Psychoville (League of Gentlemen fans look here)

Seltzer · 06-12-2009, 02:32 PM

I know a few of you like jackhammer, CA and possibly some of the Brits are fans of the League of Gentlemen. For those who aren't familiar, it's a brilliantly twisted black comedy from the 90s about the village of Royston Vasey and its inhabitants. It's my favourite show ever and for me, nothing touches it (not even Black Books). For those who are uninitiated, I've just posted some clips over here.

Recently I heard about Psychoville, a new comedy/drama/thriller created by two of the four Gents (Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton). Here's the description from the LoG site:

Quote:

An embittered one-handed clown; a desperately misguided midwife; a lovestruck telekinetic dwarf; a blind avaricious collector; and a serial-killer-obsessed man-child... five seemingly unconnected characters share one thing in common.

Despite coming from different parts of the country and having different backgrounds and interests, each one has been sent an anonymous, black-edged card bearing the chilling message: "I know what you did..."

Having created the kind of northern town that nightmares are made of, The League Of Gentlemen's Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton return to BBC Two with a spine-tingling, jaw-dropping, thrilling comedy serial. Like the best whodunnits, each episode draws viewers deeper and deeper into the kind of world that only Reece and Steve could dream up.

Joining them in Psychoville is a rich mix of talent, including Dawn French, Eileen Atkins, Nicholas Le Prevost, David Bamber, Janet McTeer, Christopher Biggins, Daisy Haggard, Debbie Chazen, Daniel Kaluuya and Adrian Scarborough.

The world of Psychoville is expanded via an online experience, specially written by the show's creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. Principal characters will be supported by their own websites, exclusive videos and extra comedy, while users get the chance to interact with the mystery blackmailer.

Here's the official Psychoville site - I can't view the videos on account of not being in Britain, but I found a Shearsmith / Pemberton interview about it. Sounds like their cliffhanger comedy concept could be interesting - a marriage of 24/Lost/Heroes and LoG. Incidentally, the first episode is due to launch on the 18th.

jackhammer · 06-12-2009, 03:53 PM

I cannot fucking wait. League Of Gentlemen is all kinds of genius.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 06-12-2009, 05:44 PM

It's going to be either total genius or really really terrible.

I thought the last series of League Of Gentlemen was pretty poor.

jackhammer · 06-12-2009, 05:46 PM

Yeah it wasn't that great but this might just work due to the eclectic casting. We will see.

Bulldog · 06-12-2009, 05:50 PM

Sounds like a really interesting concept. I second the 'can't fucking wait' notion.

Seltzer · 06-12-2009, 07:47 PM

Yeah, the third season of LoG was a bit of a step down, but still good.

Psychoville better be good because I haven't got much else to watch atm.

jackhammer · 06-18-2009, 03:31 PM

Half hour to go. I can't wait!

EDIT. First show and it certainly wants to display a lot of scope but whether it can all be drawn together is another matter. Plenty of time for it coalesce though.

Seltzer · 06-22-2009, 02:57 AM

I just saw it last night and I have to agree. It offers scope, potential and an intriguing premise, but it's too early to judge. I'm looking forward to the next ep.

Seltzer · 08-02-2009, 12:54 AM

So what did everyone think of the first season? All in all, I think Psychoville has been an interesting twist on things - obviously not possessed of the brilliance of League of Gentlemen but still good.

Even if you dislike Psychoville, I don't really think you could judge it harshly anyway - it's a refreshing change from the hulking multi-season monoliths like Lost, Heroes etc... speaking of which, does anyone know if there are plans for a second season?

06-12-2009, 03:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I cannot fucking wait. League Of Gentlemen is all kinds of genius. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

06-12-2009, 05:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	It's going to be either total genius or really really terrible. I thought the last series of League Of Gentlemen was pretty poor. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

06-12-2009, 05:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Yeah it wasn't that great but this might just work due to the eclectic casting. We will see. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

06-12-2009, 07:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Seltzer Fish in the percolator! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hobbit Land NZ Posts: 2,870	Yeah, the third season of LoG was a bit of a step down, but still good. Psychoville better be good because I haven't got much else to watch atm. __________________ In the Court of King Crimson \| Last.fm \| RYM

06-18-2009, 03:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Half hour to go. I can't wait! EDIT. First show and it certainly wants to display a lot of scope but whether it can all be drawn together is another matter. Plenty of time for it coalesce though. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

06-12-2009, 05:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Sounds like a really interesting concept. I second the 'can't fucking wait' notion.

06-22-2009, 02:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
Seltzer Fish in the percolator! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hobbit Land NZ Posts: 2,870	I just saw it last night and I have to agree. It offers scope, potential and an intriguing premise, but it's too early to judge. I'm looking forward to the next ep. __________________ In the Court of King Crimson \| Last.fm \| RYM

08-02-2009, 12:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
Seltzer Fish in the percolator! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hobbit Land NZ Posts: 2,870	So what did everyone think of the first season? All in all, I think Psychoville has been an interesting twist on things - obviously not possessed of the brilliance of League of Gentlemen but still good. Even if you dislike Psychoville, I don't really think you could judge it harshly anyway - it's a refreshing change from the hulking multi-season monoliths like Lost, Heroes etc... speaking of which, does anyone know if there are plans for a second season? __________________ In the Court of King Crimson \| Last.fm \| RYM