Season 2, Episode 5: "The Man Show"

A night with the guys

Mark attempts to become Jeff’s friend in an effort to get closer to Sophie.

- This one focuses a lot on the Mark/Sophie plotline. It’s amusing that, in light of how it eventually turns out for them, I very much do not want them to get acquainted in this episode. I want Mark’s plan to fail. By contrast, during my initial viewing of these ones, I really wanted things to work out for Mark and Sophie.

- It’s mentioned that “Super Hans is back on the rig,” implying that, at times, Super Hans actually works rather hard and has a decent job.

- Mark and Jeff play pool at the Loop Pool bar, which is a real bar in their neighbourhood of Croydon. This show is consistent about finding local places for them to hang in.

- The Jez and Jeff combination is a pretty amusing dynamic.

- Mark really goes off the deep end by cutting himself for Sophie’s attention. It’s rather amusing, and in the same vein as his pissing all over Barbara’s stuff in the first season. Mark isn’t very good at coping with stress, it would seem.

- The Oval Tavern is another Croydon location they use. This isn’t its only appearance.

- Mark buying condoms for Jeff (or “rubber Johnnies,” if you prefer) is one of the show’s better moments. Too thin, and he’ll get off quickly, but will enjoy himself more. Too thick, and he’ll give it to Soph all night. What’s Mark to do?

- A scene begins with Jez telling Mark that he was “going to twat this geezer, but it turns out they’re both Polish!” This is in reference to a rather amusing deleted scene in which Jez and Jeff were about to start a fight with these guys at the Oval Tavern. Unaware of the custom of reserving a pool table with a coin, two Polish gentlemen had jumped ahead of Jez and Jeff.

- Another deleted scene has Jeff telling Johnson that Mark and Sophie never made their tandem jump for charity.

- This is the first of many appearances of crying Sophie.

- Jeff’s burly mate at the poker game and the two lads at the tandem jump are even more examples of the great job this show does in casting working-class sorts of people.

This is definitely a good idea

Good Lines:

- Mark, trying to be one of the guys: “So, FHM have only gone and done a bloody sex issue! You see that?”

- Jeremy, on his poker skills: “I’m hot… like Pol Pot.”

- Jeremy, revealing his awful hand (which he thinks is great because it’s made up of “all the reds”): “Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight.”

- Jeff, in response to Mark’s pretending to be gay and thus non-threatening: “Gay or not, there’s no threat from you. You could have your cock in her and you still wouldn’t have the balls to fuck.” Probably Jeff’s best line.

War References:

- Mark is showing Sophie “Das Boot,” because it’s both a War movie, and incredibly long.

- Mark says that “Hitler promised not to invade Czechoslovakia, Jeremy!” in explaining why he violated Jez’ trust.

UK Stuff:

- Jez mentions an MP’s wanking death. This would be Stephen Milligan, a Conservative member who died of autoerotic asphyxiation in 1994. Consider that a cautionary tale, kids.

- Alcopops: As I understand it, it’s sort of another term for coolers.

- A bottle: Person who is prone to unexpected failure.

Misc:

- This isn’t the best place to mention this, but as it recently came to my attention, it’ll have to do. In a second season episode of That Mitchell and Webb Look, during one of those scenes where David Mitchell (Mark) and Robert Webb (Jeremy) play “themselves,” it’s mentioned that Mitchell is to host a documentary on Stalingrad, because he’s read the book “Stalingrad” and played a character on a TV show who read the book “Stalingrad.” That book really has some legs.

Season 2, Episode 1: "Dance Class"

The El Dude Brothers spend some quality time together

For the start of the second season (yeah, I forgot to post this earlier), the show changes gears with the addition of Nancy to Jez' life.

Thoughts:
- Nancy begins her long run on the show here, to give Jez a woman to pine for, a la Mark's Sophie. The main problem here is that Nancy is never at any point a nice person, so you don't particularly want Jez to end up with her; consequently, I'm not really fond of any Nancy-centric episodes.

