Mitchell and Webb - NumberWang Meeting

A meeting with the head of programming about the future of NumberWang

[@TonkarzOfSolSystem]

It's odd that the inventors of a gameshow as bizarre as Numberwang are playing the straight man role in this sketch.

[@tomgl6684]

Bizarre? It's an extremely simple game. Anyone who bought the home edition and read the rule book will attest!

[@holgerkanisch4210]

That's Numberwang!

[@A350Airways]

@@holgerkanisch4210 Or more accurately Wordwang!

[@davidwhitfield7864]

"Ethnically youthful and homosexually young."

[@aelolul]

Doctor Who?

[@taofanarchy96-renzomaracas14]

@@aelolulThis is spot on now that the Doctor is a literal Black Scot

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

canada

[@metal2886]

Pretty sure this is how top gear picked it's new presenters

[@IMOLDGREGG252]

metal2886 this comment is still relevant.

[@jessicest]

it's true; i was the youthful homosexual

[@alexpotts6520]

To be fair, the original trio were irreplaceable.

[@ethan5719]

I've seen this clip countless times but I've somehow only just noticed the irony in his inability to read, yet supposedly having "numberwang" written on the piece of card.. for him to read

[@Robert399]

Maybe it says "#🍆"

[@Pining_for_the_fjords]

"I'm not going to pretend to understand the creative process, because I don't understand the creative process, and because I don't know how to pretend." I love this line!

[@samuelthestrong]

Oh man. You can tell this one came from the soul. They must've had a particularly interesting meeting that planted the seed

[@liesemiller4786]

"None of them went to Oxford. I love diversity!"

[@TristanAlricMusic]

"He'll be head of news one day if we let him, which we won't" Fucking brilliant

[@MuchWhittering]

It's not brilliant, he deserves that job!

[@gregdavidl647]

This is brilliant. Great satire on what makes the industry tick and what makes it vacuous at the same time.

[@rdhunkins]

These days it seems you can't satirize things enough. This probably happens IRL all the time.

[@loysdoy9499]

What a performance! He nailed it!

[@slee1996]

David Mitchell is perfect. In 2 minutes 28 he has managed to personify everything wrong with British culture and media. I say this as one of the homosexually young people the culture and media think is their target audience

[@Stuart267]

This comment is WAY ahead of its time. Things are even worse now with the virtue signalling in shows & movies. Like having a g@y character in a show counts as a personality

[@reethreepio7220]

@@Stuart267 Your comment is even more prescient. Things are even far worser NOW than when you wrote your comment pointing out that things were relatively worse at the time of your writing in comparison to the general state of things in the ancient past of the original post.

[@BenjaminGoose]

@@kevincarbone6831 Jesus is gay.

[@randot6675]

Fast forward to 2024, and no, nothing's improved yet. You're welcome

[@RedKincaid]

I'm not britist but I am young and gay and deeply uncomfortable with the attempts of mainstream media to pander to me. I guess a decade and an ocean aren't enough to really change things lol

[@minichapify]

"I CAN'T READ!!!" *picks up paper* "NUMBERWANG!!!*

[@CheeseDemon]

This is such a great sketch, and what makes it even more impressive is that David Mitchell managed to do the whole thing in one take! (I found out on the commentary for the dvd, Mitchell said so himself) Epic! :D

[@davros_adl8155]

That's takewang

[@beeble2003]

Pff, it's easy to do it in one take when you have the name of the show on a card. 😉

[@devourerofbabies]

Fascinating glimpse behind the scenes at how real television producers operate.

[@zippodbeebilbroxen3016]

"NUMBERWANG has been off our screens for far too long" IT'S FUNNY 'CAUSE IT'S TRUE!

[@angelica3744]

Ranks in the top 5 of my favorite skits of all time.

[@FatherStack]

Probably the hardest I've ever laughed in my life! Dave's energy in this is absolutely brilliant and that last line almost killed me 🤣🤣🤣

[@StKildaFan]

Think of the meeting they must have sat through to make them write this sketch.

[@jessicest]

that would have been a great followup sketch

[@HELPTHEPICKLEISALIVE]

My favourite show (looks at card) That Mitchell and Webb look!

