Office of the Don #17: Spaced Out
Greetings, Freejacks!
Apologies ahead of time. This installment will be shorter than you are used to. See, I’ve had—
Hey!
Quit cheering. It’s rude.
Anyway, my plate has been extremely full lately. Between my hours changing at my job, my parents coming for a surprise visit this weekend, and having to put extra hours in on my web comic “The Draconia Chronicles”, I barely have time to sit and chat with you fine people.
Why are you laughing, now?
So, I wanted to share with you an exquisite little British show that just came out on DVD here in the US that anyone who can declare themselves a true geek should fancy.
I’m talking about “Spaced”.
Anyone who loved Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz should love this show as well. Four of the lovable Brits who are responsible for the movies above are also responsible for this instant classic of a show – Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, Nick Frost, and Jessica Hynes (née Stevenson).
The plot is simple – Simon and Jessica play Tim and Daisy (respectively). Both of them recently became in need of a place to live. After a chance meeting in a diner, they decide – despite not really knowing each other – to pose as a couple in order to meet the criteria necessary for a cheap flat (that’s what they call apartments in the UK) that has just become available in the classifieds. The series, which only lasted two seasons, follows their lives as they deal with the crazy and surreal situations that keep popping up episode after episode.
What makes this show a must for the geek crowd is the fact that it’s filled with geek moments and references to a lot of the pop culture you and I squee over endlessly (okay, maybe just me). In fact, one episode is directly responsible for the creation of Shaun of the Dead. And at just under $30, it’s one of the more reasonably-priced British imports we’ve seen in some time.
“Spaced” is an awesome series, one that will make you laugh constantly. At the very least, you’ll be pointing at every other moment in each episode, saying “Holy crap! That’s awesome!”
Or you may suddenly find yourself in a random, slow-motion shootout using your hands as guns.
The Don doesn’t think dogs can look up either. Let the aerial attacks begin.
Stumble it! Explore posts in the same categories: Donnie Sturges, Comedy, geek love, Television, Fandom
July 31st, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Oh, why are you making me want to buy *more* things, eh? Nicely written, and I see what you did with the “respectively” bit. *applauds*
August 1st, 2008 at 12:50 pm
“SPACED”!!
!!!!
\o/
- This comment brought to you by useless fangirling
August 5th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Well done for discovering such wonderment from our tiny little island, this is a favourite series of mine! Kudos also for “getting” our zany sense of humour.
Keep an eye out for the homage-o-meter extra on the discs, which shows just how many elements of geek culture the series pays reference to!
August 8th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Evidently this is slated for a remake for American audiences. Simon Pegg is supposedly attached to the new series. Will it be as good? Who knows!
August 8th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
The American version of Spaced has been canned. Film Director McG (the guy who did the Charlies Angels remakes) had gotten the rights to make it and already filmed a pilot. Unfortunately, there was a huge blow-up over the whole thing, mainly because none of the original creators (Pegg, Wright, or Hynes) were contacted at all in regards to the American remake. Each of them posted some unhappy thoughts about the whole thing on their respective web sites. The backlash from the creators and the fans against McG got so bad that no network wanted to even touch the show. So now, it has been cast into oblivion where it shares condo arrangements with the unaired pilot for the American version of Red Dwarf.