- Jez (about Toni and Tony): “There's only so much happiness in the world, and they're hoarding it.”
Mark: “That's not how it works.” (It completely is.)

- In this episode, Johnson is finally named Mark's new boss at JLB. I had a feeling he wasn't in his first appearance. Oddly, the scene in which this happens is rather short, and has no bearing on the rest of the episode. It's as if the producers want to quickly set it up early on in the episode for the rest of the season, so they can move on to the rest of the show. Clearly they noticed the unlimited potential of Alan Johnson last season and intend on making use of it later.

- In celebration of Johnson's hiring, JLB takes the afternoon off for a party with drinks. The UK Office often took part of the work day off to drink. Is this sort of thing common in the UK?

- Tony shows up in this one, too. I'm surprised to see him in the background of so many episodes.

- Jez passionately tells Toni that he loves her. He does the same thing to Elena in the sixth season, at the party.

- While watching weirdos prance about at Rainbow Rhythms, Mark asks, "is this what my granddad died for?", implying, perhaps, that his grandfather fought and died in WW2.

- In explaining why he didn't entirely embrace Rainbow Rhythms, Mark says he "doesn't necessarily think money... and Tony Blair are a bad thing." This is the first instance in which Mark sets himself up as the defender of the status quo. The most memorable example would be his speech to the guys on E who stay over after Sophie drags them to the gay club. Here, he might be considered a blue Liberal. Or a red Tory. Either or.

- Nancy's Jesus bit isn't particularly funny. In fact, quite a lot of what she says isn't particularly funny. Why, you might go so far as to say that I hate this character, for a few reasons. First, she's self-absorbed, and not very kind to Jez. There's very little room to warm up to her, and she doesn't bring the laughs to compensate for that. Remember the Australian girl, Saz, in the fifth season, who takes Mark for a ride? Nancy is a bit like that, only she's in two seasons.

Second, she seems, to me, to be too much like an actress playing a part. Nobody actually acts like Nancy. And, yes, while Jez and Mark are exaggerated, there's a kernel of reality to them. I can relate to how they act and what they think. It's very difficult to find common ground with Nancy. Finally, the whole Jesus bit never really goes anywhere, anyway.

- In this one, the "sex all over the place" bit is a tad too sophomoric. Jez getting done up in blackface, in particular, seems unrealistic. Even in a show like this, I can buy that they'd really do most of the things they do, but that one is pushing it. A later example of a pretty over-the-top incident I have trouble accepting is Jez eating the charred remains of the dead dog.

- Mark pretending to enjoy Rainbow Rhythms is like his pretending to be on E later on. In both cases, he thinks he's pulled one over on everyone, and acts the way he thinks people doing such things might act.

"Definitely not a tranny!"

- The douchebag who steals Nancy is perfect casting. I genuinely hate not only the character, but the actor. His wardrobe, particularly the rolled-up jeans, is fantastic.

- Good Mark line: "Tell you what, I'm going off to the bog - for a wee!"

- Jez looks down upon hippies. This is amusing, since there's a very thin line between them and him. In fact, when they're not stealing his girlfriend, he's pretty happy to embrace their lifestyle.

- I enjoy how the game of brinksmanship - neither Mark nor Jez wanting to seem sexually closed-minded in front of their dates - leads to Mark and Jez kissing.

- The bit with Mark and Sophie together at the water's edge at the end is kind of touching.

- Mark pushing Sophie's face away from his computer at the end is one of the show's funniest moments.

- In this one, Mark gets one foot forward, two feet back with Sophie. This is the norm with their relationship at this stage of the show.

UK References:
- Louis Theroux: Hosts a series in which he explores the crazier side of the United States, from a foreigner's perspective. Spends time with racists, religious extremists, compulsive gamblers, competitive weightlifters, swingers and other bizarre groups of people. Highly recommended if you want to track it down online. In some ways, Louis Theroux is sort of like a more successful, charming version of Mark; no wonder he pretends to be him in times of stress.
- RAF Duxford: One of the sites Jez hopes to visit, rather than the douchebag's cottage. The Internet tells me that it was an important Battle of Britain aerodrome, and has since been turned into a notable museum.
- Todsford Stone Circle: A tricky reference. It doesn't actually exist, but, according to my quick research, is a reference to Mitchell and Webb's radio show, That Mitchell and Webb Sound. Obviously you should all be downloading that illegally, or watching its TV spinoff.
- Tollesbury: A seaside village to the east of London.

