Telly Talk: Guerrila warfare

Dave is on Dave. That is to say, Dave Gorman has a new six-part series starting this week on the cable channel that likes a chortle, called Dave. Dave, the channel, is getting itself something of a reputation for supporting comedy programmes. What with its series of One Night Stands, much lauded Red Dwarf relaunch and umpteen repeats of QI, it is the place for a quiet chuckle, a bit of fun, and maybe learn a thing or two along the way. Perfect place for Dave Gorman to set up shop.

“the thing about Dave Gorman’s details is that they feel so very, very British”

Utilising the stand-up format – one man, one microphone and an audience – and yet keeping it as set aside as a usual Dave Gorman show might be if you saw him in a theatre; using slides to illustrate points, research into the world and several limited edition props, this is right up Dave (the channel’s) street.
Essentially, Dave Gorman’s look at modern life, although initially could have simply been another internet clip show, actually doesn’t contain a single clip and is so much more. With the ethos that the devil is in the detail, he skips about online and through social media and various other contemporary-ish modes of communication, following them through and poking the most engaging holes. Dave Gorman wants us to think, and he’s enjoying pointing out all the different ways we just don’t bother to pay attention.

A classic example is the terms and conditions found in practically everything that we do. There is, he points out, an ‘accept all Ts&Cs’ button on the very first page of most of these legal documents, already presuming that we’re just not going to bother. Yes, Eddie Izzard laid into this before with regards to iTunes, but Gorman’s dissecting of the one for hiring a Boris Bike is so much more localised. Yes, the thing about Dave Gorman’s details is that they feel so very, very British. Even down to his pursuit of Lord Sugar with regards to his sly social media guerilla marketing and past Amstrad products.

Something I did notice, upon being urged to pay attention to the fine print, was for all his playful batting of such big brands as Samsung phones and others, amongst the list of credits as they went rolling by was a ‘special thanks’ to a number of businesses – including Samsung! Is this simply an even more elaborate way of stealthily delivering brands into our subconscious as Gorman pokes fun at the less than thorough jobs done through the official channels? Perhaps Gorman himself is simply a master marketeer, with his careful use of ‘us’ and ‘you’ in his language at key points! Perhaps. But I’m not convinced. Although maybe that’s what he wants me to think.

The main point was, he wants me to think. Whether it’s about subliminal marketing, stupid questions on the Internet, or how many days there are in February, I’m thinking, smiling, and at some points laughing out loud too. Now that can’t be bad, Dave. Not bad at all.
Dave Gorman’s Modern Life Is Goodish,
Dave, Tuesday 17 September 2013

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