[@iluvthecompanioncube]

I love the bit where he goes, "Here's some money!" and throws money at them. It kills me for some reason.

[@crippmeister]

and a little bit of Oxford bashing from the Cantabrian. Love it XD

[@rbarrington8911]

I'd like to imagine they probably had a meeting like this.

[@joshuahext9236]

I've been in a thousand pitch meetings like this.

[@BarokaiRein]

This isn't a sketch, it's documentary of how basically all media is runs nowadays

[@DCI-Frank-Burnside]

1 man behind his desk. 2 people being interviewed and 3 people there to tick race, disability and gender boxes. Add those numbers together and what do you get...?

[@VanessaVersus]

+Michael Johns A numberwang!

[@DCI-Frank-Burnside]

Exactly.

[@misterwishart]

Numberwang?

[@godmademefunky95]

Six.

[@lukessummerguitar]

20 Capstan Full Strength Navy Cut?

[@mikepalmer8]

As a member of the Pedants Society of Great Britain, I feel I have to point out that he states that he doesn't know how to read, but continuously reads the word "NumberWang" throughout the sketch

[@CheeseDemon]

what makes this sketch even more impressive is that David Mitchel managed to say all that in one take. :D

[@markstevenson1646]

Emma Sedgwick wow is that what you get from a university education? , the ability to speak continually for 2mins 28secs, impressive

[@tomgl6684]

@@markstevenson1646 Beats making bitter comments on a KZbin video mate.

[@markstevenson1646]

@@tomgl6684 wow is that what you get from a university education, the ability to post a shit quip three years after the event, impressive

[@tomgl6684]

@@markstevenson1646 Who said anything about a university education? Is that because you automatically assume someone taking the piss out of you must have an academic background?

[@markstevenson1646]

@@tomgl6684 well I wouldn't consider what you said taking the piss as you so eloquently put it, it was a bit pathetic if truth be told, here let me have a go, if I took the piss out of you there'd be nothing left.... BOOM there you go, have a nice day 😄

[@maxdowker8766]

Still come back to this sketch cos of the great writing

[@EREJones]

I feel a strong emotional connection to the teenage p**fter.

[@EpicDarkPanther]

me too

[@Nick_J_]

Is poofter a censor-needed word in Merry Old Englandland?

[@steveforest8385]

Don't look at the box-tickers.

[@_IHateHandles_]

Easily one of David's best performances. XD

[@abrahamicreligionsbowbefor3585]

This aged perfectly.

[@gwenivercall]

I remember around the time this came out, Frankie Boyle said that in every tv development meeting the main phrase used was 'crossed with Skins! Let's make Cash in the Attic, crossed with Skins! We'll call it 'Gash in the Attic!' I laughed so much - and then I watched Misfits. Oh lord.

[@edwells8963]

Misfits was good for one season, then they dropped any overarching plot and it had no point in existing

[@SvendleBerries]

Very much reminds me of Denholm Reynholm lol

[@spiralpython1989]

This is the comment I planned to write!

[@rosePetrichor]

That's Youngerwang!

[@stephaniecarr6984]

"..because I don't know what it MEANS!.." LOL!! Cracks me up EVERY single time!! ..and that LAST line, boy...lol!!! We'd NEVER get away with that here!!! Love it!

[@jgrj52]

It's 2024 and this has now stopped being funny because it has accurately predicted how tv shows and movies are

[@hoho330]

The HBO revolution in all its glory.

[@BenjinWS]

AMANDA! Get these guys some drugs!

[@lehietala]

Hahaha! This is one of my favorite sketches of TMWL! How can he speak so fast?

[@aigtban]

This is like the BBC equivalent of the scene in The Simpsons where the makers of Itchy & Scratchy brainstorm a new character to appeal to young people and come up with Poochie.

[@xfronwenzyoucamex]

I wish they had done a skit of the new numberwang.

[@alexpotts6520]

Me too. I'm struggling to imagine what a Numberwang that "retains all of its original features but is basically like Skins" would look like.

