Me1 vs Me2 Snooker with Richard Herring

Me1 vs Me2 Snooker with Richard Herring is the world's longest running snooker podcast presented by stand-up comedian Richard Herring.[1] First published in December 2011[2] it peaked at number one in the iTunes charts of the same month.[3] In each podcast Richard Herring performs against himself in a game of snooker (typically in the guise of the titular sportsmen Me1 and Me2).

Me1 vs Me2 Snooker with Richard Herring
Presentation
Hosted byRichard Herring
Production
No. of episodes111
Publication
Original release2011 – present

It is not only notable for being the only audio podcast (to date) which actually incorporates the game of snooker within it, but for the subtext of a man satirising mental health issues and "fighting against a tide of mediocrity and repetition, struggling to create a brave, new and original vision."[4] As of 5 October 2020, 111 frames have been played for the podcast.

Origins

Richard Herring had found success with other podcasts such as the award-winning Collings and Herrin which had made a successful transition to BBC Radio 6 Music in 2010.[5] His move into snooker podcasting originated through tweeting a live commentary of a game of snooker he played against himself backstage at a comedy club, what started as a joke became something more serious. Herring stated "I attempt to antagonise and lose listeners by commentating on myself playing snooker against myself in my basement. Most people are baffled, confused, even angry about it. But 5,000 people around the world tune in to find out which me will win this week's frame."[6]

Filmed and live performances

Filmed versions of the snooker podcast act as main features for Herring's stand-up DVDs What Is Love Anyway (2012) and Talking Cock (2013) both feature special cup performances. August 2013 saw the first ever frame of Me1 vs Me2 Snooker to be played in front of a live paying audience at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[7][8] In 2016 a five frame match was filmed and performed at the Tempting Failure Festival dedicated to transgressive art.[9] On 4 December 2019 a live performance was given in front of an audience (and filmed for the Kickstarter) for the 2019 Chris Evans (not that one) Trophy at the Cockpit Theatre in London.[10][11]

In July 2020, a filmed performance was broadcast on BBC Two.[12]

Media coverage

In July 2013 the Huffington Post described the podcast as being "representative of the diversity of podcasting."[13] Time Out pre-emptively described the event as one of the top ten Edinburgh Fringe comedy highlights of 2013 stating that listeners "will either have to giggle away at the ridiculous concept, or become deeply irritated."[14] In April 2014 Helen Zaltzman and Olly Mann interviewed Herring about the podcast on BBC Radio 4, which premiered clips of self-playing snooker on the radio of the first time.[15] In the same month The Telegraph included Me1 vs Me2 Snooker in its list of top podcasts describing it as a "wonderfully oddball, regularly hilarious series - in which Herring splits into two versions of himself… other over a long drawn-out game of snooker".[16]

Statistics

Me1 vs Me2

In the first 105 frames there were 100 frames between Me1 and Me2 of which Me1 won 49 and Me2 won 49 and one was tied and one was void.

Frame 5 had the highest margin of victory - 69 points difference between the victor Me1 and the loser Me2. Frame 88 was tied.

PlayerPlayedWinsLossesTiedVoidHighest Margin of VictoryLowest Margin of Victory
Me110551531169 - Frame 51 - Frame 104
Me210553511163 - Frame 101 and 1022 - Frame 36

Other players

Me1 and Me3 played two games with Me3 winning both and Me2 and Me3 played one game which Me2 won. Frame 21 was between Me 1 and Me 3. Me3 won 57 points to 44 Frame 22 was between Me 1 and Me 3. Me 3 won 50 points to 39 Frame 23 was between Me 2 and Me 3. Me 2 won 64 to 26 Frame 53 was between Me 1.1 and Me 1.2. Me 1.2 won by 65 points to 21 Frame 54 was between Me 1.1.1 and Me 1.1.2. Me 1.1.2 won 47 to 25

Trophy frames

Additionally there have been several one-off trophy frames for the Chris Evans (not that one) Trophy. Some have appeared as extras on Richard Herring DVDs:

  • 2012 - Me 1 won by 47 points to 37.
  • 2013 Me 2 won by 57 points to 45
  • August 2013. Frame 38 was played at the Edinburgh Fringe in front of an audience for the first time and designated The Scotch Cup [sic]. Me2 won 81-55.
  • 2014 - Me 2 won by 63 points to 21.
  • 28 July 2016 - A five frame match was played at the Tempting Failure Festival of Transgressive Art:
    • Frame 1 - Me1 won 53-50
    • Frame 2 - Me2 won 68-16
    • Frame 3 - Tied 55-55
    • Frame 4 - Me2 won 60-53
    • Frame 5 - Me1 won 53-50
    • Me1 won the tournament on a replaced black ball.
  • 28 April 2017 - Reading Hexagon. Me1 won but the frame was declared void due to the pink ball was not on the board for a few minutes of play.
  • 19 May 2017 - St Alban Arena. The match was replayed and Me1 won 55-51.
  • December 2019 - Cockpit Theatre, London. Me2 won by two frames to one.
  • April 2020 - recorded for BBC Two with a 4-minute edit appearing on Comedians Home Alone. Me1 won 87 to 44.

