Spoof news is a somewhat played-out format, but Goodnight Burbank finds a new angle by completely ignoring the news and focusing instead on the sniping and squabbles backstage. Imagine old favourite Drop the Dead Donkey set in the infinitely shallow and silly world of American current affairs programming and you’re nearly there. Or you can just click here because it’s a regular free webcast that you can see any time you like. It’s probably the only spoof news webcast that features two young news anchors having an extended belching contest while they’re waiting for an inconsequential news item about Paris Hilton to finish. Watch out for the diminutive Mighty Boosh powerhouse Rich Fulcher in a key role as the technology correspondent Dane Rivers, who would no doubt have told you by now that you can subscribe via iTunes.

Almost as commonplace on our computer and television screens is the fake audition tape. This effort from the ubiquitous triumvirate of Jack Black, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr trying out for Gladys Knight is one of the more engaging efforts out there – not least for Black’s uncompromising beard-work.

By contrast, poignant musical eulogies for lost beards are rather rarer in the entertainment firmament. Certainly the best of the (very small) bunch is Nate Dern’s moving tribute to his unwisely denuded facial foliage. Deceptively clever editing and a raw, direct simplicity of message makes it a must-see for every man contemplating a new shaving strategy.

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