... Thankfully, Peter Kay is one of the latter.
As I began watching Peter Kay Live at the Top of the Tower, I feared the worst. It starts backstage, mock-documentary style, with a daft sketch which has Kay scraping together cash to pay for the video to be made in colour. Then he kicks off his ... Read review
For his first videoLive at the Top of the Tower, Bolton comedian, actor and Channel 4 star ... more
Peter Kay returns to his roots--both as a stand up and by performing live in Blackpool, his childhood haunt. Bolstered by the acclaim heaped on his two televisio...
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For his first videoLive at the Top of the Tower, Bolton comedian, actor and Channel 4 star ... more
Peter Kay returns to his roots--both as a stand up and by performing live in Blackpool, his childhood haunt. Bolstered by the acclaim heaped on his two televisio...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Peter Kay is without doubt the fastest rising star of British comedy and the funniest man ... more
to come out of Bolton. Creator and star of Channel 4's critically acclaimed 'That Peter Kay Thing', his unique brand of humour is based on the acutely observed an...
Filmed in Blackpool specially for this video 'Live At The Top Of The Tower' is stuffed ... more
full of classic Peter Kay routines. He asks questions that we have all often wondered about. Why do mums always buy c**p pop? Is teletext the best way to book a holi...
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Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Gareth Carrivick - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Kathryn Drysdale, Sheridan Smith, Natalie Casey, Will Mellor, Ralf Little
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Advantages: Energetic comic with cheeky northern charm Disadvantages: A few bits of uninspired material
...by being very good. Thankfully, Peter Kay is one of the latter.
As I began watching Peter Kay Live at the Top of the Tower, I feared the worst. It starts backstage, mock-documentary style, with a daft sketch which has Kay scraping together cash to pay for the video to be made in colour. Then he kicks off his act with a string of standard punchline gags. You soon realise he's not your standard clubland turn though: he explains each ... ...need interpretation.
Peter Kay is no stranger to the club comedy circuit. A 29 year old native of Bolton, his TV series, ‘That Peter Kay Thing’ and ‘Phoenix Nights’ have won praise and prizes for their mockumentaries on northern working class institutions like the working men's club and the bingo hall. His devastating yet affectionate portrayals of the dim and deluded characters who run these places put him somewhere between Les Dawson ... more
Some comedians become very popular by appealing to the lowest common denominator. A select few do it by being very good. Thankfully, Peter Kay is one of the latter.
As I began watching Peter Kay Live at the Top of the Tower, I feared the worst. It starts backstage, mock-documentary style, with a daft sketch which has Kay scraping together cash to pay for the video to be made in colour. Then he kicks off his act with a string of standard punchline gags. You soon realise he's not your standard clubland turn though: he explains each punchline Frankie Howerd-style - either as if his audience are too thick to get them or because the jokes are so poor they need interpretation.
Peter Kay is no stranger to the club comedy circuit. A 29 year old native of Bolton, his TV series, ‘That Peter Kay Thing’ and ‘Phoenix Nights’ have won praise and prizes for their mockumentaries on northern working class institutions like the working men's club and the bingo hall. His devastating yet affectionate portrayals of the dim and deluded characters who run these places put him somewhere between Les Dawson and Ricky Gervais.
In this, his first live video (filmed in 1999 and released on video in 2000), Kay’s standup humour is closer to Jack Dee's slightly surreal take on the observational. But his knowing asides and exasperated glances are pure Les Dawson.
The key to his popularity is his grasp of the comedy of recognition. He picks up banal phrases, and unremarked tics and foibles, and points out their absurdity: the way people look at their watch when you ask them when they're going on holiday; the ‘phone’ gesture you make with your thumb and little finger when you tell someone there's a call for them.
The audience in this video respond riotously to these, and to his allusions to cheap cola and Coronation Street. Even if you don't pick up on one cultural reference - like a Blackpool tram - there's always another one along in a minute. As Kay reveals in the interview on the DVD, he wrote most of the material here specifically for the show, so it's fresh and not over-rehearsed. He even chose the theme of holidays to tie in with the venue.
Which means he takes on the naffness of Teletext holiday bookings (cleverly picked up on the DVD menu), the antics around the baggage carousel, along with tips on how to get a refund by plastering the walls of your apartment with baked beans the minute you get there, so you can take pictures to send to Watchdog.
In his holiday material and throughout the show, his main frame of reference is childhood. He knows he can't really go wrong here. By mining our collective memories of dinner ladies and playground games, and dads’ embarrassing antics, he exploits a rich seam of affectionate reminiscence. Indeed, with his roly-poly, fresh-faced, untrendy appearance, Kay looks like an overgrown schoolboy. Bounding round the circus ring with childish glee, he's very hard to dislike.
