... and, yes, I find Miranda, first and foremost, very funny and, now that you mention it, in the context of all the nastiness, a pleasant relief.

Edginess was once fresh yet it is now stale. A couple of years ago I'd have laughed at the sort of swearobatics spewed forth by the likes of Frankie Boyle or Charlie Brooker but now it's just irritating. So the pendulum swings back to more traditional, clean humour.

What's wrong with me then? I find it a hatefully unbearable throwback, bringing nothing new to the table. And....here's the rub, if memory serves, the show featured an Anne Frank joke two weeks ago. I shall withdraw and leave you all to it.

I-player for anything to watch (erm Tank Commander Gary no thanks) and stumbled upon "Miranda" and would described it as pleasingly daft. I laughed out out several times (thick of it only got one laugh from the last episode). I liked the 4th wall stuff and the prat falls and like you say the warm heartedness of it. Also a none standard lead is a good thing, so I'm glad it's a hit. Only caveat is not sure they "man mad" plotline can last too long as it could get tiring but well we will see.

2) It's not edgy

It doesn't have to be 2) to be 1), but 1) is a minimum requirement for a comedy programme in my book.

I don't think that it's a sign of anything - there have always been middle of the road sitcoms on telly. Can anyone tell me why the BBC keep putting Flight of the Conchords on at odd times on digital channels? I'd have thought it would be perfect for 9pm BBC2

And poorly acted?

Modern Family on Sky is very, very good though.....and not in the least "edgy".

I find "Miranda" 75% eye-rollingly bad, 15% smile and 10% actually funny (mostly in the glances to the camera).

that we can enjoy both sorts rather than having to oscillate between the two extremes?

I have certainly tired of edgy comedy but I saw "Miranda" and felt it suffered from just the same "I'm sure this ticks somebody's boxes but wouldn't it be better if it were funny?" syndrome that afflicts "The Thick Of It" and similar operas d'edge.

I really liked the Jo Brand hospital comedy which was like a cross between the two.

takes huge spoonfulls of Frank Spencer, Frankie Howard and Terry and June and mixes it into a very watchable, very funny, traditional British sit com. A pat on the back to whoever comissioned it and I for one hope it's the first of many. I'm an unashamed lover of the 70's British sit com in all it's forms. However, as the appaling My Family proved, bad comedy is bad comedy. It doesn't matter if is edgy or family friendly it just has to be funny. I have my Frankie Boyle tickets for next year and he can insult anyone he likes, me included as long as he makes me laugh.

I haven't seen Miranda so can't comment on that prog. But I do think that in times of relative hardship, there is something warm and cosy about old fashioned stuff. Our mindset changes and I think this is why the Ross/Brand saga was so ill-received. The laddish days of Chris Evans/Loaded/Britpop wouldn't have happened in a recession.

It's the same as for anyone with children, especially young children, they will be slightly more in tune with mushy stuff and this extends to comedy.

... nothing to do with being "non-edgy" or otherwise, just don't find it funny.

straight after Top Gear on Sundays specifically chosen to annoy people who were hoping to watch Match of the Day 2 at 10pm, but now how to sit through this garbage first - or is it the only way they can get people to tune in?

My neighbours (up here / down here in Southport) love Richard Clayderman, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, canal boats and line dancing. They wouldn't even turn on TV comedy these days because it's all gone for them - they won't watch Miranda because they have been systematically chased away by years of "edgy" programmes which they were repulsed by.

Me? I like a bit of edgy but, to be honest I rejoice when I hear Desmond Carrington, David Jacobs et al on Radio 2 and cannot bear the fact that they are being slowly but surely edged out by more trendy, edgy personalities.

Slightly off-topic rant over. Thanks for being there!

just caught up with the latest series via iPlayer (and iPlayer Grabber because the BBC iPlayer Desktop doobery doesn't work on a non Intel Mac) - maybe it's me but this is entertainment, I *heart* it muchly

can I get a (Weegie/Jock) witness?

much comedy and the odd pathos - a classic never bettered

Edgy comedy - yes it was good/fresh a couple of years ago when comedians started pushing the boundaries, now its just a bit too common-place (seemingly everyones trying it, and sadly doing pretty much the same gags).
Some of it is still bearable (Charlie Brooker), some of it gets on my tits (Frankie Boyle (same three gags (Peadophilia, Kerry Katona & Josef Fritzel).

The best/most amusing/absolutely not edgy stand-up acts I've seen for ages are Rhod Gilbert, Sarah Millican & Michael McIntyre (grabs tin hat and ducks).

to give it a go. Then realised who Miranda Hart was and didn't bother. Maybe she's improved, but I found her woefully unfunny when she did the Celebrity Fame Academy thing a couple of years ago.

Not Going Out. Written by Lee Mack and Andrew Collins. A proper sitcom with proper characters and good gags and storylines and all that. Not particularly edgy but the odd post-watershed smutty bit here and there which worked well in a traditional sitcom format. I thought it was great. So the BBC failed to recommissi.. recomiss.. reccom.. bugger.. cancelled it.

I do find Miranda Hart a bit wooden and monodimensional, though.

may be a nice lady but she is embarrassingly stiff and humourless on TV. The radio series of her show was just the same - rather shrill and unbearable.

'Edgy' comedy isn't a new invention but the alternative to it isn't just to do an nth generation photocopy of an old Hi-De-Hi script. Of course some of it, like including the 'You Have Been Watching' end titles, is knowing n post modern but just doesn't work for me.

I don't think taht this rather sickly swallow makes an anti filth summer. The three funniest things on TV atm for me are The Thick Of It and Curb Your Enthusiasm and Harry Hill's Tv Burp. I like me satirical, observationsl and downright surreally silly in equal measure.

'Father Ted' was silly, slapstick, had no swearing (the feck it did!) but was funny, innovative and had some classic lines n scenes.

And Charlie Brooker is right about everything.

George and Mildred.

The vicar mistakenly taking George's jazz mag collection to the church jumble sale... that's my kind of humour. Classy and sophisticated...

or at least discussion of it, is that the edge lies somewhere different for each of us. My edge may be your hinterland. My take on it is that art forms should be judged by their primary characteristics not by secondary considerations such as fashionability, edginess or whatever. So is Miranda funny? Yes, sometimes. For me.

I have a strange crush on her.

The swingback against edgy comedy to being all bright lights and wacky and studio audience happened four years ago. Is that the time it takes The Word readership to catch up?

The fundamental flaw in thinking about studio sitcoms nowadays, and I'd use Chris Addison's Lab Rats as a prime example, is that they are only thought of as a light alternative to Ricky Gervais and co. When if you look at all the great studio sitcoms like Steptoe and Son and Porridge, they had a mountain of darkness mixed in with all the boffo gags. Often at the same time.

The idea that edgy can only be on film and wacky can only be in a studio is comedy illiteracy by those in charge that should know better.