Peep Show (DVD)

...drug use

Peep Show may sound like a dirty title, but then again how would you describe the way they film this. It is unique in the way that they film the show as if you were looking through the main characters eyes and hearing their thoughts (no mater how stupid or cruel they may be), which for a sitcom itself is a break from the norm of cardboard sets filmed from one angle, that of the audience.

The plot is basically ...
...good things said about The Peep show even though it features common actors from both shows. This may be because the BBC advertised those shows to death where as Channel 4 seem to have the problem of sticking some of the better shows on at what ever time they feel like usually between 11pm and 2am, e.g. Futurama, King of the Hill, Family Guy before they moved it to BBC (which doesn't seemed to have solved the problem). The Peep Show is an adult comedy, ... more

Sorry I haven't posted in a long while, but degrees aren't easy to get you know, unless you count media studies and English.

Produced by Channel 4, VCI and Objective Productions
Genre- television series, adult comedy, dark comedy, cult, sitcom
Rating 18- adult themes including bad language, sexual references and drug use

Peep Show may sound like a dirty title, but then again how would you describe the way they film this. It is unique in the way that they film the show as if you were looking through the main characters eyes and hearing their thoughts (no mater how stupid or cruel they may be), which for a sitcom itself is a break from the norm of cardboard sets filmed from one angle, that of the audience.

The plot is basically based around the lives of two 20 something guys in an 'Odd Couple' situation, Jez and Mark who met at university and became known to few as the 'El-dude Brothers'. One who moved on to become a loan manager while one didn't move on really at all. Any way at the start of the series Jez has recently been kicked out of his girlfriend's flat (Big Suze- see series 3) and his old friend Mark has made the mistake of letting him move in with him. While Mark has grown-up to the point where he is a forty-something and a twenty-something's body, Jez has clearly not, still convinced he's going to be a music megastar and that he doesn't need a job. The series then follows their dysfunctional co-habitation and their dysfunctional relationships with other people they are involved with.

Characters;
David Mitchell- Mark- Mark you would think to be the normality to Jeremy's eccentricity, but he is actually a little scary and weird. He seems to like talking about World War II a lot (which is actually one of David's own hobbies I head him tell Johnathan Ross), more to do with the Russians and Germans than anything else. He sometimes follows Jez in doing what he would do if he wasn't. In all he's a bit of a pessimist and because he thinks things will go wrong the usually will for him. Mark tires to be more liberal sometimes like Jez, but doesn't quite make it.

Robert Webb- Jeremy/ Jez- He is rather deluded in thinking that he is great and that he doesn't need job or rules to live his life, but if it wasn't for Mark who does abide by this I don't see how he would survive. Jez is actually a little better with the ladies than Mark, even though he only gets bored with them after a little while and sometimes leaves Mark to clean up his mess. If Mark is a pessimist then Jez is definitely an optimist.

Matt King- Super Hans- You may recognise him from the recent series star stories. He kind of leads Jez on in his quest for world domination (of music any way). At times he can spur Jez on in thinking he is great, but at the same time you get the feeling he is a bit of a poser, pretending to be as anarchic as Jez, but he doesn't mind screwing his friend over every now and again, as seen in episode five, one of my favourites. You'll have to watch to it yourself.

Olivia Colman- Sophie- Many of you may recognise her as Bev from the Kev and Bev adverts, but for me it was like the opposite way round because I saw her in this first. She also collaborates with the guys on their other shows on radio and TV. I have met women like Sophie, the kind of women who puts a happy face on when you are trying to chat to her an even when your awkwardly coming on to her, but would really rather run away. This happens a lot between he and Mark, but then again Mark does go to the extremes as an excuse to talk to her., which I guess is why she prefers Jeff because he's more upfront about fancying her.

Toni- Elizabeth Marmur Toni is the boy's neighbour, who Jez continuously tries it on with. Her husband had an affair and they got divorced so now she's having fun as a single woman, usually toying with Jez, and destroying his supposed friendship with Super Hans by sleeping with him much to Jez's horror.

Jeff- Neil Fitzmaurice- Another of Mark's co-workers and also his love rival. Jeff picks on Mark, and Mark doesn't have the nerve to confront him. To top it off Sophie actually prefers him to mark, because he's more upfront.

