(no subject)

[raven]

They're making new Good Omens tv episodes, written by Neil Gaiman and John Finnemore (!!) and I have gone from "hmmmm not sure" about it to WILDLY OVEREXCITED in the course of one afternoon, wow. I mean, on the one hand Good Omens is a complete miniseries-length story and late-in-the-day sequels don't always work out well? But it occurred to me that whole bodyswap plot from the first series was all new, too! And I would never have guessed Finnemore as the replacement for Pratchett but the more I think about it the more excited I am. Obv we all know he can do comedy brilliantly well but I'm delighted that it was less than three of your earth weeks ago that I was oohing and aahing at series 9 of the Souvenir Programme and how apparently he can also do... deeply, profoundly moving comedy-drama? oh no.

EXCITED, in conclusion. And delighted at a friend pointing out that Finnemore has also written a lot about nightingales singing in Berkeley Square! He's not Pratchett - no one ever will be - and he doesn't have that unsettling, disturb-the-comfortable edge that was so formative for me, in Pratchett; no witches doing what they have to and all the little angels rising up high. He's the first to say that his comedy is Radio 4 comedy aimed at the people who listen to Radio 4. But, I don't know, Finnemore's world is a kind one, where people are good to each other, and witty while they're doing it, and things come out all right. I'm here for that always.

(Also: I want to tell Phoebe about it. A few weeks ago I wanted to tell her about series 9 of the Souvenir Programme which she would have loved, and I'm reading the new Natasha Pulley and wishing she was live-texting me while she read it too, and now they're making another series of Good Omens, and she's.... not here? for some reason?

the reason is because she's dead, I know, but I miss her. No sympathy required, honestly, but I try and note how much I miss her, because I do, and to not miss her would be much worse.)

Comments

[mirabile]

I was also excited (and a little puzzled) when I learned that John Finnemore was participating, but as you say, his humor is right for this. Fingers crossed!

[raven]

You know, I have a good feeling about this. Fingers crossed! :)

[starlady]

I hope it's good (I'm encouraged that they're sharing the same umbrella in the key art!). And if not, well, it wouldn't be the first lackluster second season I've ignored.

[yiskah]

<3

[brainwane]

I did not watch the first season of Good Omens and maybe now I will! It's such a neat thing to get some more Finnemore and who knows, maybe this will be a gateway that introduces a larger Anglophone audience to his other existing work.

Also - Finnemore has, in his The Now Show monologues, done at least a little anger .... and, he's middle-aged. He may get angrier. I am looking forward to watching his work continue to iterate.

[raven]

I think it will! Although I feel a little bit stupidly protective (Cabin Pressure and JFSP are My Thing, dammit) which is for sure a very hipster way to approach things. :) I haven't seen him much on the Now Show, I will check that out.

[silverhare]

Finnemore's world is a kind one, where people are good to each other, and witty while they're doing it, and things come out all right. I'm here for that always.

He has this lovely bit in S8 of JFSP, which I have actually gone to find and transcribe because I like it so much:

J: I was thinking. I'd like to be one of those comedians who offends everyone equally, you know? Where no-one is safe!
M: Yeah, ok, you're really not, though.
J: No, I know. Loads of people are safe.
M: I think you actually - you actually make people feel more safe.

And he does! I saw so many friends relax in a bit of relief when they saw John Finnemore attached to it.

[raven]

Thank you!! I had that vaguely in mind and couldn't remember it, and yes, yes, that's perfect. There's for sure something incisive and political to be said about how Finnemore's comedy comes from such a very gentle British middle-class place, but comedy where no one is cruel, no one is the butt of the joke (except when it's Finnemore himself) really sustains me right now.

[rydra_wong]

and now they're making another series of Good Omens, and she's.... not here? for some reason?

I didn't know her well, but yesterday I saw the news and for a fraction of a second wanted to see what purplefringe thought, and -- yeah.

[raven]

I have a feeling she'd have gone from "hmmm" to "yeeeeeees" in about half a second, I wish she was here.

[sage]

It's funny, I enjoy Gaiman's work SO MUCH MORE when he's a co-creator instead of solo writer, and I think he and Finnemore together have the potential to deliver something really wonderful. And now I'm filing Madame Tracey and Anathema in with Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax (Agnes was already there) and it is the best mental image ever. \o/

[raven]

Yes, I very much agree! I love Sandman and Good Omens but have never really liked his solo work. I'm so excited for this!

[frith_in_thorns]

Gaiman for me writes amazing worldbuilding and setting, but he does not write characters I feel any emotional connection to. It's not a coincidence that the only solo things of his I like are Neverwhere and Stardust, where the setting is most of the story. (I'm not a massive fan of the Good Omens book, which I apologise for, but I was surprised to really enjoy the TV show!)

[lovelythings]

<3 <3 <3