Season 2, Episode 4: "University Challenge"

The El Dude Brothers, on the road!

Mark and Jez take a trip back to their alma mater, Dartmouth University.

- The actress who plays April is another Peep Show person who shows up in the film “Magicians.” She has a small role as a person on a plane, if I remember.

- April’s one of the more memorable characters to appear on the show. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that I really, really wish Mark had been able to work something with her.

- In the commentary for the fourth season’s wedding episode, the writers say that the woman Mark desperately proposes to in the coffee shop was originally intended to be either April, or Sally (Mark’s highschool friend he nearly hooks up with after the class reunion). They dropped the idea because they felt it would be too coincidental.

- Jez and Super Hans’ band is now called “Coming up for Blair,” a play on “Coming up for Air,” a George Orwell novel.

- Dartmouth University is first mentioned and seen here. This would be, of course, Jez and Mark’s fictional university. They evidently met for the first time at the school’s student union in the mid-90s.

- Dartie pops up numerous times after this; my favourite is Mark’s “Dartmouth University Lacrosse Team” t-shirt in a later episode. That would be a nice item to get one’s hands on, along with one of the posters in this episode.

- We discover that Jez never got his degree, whatever it was, while Mark got his 3-year Business Studies. I wonder, is the 3-year degree in the UK common? I would say most people here have at least a four year undergrad, on top of whatever else they picked up.

- Super Hans hanging up on Jez while Jez watches from the bus is one of the show’s funnier moments.

- Jez and Mark have an extended scene on the bus. So that it’s not just a series of shots of one looking at the other’s face, the director sets up a kid in the seat in front looking back at both of them. Very clever.

- The guy memorably playing Prof. MacLeish is also in “Magicians.” Everyone is in Magicians. Maybe you are too.

- Mr. Rashid, the owner of the convenience store from Mark and Jez’ university days, shows up. Maybe I am getting him mixed up with Mr. Patel where they live in London, but I think Mr. Rashid gets mentioned again sometime. Maybe.

- Speaking of Mr. Rashid, just how exactly did he lock the two of them up in the back of the store? Did he physically force them into the room?

- Mark mentions his “scrotal scar,” implying that he did end up getting the procedure at the end of the first season.

- The actress who plays April isn't quite the right age to be a first-year university student, but I guess she has the right look and can pull it off. On that note, she would be another teenage character Mark pursues. For a straight-laced, anal guy like him, it’s interesting how many teenagers he goes for.

She was almost definitely The One.

Good lines:

- Mark: “Shoes, the boringest purchase.”

- Mark, picking out a wine to bring to the party: “How cheap dare I go?”

- Mark, drinking the cheap wine he purchased: “Ooh, that’s rough.” (works best in action)

- Jez, amazed by the changes wrought by the passage of time: “Our bloody bus stop’s been moved!”

- Mark, on April (one of the show’s better lines, period): “She’s got the magical combo of beauty and low self-esteem.”

UK Stuff:

- Spiv: Slick guy who sells black-market goods.

- There’s a saying about Dartmouth, “There’s no quim likes to party like the quim down in Darty!”. Quim seems to be a UK term for a vagina.

- “Moment of madness”/Clapham Common: In the late-90s, a Labour politician named Ron Davies got beat up while cruising for gay sex in south London’s Clapham Common. In referring to the incident (without providing too many details), he called it his “moment of madness.” Alastair Campbell (see last episode) told him to use the term, incidentally.

- Hindly: Myra Hindly was a young woman who, along with Ian Brady, committed the “Moors Murders” in the early-60s. The argument in her unsuccessful defense was that she had been taken in by his sexual charisma and such.