[@franckluciani9284]

this show was ten years ahead of its time... it's terrifying x'D

[@thelolmaster1997]

I think this is basically completely true Including ethnics, disableds, gays and women for no purpose apart from bragging about having diversity.. Also aiming every new program aggressively at teenagers and copying any popular theme.. fckin fed up

[@MJW238]

It's called trying to get ratings. Young people are attractive to advertisers.

[@sophovot5079]

Well, if that's what it takes to have tv shows that aren't just about straight white able-bodied men then i'm all for it. why shouldn't they want to have diversity, it's a good thing that people like

[@wenqiweiabcd]

Sophovot If I'm marched in front of a screen not because I'm particularly suited for the part but because the producers are pandering to people who love to see my kind doing things, I would feel cheapened and insulted beyond measure. What is the difference between this and a freak show, or a circus where bears ride bicycles and dogs jump through burning rings? Compare that to this[1], do you see what I mean? If you are going to achieve genuine equality by highlighting how other and alien certain people are, pointing out and worshiping their alienness at every chance, and shoving them into public eyes frequently for no other reason than the fact that they are alien------are you not going about it the entirely wrong way? [1]: www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/rfa0u/youre_doing_a_great_job_guys/

[@purpleprinc3]

Was that link for real?

[@0xCAFEF00D]

Sophovot I think that's a bit short sighted. The end goal can't be to have box tickers. Whatever your view on how TV should be nobody thinks that box tickers serve a purpose other than statistical. Integrating people in a process is an important step to take.

[@Lunios]

this joke was ahead of its time

[@vinzbrain]

outstanding david

[@Feyling__1]

does anyone else rekon this might have been bases on mitchell and webb's real experience of tv executives?

[@MRMADOO]

wow i love david mitchell

[@expressrobkill]

So funny the first time i watches it i almost cryed i love this kind of obseane humour

[@pizzajona]

This is how Wordwang was created

[@BrothersWeird]

I now try to use "It's brilliant in a way that is awful" in everyday conversation as much as possible.

[@dialEforEm]

I went to Oxford, what I meant to say is that I didn't go to Oxford. ...I did.

[@Carandini]

This is exactly how they develop shows in America.

[@casiedragmire4686]

Aren't these two characters also the quiz broadcast contestants?

[@soflogator]

I love this character david plays

[@VestinVestin]

In a fit of snarkiness, I feel like claiming that he's just being himself :P.

[@me4901]

Take the money before you go.

[@maggie1321972]

When I took I job they did a thing hot wire also.

[@DaRealWuXiit]

So this is how they saw the BBC bosses.

[@Thecuregalore94]

I refer you towards Charlie Brooker's 'a career in telly' piece.

[@RangerJackWalker]

How can Alison and Peter have created Numberwang? This contradicts The History of Numberwang.

[@franka9942]

why does he look exactly like james spader in the office (us)

[@Apollys]

Hilarioussss! He could read though, he kept reading the notecard.

[@resonatorneuronium5324]

Nope it was a picture of the word NUMBERWANG.

[@Aethelian]

The sort of people that watched Numberwang were old, weird, had a hat, smelled and were Belgian. Well, thanks a lot.

[@JasonX2]

Best impression of a coke head I've ever seen.

[@TraineeHero]

If he can't read because they burned out his brain, what the crap was on that card?

[@PureZOOKS]

numbers

[@clashmanthethird]

He probably just said that because he didn't give enough of a shit to read anything.

[@uthertheking]

Maybe it's a logo the show has, and he's heard the name of it in association. Like people immediately thinking of Batman when they see his symbol.

[@HaniiPuppy]

What does a °checks card° NUMBER WANG look like?

[@Spikey100000]

STEVIE!

[@greiteneis]

i numberwanged once..now my algebra book is all sticky!

[@UberJamesMan]

If he can't read, why does he keep looking at the cue card to remind himself of the name "Numberwang"?

[@markstevenson1646]

UberJamesMan it contains a picture of numberwang, duh

[@zanite8650]

Numberwang is why.

