THiNK TaNK at iComFest

THiNK TaNK - iComFest questionnaire

E4's Fictional Emergency Comedy Commissioning Editor puts each of this year's shows through the one-minute pitch process...

Let's call the pitch elevator - we're going to the third floor

THiNK TaNK is a mash-up of real focus groups - covertly filmed - and the unhinged comedy workings of a fictional marketing company, "THiNK TaNK plc". Satire, "stunt hit", and cringingly funny characters rolled in to one.

Okay, so I'm calling for operator assistance; you've bought yourself some more pitch time

It mixes real punters in focus groups and comedy actors with hilarious results. Part scripted comedy, part improvised performance, part social satire; Think Tank follows the work and lives of three “market researchers” and the absurd products, policies and ideas they test. How will the Great British public take to “Get Off”, the new pheromone enhanced cleaning product? And will “Pet Heaven”, the DIY animal euthanasia kit be a hit? THiNK TaNK opens up the inner workings of the British psyche with a blunt spoon, and has a good stir around.

That's a metaphor, right? Who's not-metaphorically on board to star?

Rufus Hound, a man of many talents having presented Top Of The Pops, wowed the audience with his improvisation in Paul Merton's Thank God You're Here, and delighted Richard and Judy with dodgy TV from around the globe. Elliott Tiney, who you will have seen before as part of comedy group Idiots Of Ants. Dave Skinner, a regular in Annualy Retentive, and Katy Brand's Big Ass Show. And Rhona Croker, currently performing Pot Noodle: The Musical in Edinburgh, who is also half of comedy double act Croker & Jory.

Try this metaphor on for size: let's say this elevator is the glass one off Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, but we're in a factory of the future, not chocolate. Where to next?

We will develop storylines, products and characters. The show has massive potential to grow, and we'd like to see it explore and satirise British life, and poke fun at our increasingly vacuous world. THiNK TaNK will become more than just the inner workings of the company, and we'll get to see what makes our characters tick, and more of what makes our crazy world go round. Moving outside the office environment we intend to show our characters out in the real world, and build in more “stunt” type hits on the street. We also intend to build on the mimicking of real world market research and advertising by producing our own TV adverts for all the products/policies focus grouped. Another area we'd like to work on is including a very topical subject for focus grouping so we can bring comedy to bear on current matters of national interest. And of course we want to get many more funny, interesting, and provocative focus groups on film.

This is my floor. I have to get out, but you're staying behind.

Might we persuade you to look at these sample clips?

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