David Mitchell and Robert Webb are two UK comedians who have worked tirelessly to establish themselves among the formidable array of talent working in the British comedy scene. Their radio and stage work allowed comedy fans to witness them as they finely tuned their act, and they got their big TV break in 2003 with PEEP SHOW. Mark Corrigan (Mitchell) and Jeremy "Jez" Osborne (Webb) are caught up in a familiar malaise; both struggling to seek a direction in life, the two housemates quarrel and take their frustrations out on each other. Jez has aspirations to be a musician, but his efforts resemble the Prodigy on a very bad day. Meanwhile, Mark is stuck in an interminable office job, where the object of his affections--co-worker Sophie (Olivia Colman)--is the only thing keeping him sane. Racked by nerves and insecurity, the lengths Mark goes to in order to impress Sophie often leaves her in a perpetual state of bewilderment.

Aside from the fine performances by Mitchell and Webb, what makes PEEP SHOW stand out from the Britcom pack are some finely honed scripts and a well-edited final product that delivers plenty of laughs. In a unique twist, viewers are able to hear the thoughts of Mark and Jez as they encounter the various problems that constantly beset them. Far from being a novelty add-on, this piece of trickery adds a great deal to the show, adding further vulnerability to the characters and allowing viewers to sympathize with them as they hopelessly flail through life. A comedy for anyone who spends life at the mercy of their own hesitant thoughts, PEEP SHOW is an amazingly well-observed show that should appeal to fans of THE OFFICE.

British | Mishaps | Television Programs | Television Shows

Genre:

• Television

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• Television