Alan Johnson aka 'The Johnson'- Paterson Joseph- He is another of The Mitchell & Webb troupe who has some small parts in their newest series. He only appears in one episode this series though. Basically he's a kick arse no nonsense motivational speaker for Mark's company JLB and Mark has some inappropriate feeling for him.

From the first episode I knew I was watching something good. It's not always ha ha funny it's just you can't believe how ludicrous some of the things the main characters say, think or do. Only problem being that the series is so short, each only last six episodes.

Total episode length- 145 minutes

Episode 1
As I said even at the first episode I knew I was watching something good and bloody hilarious.
Jez and Mark vi for the attention of a hot, strange and newly divorced neighbour Toni. Mark shows Jez up by playing his break through track to her and having a laugh about how ridiculous it is and then proceeds to tell him that her sister, who works in music has cancer. Meanwhile Mark has his own problems with a bunch of kids who won't leave him alone every time he leaves the flat, plus the start of his long quest to win the heart of his fellow office worker Sophie, weird nuts and all.

Episode 2
Mark attempts to get Jez a job as he is fed up of putting him up for free. Of course Jez doesn't want to work except on his music and Toni, but how is he going to get out of it when Mark is at the interview. Meanwhile Mark has trouble with his attempts to win over Sophie with the dreaded phone call, while at the office he has a confrontation with Jeff, his love rival and another fellow worker who pretends to be limping.

Episode 3
Jez drags Mark of to a party- with his shopping, where Mark meets someone he hits it off with, a teenage Goth. They all decide to go to the bowling alley, and Jez even gets Toni to come along. Mark manages to loosen up a little and even goes so far as to take drugs, but his good time seems spoilt when he encounters Sophie- out on a date with Jeff! Meanwhile Jez gets embroiled in some weird sex game between Toni and her husband- Tony.

Episode 4
Mark is in love, but not with Sophie this time, with his company's motivational speaker Alan Johnson better known as 'The Johnson'. He totally idolizes him and goes as far as to grow a moustache. He struggles to figure out whether he's actually gay or just want's to be him, and unfortunately begins to neglect his friendship with Jez.
Jez himself had a drugged fuelled rampage in the flat while Mark was away and he can't remember what was the worst thing he and Super Hans actually did.

Episode 5
Mark and Jeff go up for a promotion, and Mark is horrified to learn that Sophie was chosen over both of them, even though see didn't even apply. Mark's frustration leads him to do some crazy things including pissing over his bosses' desk.
Jez has his own problems as he finds his new job as a music studio receptionist with Super Hans as not quite the breakthrough he first thought, and gets really to se how much of a friend he really is when he makes the mistake of introducing Toni to Super Hans.
The pair then decide to get revenge in a way akin to Strangers on a Train (or if you haven't seen it it's more Like Don't Throw Momma From The Train).

Episode 6
Jeremy's uncle becomes ill and sadly dies. He's alright with it at first because he's getting attention and sympathy, until he finds out his uncles illness was hereditary and he might get it.
Mark might finally get with Sophie and they try to go away for the weekend, but Jez seems out to destroy Mark's chances by moaning that he's going to die and that he doesn't want be alone and even tries it on with Sophie himself. In the series finale will Mark actually make it with Sophie, well what do you think?

The original theme tune was a composition by some one called Daniel Pemberton, but in series two they chose to go with a more rock based song, Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger band (think Scooby Doo 2 soundtrack).

Extras total length- 21 minutes

DVD extras
For the die hard DVD fans, this DVD features only a few extras, split into two categories- Mark's and Jez's

Mark's three clips include;

• Mark's CV- This is meant to be Mark's self made video CV where he tries to promote himself, only his acting is far from impressive, which I guess is what makes him seem so funny in this clip

• Scorpion Patrol: Real Life Behind Enemy Lines Part I- Mark tries to get Jez to read part of a book for his ill dad, but end up having an argument about what the point of war is, Jez taking his usual laid back, but insane view on the subject, saying would it be so bad if Germany had one, stating we are all just in the American Empire instead.

• Part II- This time Mark tries to get Sophie in to read some of the book, and attempts to make out to his dad that she is his girlfriend in an attempt to gain his father's respect, even though Sophie herself is some what unwitting and reluctant to take part in his charade.

