The third entry in a series of UK TV shows I enjoy that most fellow Americans haven't heard of, Gavin & Stacey (starring Mathew Horne and Joanna Page) is loads better than US sitcoms of similar stripes. The titular characters, he English (from Essex) and she Welsh, meet by coincidence over the phone while working for companies miles and miles apart in their respective countries.
After striking up an ongoing teleflirtation, they decide to meet in person for the first time at Leicester Square. Yes, the romance setup is meet-cutesy, but the dialogue and humor are foul-mouthed (or minded) and sharply-honed. The stuff they get away with on BBC3 would never make it unneutered onto US broadcast TV.
Gavin, Smithy, Stacey, and Nessa
They each bring their best friends Smithy and Nessa (James Corden and Ruth Jones) along for the trip, and all their lives start changing from there. Of the cast, American audiences are likely most familiar with Joanna Page, who played the film set stand-in Judy in Love Actually. Horne is best-known in the UK for a recurring part on the sadly cancelled Catherine Tate Show and also played a part in Lesbian Vampire Killers (as did Corden), which I avoided at SXSW.
Corden and Jones, who co-wrote and created the show, have achieved what few writers do, by writing cracking* roles for themselves and spreading the good lines around generously. Corden is best-known for his part in The History Boys. Ruth Jones has been in a bunch of TV, including Little Dorrit, recently on DVD from the BBC as well.
Corden and Jones at the BAFTAs, where the show won programme of the year and Corden won a Comedy Performance award for playing Smithy
For me, the standout among the cast that makes me lose it with every other line is Alison Steadman as Gavin's mum Pam. Steadman is best known to many Americans as Mrs. Bennett from the 1995 Ehle/Firth Pride & Prejudice. She's been in plenty of other things that readers should look up on IMdB. Rob Brydon, a regular guest on the wonderful and uniquely British TV (read: literate and thought-provoking) panel show QI (hosted by the brilliant Stephen Fry) turns in an enjoyable performance as awkward Uncle Bryn. As usual, I could go on about everyone individually but then this review would go on far longer than anyone wants it to.
As with Pulling, the thing I disliked most here is that now I'm stuck waiting for the next season with no alternative. Also in contrast to many US TV releases, the extras are worth the time of day. How It Happened [25:00] is a rather self-explanatory title for a featurette that tells the story of the genesis of the show. Ruth Jones being Ruth Jones is nice to see after nothing but Nessa for nearly three hours. There's a genuine camaraderie to this cast you don't sense in many shows these days. It's an old-fashioned quality that says more about the content than any critic could add, really. The Outtakes [5:07] are brief but fun, and Behind the Scenes at Leicester Square [3:07] gives a few minutes witht he principals on-location for the most expensive shoot they had in the first season of the show. There's Episode-Specific Commentary on episodes 1, 3, and 6 with Corden & Jones as well as Director Christine Gernon. The most entertaining "extra" are the English subtitles that are highly recommended for ears not accustomed to English & Welsh accents.
Click on the box art to order from Amazon.
A portion of the purchase goes toward supporting this column.
Gavin & Stacey: Season One hit the street last Tuesday (5/5) and should be on your list of UK Shows to Catch Up With ASAP (See also: Pulling, The IT Crowd)
*slang for things Americans might alternately call "awesome," "fabulous," or "hot"