There are certain British comedies every geek knows and loves, particularly Monty Python, Black Adder, and Red Dwarf. There are also others I've seen and enjoyed that are popular in the mainstream, particularly the original British version of The Office. But there's one in particular that ran for a time on the Comedy Channel (not that I get the Comedy Channel) that seems much more obscure in both circles and really, I think, deserves more attention. That show is "The League of Gentlemen". It has what seems to me to be a unique distinction in that it does skit-based character humor with the same trio of men playing virtually all the parts (male and female alike), in a peculiarly twisted and disturbing way.
It's set in a small British town called Royston Vasey, slogan "You'll never leave." Just outside the town is the Local Shop, an establishment central to many of the early skits (and some later ones). I assume "local shops" must be a sort of standard British touristy knick-knack dealer, but this one is run by Edward and his wife Tubbs. It is a Local Shop for Local People. There's nothing for you here. When strangers stop in to have a gander at the "precious things", things rarely go well for them. There's a pot out back, and...
There's the pre-operative transsexual cab driver, Barbara. There's the protagonist (if any) a nebbish young man who's come to stay with some relatives in the town for reasons I forget. He encounters their peculiar habits, the toad collection, the urine drinking, the clothing optional days. There's a tyrannical job workshop manager and her pen obsession. There's the local butcher and his addictive, untoward "special stock". There's the town veterinarian, a kind-hearted young man who just can't seem to successfully treat his patients. In fact, they tend to die in rather surprising ways. And so on and so forth.
The second series/season introduces also a sinister carnival and a mysterious disease going around town. And let me just remind you once again that this is a sitcom. It's brilliant.
It's set in a small British town called Royston Vasey, slogan "You'll never leave." Just outside the town is the Local Shop, an establishment central to many of the early skits (and some later ones). I assume "local shops" must be a sort of standard British touristy knick-knack dealer, but this one is run by Edward and his wife Tubbs. It is a Local Shop for Local People. There's nothing for you here. When strangers stop in to have a gander at the "precious things", things rarely go well for them. There's a pot out back, and...
There's the pre-operative transsexual cab driver, Barbara. There's the protagonist (if any) a nebbish young man who's come to stay with some relatives in the town for reasons I forget. He encounters their peculiar habits, the toad collection, the urine drinking, the clothing optional days. There's a tyrannical job workshop manager and her pen obsession. There's the local butcher and his addictive, untoward "special stock". There's the town veterinarian, a kind-hearted young man who just can't seem to successfully treat his patients. In fact, they tend to die in rather surprising ways. And so on and so forth.
The second series/season introduces also a sinister carnival and a mysterious disease going around town. And let me just remind you once again that this is a sitcom. It's brilliant.
malloreigh:
Hey darlin', just thought I'd let you know that I replied to your comment over on my news post.