Jez's three clips;

• Jeremy's Audition Tape- Trying to get on to Big Brother and being more mental than usual, plus lying his ass off, except for the being mental part. He even goes as far as to list smashing watermelons as one of his outstanding qualities, along with a demonstration of this 'unique skill'. You might actually have thought it was real if you hadn't seen the show.

• Jeremy's Will- Probably made after episode six, where he attacks those he hates from beyond the grave and bequeaths his possessions. He also makes his request for his funeral arrangements.

• 'Outrageous' AKA Celsius 488 1/3- Jez' video that went with the track from episode one, featuring Mark and him in masks doing crazy things. It is so funny, funny as the track itself, my favourite part of which was the lyrics 'No mom I won't come in for tea, eat it you fucking self'. I think it would have made a great real single, especially when you see some of the cheese that's really been released.

Why should you watch, buy or rent it?
Mitchell & Webb are very under rated I think, as is this show. You hear people going on about the Office all the time and sometimes the Smoking Room is mentioned in the same category, yet I have not heard as much good things said about The Peep show even though it features common actors from both shows. This may be because the BBC advertised those shows to death where as Channel 4 seem to have the problem of sticking some of the better shows on at what ever time they feel like usually between 11pm and 2am, e.g. Futurama, King of the Hill, Family Guy before they moved it to BBC (which doesn't seemed to have solved the problem). The Peep Show is an adult comedy, the very adult themes at times like drug use, sex, pornography, so a late time slot is to be expected.
It's not laugh out loud comedy, if anything it's cringe worthy as you would not believe the character would say or do some of the things they do, but I have witnessed the odd moment of complete hilarity. It is not like a comedy like Only Fools where everybody loves the show and the characters with universal jokes; you have to have the sense of humour to match. Do you have that sense? Well lovers of the dreaded The Office and the Smoking Room may well have.
I'm guessing that Mitchell & Webb's own comedy series, That Mitchell & Webb look will bring in more viewers because it's can reach a wider age range, rather than the adult, over 18 comedy of the Peep Show and being on at an earlier time, although it may promote the Peep Show's own popularity now that people have seen what Mitchell & Webb are like and want more. With Little Britain mania winding down now, maybe Mitchell and Webb will replace them. Here's hoping.
Seen That Mitchell & Webb Look? Well then maybe you will want to watch this too, but only the more adult viewers only due to it being rated 18, but then again who listens to the ratings these days.
If you are interested then I would suggest you buy it because I have no idea when they will repeat series one again, maybe if they do series 4 some time soon but I'm still not sure about that.

Other suggestions
If you like this then series 2 would be great for you too; it may be even better in fact, £15 from Play.com. Series 3 will be out in November and that should be about the same. Personally I would rather get the boxset of all 3 series which is out at the same time which I think will be about £20.
The Mitchell & Webb Situation is their first series based on their sketch material. There is also the radio show which went on to become their newest TV series which I mentioned several times.
Also check out this website for information on their newest series- That Mitchell and Webb Look;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/thatmitchellandwebbsite/
Watch the clips from episodes 3&6, some of the best.

My Opinion
I guess one of the great things about this is it seems more like real life.
I did not really watch the original series beyond the pilot, it was actually when I saw the second series that I said hey I remember this it was funny, and that is when I first
Since then I have brought both series 1 and 2 on DVD, and watched series 3 when it was on 4 and E4. I even listened to their radio series, That Mitchell and Webb Sound on BBC4, which eventually became the recent BBC2 series That Mitchell & Webb Look.
I do not know if The Peep show will definitely be back for series 4, although I've heard rumours. As for beyond that I'm not sure. I hope Mitchell & Webb's sketch show will also be back for series 2 especially with Sir Digby Chicken Caesar. I am going to get series 3 myself as it was on a while ago and I haven't watched it to death yet .
Favourite moments of series one include;
• Mark chasing the kinds with and iron pole in episode one "Do you want a taste of my steel do you?"
• Mark and Jez getting some payback in episode five, but it all going horribly wrong "It's for your own good Mark"

Overall this is a good show, and I'm glad I bought it on DVD so I could revisit all those moments of comedy and awkwardness.

Look out for series two review soon.

To Ciao Members-
As usually if you find any problems with my opinion, or there is anything you would like me to include that I didn't, as usually your comments are well appreciated.  

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