He reinforces this impression with self-mocking jibes ("If you think I'm fat, you should see the Americans"). And, for this show at least, he even has his mum in the audience. Judging by the frequent reaction shots of her, she's happy to be the butt of his jokes. After all, she will - as the title of Kay's current tour suggests - get a bungalow out of the proceeds.
If you're looking for sophisticated political commentary or biting satire, Kay may not be your bag. In the interview footage, he expresses surprise that his videos sell so well in the south of England. He draws so extensively on his Bolton roots - such as the way his gran pronounces Egypt as t'Egypt - that his appeal could be limited. But if you enjoy being taken back to those childhood days when it was funny to disguise a V-sign by pretending to scratch your face, you'll revel in his cheeky irreverence. When he combined such childish silliness with a mocking account of a Las Vegas tribute act showcase ("like Stars in Their Eyes, only good"), I had tears rolling down my face.
His combination of mockery and affection sometimes errs on the safe side, and his observations can be banal - “it’s that fine rain that soaks you through”. (And did dads - even 15 years ago - really think garlic bread was so exotic?) But taken as a whole, this video showcases an act that has enough edge to keep it entertaining, and sufficient energy and originality to bear repeated viewing.
He structures the show well, and coins catch phrases (“Booked it, packed it, f*cked off”) which he drops only to pick them up later. There’s a good hour and half from a show that was an hour longer, including the DVD's ‘unseen’ footage. You also get out-takes from the show and the documentary-style scenes at the beginning and end. The DVD is certificate 15 because, as Peter’s mum says on the packaging, there’s “Too much effing”.
If you want to catch the comedy phenomenon of the moment at the top of his game, I’d recommend Peter Kay Live at the Top of the Tower. You may try to resist. But like that Blackpool tram that did for Alan Bradley in Corrie, his comic charm will get you in the end.
Silverback 09.04.2003 (09.04.2003)
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Review of Peter Kay - Live At The Top Of The Tower (DVD)
Advantages: You won't stop laughing for weeks, funniest hour of my life! Disadvantages: you won't ever stop laughing...could be a problem!
...Channel 4's critically acclaimed 'That Peter Kay Thing', his unique brand of humour is based on the acutely observed and painfully funny things that happen in everyday life. Filmed in Blackpool specially for this video 'Live at the Top of The Tower' is stuffed full of classic routines. He asks questions that we have all wondered about - Why do mums buy c**p pop? Is teletext the best way to book a holiday? He also casts his eye over mums and dads, ... ...to get tickets to see Peter Kay live but unfortunately they all sold out about an hour before i rung..gutted i know...it's currently quite a sore point so lets not mention it!
Anyway, this video is full of cracking sketches, like that life-long burning question we all spend hours pondering over.....
"How the f**k can you run so fast in your slippers?"
Its deep, i know..
But if you think you can handle such soul-searching questions then i'd get ...
lucylu_84 18.12.2002 (21.12.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Peter Kay - Live At The Top Of The Tower (DVD)
Advantages: Hilariously funny, true to life, a very different comedian Disadvantages: None I think
...can't failed to have noticed Peter Kay and his refreshing new style of comedy. This DVD sees him on his "Mum needs a Bungalow Tour" and the current performance being at the top of Blackpool Tower (hence the cunningly named title). Coming off of the success of the hilariously funny John Smith's adverts as well as hit shows such as Peter Kay's Pheonix nights, That Peter Kay thing and one-off shows such as The Services, Kay has turned to stand-up tours ... ...heavily on his Bolton roots which he does not shy away from. This combined with comical expression-based punchlines reminiscent of Les Dawson and even Tommy Cooper, complete with witty put-downs and superb one-liners similar to say the style of more recent comedians of say Ricky Gervais, Jack Dee or Lee Evans, all with a very distinguished Bolton accent makes for a very different experience, and one that is truly welcomed.
The content of the show ...
MilkyMalky 01.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Peter Kay - Live At The Top Of The Tower (DVD)
Advantages: absolute funny stuff Disadvantages: not everyones cup of pg tips and your sides split
...you who haven't heard of Peter Kay um what can I say shame on you. This bloke is the mastermind behind the ever successful phoenix nights and also a great comic genius. He has to be one of the finest acts to date and is from Bolton. Poor man !
But because he is from up north people down south find him just as funny and because of his accent it makes it all that extra special and funnier.
He has been doing his tour round england and he recently ... ...didn't really know much about peter kay till phoenix nights come onto the screens.