[@alhartnivin]

Yeah. I'm pretty sure they went to Cambridge. Let's just say they went to Oxbridge. ;P

[@scw55]

They really know how to make unpleasant personalities even more unpleasant.

[@rockstarrist]

Best part: "numberwang numberwang numberwang numberwang "

[@Callithyia]

it's like Lord Flashheart ran Numberwang...

[@ppapz6329]

i see my old boss in this. good times.

[@pluxorama]

Lol "My Team: Disabled Ethnic, Teenage Pooftah and Woman!"

[@Reac2]

I love how this is now inversely true. Its basically the same thing, except for everything is for old people. Between aging demographics in the developed world and new media pushing adaptive young minds away from television, all TV has left is appeal to retirees

[@CatLady999]

This is how popular American "reality" shows are created.

[@doritostheking]

This is basically how TV really works.

[@Paul-A01]

Sadly there are no numbers in this sketch and thus it is not numberwang

[@_wolfenstein]

That's Numberwang!

[@TheMarioChannel3]

Uhhh... 27?

[@sakar181]

Thats not Numberwang. :(

[@antaresmaelstrom5365]

But 1 is, in fact it is the Prime Numberwang.

[@ChrisK42]

43.2

[@ian_b]

58

[@Maino88]

Two hundredth and forty-leventh

[@indiefan92]

Yes, that is a number.

[@15schaa]

In the History of Numberwang, they said Numberwang was invented by Bertrand Russell before the war.

[@smorgi]

He looks like Robert California

[@lordbuss]

2:08 That sounds like Spamton. [[YOUTHOSOME TEENAGY YOUNGNESS]] AND ABOVE ALL [[NUMBERWANG]]! DO IT MAKE IT NOW! MAKE ME THE NEW [[NUMBERWANG]]! THAT'S RIGHT!! NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO BE A [[BIG SHOT]]!!

[@ijustcametogetsomethingtoe3234]

0:10 NHS in a nutshell

[@naomi43333]

Very Stephen Fry, which explains why it's so good

[@Theduckwebcomics]

Oh god yes! Media people ARE actuallu exactly like that O_O

[@prunesinjuice]

and to this day... no new epsidoes of Numberwang ):

[@peteclark284]

This guy reminds me of denom relnom from it crowd

[@thehoults11]

It's Series 3, Episode 6

[@choo6988]

HE'S PRETENDING no wait he said he can't pretend.

[@wasianwigger]

MItchell and Webb both went to oxford.

[@gorvindougwinkristoffiplob5137]

a quiz which is basically like "Skins"..... errrrr........ 0_o

[@Chasmodius]

... Lord Flasheart?

[@IoEstasCedonta]

Why do I get the feeling that if I ever worked in TV...

[@Robert399]

1:18 "Old, weird, had a hat, smelled and were Belgian" so Numberwang was watched exclusively by Poirot?

[@phsopher]

I think that the Numberwang stuff is generally not as strong as most of their other stuff and I think they dwelled too much on it (same with Sir Digby Chicken Cesar). However, this skit is pure genius.

[@KyleMiddleton7]

+phsopher Sir Digby Chicken Cesar IS their best work

[@phsopher]

Kyle Middleton I guess we have different taste then. Seems too bleak to me and pretty much just makes fun of mental illness. In my opinion, their best recurring sketches were things like Big Talk, the post-apocalyptic quiz broadcast, the two guys organizing a party, early BBC, Hennimore, lazy screen writers, government conspiracies, the Bond-type super-villain and the "sensitive freakshow" documentaries.

[@jacobfelger5684]

+phsopher Ah, well, there is different opinions for everything. As long as we just remain indoors, we shall be fine. :)

[@purpleanex]

Whats wrong with laughing at mental people?

[@phsopher]

purpleanex Are you being serious?

[@judyhopps9380]

Doctor Who creative process in a nutshell

[@johnwhittington2998]

Naho Saenoki basically how the meeting for Class went down

[@shrilleth]

Judy, quit being egotistical

[@krich451]

if he can't read, what is he doing with that card?

[@Ektalon]

krich451 Yelling at it, apparently.

[@danshinks5897]

krich451 it's just got a picture of boobs on it