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Spaced was a British television situation comedy written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, directed by Edgar Wright, and broadcast on Channel 4. It is notable for its rapid-fire editing and almost constant dropping of pop-culture references. Two series of seven episodes have been broadcast in autumn 1999 and spring 2001. The first series was a nominee for Best TV Sitcom in the 1999 British Comedy Awards. In 2006, Spaced came 9th on Channel 4's The Ultimate Sitcom poll, as voted for by sitcom writers, performers, directors and producers, coming ahead of sitcoms such as The Office and Father Ted.
Situation Tim Bisley (Pegg) and Daisy Steiner (Stevenson) are two London twenty-somethings who meet by chance whilst both are flat-hunting. Despite barely knowing each other, they pretend to be a young "professional" couple in order to gain a (surprisingly cheap) flat in the distinctive building at 23 Meteor Street, and impress the landlady, Marsha Klein (Julia Deakin). Also living in the building is Brian Topp (Mark Heap), an eccentric conceptual artist and frequent visitors are Tim's best friend Mike Watt (Nick Frost) and Daisy's best friend Twist Morgan (Katy Carmichael). The series largely concerns the colourful and surreal adventures of the two as they navigate through life and decide what they want to do with their lives, come to terms with affairs of the heart, and try to figure out new ways of killing time in largely unproductive ways. Tim and Daisy repeatedly stress that they aren't a couple, but despite (or because of) this, romantic tension develops between the two characters, particularly during the second series. Main characters Tim Bisley (Played by Simon Pegg): Tim, rarely seen without his skateboard, his chocolate-colored beanie or his Playstation controller, is an aspiring comic book artist, amateur skateboarder and passionate follower of cult fiction in many forms (including video games, science fiction and especially - at least initially - the original Star Wars trilogy). He is a rather grumpy and short-tempered soul, quick to irritation at the slightest provocation, mostly because his girlfriend Sarah broke his heart and dumped him after an affair with her boss - and Tim's friend - Duane Benzie (played by Peter Serafinowicz). He's currently writing and illustrating a graphic novel about a boy who has been transformed into a giant mutant bear and the crazed 'doktor' trying to find him to replicate the experiment, but hasn't actually tried selling it because he's afraid people will laugh at both it and him. A traumatic incident in his childhood when attempting to cure a fear of dogs merely left him terrified of dogs, lightning and bamboo instead. He initially works at a comic book shop, the "Fantasy Bazaar" alongside the manager / owner Bilbo Bagshot (played by Bill Bailey). In the second series he landed his dream job as a graphic artist at Dark Star Comics. He demonstrates more of a work ethic than Daisy and has an adverse reaction to Twiglets, which make him violent. Daisy Steiner (Played by Jessica Stevenson): Daisy is an aspiring writer, although she tends to spend most of her time actively avoiding doing any writing - or any other actual work for that matter. Whereas Tim is often grouchy and sour, Daisy is sunny, enthusiastic and cheerful, and at times overwhelmingly so. She can also be a little aggressive though, as was seen when she joined an employment agency. She considers herself to be quite intellectual, even though she only graduated from university with a third class degree. She has a tendency to babble in conversation, making social interactions rather more difficult to navigate than they necessarily have to be. She also has a tendency to interfere in other people's problems or lives as a way of avoiding focusing on her work or her own problems. Daisy bestows most of her love in a shockingly high pitch upon Twist, and her dog Colin, a Miniature Schnauzer, who she rescues from being put down. Daisy also possesses an innate knack for martial arts, although this is seldom called into use. Her greatest desire was to go to India and see the Taj Mahal, a goal which she accomplished between series one and two after having actually published some articles for a change (her trip was also aided by inheritance money from her deceased aunt). Marsha Klein (Played by Julia Deakin): Marsha, the permanently sozzled landlady, is never seen without a lit cigarette in one hand and a glass of red wine in the other. Once a promising young athlete, she retired from athletics after receiving a leg injury and became a groupie instead, resulting in several marriages that ended somewhat bitterly and a teenage daughter, Amber, with whom she is near-constantly arguing. She passionately lusts