Something For The Yanks

Finally! After seven years, American fans of Simon Pegg, Jessica Stevenson (Hynes), Nick Frost and Edgar Wright can own the entire 14-episode run of “Spaced” without also needing to own a multi-region DVD player.

For those un-initiated, “Spaced” was an amazing British sit-com put together by the same people who eventually went on to do “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”. The show focuses on Tim and Daisy two complete strangers who pretend to be a married couple so they can get an apartment. Yeah I know it sounds like your standard sit-com circa 1977 but it is really so much more.

The thing that made “Spaced” really stand out for me was the references to pop culture. There are so many that the Region 2 DVD (and now the Reigon 1 DVD) comes with an “homage-o-meter.” Now I know what you’re probably thinking. You’re thinking, ‘I don’t need to see another dialogue heavy, Tarantino-lite, naval gazing festival of look how hip I am’. At least for the sake of this blog that’s what I hope you’re thinking.

I’m aware that there is a contingency out there that thinks popular culture has become that snake that eats its own tail (Ouroboros). And to some degree that is true. We do have films like “Snatch” that consist of nothing but style and witticisms with absolutely NO substance. But then there is a television show like “The Simpsons” which some people believe cultivates a more intelligent audience due to the fact that so much extraneous knowledge is required in order to simply get the jokes.

What makes “Spaced” so awesomely original is that it really gets to the heart of why characters make references. Pop-culture is the prism through which we view our lives. It is our frame of reference. When Daisy finds herself working at a Mexican restaurant ("Neo Nachos), we see it through her eyes and it looks a LOT like “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. These characters all see themselves as stars of their own mental movies and at least for me that’s how life really is.
I highly recommend this series to anyone and everyone. If you have the ability to check it out please do. The DVD comes with all kinds of goodies including commentary tracks with guests like Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino, Diablo Cody, Patton Oswalt and Matt Stone.

Check out these two clips:





And now it's time for the part in my movie where I sleep.

Mahalo.