I recently watched his other stuff like that peter kay thing but I didn't really find it that funny. I didn't really know what to expect from this but because I loved phoenix nights to bits so I thought "you only live once" so I gave it a whirl.
Peter Kay live at the top of the tower comes to you on vhs and dvd. And if you are thinking what tower might that well ...
super_stevo 26.01.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Peter Kay - Live At The Top Of The Tower (DVD)
Advantages: Funny, Funny and try Funny! Disadvantages: Sometimes says thing to many times
...last week I saw that Peter Kay - Top of the tower would be broadcasted on the channel and I was instantly watching it. If you don't know anything about peter kay.....where have you been for the last year....looks like I'm gonna have to add a few segments of my knowledge to the situation (lucky you!)
Peter Kay is a comedian from Bolton, which is near where I live infact, but that’s not why he’s great. I have been watching him for quite a while now, ... ...about real life situations and Peter Kay is fairly the same, apart from funnier. This live show was set at the top of Blackpool Tower and he really does take the mick out of them. Saying "the top of the tower, it can't get bigger than this" he is a man that cant help make you laugh.
The thing that he has that other comedians don’t have is that he can get a laugh out of anything. He will just find something and make it funny. A classic example of ...
Sheringham_19 07.11.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Peter Kay - Live At The Top Of The Tower (DVD)
Advantages: Great video that you can watch again and again Disadvantages: not for people with no sense of humour
...just been informed that this Peter Kay video is going to be released on DVD on November 19th, so I though I would update just to let anyone who has either read this or is interested in Mr Peter Kay that the DVD is coming, so wait around a few weeks and instead of forking out £15 on the video spend £16 and you can have it on disc.
That said don’t go now, read the Opinion as the show is the exact same as the DVD and see what you are missing.
... ...The first time I saw Peter was on a late night stage up show and in a matter of minutes he had me crying with laughter, having kept an eye out for him on the television for a good while I was delighted when I found out he would be doing a segment on The Sunday Show. And then in 2000 channel 4 started to show That Peter Kay thing and then the following year Phoenix Nights, both of these series went to prove what a genius Peter truly is.
The Video
...
M.Frieel 28.09.2001 (13.10.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Peter Kay - Live At The Top Of The Tower (DVD)
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Advantages: Very funny, excellent value Disadvantages: Obviously not for those who don't appreciate Northern humour!
Another christmas present for me to review for all my fellow Ciao-ers!
PeterKay has long been one of my favourite stand up comedians. Whilst obviously being well known, he has not fallen into the trap some well-known stand ups do and become commercialised, appearing on every other TV show trying to plug their own failing tour.
Peter sold out both of his the tours featured in this double box set, the second one being part of his record breaking 'Mum wants a bungalow tour'. In 180 nights he reached over 300,000 people with his infectious, down to earth northern humour.
The first DVD is taken from Blackpool Tower - hence the name. He runs through a multitude of topics and all are smoothly linked in and just as funny as the last one. He shows great comedian-audience interaction, often jumping his 18(ish) stone frame down to be ...
Advantages: Funny, Peter Kay, Decent Length Disadvantages: No extras :-( :-(
---PeterKay: Live at the Bolton Alber Hall (DVD)---
This DVD is a stand up comedy performed by comedian PeterKay (voted one of the top 10 comedians by Saturday magazine a while back). He is of Phoenix Nights fame, and has another DVD called "PeterKay: Live at the Top of the Tower" in Blackpool, which is also very funny.
The DVD starts with PeterKay catching a taxi driven by a "Mr.B". Derogetory yet funny comments during this drive include "Whats the B for, bullsh1t?" Mr.B picks up 2 girls randomly, who turn out to be going to see PeterKay (One of the girls is Shelley from Coronation Street)
After this, he runs into backstage, and speaks into the microphone in an outstanding deep voice to welcome peterkay, and runs on stage at his home venue to do his funniest show so far!
Apart from just looking at PeterKay the whole ...
Advantages: Peter Kay at his best once again Disadvantages: 1 Disc when it really should be on 2
I have been a PeterKay fan for a while now ever since I saw the DVD 'Live in Blackpool: At the top of the tower'. Seeing how good his sense of humour was I decided to check out Phoenix Nights season 1+2 which only impressed me more. I saw Max and Paddy when it was on TV and was convinced that it would not be able to live up to Phoenix. This show sees a reduced cast and mainly focuses on the travelling mishaps of the two Phoenix doormen. The first two episodes help to set the scene for whats to come but episode three onwards is where it really shines. By the end of it all you'll be praying for the next season to be released and it would be a real shame if they chose not to continue!
It's one of those shows where your convinced there much be more than 6 episodes because you've been laughing so much that time has ebbed away.
Overall ...
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