after Brian, an attraction which stems from a hazy, torrid incident in the past where rent negotiations became somewhat more sensual as a result of Brian's sheer poverty. She's utterly delighted to have new, young friends, which is slightly awkward as she's the only one who doesn't know that Tim and Daisy aren't actually a couple. Brian Topp (Played by Mark Heap): Quietly spoken and intense, Brian gives the impression of being almost psychotic and sociopathic; in fact, he's just very shy and timid. A rather bizarre and somewhat pretentious artist, he acts appropriately tormented and angst-ridden, particularly when Marsha's lusting after him. His main artistic drives are anger, pain, fear and aggression, and his art is, according to him, 'a bit more complex' than watercolours. He is in love with Twist, and embarked on a torrid relationship with her before they broke up midway through series two. Despite this, his sexuality is quite complex and frequently alluded to throughout the series, as he seems quite undecided at times. When asked if he's gay he replies that he is not, but in a manner that suggests he thinks he ought to be. Mike Watt (Played by Nick Frost): Mike is Tim's best friend in the whole world. He wishes dearly that he could join the army but unfortunately, owing to a painful incident in their past which detached his retinas, he's ineligible and must instead console himself with membership in the Territorial Army. The first series revealed that Mike had been thrown out of the TA owing to an incident involving manouevres in France, a stolen tank, EuroDisney and a rich, socially disconnected fantasy life of Mike's own creation. By the end of the first series however he was readmitted and even gained his sergeant's stripes. Mike is very protective of Tim, and subtle suggestions over the course of the series that indicate that Mike might have a slight crush on him. Despite his military pretensions, Mike is a sweet and caring individual who is deeply hurt by being put aside in favour of Tim's growing relationship with Sophie in series two. There are also frequent references to a happening involving Tim and Mike's childhood and a tree, in which Tim convinces Mike to jump from a tree, resulting in him damaging his retina, stopping him from joining the army at a young age. The character was based on a recurring joke character between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (who were best friends outside of the series). When writing Spaced, Pegg included the character and persuaded Edgar Wright to cast Frost. Twist Morgan (Played by Katy Carmichael): Twist, Daisy's best friend, is (in the words of Tim) either 'sweet but stupid or an evil genius'. She 'works in fashion' (i.e. a dry cleaner) and is an atrociously superficial 'fashion fascist'. She rarely misses an opportunity to comment on (i.e. put down) Daisy's size, weight or clothing choices. It is never mentioned in the series how Daisy and Twist met, though various extras on the DVD boxset state that they met at university. Although she and Brian are social opposites with apparently incompatible fashion sense, they did have an intense love affair which ended badly. It is alluded though that they both still love each other. Colin (Played by Ada the Miniature Schnauzer): Colin is Daisy's dog, bought from a dogs' home where he was shortly due to be put down, to cheer Daisy up after she is dumped by her boyfriend Richard. He is named after the cardboard box Daisy played with as a child when she wasn't allowed a real dog. Despite his mortal fear of dogs, Tim eventually manages to bond with Colin after they rescue him from being abducted by aliens (although he is actually taken by an evil scientist for testing). In the second series, after Daisy has returned from her travels in Asia, it is clear that Colin feels rejected by her. In the final episode she discovers he has been running off for secret rendezvous with an elderly - and rather sinister - neighbour. Daisy manages to retrieve Colin but, remembering the countless times he has been neglected and the promise of widescreen TV, he runs off again. However, when the old lady suggests changing Colin's name to Lancelot he returns to Daisy to play happy families with her and Tim. He has the ability to tilt his head sideways, thus prompting anyone who sees it to sigh at his cuteness. Colin is, in real life, a female named Ada (although this is incorrectly spelt as 'Aida' on the credits). A comment made by Nick Frost (Mike) during filming of a scene with Ada about dogs being unable to look up is referenced in the comedy film Shaun of the Dead. Sarah (Played by Anna Wilson-Jones): Sarah is the ex-girlfriend that broke Tim's heart by leaving him for his friend, Duane, and kicking him out of their flat. She later wants to reconcile with Tim but he realizes