On Mongrels tonight: watch a fox take advantage of Toby Anstis
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So, tonight's the night! Mongrels starts on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Three at 10pm. Watch Nelson the fox use Toby Anstis's social networking login to set up a blind date with a human, see Destiny sign up for Strictly Dog Dancing, and marvel at Marion the cat's attempt to do something very naughty indeed.
The show's creator and director, Adam Miller, explained on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TV Blog how this puppet show for adults came about: "we wanted to make something that had the pace of an American animation
but with British sensibilities, that was adult, but not crude, that was
based in the realities of the animal world, and that didn't rely on the
puppets to do the comedy." Check out the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TV Blog for more.Ìý
Watch the first episode and let us know what you think. If you have any questions about how it was made, leave them below and the production team may respond.
Comment number 1.
At 22nd Jun 2010, Allicorn wrote:A triumph! :-)
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Comment number 2.
At 22nd Jun 2010, Bungle wrote:Heya!
Just want to say, this is truly a breath of fresh air to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ! Such a great entertaining show!
Admittedly, some of the jokes make you go "ouch!" but then again you have to laugh at even the hardest moments to bring out the best in people! :) And it's nothing worse than what you see on late-night stand up shows :)
Please keep this series going! If the first episode is any proof of concept for the rest of the season I look forward to buying the box sets!
Nice one ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ!
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Comment number 3.
At 22nd Jun 2010, GWoolley wrote:I've been eagerly awaiting for the first episode this past week, since discovering it whilst researching puppetry for my own idea for an animal show.
The wait was worth it, I especially loved how the production crew humanised animal traits and personalities in the Dog obedience school.
My favourite scene has to be the Fired Chicken shop, such a great and funny fight scene.
Quick question for the production crew, how difficult is it to film puppets moving around on a live location, and how do you technically achieve this without breaking the illusion?
I highly recommend that people and eye on this show as it has got great potential.
Congratulation Adam Miller!
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Comment number 4.
At 23rd Jun 2010, Ian Wolf wrote:I really enjoyed it. LOL moments throughout.
I'd like to ask the panel why they decided to go with anthropomorphic animals? Also, how well do they know about the furry fandom, which is devoted to such creations.
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Comment number 5.
At 23rd Jun 2010, Ian Wolf wrote:Actually, there is something else I'd like to ask. Why did you bleep out all of Vince's swear-words. Surely it would be funnier to keep them in like they do in "The Thick of It".
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Comment number 6.
At 24th Jun 2010, Jonathan Ward wrote:Excellent show. I don't understand how some people can dislike it!
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Comment number 7.
At 24th Jun 2010, Peter wrote:Overall I really enjoyed the show other than for the one gag which was in my opinion misjudged (referencing the Sept 11 attacks)and spolit what was otherwise a very funny scene of 'doggy dancing'.
Marion the cat in particular been a source of both laughs and some pathos.
Comparisons with 'Pets' are not entirely fair though I can see were some commentators are coming from. However the standard of both the puppets and puppetry are much higher and the 'sit' is entirely different.
I hope therefore that the show builds on this very good start and I look forward to seeing how things develop over the next few weeks. Good stuff.
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Comment number 8.
At 25th Jun 2010, David Thair wrote:GWoolley, you asked "how difficult is it to film puppets moving around on a live location, and how do you technically achieve this without breaking the illusion?". Well, here's Mongrels' Director Adam Miller to fill you in:
"Many thanks for your question, and your kind words! As to location shooting and believability, honestly? It's a right bugger. The key to maintaining the believability of Mongrels in general, at least we believe, is threefold: Firstly one has to make sure the eyelines of the puppets to one another are spot on, which is harder than you might think.
Secondly one has to make sure the lip-synch is exactly right, much of this our wonderful puppeteers achieve on the day, but the edit process for the show is hugely long and involved, and is mostly made so by ensuring the synch is precise by slipping it.
