View source for Comedy Showcase

{{Short description|British comedy specials}}
{{Convert to Episode table}}{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox television
| image         =
| caption       = 
| alt_name      = 
| genre         = [[Comedy]]
| creator       = 
| country       = United Kingdom
| language      = English
| num_series    = 3
| num_episodes  = 17
| list_episodes = 
| runtime       = 30mins (inc. adverts)
| channel       = [[Channel 4]]
| first_aired   = {{start date|2007|10|5|df=yes}}
| last_aired    = {{end date|2012|01|13|df=yes}}
| related       = ''[[Comedy Lab]]'' 
}}
'''''Comedy Showcase''''' is a series of one-off [[British comedy|comedy]] specials featuring some of Britain's fledgling comedy talent. Its format is reminiscent of the much earlier television series ''[[Playhouse (British TV series)|Playhouse]]''. The format was replaced in 2012 by ''4Funnies''.<ref name="C4Funnies">Khalsa, Balihar (8 November 2012). "[http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/commissioning/c4-orders-pilots-for-4funnies/5048795.article C4 orders pilots for 4Funnies]". [[Broadcast Now]]. Retrieved on 16 November 2012.</ref>

==Series overview==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!style="padding: 0px 8px" colspan="2" rowspan="2"|Series
!style="padding: 0px 8px" rowspan="2"|Episodes
!style="padding: 0px 8px" colspan="2"|Originally aired
|-
!style="padding: 0px 8px"|First aired
!style="padding: 0px 8px"|Last aired
|-
|bgcolor="CD70F5" height="10px"|
|'''1'''
|6
|width="150"|{{Start date|2007|10|5|df=y}}
|width="150"|{{End date|2007|11|23|df=y}}
|-
|bgcolor="AACCFF" height="10px"|
|'''2'''
|6
|width="150"|{{Start date|2009|11|6|df=y}}
|width="150"|{{End date|2009|12|18|df=y}}
|-
|bgcolor="F8FE53" height="10px"|
|'''3'''
|5
|width="150"|{{Start date|2011|9|2|df=y}}
|width="150"|{{End date|2012|1|13|df=y}}
|}

==Episodes==

===Series 1 (2007)===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" width="100%"
|-
! style="background-color: #CD70F5;"| No. in<br>series
! style="background-color: #CD70F5;"| Title
! style="background-color: #CD70F5;"| Original air date
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title = Other People
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|10|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = [[Martin Freeman]] stars as Greg Wilson, a washed-up child magician whose career was ended in 1986 after being publicly humiliated on a children's show phone-in. Now in his 30s, Greg is recognised at his sofa-salesman job by a former fan and asked for an autograph, a request that sets a bizarre set of circumstances in motion and sees Greg in a courtroom facing a long sentence.
| LineColor = CD70F5
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title = Ladies and Gentlemen
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|10|12|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The lives and awkward loves of a group of thirtysomething friends who share a house in London in 1865. Written by ''[[Peep Show (British TV series)|Peep Show]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Jesse Armstrong]] and [[Sam Bain]]. Starring [[Reece Shearsmith]] and [[Darren Boyd]].
| LineColor = CD70F5
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = [[Plus One (TV series)|Plus One]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|10|19|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = After his girlfriend Linsey (played by [[Miranda Raison]]) leaves him to marry [[Duncan James]] from [[Blue (English band)|Blue]], Rob Black (played by [[Rory Kinnear]]) decides to take revenge by upstaging the couple on their wedding day.  Written by [[Tim Allsop & Stewart Williams]]
----
''[[Plus One (TV series)|Plus One]]'' has been spun off into a full-length five-part series in 2009 for [[Channel 4]].<ref name="French">French, Dan (7 July 2009). "[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a163883/comedy-showcase-returning-to-channel-4.html 'Comedy Showcase' returning to Channel 4]". [[Digital Spy]]. Retrieved on 7 July 2009.</ref>
| LineColor = CD70F5
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title = The Eejits
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|10|26|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = An Irish pub band by the name of E-Z Feelin hope to hit the big-time when a former [[U2]] roadie gives them some of the stars' old equipment. But they run into trouble when U2 want their stuff back - and E-Z Feelin's sideline in smuggling mystery packages into [[Northern Ireland]] probably wasn't such a smart move either.
| LineColor = CD70F5
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| Title = [[Free Agents]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|11|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = [[Stephen Mangan]] stars as Alex, a maudlin theatrical agent, who's been thrown out by his wife. He has a disastrous one-night stand with his colleague Helen ([[Sharon Horgan]]) that ends in him sobbing with self-pity. The pair spend the rest of the episode engaged in an unseemly, often embarrassing, psychological tussle.
----
''[[Free Agents]]'' has been spun off into a full-length six-part series in 2009 for [[Channel 4]].<ref name="French"/>
| LineColor = CD70F5
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| Title = [[The Kevin Bishop Show]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|11|23|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = The ''[[Star Stories]]'' impressionist presents a super-fast-paced sketch show, which features a 42 sketches in 23 minutes.
----
''[[The Kevin Bishop Show]]'' has been spun off into a full-length six-part series in 2008<ref name="French"/> with another six-part series in 2009 for [[Channel 4]].
| LineColor = CD70F5
}}
|}

