/web/event/The-Sitcom-Trials-Lass-OGowrie-Manchester-2511212.html | accessdate=2 July 2011 }}
- {{cite web | title=The Same Paige on screen | work=Anna Bennetts | url=http://annabennetts.com/tag/uk-sitcom-trials | accessdate=28 October 2011 }}
- {{cite web | title=Miranda in The Sitcom Trials | work=The Sitcom Trials website | date=4 November 2011 | url=http://sitcomtrials.blogspot.com/2011/11/blog-post.html | accessdate=4 November 2011 }}
- {{cite web | title=Jimmy James solo sitcom | work=The Sitcom Trials website | date=30 December 2011 | url=http://sitcomtrials.blogspot.com/2011/12/jimmy-james-sitcom-trials-solo-sitcom.html | accessdate=30 December 2011 }}
- {{cite web | title=Sweet As | work=Katrina Thompson website | url=http://katrinathompson.co.uk/?page_id=8 | accessdate=30 December 2011 }}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.sitcomtrials.co.uk}}
- {{British Comedy Guide|sitcom|sitcom_trials}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sitcom Trials, The}}
Category:Television series by ITV Studios