Satirical Savage Eye just takes no prisoners

TV Watch with Dave O’Connell

David McSavage is a comedian who polarises opinion – to some he is uproariously funny and cuttingly brilliant; to others he is a boorish, middle class boy with an adolescent sense of humour and a Tourette’s need to swear like a sailor.

Equally his Savage Eye satire – now back on air for a fourth series – has flashes of brilliance and other moments that are really just in excruciatingly poor taste.

In his defence, it must be said that cutting-edge comedy really isn’t meant to be comfortable and some of his observations are hilarious.

Take the sketch in last week’s opener, where he sent up Daniel Day Lewis’ legendary need to get into the part and get in touch with his inner self.

Daniel has a lifelong interest in being a humble cobbler, and he has said he is willing to leave the big screen behind him to make shoes in his adopted Wicklow home.

Fair enough. It may indicate he’s as mad as a trout, but the best way to start a shoemaking business is with tens of millions from your acting career already safely stowed in the bank.

McSavage plays Day Lewis, hammering away in his shed on a pair of black leather brogues, revealing that he has no problem in spending nine months making just a single shoe.

But then a customer comes in to complain about a pair he bought from Daniel, that he now wants to get his money back in.

The incredulous actor wonders what could be wrong with something that he actually considers a piece of art that just happens to fit on your foot.

But the exasperated customer claims that the shoe is cutting the foot off him and he wants to exchange it, irrespective of what Oscar-winning work went into it.

“Which foot?” asks Daniel – and you can now see it coming.

“My left foot,” replies our friend – which sends Daniel Day Lewis into a tailspin as he goes into full Christy Brown mode in the shed.

It’s not as funny in writing, but it worked brilliantly on the screen – which is more than can be said for much of the central theme of this season opener.

It was all about babies and growing up – from a crass ‘ad’ for Terminal Ferries which brings women to England for abortions to the reality of giving birth.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.