2020 Tournaments

March 2020

In March 2020, the top 16 Mes compete in a tournament broadcast on Richard Herring's twitch channel.[17]

Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
Me 16 1
Me 13 2 Me 13 0
Me 2 0 Me 3 2
Me 3 2 Me 3 0
Me 5 0 Me 10 2
Me 10 2 Me 10 2
Me 15 2 Me 15 0
Me 4 1 Me 10 3
Me 8 0 Me 9 1
Me 14 2 Me 14 1
Me 6 1 Me 7 2
Me 7 2 Me 7 0
Me 11 2 Me 9 2
Me 12 1 Me 11 0
Me 1 1 Me 9 2
Me 9 2

Apr-Jun 2020

In April–June 2020, the top 32 Mes compete in a second tournament on Richard Herring's twitch channel.

Round of 32 Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
Me 13 2
Me 24 0 Me 13 2
Me 14 2 Me 14 1
Me 19 1 Me 13 0
Me 6 0 Me 32 2
Me 18 2 Me 18 1
Me 15 0 Me 32 2
Me 32 2 Me 32 2
Me 4 2 Me 7 1
Me 21 0 Me 4 1
Me 1 2 Me 1 2
Me 28 1 Me 1 0
Me 7 2 Me 7 2
Me 30 0 Me 7 2
Me 8 2 Me 8 1
Me 17 1 Me 32 1
Me 2 1 Me 31 3
Me 31 2 Me 31 2
Me 5 0 Me 25 0
Me 25 2 Me 31 2
Me 9 2 Me 3 1
Me 26 0 Me 9 1
Me 3 2 Me 3 2
Me 29 0 Me 31 2
Me 16 0 Me 11 1
Me 27 2 Me 27 0
Me 10 0 Me 23 2
Me 23 2 Me 23 0
Me 12 0 Me 11 2
Me 22 2 Me 22 0
Me 11 2 Me 11 2
Me 20 0

Jun-Aug 2020

In June to August 2020 an elite tournament was played by the top eight players. They were divided into two divisions of four players each. Each player played everyone in their league over one frame. The top two players in each division progressed to the semi finals (the top player in league A would play the second place in league B over one frame, and vice versa). The winners were then in the final

Divisions

Division A comprised Me1, Me9, Me10 and Me32.

  • Me1 beat Me10 78-30
  • Me9 beat Me32 55-43
  • Me32 beat Me1 66-34
  • Me10 beat Me9 52-31
  • Me1 beat Me9 54-20
  • Me10 beat Me32 50-38


Division A
PlayerWinsPointsPoints Difference
1Me124+50
2Me1024-15
3Me3212+8
4Me912-43


Division B comprised Me2, Me7, Me11 and Me 31.

  • Me7 beat Me 2 69-40
  • Me11 beat Me31 63-60
  • Me31 beat Me2 47-30
  • Me11 beat Me7 70-40
  • Me2 beat Me11 47-30
  • Me7 beat Me31 52-14


Division B
PlayerWinsPointsPoints Difference
1Me724+37
2Me1124-16
3Me3112-24
4Me212-29

Semi Finals

Me1 beat Me11 52-41 (Me11 got a six ball break worth 24pts).

Me10 beat Me7 62-10.

Final

Me1 beat Me10 83-69 to become the Elite Champion.

References
  1. "FAQ - Me1 vs Me2 Snooker (we're not going funny)". Me1vsme2snooker.weebly.com. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  2. British Comedy Guide (2 December 2011). "Richard Herring Me1 The biggest bummer v Me2 Snooker - Frame 1 by British Comedy Guide on SoundCloud". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  3. "'Me1 vs Me2 Snooker with Richard Herring' by Comedy.co.uk (British Podcasts iTunes Chart)". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  4. "Podcast Purview: Me1 vs Me2 Snooker w/ Richard Herring!". Freakinawesomenetwork.net. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  5. "BBC Radio 6 Music - Collins and Herring". BBC. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  6. Comedy. "Richard Herring: 'All power to the podcast'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  7. "RICHARD HERRING - Me1 vs Me2 SNOOKER PODCAST GOES LIVE AT 2013 EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE" (PDF) (Press release). Avalon Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  8. "Comedy News Round Up". Chortle. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  9. "Tempting Failure 2016". Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  10. Herring, Richard (December 2019). "Wednesday 4th December 2019 - Warming Up".
  11. "Richard Herring: Me 1 vs Me 2 Snooker". The Cockpit.
  12. "Comedians: Home Alone, Series 1, Episode 6". BBC. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  13. "Apple Announces 1 Billion Podcast Subscriptions In iTunes". Huffington Post. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  14. "Edinburgh Fringe comedy highlights 2013: top ten late shows and odd nights out". Time Out. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  15. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03zdkk5
  16. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/10124887/The-best-comedy-podcasts.html
  17. https://www.twitch.tv/rkherring
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.