Finally, to maintain the illusion, it's important to keep the cameras hand-held, keep eye-lights shining in the characters eyes for added reality, and to keep the cut speed up. When you mix all these factors with some wonderful performances from extremely talented and experienced puppeteers, you get the look of the show. That's how we approach all the filming, and is of course all made far simpler by shooting at a height of six foot in a studio. On location you simply have all the same complications but coupled with filming at ground height and often in inclement weather. And trust me, you don't want a wet puppet!"
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Comment number 9.
At 25th Jun 2010, David Thair wrote:Ian Wolf, you asked "Why did you bleep out all of Vince's swear-words? Surely it would be funnier to keep them in like they do in The Thick of It."
Mongrels writer Danny Peak responds:
"We always wanted to avoid swearing in the show. Admittedly Marion says 'c**r' twenty-six seconds into the first episode, but we did try. Nelson for example never says anything more obscene than 'Morten Harket!'
But it turned out impossible to stop Vince from swearing, so we took the Beadle's About route and beeped it. I kind of like the pointlessness of writing lots of swear words, recording them, lip-synching them, and then taking them all back out again.
Incidentally, at the script readthroughs and voice recordings, Paul Kaye had to read the full unbeeped sweary lines, and the effect was really nasty. But then if you lip-read what the Vince puppet is saying, it is pretty strong stuff."
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Comment number 10.
At 26th Jun 2010, Fido wrote:Love this show! Well done! Nelson the fox has already become my favourite. I actually think the bleeps were funny. Can't wait for the next episode. :)
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Comment number 11.
At 27th Jun 2010, lala wrote:Just want to say I loved the programme! Great work!! I'm backing it all the way!! dont take it off its ace! x
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Comment number 12.
At 28th Jun 2010, Richard Saull wrote:I laughed so much that I woke my wife up... Had to vacate the bedroom and watched it twice on the roll.. This is cult TV in the making, a mix between 2pints and the Muppets with something new. I only hope that the writers can sustain the quality...
I don't usually post comments, but enjoyed this so much that I registered just to say thanks!
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Comment number 13.
At 29th Jun 2010, Fido wrote:Mongrels reminds me of The Ferals which had a very similar feel. I'd like to ask if the creator was influenced by The Ferals?
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Comment number 14.
At 1st Jul 2010, tracyar wrote:This is, without doubt, the funniest thing on TV. Watching a cat "raving on catnip" made me cry with laughter, even more than him loosing his b***s the week before. The puppets are superb and the voices spot on to the characters. My friends are truly sick of me nagging them to watch it (but then laughing like drains when they do)! The DVD is already on my Christmas list and any chance of putting some screen savers on the website? Thank you for making me laugh when everything else on the TV is either economic doom and gloom/soaps (more doom and gloom) or sport. Your efforts and time spent lying in puddles is very much appreciated.
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Comment number 15.
At 5th Jul 2010, the flying mollusc wrote:Brilliant show! My favourite character is Marion, he's just fantastic. Wonderful program, like Richard Saull #12 I just registered to say how awesome it is, can't wait to see the rest of the series and get busy making another one! Just one question for the beeb:
Could a list of the music used in each episode be displayed somewhere? I'm having to use the shazam app with mixed results, it'd be easier if there was a list :)
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Comment number 16.
At 6th Jul 2010, dj1917 wrote:Cool show, but the censored swearing gets on my nerves... a pathetic capitulation to the "moral" minority and a massive step backwards that would have seemed old-fashioned and out-of -place in the 80's. The Daily Mail does not speak for me. "Motherfrickin'"? Stick it up yer ** ****.
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Comment number 17.
At 4th Sep 2010, some wierd bloke wrote:i find it funnyer when vince is bleeped because you still make out wat he is saying
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Comment number 18.
At 4th Sep 2010, some wierd bloke wrote:how meny peopel did it take to make mongrels all together
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