Fancy Falls for 2026
A brand new world of entertainment
So, we’re off! A brand new year of Fancy Falls, with a shift in focus back to creating and writing. As a reminder from last time, for myself as much as anyone, here is my single resolution for 2026.
I will write six episodes of ‘Fancy Falls TV’ (title TBC) by the end of this year
I’ve made a few life changes to accommodate this. I purposely chose to end my six and a half year Duolingo streak, sitting at 2410 days when I uninstalled the app1, as I have been increasingly finding it to be a distracting and addictive chore that didn’t bring any joy in the learning. So instead I’ve used the 20 to 30 minutes a day I was spending on it (to maintain my vital position in the Diamond League and complete every Friends Quest that came my way2) to journal my thoughts on Day One3. It doesn’t matter what I write, just whatever has come to me during the night, or over the course of the day, or even just over the course of a work meeting or particularly delicious snack.
Obviously a fair proportion of the entries are thoughts on TV or entertainment related consumption, because I’m addicted to that too, but a summary/re-edit of those entries is what will make up the bulk of these posts going forward. This will be more like a traditional blog or diary on the processes and inspirations behind my new writing venture, but will certainly include character descriptions, monologues, clips and more as they spring into existence.
For now the headline part of the post will be TV thoughts, and inspiration and new work will appear below. It’s easier to grab the attention of both new and loyal readers with things you know about, namely the shows we’re all watching or keen to find out about.
Try not to read this as my priority, the writing is my main thing! But I’m an unknown creating something brand new, and until there’s something concrete to show off, I’ll sneak it in at the bottom.
Televigion Update
“On the Cusp (Stranger Things S5)” (7/1/26)
I’m a little worried about the Stranger Things finale (Netflix). We’ve been really enjoying this final season, other than episode 1 that felt like a slog of exposition, and the episodes have been propulsive and engaging. But a two hour finale with all the pieces in place? Maybe it would be safer to leave it as it is, right at the apex of build?
I don’t really mean this of course, but there is something much more pleasing about the anticipation than the actual resolution. So few endings are genuinely earned and well put together, it’s a real worry. And the ending shouldn’t affect the rest of the show, or the season, but of course it does. Game of Thrones ruined it’s entire reputation with how it chose to end it all, and I don’t want that for Stranger Things. It’s a show I had forgotten and dismissed a bit anyway, but this season has had a lot of care put into it, particularly Will’s story, and more particularly that coming out scene in episode 7. It made an important point about owning your fears, and made relevant what had previously been mostly just alluding to the topic of sexual preference.
So we’ll see how the finale does, but I wanted to capture my actual genuine excitement and enjoyment at the penultimate point4.
“Comedy I Missed at Christmas” (7/1/26)
I watched the Amandaland and Two Doors Down Christmas Specials tonight as I waited for The Televigion Wife to return home from the choirs she runs (in the vain hope we’d get to the Stranger Things finale, no chance of a 2hr episode after 9pm5).
I’m not especially fond of either show. I can see the appeal of Amandaland slightly more, as the West Coast Scottish banality of TDD does nothing for me, but I’ve only watched one episode before now. Jennifer Saunders was reasonable value, but there’s nothing surprising or clever in any of it. I certainly didn’t get enough of a comedy jolt to laugh out loud. If these are the major comedy offerings of the BBC this year (excepting documentaries, and I haven’t watched Here We Go, I have never found that appealing at all) then we’re in dire straits.
“The Life of Chuck” (9/1/26)
I love Mike Flanagan and Stephen King, probably because I’m built a similar way. Care about people, love horror and prone to sentimentality and overwriting (the last more Flanagan than King).
I’m OK with how direct and clear The Life of Chuck is, and I’m on board with it. There’s a more deeply, artfully emotional film it could have been in prospect, but it’s good enough for me on a Friday night. A seven out of ten, if we were to get boringly ratingy on it.
“East of Ipswich and History of the Sitcom” (10/1/26)
East of Ipswich itself was enjoyable, a little staid and dated, but still some spectacularly funny lines. But the Michael Palin Remembers... afterwards was very touching and he is such a warm presence.
History of the Sitcom6 is not aiming for any depth at all, but has an impressive roster of talking heads from throughout sitcom history (AMERICAN-ONLY obvs). It might be a useful jumping off point for new things to explore, but is very much background type TV. So much so that I ate far more snack goods than I have for any evening recently, exacerbated by my wife having an early night.
