Newzoids

Newzoids
GenreComedy
Satire
Voices of
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12
Production
Running time30 minutes (inc. adverts)
Original release
NetworkITV
Release15 April 2015 (2015-04-15) –
8 October 2016 (2016-10-08)
Related
Spitting Image
2DTV
Headcases
Dead Ringers

Newzoids is a British topical satirical sketch show, which was co-produced by Citrus Television and Factory for ITV and broadcast for two series between 15 April 2015 and 8 October 2016.[1][2][3]

The programme operated in a similar format to Spitting Image,[4][5] in its use of puppets and comedic impersonations of celebrities across different fields, such as politics and entertainment, and in basing sketches on current events. However, it differed in that each puppet featured no moveable eyes or mouths, as these were applied with the use of CGI during editing.

Newzoids featured the voice actors Jon Culshaw, Debra Stephenson and Lewis MacLeod, all from the BBC Radio 4 comedy Dead Ringers, and featured satirical appearances by Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Clarkson and Prince George of Cambridge.

The first series aired during the 2015 United Kingdom general election and spoofed the politicians involved.[6]

Characters

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All the celebrities featured in the show are portrayed through the mixed use of live-action puppets and computer-generated imagery effects; the puppets are filmed first, with the footage later enhanced with computer-generated eyes, eyebrows and mouths. The depictions are caricatures. one eye of the-then UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage’s puppet occasionally swivels around, Donald Trump's hair is represented as a cat on his head, and Prince George of Cambridge is depicted with a strong Cockney accent, bossing about his younger sister, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.[4][5] George's catchphrase is “oi oi saveloy”, which loosely references the Cockney football chant.

Theresa May appears in trailers for a new film called Despicable May (a reference to the animated film Despicable Me), in which David Davis, Philip Hammond and Boris Johnson play her minions. They also very occasionally feature as minions in other sketches.

Nigel Farage also appears in trailers for another new film, called UKIP: Fully Loaded (a reference to the film Herbie: Fully Loaded), in which his “tampered” Volvo V70 plays Herbie and the politician plays the role of Nigey Farton (referencing the Maggie Peyton character played by Lindsay Lohan in the Herbie film).[7][8]

Another new film which is promoted is Pretty Brexiteer (a reference to the film Pretty Woman), in which Farage plays the role of Nigen Ward (referencing the Vivian Ward character played by Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman).[9][10] The film that is promoted the least is Runaway Tory (a reference to the film Runaway Bride), in which Farage plays the role of Nigey Carpenter (referencing the character of Maggie Carpenter, played by Julia Roberts in the film).[11][12]

Transmissions

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Series Start date End date Episodes
1 15 April 2015 20 May 2015 6
2 3 September 2016 8 October 2016 6

Reception

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Newzoids received mixed reviews. Most professional reviewers compared the show negatively to Spitting Image, but it was better received on social media.[13] Tending towards the positive, The Guardian wrote that it was "no Spitting Image, but a step in the right direction", lauding the show's "sparkiness" but adding "its lack of depth feels like a wasted opportunity" in comparison to Spitting Image.[14] The Telegraph wrote that Newzoids had "flashes of promise" and that the showbusiness takedowns in particular "really connected", but commented that the show often "swung at easy targets".[15]

In a more negative review, The Independent mentioned how Newzoids and Spitting Image both had shaky, unfunny starts, but that "the puppets (of Newzoids) are not intrinsically funny", remarking "Oh dear!".[16] VICE panned Newzoids, and said that "it was absolutely untenable. It was lazily, beguilingly shit, each gag so obvious you'd already written the punchline in your head before it was delivered.", asking "how was this allowed to be made?".[17]

Idris Elba, whose puppet was featured in a Luther sketch, reacted positively to his appearance on the show, posting a video on Twitter of him laughing behind the camera as the scene plays on TV, with a caption of laughing emojis.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Factory".
  2. ^ "@queensheltine Hey @queensheltine,it will be back later in the year, no dates yet but it will be advertised nearer the time". ITV on Twitter. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Newzoids returns for second series". ITV Press Centre. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b Powell, Emma (7 April 2015). "Newzoids: Katie Hopkins, Kim Kardashian and Benedict Cumberbatch among stars to be savaged in puppet satire". Evening Standard. London. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  5. ^ a b Cable, Simon (12 April 2015). "Jeremy Clarkson is set for a return to TV but it will certainly be something different". mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  6. ^ Godwin, Richard (9 April 2015). "Pulling strings: meet the puppet masters behind Newzoids". Evening Standard. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  7. ^ Haroon Siddique (4 January 2016). "Have wheels fallen off Farage 'assassination plot' story?". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  8. ^ Staff and agencies (4 January 2016). "Farage's car was not among those recalled, says Volvo". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  9. ^ Decca Aitkenhead (20 May 2016). "Nigel Farage: 'They say I'm toxic. Quite the opposite'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  10. ^ Paul Armstrong (15 July 2016). "Nigel Farage: Arch-eurosceptic and Brexit 'puppet master'". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  11. ^ BBC Staff (2 May 2015). "Election 2015: Nigel Farage 'wrong' on Labour's EU stance". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  12. ^ Ben Quinn (8 May 2015). "Nigel Farage resigns as Ukip leader after failure to win Westminster seat". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  13. ^ Millis, Joe (15 April 2015). "ITV's new satire Newzoids gets mixed reviews after first showing". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  14. ^ Heritage, Stuart (16 April 2015). "Newzoids review – no Spitting Image, but a step in the right direction". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  15. ^ Power, Ed (15 April 2015). "Newzoids, ITV, review: Not quite funny enough". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  16. ^ Andy McSmith (15 April 2015). "Newzoids, TV review: A forgettable start - but it was the same for Spitting Image". The Independent. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  17. ^ Bish, Joe (16 April 2015). "ITV's 'Newzoids' Did A Distressingly Bad Job At Satirising Modern Britain". VICE. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  18. ^ Harrison, Ellie (20 September 2016). "Idris Elba really loved his Newzoids character". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
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