Spaced (1999, 2001)

 

This oddball Britcom reminds me a lot of Community.  For one, it’s about the close relationship of a disparate group of socially awkward weirdos.  Stylistically, it creates an ambitious surrealism that always zigs when you think it’s going to zag.  Also, it’s about as nerdy as you can get without actually being a sci-fi or fantasy show, and it’s chockfull of exuberant, loving homages.

 

The quirky show has a surprisingly sitcomish plot.  London 20-somethings Tim and Daisy meet shortly after twin breakups that result in the loss of their respective homes.  In desperation, they pose as lovers to secure a flat that’s only let to “professional couples.”  As such, there are some fake couple shenanigans, but really, it’s just a backdrop to facilitate something a lot more fun.

 

Both Tim and Daisy are charming messes.  Tim is an aspiring comic book artist badly dinged up by his ex-girlfriend, and Daisy is a would-be journalist who’s seemingly allergic to sitting down at her typewriter.  They make an immediately entertaining team, goofing around and getting into/out of outrageous situations.  Additionally, Tim’s best friend Mike, a gung-ho ex-Territorial Army member who once stole a tank and tried to invade Paris, is a loyal, lovable loon, and the ensemble is nicely rounded out by tortured artist Brian, boozy landlady Marsha, and haughty  fashionista Twist.

 

The show employs a heightened-reality style that includes fantasy sequences, amusing hard cuts, and savvy use of music.  In that sense, besides the aforementioned Community comparison, it’s also like a less polished version of early Scrubs.  Over the course of two short seasons (only 14 episodes – darned British), we see work woes, relationships, modern art, clubbing, and dognapping through the lens of its cracked sensibility.  And the geek references – goodness gracious, the geek references!  From the spot-on Star Wars send-ups to Tim’s abiding love for Buffy, this show is a nerd smorgasbord.  What’s more, all the references come from a clear place of love.  Even when fun is poked at Tim’s geekier tendencies, the jokes only land as well as they do because we’re in on them, because we identify with Tim.

 

Spaced, from what I can tell, was the first major collaboration between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, best known for their films Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End, and so on.  (Pegg, by the way, was in “The Long Game” in series 1 of Who and has more recently appeared as Scotty in the new Star Trek movies.)  As Tim and Mike, their hilarious best-friend repartee is evident from the start.  Also noteworthy is Jessica Stevenson (another Who alum: Nurse Redfern in the John Smith two-parter from series 3) in her endearingly goofy performance as Daisy.

 

Besides providing top-notch acting, every episode in the series is written by Pegg and Stevenson.  Frequent Pegg & Frost collaborator Edgar Wright directs, deftly mimicking action, horror, and sci-fi genre tropes as needed.  Fun characters, hysterical performances, amusing dialogue, smart style, and heartfelt nerd cred?  This is so my show.