Maniacal comic masters, Matt Lucas and David Walliams, are back for what is ostensibly season 4 of the British sketch comedy show, Little Britain. The only difference is they’re bringing some of their memorably insane characters across the Atlantic to the States and introducing a handful of new American characters as well.
In case you haven’t seen the British show, Little Britain is a sketch comedy show with several reoccurring characters. It’s an absurd, rude and completely irreverent show that has no qualms making fun of anyone and everyone. Creators and writers Lucas and Walliams play all the characters with the use of great costumes and there brilliantly mad wit.
Some of the original characters include: Marjorie Dawes, who has come to work for the American branch of FatFighters to insult some of countries more over weight people. Bubbles DeVere, who has gone on a luxury cruise. Vicky Pollard has found herself in a girl’s boot camp after being thrown out of Disney World. Daffyd Thomas, the only gay in the village, is not trying to be the only gay in an American University. Sebastian Love, the former assistant to the Prime Minister, is now, himself, the Prime Minster, and completely infatuated with out new President. Snide Carol Beer has gotten herself a job at an American hospital and of course Lou and Andy are here on vacation.
Amongst these classic characters some new ones have joined the cadre of the mad. Mark and Tom are two bodybuilders who are very pathetically endowed and enjoy talking about their female conquests, yet seem to have some attraction to one another. Phyllis is obsessed with her dog, Mr. Doggy, who tells her to do bad things. Bing Gordyn, the eighth man to walk on the moon and Ellie-Grace a cute little girl who always ends up spouting profanities.
The best of these new characters is Phyllis and Mr. Doggy. Watching this cute dog in a gruff voice tell Phyllis to do things like strip naked in public, throw a brick threw a store window or in his own words, “I wanna see you poop.” is truly hysterical.
This first season has a handful of great guest stars including Paul Rudd, Rosie O’Donnell and Sting.
Helping out behind the camera on this show are two great directors. For the live studio bits David Schwimmer (Friends, Run Fat Boy Run) directs and for the bits shot on location they have Michael Patrick Jann (The State, Reno 911!).
Where as most British shows that are brought to America are completely remade with a new cast and are adapted to our American sensibility (whatever the hell that is), the creative team here has maintained complete control and delivers another season of the absurd humor that has made them so popular. These are six hilarious episodes that rarely fails to get a good laugh.
Episodes:
Disc 1:
Episode 1 9/28/2008
Sketches with: Lou and Andy, Carol Beer, Ellie-Grace, Marjorie Dawes, an army officer, Mildred a 28 year-old grandmother, Bing Gordyn, Phyllis Church and Mr. Doggy, an unhappy English couple on holiday, Mark and Tom and Bubbles Devere.
Episode 2 10/5/2008
Sketches with: Vicky Pollard, Carol Beer, Mildred, The Pinchers, the unhappy English couple, Sebastian Love, Phyllis Church and Mr. Doggy, Mark and Tom and Bubbles Devere.
Episode 3 10/12/2008
Sketches with: Sebastian Love, Vicky Pollard, a woman cleaning a men’s restroom, a pair of hunters, Daffyd Thomas, The Pinchers, Bing Gordyn, Lou and Andy, Bubbles Severe and Emily Howard.
Disc 2:
Episode 4 10/19/2008
Sketches with: Lou and Andy, Mildred, Marjorie Dawes and Emily Howard.
Episode 5 10/26/2008
Sketches with: Emily Howard, Linda Flint, Mark and Tom, Vicky Pollard, Ellie-Grace, a corporate Starbucks meeting, a senator apologizes for certain indiscretions, A couple named Steve and Wendy Ashby meet another Steve and Wendy Ashby while on vacation, Lou and Andy, Phyllis Church and Mr. Doggy, Bubbles Devere and Sebastian Love.
Episode 6 11/2/2008
Sketches with: Ellie-Grace, Vicky Pollard, the senator, Marjorie Dawes, CarolBeers, Emily Howard, the couple on holiday, Daffyd Thomas, Bing Gordyn, The Pinchers, Mark and Tom and Lou and Andy.
The show is presented in widescreen 16:9. Sound is in Dolby Digital 5.1. This is a good-looking show and the transfer is fine. Looks good, sounds good.
Commentary by Matt Lucas and David Walliams.: These guys talk on all six episodes and have lots of funny and interesting things to share and say. These are really entertaining worthwhile commentaries.
The Making Of Little Britain USA: (12 min.) This is a great little behind-the-scenes about how some of the new characters came about with interviews with the guys as well as the two directors.
Deleted Scenes with optional commentary: (18 min.) These are sketches that were cut. The commentary is the guys explaining why they were cut. They admit that these sketches were cut because they weren’t funny enough, watch these with the commentary.
Bloopers: (8 min.) Pretty standard blooper reel, a few good laughs here.
Character Playlist: short clips showing off all the major characters, this is on both discs and is the only feature on disc one.
Little Britain USA manages to maintain the feel of the original show and garner a whole of good laughs. This is a very funny show and if you love sketch comedy you’ll love this show.
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HBO presents Little Britain USA: Season 1. Created by Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Running time: 180 minutes on 2 discs. Not Rated however this is an HBO show and contains themes and language not suitable for kids. Released on DVD: January 6, 2009. Available at Amazon.com.