===Series 2 (2009)===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" width="100%"
|-
! style="background-color: #AACCFF;"| No. in<br>series
! style="background-color: #AACCFF;"| Title
! style="background-color: #AACCFF;"| Original air date
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title = [[Campus (TV series)|Campus]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2009|11|6|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A semi-improvised sitcom created by the writers of ''[[Green Wing]]'' set at the fictitious Kirke University, following the lives of some of the staff.
----
''[[Campus (TV series)|Campus]]'' has been spun off into a full-length six-part series in 2011 for [[Channel 4]].<ref name="showcase">{{cite news|last=Burrell|first=Ian|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/ricky-gervais-returns-with-new-workplace-comedy-1819909.html|title=Ricky Gervais returns with new workplace comedy|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=13 November 2009|accessdate=13 November 2009}}</ref> 
| LineColor = AACCFF
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title = [[PhoneShop]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2009|11|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Sitcom set in a [[mobile phone]] shop and a new employee working as part of a one-day trial. Featuring [[Ricky Gervais]] as [[script editor]].
----
''[[PhoneShop]]'' has been spun off into a full-length six-part series in 2010<ref name="showcase"/> with another six-part series in 2011 and another six-part series in 2013 for [[E4 (channel)|E4]].<ref name="third series">[http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000749/e4_phoneshop_series_3_commissioned/ E4’s PhoneShop to return for third series], retrieved 9 February 2012.</ref>
| LineColor = AACCFF
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = [[The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2009|11|27|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Sitcom about an American (played by [[David Cross]]) who takes a job running the sales team at the London branch of his company, but who has no experience of British culture, knows nothing about sales and has only one employee.
----
''[[The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret]]'' has been spun off into a full-length six-part series in 2010<ref name="showcase"/> with another six-part series in 2012 for [[More4]] and a third six part series in 2016.
| LineColor = AACCFF
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title = The Amazing Dermot
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2009|12|04|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Sitcom pilot starring [[Rhys Darby]] as a struggling [[Magic (illusion)|magician]] trying to get his career back on track following an incident. [[Genevieve Barr]] plays a deaf nurse.
| LineColor = AACCFF
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| Title = Guantanamo Phil
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2009|12|11|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Sitcom about a birdwatcher from [[Stoke-on-Trent]] returning home after spending six years as a prisoner in [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp|Guantanamo Bay]].
| LineColor = AACCFF
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| Title = Girl Friday
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2009|12|18|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = A sketch show featuring an all female cast, including [[Josie Long]], Kerry Howard, [[Sara Pascoe]], Nat Luurtsema, [[Kathryn Drysdale]] and [[Lu Corfield]].
| LineColor = AACCFF
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| Title = [[Pete versus Life|Pete v Life]]
| OriginalAirDate = N/A <small>(Transmitted as part of full series)</small>
| ShortSummary = Sitcom about a struggling sports writer whose life is commented on by two sports commentators.
----
''[[Pete versus Life|Pete v Life]]'' was given a full series before it was transmitted. The pilot was therefore shown with the rest of the series and not part of the showcase. The show ran for two series.
| LineColor = AACCFF
}}
|}

===Series 3 (2011–2012)===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" width="100%"
|-
! style="background-color: #F8FE55;"| No. in<br>series
! style="background-color: #F8FE55;"| Title
! style="background-color: #F8FE55;"| Original air date
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title = [[Chickens (TV series)|Chickens]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|9|2|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Scripted comedy from long-time collaborators [[Simon Bird]], [[Joe Thomas (actor)|Joe Thomas]] and [[Jonny Sweet]] set during [[World War I]], it follows the antics and everyday lives of three young men, who have not gone to war for three very different reasons. They meanwhile deal with disdain from the women of the village, left behind when the other men went to war.
----
''[[Chickens (TV series)|Chickens]]'' was made into a full-length six-part series broadcast in 2013 on [[Sky1]].<ref name="Chickens">[http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000765/sky_order_full_series_wartime_sitcom_chickens/ Sky orders full series of wartime sitcom Chickens], retrieved 23 February 2012.</ref>
| LineColor = F8FE53
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title = Coma Girl
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|9|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Three old school chums are flung together once again, due to the tragic circumstances following a mutual friend's road accident.
| LineColor = F8FE53
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title = The Fun Police
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|9|16|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = [[Rhys Darby]] headlines an ensemble cast of rising comedy stars, in this sitcom based around the inner workings of a dysfunctional branch of Health and Safety operatives.
| LineColor = F8FE53
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title = The Angelos Epithemiou Show
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|12|30|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Starring [[Dan Skinner]] as Angelos Epithemiou, a modern-day clown living in an oversized world of pure fun.
----
''The Angelos Epithemiou Show'' has been spun off into a full-length six-part series in 2012 for [[Channel 4]].
| LineColor = F8FE53
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| Title = House Of Rooms
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|1|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Milton and his mother live together in a big old house, renting out their spare rooms to a variety of tenants including Alice, a shy, tongue-tied girl who can't quite communicate with Milton, who's equally awkward in her presence. When new tenant Paul arrives, he seems to hit it off with Alice right away, forcing Milton to up his game and try to compete for her attention.
| LineColor = F8FE53
}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Channel4.com|programmes/comedy-showcase}}
*[http://www.sitcom.co.uk/features/channel4_comedy_showcase.shtml British Sitcom Guide]

[[Category:Comedy Showcase| ]]
[[Category:2000s British comedy television series]]
[[Category:2010s British comedy television series]]
[[Category:2007 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2012 British television series endings]]
[[Category:Channel 4 sitcoms]]
[[Category:Television pilot seasons]]
[[Category:Television series by Big Talk Productions]]
[[Category:Television series by ITV Studios]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]