Update on Sunday night - episode 2 ‘Sex and the Sitcom’ is a bit slower and more interesting about women’s liberation and LGBTQ representation. I think episode 1 just tried to cover too much (titled ‘A Family Matter’ but barely mentioned Arrested Development, and didn’t mention Frasier, both very family based)
“Can You Keep a Secret?” (11/1/26)
I was excited about this new sitcom from the first preview write-ups and it did not disappoint. A great premise, well executed, with a lovely conflict between the parents with their slightly unintentional insurance fraud, and their son who has just found out. Dawn French and Mark Heap make a great couple, and Craig Roberts is very good at selling written jokes believably, in the midst of an emotional performance. I’ve loved him since Submarine to be honest, when I thought I might someday make my own low budget independent film like that.
I really hope Mandip Gill gets plenty to do, and is not as underused and sidelined as her time on Doctor Who.
I think the reason I’m on board with this, and not other shows that are somewhere on the comedy-drama spectrum like Am I Being Unreasonable and Daddy Issues, is likeability. It’s so important to find balance of an interesting situation with conflict, and have a sitcom heart7. And with relatability and likeable characters, I find it all funnier and more enjoyable. Some of that is obviously down to the performers too, but character is the key.
The World of Fancy Falls
“Comedy Thoughts” (3/1/26)
Trying to lose weight, knowing there is a pizza plan for dinner...
No bread till... PIZZA (to the tune of ‘No sleep till... BROOKLYN’)
Beacon= Bacon
A bacon for mutual good
Light the bacons!
Fancy Falls TV
One line pitch - People can enter a world of TV by visiting a company, a bit like Mr Benn, to deal with their issues and relationships.
Repertory Company Cast (archetypes who don’t want to be)
Patriarch
Archetypal dad in looks, cardigan and glasses, authoritative and serious voice, but hates authority and will not follow the rules.
Matriarch
Early thirties, but looks over 50 and cuddly. Olivia Colman? Sharp and mean demeanour.
Craftsman
Nick Offerman/hipster lumberjack type, who is handless and silly. Won’t stick to anything.
Clown
Gangly limbs and rubber face. Utterly serious artist, with lofty ambitions.
“Fancy Falls TV” (4/1/26)
Fancy Falls TV episode structure?
Lots of Green Room chat with the ‘cast’
New customer arrives, front desk business
A sketch style set piece for the genre of the week
A sum up scene that suits the episode.
Takes place after the AI bubble bursts? Or Fancy Falls is a last bastion of real people being involved, artisan fantasy creation.
“Gheests” (6/1/26)
As I took the recycling bins to the kerb in the dark, I heard our local geese flying overhead, and it sparked a sketch/scene idea of someone who confuses geese for ghosts. They're white, make funny sounds and fly through the air. There's something in that. Or maybe I stole it? Better check on Google.
“Am I just like Terry Jones?” (9/1/26)
I’m currently reading the other biographical book I got for Christmas8 Seriously Silly: The Life of Terry Jones
It’s probably just about relating to the subject you’re reading about, but I see a lot of parallels between us. A love of silliness, a studious and academic nature (though history for him, maths for me), a leader who likes to be in control (and direct films!) and probably overall a little less successful than his sketch-mates, at least in the view of the public eye.
So I’ve ordered his Fairy Tales to ape that aspect of writing for children that appeals to me. I don’t think I’ll be opening a brewery or attempting to reunite the sketch group though.
“The Artist’s Way, Consumption and Cleese on Creativity” (12/1/26)
This Substack post from Stevie Martin
highlighted part of The Artist’s Way about avoiding creative input to increase creative output, as part of the process. Clearly I am NOT doing this. I’m watching and reading a lot. It will be worth cutting myself off at some point. It is interesting how this relates to the John Cleese talk on Creativity, that I watched last night.
I really recognise all of this, and my open mode worked best in the early hours of the morning when I was writing stand up and sketch back in 2008-2011. One revelation was that limiting the time, having an endpoint, works. Which is true when I have decided in the past that I would stop to watch something after doing some writing (and sometimes I’d keep going if the flow was good).
The link to this video came from my fellow Writer’s Room Course alumni, Suw Charman-Anderson
Questions/Prompts
Has someone made the Gheests joke before?
Footnotes
Streak freezes in my absence may have pushed it past that number, but I haven’t been in to check yet!
96 in a row, as I left it. I feel I showed strength in quitting before the round 100. Which might then have become 120. Or 150…
No-one offered any other suggested apps/platforms last week, and it has suited my needs without any subscription required thus far.
Both The Televigion Wife and I enjoyed the finale a lot in the end. Bravo.
We did the first 1hr15mins to the removal of someone’s head (no spoilers). This left a 55 minute chunk that could/should have been episode 9.
It appeared to be something new on my list on Sky Documentaries, but is originally from 2021.
Some good interviews with the cast here.
The first was Future Boy, from Michael J. Fox, as mentioned last week.
Quit Duo last week too! Only like a 500-odd day but still such a chore
Thanks for testing ‘Can you keep a Secret’ so I know it’s safe to watch!