This week’s comedy lineup across TV, radio and streaming brings a lively mix of satire, animation, festival coverage, Canadian sports humor, wordplay and a Hollywood behind-the-scenes drama.
Tuesday August 12
– ROOM 101: Stephen Mangan tries to banish loud motorbikes, autumn and squirrels to oblivion. Radio 4, 6:30pm
Wednesday August 13
– SAUSAGE PARTY: FOODTOPIA: Eight episodes of the offbeat animated comedy drop on Prime Video. Our edible heroes navigate New Foodland, a gleaming utopia for food and humans alike, but beneath the city’s cheerful surface lurks a secret that could topple sentient food society. Returning voices include Seth Rogen, Will Forte, Edward Norton and Michael Cera, with new additions Marion Cotillard, Patti Harrison, Jay Pharoah, Haley Joel Osment and Andre Braugher.
Thursday August 14
– EDINBURGH UNLOCKED: Mark Nelson presents a round-up of what’s happening across the city’s festivals. BBC Scotland, 10:30pm
– SHORESY: The spin-off from Letterkenny follows the titular hockey player as he moves to a new town to join an underdog team. Available on ITVX.
Friday August 15
– 8 OUT OF 10 CATS DOES COUNTDOWN: Roisin Conaty and Phil Wang take on Joe Wilkinson and Lou Sanders, with David O’Doherty joining Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner. Channel 4, 9pm
Saturday August 16
– SATURDAY NIGHT: Jason Reitman directs this fictionalised look at the chaos behind the scenes of the first SNL edition, with Lorne Michaels trying to corral a legendary cast and convince the network the comedians are primed for primetime. It’s available to buy or rent on Sky or Now from today.
Additional notes and value
– This lineup blends radio humor, streaming premieres, and nostalgia-driven cinema, giving viewers a broad palette from scripted comedy and satirical wrap-ups to behind-the-scenes cinema experiences.
– If you’re planning your week, a good mix might be to start with ROOM 101 for bite-sized laughs, dive into the animated whimsy of FOODTOPIA midweek, and cap the week with a game-show style night followed by a reflective behind-the-scenes film on Saturday.
– For fans of Canadian comedy, SHORESY offers a fresh continuation of the Letterkenny universe, while SNL fans get a cinematic look at how a legendary live show came together.
Summary
A varied week of comedy across formats and platforms, ranging from radio humor and festival roundups to risqué animation and a filmic deep dive into SNL’s birth pangs. Positive, light-hearted options are plentiful for fans of quick laughs and behind-the-scenes storytelling.
Potential positive spin
– The week showcases strong international flavor, from UK radio to Canadian originals and a Hollywood-set retrospective, underscoring how comedy travels across formats and borders to deliver fresh laughs and nostalgic moments.
If you’d like, I can tailor this into a concise weekly spotlight for your homepage, with quick links to each program’s official page and streaming details.