Ten O'Clock Live

America is famous for a lot of things - McDonalds, Marilyn Monroe, the Grand Canyon… and on a lesser scale, its satirical television programmes. The Daily Show with John Stewart is a behemoth of the genre and Ten O’clock Live is obviously attempting to emulate its success, both through format and content.

The problem is that British and American cultures are arguably very different and – not to be simplistic about it – we can be a sensitive bunch. In recent years ‘Sachsgate’ alienated Ross and Brand; comedians such as Russell Howard and Michael Macintyre shot to fame with their whimsical style, while Frankie Boyle insulted his way out of public favour in late 2010.

However, Ten O’clock Live seems to be doing a fairly good job of translating American satire for British television, forgiving some hiccups due to it being…well, live. At ten o’clock, funnily enough. Presenters Lauren Laverne, David Mitchell, Jimmy Carr and Charlie Brooker flaunt their goods for a studio audience and discuss current affairs with a series of prominent guests. The show obviously has some clout behind it to snare the likes of a previous partner at Goldman Sachs and the MP in charge of the controversial graduate fees. The sensible contributors balance the pun-tastic, student friendly atmosphere of the show and give it a respectability. David Mitchell in particular is excellent as a medium for the weighty topics of the banking crisis (or ‘Banker Bashing’) and the tuition fees, as he asks difficult, complex questions while cracking great jokes. Of the bankers he wonders if they should be punished or ‘set free like a shrew with a broken leg…that’s just tried to destroy the world’.

Charlie Brooker also shines in his brief moments in the limelight doing what he does best – launching bitter diatribes upon whatever poor schmuk has picked the short straw. In this case it’s everyone’s favourite Yankee nutcase Sarah Palin; kind of an easy shot to be fair, I mean the woman writes her own material. Jimmy Carr also stays in his comfort zone as he comments on recent news headlines, although a lot of it seems like recycled material. The weakest link however is Lauren Laverne; painted as the leader of the ballsy bunch in the adverts, in the show she comes across as little more than protection against gender inequality complaints.

For its first outing Ten o’clock Live did none too badly; time constraints and dull content are issues of trial and error for live television, and as the show gets into its stride I’m hopeful that the hilarious jokes, quick wit and banter appear in even more abundance.

Oh, and Lauren Laverne doesn't look half bad - Ed!