- Simon Schama: A British popular historian, noted, in part, for hosting “A History of Britain.” Mark is a fan.

- Bravo Two Zero: A supposedly-true tale of the first Gulf War of questionable veracity.

- Thunderbird: Cheap fortified wine. One imagines Mark enjoyed this in his youth, along with Hofmeister.

- University Challenge: A quiz show for university students.

War references:

- Mark says that he had just been visiting “Coventry. Very lovely. Totally destroyed in the War, obviously.”

I must say, this is, again, one of the show’s better outings. The change of locale really helps give this one a unique feeling, along with a memorable love interest for Mark. Plus, very little Nancy.

Season 2, Episode 3: "Local Zero"

Why didn't they show the crisps?!

Nancy and Jez break the ultimate taboo, while Mark faces his lifelong battle with alcoholism.

- This episode establishes that Sophie and Nancy are friends. I guess the time at the boat house wasn't so bad for Sophie after all.

- Mark is quite often seen sitting in that Ikea-like chair by the window, while Jez lies across the couch. This isn't unique to this episode, but it's nice how details like this are adhered to throughout the series' run.

- Mark's mother had an affair, possibly with a lumberjack - or Michael Palin. ("You can't laugh at someone you don't trust - like mom singing 'The Lumberjack Song' after her affair.")

- On the phone, Mark's father uses "that voice." They really need to have him featured in an episode.

- It's funny how much time Mark's pursuit of Sophie takes up in these earlier seasons, considering how that relationship eventually ends up.

- We find out in this one that Johnson is a recovering alcoholic of 15 years. As I said in a previous post, this contradicts his drinking in his first season appearance.

- Jez is doing (unintentional) horrible drawings of Nancy. Now and again, Jez is seen doodling women in his room, or has his sketches tacked up to the walls. Jez is a lot softer than he makes out. This goes along with the poetry he writes in the sixth season.

- The story Mark gives about being an alcoholic ("You remember? The bear with the pork pie hat ... not even a proper cocktail...") is one of his best moments.

- Could this be the first appearance of Johnson's irresistible catchphrase, "this is bullshit, Mark!"?

- A deleted scene from this episode (which I saw because I got the first six seasons off Amazon UK for a paltry $40 - and you can too!) has Jez nonchalantly encountering Sophie and Jeff playing minigolf. Under directions from Mark via cell phone, Jez tries to get Jeff to admit in front of Sophie that terrorists and paedos should get the death penalty. It's quite funny.

WW2 References:
- Working late, Mark feels that he is "one of the few" in his Spitfire. However, upon further reflection, he figures it's more likely he'd crash his training plane during the Phony War (that period of relative calm between the invasion of Poland and the Battle of France).

UK References:
- Costcutter: According to Wikipedia, Costcutters "are supermarkets and local and urban convenience stores." That's pretty obvious from the dialogue.
- OfCom: Mark wants to call the Office of Communications after he's seen drinking beer on TV. From what I can understand, it's the CRTC of the UK.
- Alastair Campbell: A member of Tony Blair's staff, and a notable alcoholic.
- Hofmeister: On Mark's introductory beer, Wikipedia says it best: "Hofmeister was a 3.2% abv pale lager produced by Scottish Courage (later Scottish & Newcastle) from the 1980s to 2003. The brand was marketed in the 1980s with a series of advertisements featuring a bear, George, with a shiny, yellow jacket and a pork pie hat."
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution: A charity that saves lives at sea. Mark notes his membership in it as an example of why he's not so bad a guy after kicking Nim out.
- Kaliber: Guinness' non-alcoholic beer. Perhaps this is what Johnson was drinking in his first appearance?
- Scouser/Native wit: Mark calls Jeff a "Scouser," which is an unflattering term for a Liverpudlian. I guess anyone with half an ear and an idea of what the world is like would know that Jeff was from Liverpool, but it was news to me. Mark also mentions Jeff's "native wit," which all Liverpudlians are supposed to possess.