that he no longer feels the same about her. Richard (Played by James Lance): Daisy's boyfriend. Their pet names for each other are "Daisy Duke" and "Boss Hogg". They were in a long-distance relationship (he was living in Hull) but he later breaks up with her over the phone. Duane Benzie (Played by Peter Serafinowicz): The gravelly-voiced back stabber who stole Sarah, away from Tim. He was Sarah's boss and Tim's good friend until Tim learned of their affair. In episode "Battles", Tim gets his revenge by shooting Duane in the bollocks at close range in a paintball game. Amber Klein (Played by Theo Park (physical), Jessica Stevenson (voice)): Marsha's bratty teenage daughter. She and her mother constantly argue and the arguments end with Amber storming out of the house. The sound of Amber leaving becomes a cue to Tim and Daisy that Marsha will come by wanting to talk. Amber's face is never seen. Tyres OFlaherty (Played by Michael Smiley): A Northern Irish bike messenger and a friend of Tim and Mike's. He is a raver and everyday noises such as a phone ringing or a car honking sound like rave music to him. His raving (and presumed accompanying drug intake) also makes him prone to mood swings. He suspects Tim and Daisy are more than just friends. Bilbo Bagshot (Played by Bill Bailey): Tim's boss at the comic book store. He explains to Tim the story of Gramsci, the dog that attacks the rich on Hampstead Heath. He at one point fires Tim for his inability to get over The Phantom Menace, but later begs him to return. Damien Knox (Played by Clive Russell): The head of Dark Star Comics, the company that Tim desires to work for. When Tim first submitted his portfolio, Damien laughed him out of the office. Since then, Tim has been haunted by visions of Damien laughing at him and is afraid of submitting a new portfolio to him. Sophie (Played by Lucy Akhurst): Damien's beautiful assistant who helps Tim get hired at Dark Star. They immediately begin dating and have a fun relationship, much to the jealousy of both Daisy and Mike. Dexter and Cromwell (Played by Reece Shearsmith and Jonathan Ryland): Mike's rivals in the TA. They destroyed Mike and Tim's combat robot in an effort to win at the Robot Wars. Later, Mike earns the rank of sergeant and becomes their superior. Episode guide Series 1 Series 2 Future A third and final series has been eagerly requested from fans and considered for some time by the cast and crew (with Simon Pegg joking that it would end with a Blake's 7 style shoot-out) but a rumoured movie is not on the cards. Edgar Wright told the official fan website spaced-out that he is "torn" about making more Spaced and that "we have genuinely talked about it and have some neat ideas that could work in a Before Sunset / Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? kind of way". Many see the movie Shaun of the Dead, written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright and directed by / starring Wright and Pegg respectively, as essentially a spin-off of the series, featuring many of the same actors and set out in much the same way, and both men have acknowledged that the zombie sequences in the episode 'Art' were a key inspiration. Wright, however, points out the differences: Shaun has fewer pop-culture and movie references, and tries to avoid the clichés of recent horror parodies in favour of a more naturalistic style as its story progresses. The success of Shaun of the Dead was unexpected, both in the UK and the US, and they proceeded to produce a second movie entitled Hot Fuzz, scheduled for UK release on 16 February 2007. In a 2006 Radio 4 interview, however, Simon Pegg stated that he’d like to bring back Spaced for a one-hour special to "tie up all the loose ends *". However, there have been no formal or significant commitments to a third series of Spaced, and no indication of a new series or special being commissioned. Spaced premiered in the U.S. on Bravo in 2002. Only four episodes were aired. In 2004, the now-defunct Trio began airing the show regularly. BBC America began airing the series on June 23rd, 2006. Whilst there is little indication that a third series will be produced in the near future, the recent Spaced: Definitive Collector's Edition DVD box set contained a documentary, 'Skip to the End', examining the making of the show and its cultural influence. Whilst primarily factual and based around interviews with the cast, crew and outside commentators, this documentary is notable in that it features an in-character 'epilogue' of sorts to the series in which Daisy and Tim briefly appear in the doorway of the flat, holding a baby - a brief conversation establishing that the baby is theirs and that they are now in a relationship. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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