The Hotel - Episode Four - Ladies Night
IS this show really doing Torbay and South Devon any good?
Readers of this website seem to think it is, according to the poll on the right of this page. They say The Hotel is great entertainment and in general a good thing for Torbay.
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Grosvenor Hotel Torquay. From left Alison Pennell, Mark Jenkins and Christian Scott-Lee
"Now, as Series Three grinds ever onwards, it's tired and tacky" What do you think? Leave your comments in the panel at the foot of this page of Tweet us @ThisisSDevon.
For those who haven't seen it before, the Channel Four Sunday night show is a kind of fly-on-the-wall documentary set at the Grosvenor Hotel in Torquay.
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It is now in its third series, and therein lies its current problem.
By the time this series was filmed last autumn, everyone knew they were taking part in a series that was deliberately set up to be car crash TV.
In the first series, few of the people who appeared on screen can have known just what they were appearing in.
The show focuses on the eccentricities, real and affected, of the people on view.
At first there may have been a shred of spontaneous fun in the mix.
By now, though, the staff are old hands at getting laughs for TV, and surely none of the guests can have been unaware when they booked that they were signing on for a stay at the tackiest hotel on television?
Last week no-one looked surprised at being charged extra for a luxury sausage - cue hoots of laughter at such unscripted innuendo - because when they booked themselves in, they must have been fairly confident that some such stunt would happen during their stay.
The Hotel was a great television project at the outset. Now, as Series Three grinds ever onwards, it's tired and tacky.
Tonight's highlights: It's Ladies Night and tickets are selling fast. The male strippers are being booked and manager Mark wants to know if the chef has any chocolate willies. He is also helping himself to flowers from the park next door.
Meanwhile, a letter from the taxman brings unwelcome news, and there's a hotel inspector in the lobby.
After two days he announces that the Grosvenor has progressed from 2/10 to 7/10.
As the show progresses, arrangements for the Ladies Night descend into an entirely predictable chaos.
Manager Mark's culinary masterstroke for Ladies Night is "smelly food to make girls eat".
The big night arrives, and it doesn't take long for things to go wrong. The buffet is picked clean in minutes, and the strippers still haven't arrived.
Finally the show begins, and all seems to be going well.
The following morning Mark has an unexpected admirer in the breakfast room, but his mind is on the "PR disaster" of the Ladies Night.
The trailer promises us Indian Night next week. Can't wait...
Maybe it's just me being grumpy. You Tweeters seem to love The Hotel! And let's be honest, Torquay does look fabulous in the exterior shots.
Your Tweets: NCAVELL @ThisisSDevon Strangely compelling - manager is clearly insane
Alison Hernandez Now on Channel 4 it's The Hotel - please watch because many of us want another series
Shaldon Bakery Bad mark stealing flowers @thehotel_Mark
thehotel_Mark The Flowers were from a public park...so who do they belong too... the public ... and I am a member of the Public aren't I ?? #TheHotel
Babbacombeguest @ThisisSDevon We love watching #TheHotel its a good showcase for #Torquay
DaveRainbow @ThisisSDevon @ghenderson yep love the hotel!
MeganCNaylor @ThisisSDevon Is this place still open?! Mad, mad place.
eve4newtonabbot @ThisisSDevon @ghenderson #thehotel is legendary, as is Mark!
HEJimParker @ThisisSDevon @ghenderson Send your views to the Herald Express as well. I can feel some kind of poll coming on
hehotel_Mark Now the End is near for Christian !!! #TheHotel
Buckinghamlodge "tired and tacky tv". promised myself I wouldnt watch #thehotel but am compelled. aaaaggggghhhhh.
Comments
by kraygerson
Monday, January 21 2013, 11:52AM
“I tried, but I couldn't watch much of either of the previous 2 series. I just could not sit through an entire episode.
This time I was determined to give it a go and am enjoying it. Now that I know a competent buyer has stepped in to rescue the place and secure jobs for whatever competent staff there might be, it is just light hearted entertainment.
I am not convinced it is good for Torquay. It is, after all, supposed to be a 'fly on the wall' show, which makes me worry about the wider impression given. I remember one of the stag party members (episode 2) effectively saying they had wanted a venue as unglamorous as possible and Torquay was the obvious choice. That's not good!
Yes, the bay looks gorgeous in the outdoor shots, but these are few and fleeting; if you blink, you miss them.”
by nicold
Monday, January 21 2013, 11:28AM
“Actually hotels are really boring places. I can just picture the directors telling the staff to have arguments for the camera and lay it on for the sake of the programme's entertainment!
Incidentally, I hope the manager is told that picking flowers like he did is stealing. They are paid for by council tax payers to be enjoyed by all!”
by SidneyNuff
Sunday, January 20 2013, 9:22PM
“How about a series on the other Torquay hotel, The Leonard Stocks, the cameras could follow those 'residents' around Torquay town centre and see what they get up to. Come on, it's got to be good for the bay!”
by BuddytheElf
Sunday, January 20 2013, 7:50PM
“Tired and tacky for sure, and I'm not sure it was ever terrific TV”