[UPDATE - 12th July 2019]: More of this radio show pretending to be a podcast, called "Getting to know you, 'Kay?", as Dana and Jenna interview another four sets of Brits, each of whom are embroiled in some difficulties. We've got ancient male-only sports (blindfolded obstacle races), people who own pigs, facial tattoos and annoyinh laughs.
As always, our two hosts alternate between kind and cruel depending on who gets to empathise this week, with no one in this coming out terribly well, and some impressively horrible sides to humanity being put on display. (But always in a comical manner.)
The vulnerability of the "common man" is actually really well explored, with the two hosts trying to help people get out of the traps they've worked themselves into, but them never having great success. While there's the necessary hint of the absurd, everyone suffering is well rounded, and they're very compelling characters. This is one I suspect will run, if it can keep that heart.
[ORIGINAL - 21st December 1017]: This is a mockumentary about two American sisters, Jenna and Dana, who are podcasters exploring and recording the dangerous, untamed wilds of Britain. In this episode, the wilds of Britain are two octogenarian sisters, Sally and Jilly. Both pairs have a sensible and silly, which gives a decent balance.
That balance has a nice texture, with the silly American being something of a traditional teen rebel, whereas the silly Brit tends to fire shotguns at unexpected visitors and roger her way through most of the Neighbourhood Watch. She also speaks in TV catchphrases, which provided a pleasant nostalgia for shows long passed, while also giving a contrast to Jenna's documentary voice, which sounds a bit like someone narrating an audiobook. She'd probably be rather good at that.
The budding documentarians have a fun time struggling with each other and our grumpy Brits, as well as dragging various love troubles from their background. There's fights, druggings, dead cats and even smoking. (For shame!)
Impressively entertaining for so short a programme, getting a decent arc in for each character and wrapping up a short plot nicely in a quarter of hour. Will certainly be listening to the rest of it.
Tagged: Radio Comedy Cast Sitcom Spoof