Comedians Matt Lucas and David Walliams have conquered the world with their character-based sketch show Little Britain -- with only one territory left to succumb to their ribald, risqué, cheeky charm: the United States of America. The HBO-produced series Little Britain USA finds the duo's most popular comic creations abscond "across the pond", with new American characters to satiate the natives. But does Lucas and Walliams' award-winning comedy get lost in translation?Episode 1 premiered on HBO last Sunday (28 Sep), with BBC1 showing the first episode last night. Interestingly, the BBC version was slightly different (ditching muscle-bound "gym buddies" Mark and Tom altogether, and tinkering with the sketch set-list), but was otherwise the same episode.
Speaking as someone who's been watching Little Britain since it began on BBC Three, I was hoping a radical rethink was in order -- but Little Britain USA was safe, familiar ground. While it was nice to see Lucas and Walliams haven't been required to dilute their comedy for American audiences, the show definitely had a more relaxed feel. Tom Baker's distinctive voice was back to narrate, but he was calmer and his enunciation was clearer. The "laugh-track" was also present, but hearing Americans whoop and giggle took some getting used to, and their responses were often faded down so you could hear the characters talking on-screen.
The sketches were a mix of old and new faces. Lou & Andy were back milking their punchline for the zillionth time, Marjorie Dawes was tactless and rude (although guest-star Rosie O'Donnell earned kudos for allowing cruel digs at her weight and sexuality), screechy Bubbles got naked in a casino (tiresome), and Carol's computer was still saying "no" to a little girl in hospital. The majority of the episode wisely introduced new characters, although most failed to impress...
Ellie Grace is a saccharine schoolgirl who makes inappropriately rude remarks to her mom in public (awful idea), astronaut Bing Gordyn was bitter at only being the "eighth man on the moon" (enjoyable, but limited), George & Sandra were a bored married couple (dry and dark), Mildred was an unassuming granny with a surprising history of drugs use (forgettable), Phyllis was a crazy old lady whose spaniel makes her do embarrassing things in public (fun and twisted), and there's a Sheriff who gets erections when handling firearms (obvious and childish).
If you love Little Britian enough to have seen the live show and own a Vicky Pollard talking doll, I'm sure you'll really enjoy this. It's not too far removed from the BBC original, and some of the new characters may grow on you by episode 3. But, considering the fact Little Britain's third series was panned by critics and the Christmas Specials were festive tumbleweeds, I just can't summon any enthusiasm for this HBO "fourth series". Lucas and Walliams are naturally funny people, but their cheeky, mildly-shocking characterisations have been running on fumes for years now.
And Little Britain has never been a particularly clever or unique comedy -- it's just a melting pot of ideas stolen from Vic & Bob, The Fast Show and the League Of Gentlemen; brilliantly repackaged and sold to people who enjoy toilet humour with lashings of camp rudeness. Don't get me wrong, schoolboy humour has its place and can be hilarious if used sparingly -- but, after years of gags revolving around peeing, vomiting, swearing and prosthetic nakedness on Little Britain, I've just become numb to it.
28 September 2008 / 3 October 2008
HBO, 10.30pm / BBC1, 9.30pm
