League: The Origin
Aug. 27th, 2010 11:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tealinBBC7, in their wisdom and mercy, has just re-aired the first episode of the radio series On the Town With the League of Gentlemen as part of their 'Edinburgh Winners' series. The League was a stage act, and their success got them a radio show, which in turn earned the TV show. As with many things, I first got to know them through the radio, and while I enjoyed it I didn't think it was the best thing ever, which contributed to the delay in looking into the TV show.*
If you're familiar with the TV show, the radio show is interesting in that it's a bit like reading the first draught of your favourite book: it's recognizable, certainly, but there are some characters (and therefore plotlines) not yet discovered, some not fully fleshed out, and others that didn't make it to the final cut. You can see the seeds of ideas that flourish in the final draught, and dead ends you never knew existed. The town has a different name, there is no Local Shop and no Tubbs or Edward, nor is there Hilary Briss and his Special Stuff. Rev. Bernice is DJ Bernice, Babs has a much funnier introduction thanks to the limitations of radio, and Benjamin visits the Dentons because he's interviewing for a job. But what I find the most striking difference between the two shows is the tone. They both have their fair share of puerile humour, but it makes up a greater share of the radio show; the TV version has not only a stronger narrative throughline but a peculiar emotional gravitas that sneaks up on you. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with being able to see the actors' faces, and pick up on physical performances that make the characters more dimensional, but there are plenty of flat sitcoms and gross-out comedies out there that prove the visual medium is not enough. It was as if they knew they could get more out of the characters on TV, so went for it all the way in the writing ...
Anyway, this is as good an opportunity as any to share my happy bookmark. DID YOU KNOW: The League of Gentlemen is online in high-definition for free ... and legal? For some reason it was hard to find in searches before but now it's the first thing to come up – anyway, brace yourself, because here it comes:
THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN, SERIES 1
Yes. There you have it. They used to have all three series, but it looks like they're just down to 1, which is still plenty to get you hooked. It can be a little off-putting at first, but give it three episodes – if it hasn't got you by then, you're free to go, and live a happy well-adjusted life in the real world.
*Which is the best thing ever. Along with, y'know, Discworld, Doctor Who, Scott Pilgrim, Worst Journey, Sherlock, etc, etc ...
If you're familiar with the TV show, the radio show is interesting in that it's a bit like reading the first draught of your favourite book: it's recognizable, certainly, but there are some characters (and therefore plotlines) not yet discovered, some not fully fleshed out, and others that didn't make it to the final cut. You can see the seeds of ideas that flourish in the final draught, and dead ends you never knew existed. The town has a different name, there is no Local Shop and no Tubbs or Edward, nor is there Hilary Briss and his Special Stuff. Rev. Bernice is DJ Bernice, Babs has a much funnier introduction thanks to the limitations of radio, and Benjamin visits the Dentons because he's interviewing for a job. But what I find the most striking difference between the two shows is the tone. They both have their fair share of puerile humour, but it makes up a greater share of the radio show; the TV version has not only a stronger narrative throughline but a peculiar emotional gravitas that sneaks up on you. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with being able to see the actors' faces, and pick up on physical performances that make the characters more dimensional, but there are plenty of flat sitcoms and gross-out comedies out there that prove the visual medium is not enough. It was as if they knew they could get more out of the characters on TV, so went for it all the way in the writing ...
Anyway, this is as good an opportunity as any to share my happy bookmark. DID YOU KNOW: The League of Gentlemen is online in high-definition for free ... and legal? For some reason it was hard to find in searches before but now it's the first thing to come up – anyway, brace yourself, because here it comes:
THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN, SERIES 1
Yes. There you have it. They used to have all three series, but it looks like they're just down to 1, which is still plenty to get you hooked. It can be a little off-putting at first, but give it three episodes – if it hasn't got you by then, you're free to go, and live a happy well-adjusted life in the real world.
*Which is the best thing ever. Along with, y'know, Discworld, Doctor Who, Scott Pilgrim, Worst Journey, Sherlock, etc, etc ...
