Try a Little Britain
In junior high, were you the one desperately trying to explain to friends what was so funny about that new show on WNED, Monty Python somethngorother?
Twenty-five years later, were you the one trying to explain to co-workers the inexplicable awfulness of Ricky Gervais as David Brent on BBC America's "The Office"?
If so, you've probably already seen -- and screamed at -- The Beeb's latest offering, "Little Britain USA," the American version of the UK sketch show notorious for vicious and sometimes shocking parodies of British life. If you have no clue what we're talking about, a new episode airs every Sunday on HBO at 10:30 p.m.
That said, if this weekend is going to be your first, um, experience with "Little Britain USA," here are a few characters you need to be seriously prepared for:
Marjorie Dawes: An obese, self-loathing weight-loss club leader who chirps "Hello, fatties" at each meeting, and makes incredibly wounding comments in a sweet tone to every member. When Rosie O'Donnell guest spoke, Dawes revealed she's also wildly homophobic.
Carol Beer: A profoundly vindictive receptionist given to blank stares, unreasonable replies and answering most questions by tapping away at her computer and responding flatly "Computer says nooooo."
Bubbles DeVere: A self-described "international socialite" who, despite morbid obesity, routinely strips nude and merrily offers sex to cancel the gambling debts she's accrued on a cruise.
Vicky Pollard: A white-trash teen who compulsively gets into trouble and, when caught, babbles indignation and a stream of incoherent gossip utterly unrelated to the situation at hand.
Harvey Pincher: We saved this one for last because, frankly, words fail us here -- and that's saying a lot. But this pretty well covers it.
Bottom line: If you like TV watchable only through the fingers you've clamped over your eyes while muttering "OhmyGodohmyGod," this is your show.
Lauri Githens Hatch
