The Fast Show Just A Load Of Blooming Catchphrases

Okay, deep breath. I'm about to say something controversial. Something that might get me chased down the street with pitchforks. Ready?

The Fast Show... was it just a load of blooming catchphrases?

Catchphrase Comedy Champions

Don't get me wrong, I loved it. Who didn't love Swiss Toni comparing everything to cars? Or Rowley Birkin QC being completely unintelligible? It was comedy gold, right?

But let's be honest. Remove the catchphrases... what's left?

The Usual Suspects (and Their Lines)

Think about it. "Suits you, sir!" uttered by Paul Whitehouse. Brilliant! But without the little giggle and the specific delivery, is it still funny?

Or how about "Scorchio!" from the sweaty Channel 9 weather team. Again, iconic. But divorced from the context of ridiculous heat and over-enthusiastic presenters, just a slightly odd word.

Even "Lovely!" loses something when it's not punctuated with Charlie Higson's manic energy and slightly unhinged grin.

Sketch vs. Catchphrase?

I'm not saying the sketches weren't good. Some were genuinely brilliant. Remember Bob Fleming and his endless coughing fits?

But a lot of the humour relied so heavily on the repeated phrases. It’s the comedic crutch of the show.

We all waited for the punchlines. Anticipated them like a prize. The characters almost existed to deliver the line, not the other way around.

Is It a Bad Thing?

Here's the kicker: maybe it's not a bad thing! Maybe that's the genius of The Fast Show. It gave us easily digestible, instantly quotable moments. Comedy in bite-sized pieces.

It's undeniably memorable. Years later, people still shout "Suits you, sir!" at tailors (probably). And isn't that the point of comedy? To stick in your brain and make you smile?

"This week I 'ave been mostly... eating."

A Lasting Legacy of Laughs

So, maybe The Fast Show was just a load of blooming catchphrases. And maybe that's perfectly okay.

Maybe that's why it's so beloved. Because it gave us a shared language of silliness. A collection of catchphrases that became ingrained in our collective consciousness.

It’s a bit like Monty Python, but faster and arguably more quotable in everyday life. You’re more likely to hear “suits you, sir!” than “nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!” on the street, let’s be honest.

And let's face it, "Today I am mostly..." is still a valid way to start any conversation. So perhaps, just perhaps, those catchphrases are what made The Fast Show a comedy legend.

What do you think? "Ooh! Suits you!" if you agree?