The Trip

Richard Carnage

Well-known member
Apologies to the Dissensian pseuds (and we all know that a few members have been in the corner at one point), but this is about a TV show. Tonight's programme (episode 4) was the best one yet in my opinion. So subtle and touching, yet capable of causing uproarious fits of laughter. Rob Brydon's Arnie interjection had me in stitches, but there were great smaller fleeting moments like Coogan pausing before declining the coke, and his nervous inadequacies coming to a head during his interactions with the photographer. The whole series is recommended watching if you haven't got round to it, and you can get all of it on iPlayer at the moment. Anyone else been checking it out so far?
 

grizzleb

Well-known member
It's really great. I like how downbeat and simple it is, it's essentially all very banal, but that gives the programme an understated quality that you don't get much on tv shows. Even those shows that are focused on realism don't usually go for dialogue like that. It's painting a quality image of Coogan. I'll need to check out that Trishtam Shandy movie the 3 done together.
 

slim jenkins

El Hombre Invisible
Superb programme. The Arnie impression was classic, as was the opening joke about Coogan being a c*nt. What's obviously fascinating is the merging of fact and fiction, the set-ups and improvisaton, along with the portrayal, and self-awareness, of Coogan, his media image and vanity. I like the way they both refer to their own careers and the cutting remarks in relation to them.
 

hucks

Your Message Here
Last night's was the best episode. I love the shifting dynamic between the two- coogan is presented initially as the insecure celeb, Brydon as a guy happy with his lot, mariied with young children etc. But a bit at a time, like with coogan declining the coke or brydon cracking on to the assistant, or the fact that brydon does draw for the pacino too readily and coogan is genuinely funnier (that whole bit about leaving at daybreak had me in stitches) slowly shift your perceptions of them.

The 'what's real, what's not' bit becomes less important as the series goes on for me as the world created in the program becomes more, I dunno, sufficient or something. What you knew about the two actors before matters less than what you learned about the characters during the series.
 
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luka

Well-known member
id never heard of this so im glad i looked at the thread. i cant see bbc stuff but from whats on youtube it looks incredible.
 

slim jenkins

El Hombre Invisible
Last night's was the best episode. I love the shifting dynamic between the two- coogan is presented initially as the insecure celeb, Brydon as a guy happy with his lot, mariied with young children etc. But a bit at a time, like with coogan declining the coke or brydon cracking on to the assistant, or the fact that brydon does draw for the pacino too readily and coogan is genuinely funnier (that whole bit about leaving at daybreak had me in stitches) slowly shift your perceptions of them.

The 'what's real, what's not' bit becomes less important as the series goes on for me as the world created in the program becomes more, I dunno, sufficient or something. What you knew about the two actors before matters less than what you learned about the characters during the series.

Another interesting aspect is that whilst Coogan is supposed to be, and plays up, the real comic 'genius' of the two, his self-importance is constantly undermind by both Brydon and his own insecurities. Brydon has shown that he can be genuinely funny but in a different way to Coogan, and they're both capable of being childish, as in last night's sing-along in the car. Brydon, to his credit, is capable of self-deprication, as shown last night.
 

crackerjack

Well-known member
No one's surprised though, right? Coogan is brilliant, and almost everything he's had creative control over has been fantastic. With any luck this will encourage to the BBC to give Saxondale another shot.

Y'all been watching these too I trust.
 

mistersloane

heavy heavy monster sound
It's the first Coogan I've liked - I understand the rest, but it hasn't bothered me, whereas this is a little piece of wonder. Simon Amstell's 'Grandma's House' similarly walked the line between fact and fiction and was good too, especially coming from him I thought, a good move.
 

baboon2004

Darned cockwombles.
Y'all been watching these too I trust.

Thanks for the link - didn't know about this.

But...having watched it, it feels so dated. I was a massive fan of the original first two series of AP, because it felt like a really original blend of comedy and a certain kind of bleakness (in sitcom, that is). Maybe it's because so many shows have run witht his idea, like The Office (which I was ambivalent about, but which was inarguably a huge cultural influence) and better stuff like Nighty Night in that same broad vein, but Partridge doesn't have any edge any longer...
 

crackerjack

Well-known member
Thanks for the link - didn't know about this.

But...having watched it, it feels so dated. I was a massive fan of the original first two series of AP, because it felt like a really original blend of comedy and a certain kind of bleakness (in sitcom, that is). Maybe it's because so many shows have run witht his idea, like The Office (which I was ambivalent about, but which was inarguably a huge cultural influence) and better stuff like Nighty Night in that same broad vein, but Partridge doesn't have any edge any longer...

I don't think it's any more or less edgy – at least within what the confines of a single-set 10-min extended advert could be – it's just that Partridge the character is too familiar to elicit the same feeling. Still fucking funny.
 

hucks

Your Message Here
I don't think it's any more or less edgy – at least within what the confines of a single-set 10-min extended advert could be – it's just that Partridge the character is too familiar to elicit the same feeling. Still fucking funny.

Yeah, it's "just" character comedy now, innit? Good, though. And I like the Tim Key character.
 

crackerjack

Well-known member
Yeah, it's "just" character comedy now, innit? Good, though. And I like the Tim Key character.

Me too, although the idea that a real radio host would have an unfunny comedy sidekick who's only there so they can banter inanely about where they went to eat last night is just ludicrous *stares at Chris Moyles*.
 

you

Well-known member
Wonderful, Brydon's Tom Jones faux pas segment was sublime...... I liked how in episode 3 all they could actually say about the food was that t was 'nice'.......' ah.... yeah, its really, mmmm, ah nice, very nice!'

Michael Cain and Alan Bennett impressions crack me up.
 

pattycakes_

Can turn naughty
only just realised that this is all set up here in the lakes. looks pretty good from the clips. good to see coogan on form again. and i don't think i've ever dug anything brydon has been in so far but i like him in this. pretty refreshing stuff.

I keep expecting this thread to be the late nineties insomniac crew reminiscing about this.

that's what i thought the thread was about before i opened it too. i've been looking for this show for so long. 4later pretty much shaped my 16yo mind and this program sticks out in my memory the most. thanks a lot for the link :D

edit: well holy sheep shit, c4 have it up on 4oD now

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-trip
 
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stephenk

Well-known member
i love this...poignant and hilarious. reminds me of the movie old joy, but comedic.

the part at the end of the third episode where coogan is doing "help i'm trapped in a box" to the mirror was really heart-wrenching.
 

BSquires

Well-known member
I think this is sublime and the best TV I've seen all year... but as a 41 year old white man I could be the perfect demographic...
 

luka

Well-known member
im beginning to think the secret is that brydon is not just less funny that coogan, he is an unfunny man. painfully unfunny, but not stupid and not even a bad performer. possibly a good one.
 

you

Well-known member
Really into the trip right now - watch them twice a week.

Just a really funny, awkwardly honest portrayal of two insecure guys...... just guys?

I loved the Cunt dream sequence, classic Coogan, the Tom Jones Dehlila come on etc.....

One favourite - they are talking about Michael Sheen, and Brydon exclaims "but Sheen is just brilliant though" and Coogan erupts, totally unreserved, and splutters through a mouthful of food - "but I'm fucking brilliant!!!" - class.
 
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