I was late to the party, I'll admit it.
I didn't watch Spaced until the second series, in 2001. But I didn't really fall in love with it until I had moved to the States. Every place I have lived since coming to America, has seen me play both series to my friends here. I've lost count of how many people I've turned on to the show. Once 'Shaun of the Dead' came out, my already-knackered Region 2 DVDs went into overdrive because of the renewed interest. So, I'm delighted that the show is finally available to buy in America.
It's probably my favourite television program of all time. I still get chills at the "getting to know you" montage at the start of the first episode. I still dance along with Tyres during his brief appearances. I'm still filled with pride when I see my streets, the streets of North London, when I see them drinking at the Monarch. I saw Coldplay there! I still coo at the sight of a pre-Office Ricky Gervais in a one-minute cameo. The scene at the end, soundtracked by 'The Staunton Lick', still makes my heart soar. And I still get annoyed when I see reviews that refer to the "fake couple" thing as if that's the central premise. (Entertainment Weekly, you did this most recently)
Not to mention all the quoting. There's a pretty strong probability that I could perform a one-man show of all fourteen episodes. Is that something to be proud of? I don't know. The nerdcore appeal strikes home – like all Spaced fans, I've had exactly those kinds of geeked-out conversations with friends about movies, books, the Manic Street Preachers, etc. Unlike other sitcoms, it never felt like an unrealistic world.
The new edition DVD set comes with some new commentaries, including American fans of the show like Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino. The ones I enjoyed the most though are from Patton Oswalt, who repeatedly says "This part of London looks so shitty!" and Bill Hader, whose Michael Bay anecdote you can hear below. And another thing: I didn't know that the part of Brian was initially written to be played by Julian Barratt. Isn't that interesting!
It's not finished.
If you've never seen Spaced and you're reading this, you'd probably enjoy it.
It's finished.
[download Lemon Jelly - The Staunton Lick]
[download Bill Hader's Michael Bay story]
[Buy the DVD already (US)]
Chuck your boyfriend, have a sandwich
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Find It
About Me
ARCHIVES
-
▼
2008
(139)
-
▼
August
(24)
- The dog will piss on your career
- The Lord take Peth away
- Mother 13 or Sister Shiela?
- Stay Frosty
- The situation on Muffler Row
- She could've married a Kennedy
- Live vault: Clinic, Sound City 1999
- I don't make music, I make change
- First impressions of Intimacy
- He'll save the world again... again
- Some Enchanted Hairspray
- Swap an alibi for an alibi
- Why so (not at all) serious?
- Keep your spazzy way of saying things
- Some things for a Wednesday
- Watch these enzymes react
- Don't judge a taco by its price
- On Partying.
- Everybody get random
- I'm sawdust in a sandpaper suit
- Get Caught in Showtime
- He does a great Jeff Goldblum impression
- We'll ransack the town
- Chuck your boyfriend, have a sandwich
-
▼
August
(24)
I've gotta find out what this show is about!
I've you need any help with that one man show, give me a yell, I can probably quote the thing backwards by now.
Staunton Lick is way cool
"Alchemists of Sound" are the next Lemon Jelly and destined to be the next big thing
http://alchemistsofsound.bandcamp.com