Al Murray's Compete for the Meat

The history of Al Murray's pub landlord is perhaps one of standup comedy's great tragedies. What started out as an ironic sendup of a xenophobic little-Englander has morphed into something completely different. First the audience changed: the people coming to Murray's shows weren't so much those who understood that the character was satirical as those who found it funny at face value. But then something worse happened: Murray stopped trying. The creativity of the Perrier Award-winning Pub Landlord gave way to the what-you-see-is-what-you-get character act of Compete for the Meat.

Indeed, this isn't so much a comedy show as a straight-up pub quiz hosted by Murray's belligerent idiot. Unfortunately, though, there isn't enough room for everyone to play. Consequently, for non-participants—about two thirds of the audience—it is excruciatingly boring. Sure, we can all laugh as Murray points out a fat guy. And, oh look, a posh guy. He's got a beard... that means he must be gay! Ha ha ha! But that's really all there is. No jokes, no stories, just Murray picking on strangers. This is a show that revolves entirely around audience participation and yet leaves out the majority of the audience. It's mind-bogglingly ill-conceived.

Wait, that guy's fat and ginger!

It is a profoundly unpleasant show. But, in the end, it's difficult not to feel sorry for Oxford-educated Murray, a man effectively trapped by his wretched character's success and doomed to repeat this tripe over and over again.