

The Armando Iannucci Shows
The Armando Iannucci Shows is a series of eight programmes focused on specific themes relating to human nature and existentialism, around which Iannucci would weave a series of surreal sketches and monologues. Recurring themes in the episodes are the superficiality of modern culture, our problems communicating with each other, the mundane nature of working life and feelings of personal inadequacy and social awkwardness. Several characters also make repeat appearances in the shows, including the East End thug, who solves every problem with threats of violence; Hugh, an old man who delivers surreal monologues about what things were like in the old days; and Iannucci's barber, who is full of nonsensical anecdotes.
Cast

Armando Iannucci
Himself

Stephen Mangan
Television Executive #4

Alan Ford
Alan The East End Thug

Tony Gardner
Television Executive #1
Darren Higham
Television Executive #2
Melanie Hudson
Television Executive #3
Hugh Cecil
Hugh

James Smith
Various Characters
Seasons

E1Twats
Aug 30, 2001
Armando worries about looking like a twat in front of other people. He worries about what other people think about him, judging him by his appearance, what he thinks and his lack of football knowledge. He even worries about a man known for telling brilliant jokes, who is appearing at his next dinner party and in front of whom he may appear foolish.

E2Work
Sep 6, 2001
Armando claims that almost everyone made a wrong decision around eight years ago, which explains why they end up with terrible jobs. From clowns becoming teachers, to sniffer dogs deciding to go to Bangkok on an impulse, it appears the only person Armando knows who truly likes their job is his barber.

E3Communication
Sep 20, 2001
Armando realises that most people do not talk to each other, hence why people end up going to landfills after nailing themselves into DIY cupboards. More problems arise in the form of racist police horses, and even a bride using a racist accent during her marriage to her Indian husband.

E4Imagination
Oct 18, 2001
Armando believes that the imagination is a wonderful thing, allowing us to come up with any image, such as the cast of Cats being shot at dawn. Everyone attempts to try to become more imaginative, such as profane gardening and improving suicide notes. However, the greatest worry is people starving to death due to there being too many golf sales. This episode was originally aired last in the series, providing a surprisingly fitting conclusion in which Armando, by taunting animals with various human inventions, seems to have accidentally taught them how to take over the world.

E5Time Passing
Sep 27, 2001
With time passing ever more quickly, Armando worries about growing older. He admires Hugh for keeping the past alive, but panics about turning into one of the old men with bushy eyebrows that gave him nightmares as a child. Only one man can save children in later life - "Armando - The Great Adult!"

E6Neighbours
Oct 4, 2001
Armando wants to know what his neighbours are really like. He discovers what they think of each other, their prejudices, and one woman's experience with her stolen dresses, now being worn by people like Eddie Izzard. Even neighbours from outer space can be very rude.

E7Morality
Sep 13, 2001
Armando is worried about people's morality. Whilst one priest inspires his congregation so much they will not leave him alone, another shows pornographic masses. Armando starts to wonder if there is anything we do which is not evil, as he discovers when some protesters attack him for putting something in someone else's bin.

E8Reality
Oct 11, 2001
Armando has trouble sleeping, from his fridge making a sound of a trumpet, being beaten up by an intruder, and his recurring nightmare involving his most dreaded expression, "Except for those viewers in Scotland, who have their own programming."
Storyline
The Armando Iannucci Shows is a series of eight programmes focused on specific themes relating to human nature and existentialism, around which Iannucci would weave a series of surreal sketches and monologues. Recurring themes in the episodes are the superficiality of modern culture, our problems communicating with each other, the mundane nature of working life and feelings of personal inadequacy and social awkwardness. Several characters also make repeat appearances in the shows, including the East End thug, who solves every problem with threats of violence; Hugh, an old man who delivers surreal monologues about what things were like in the old days; and Iannucci's barber, who is full of nonsensical anecdotes.
Recommended

Big Train
1998

Look Around You
2002

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968

Key & Peele
2012

French & Saunders
1987

That Mitchell and Webb Look
2006

Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out
2005

The League of Gentlemen
1999

The Fast Show
1994

Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories
2014

Psychoville
2009

A Bit of Fry & Laurie
1989
More Like This

At Last the 1948 Show
1967

A Bit of Fry & Laurie
1989

Brass Eye
1997

Dolly
1987

Absolutely
1989

Trevlig helg
2021

Little Britain
2003

Lol:-)
2011

The Kenny Everett Television Show
1982
The Terrors of Jordan Mendoza

Kelsey Grammer Presents: The Sketch Show
2005

The Amanda Show
1999