5 ms·
That wasn't nearly as atrocious as I was expecting. Partly because the script is almost the same as the UK first episode, of course, but even putting that aside
by quietbritishjim 4y ago
That wasn't nearly as atrocious as I was expecting. Partly because the script is almost the same as the UK first episode, of course, but even putting that aside it was OK. Richard Ayoade is still great but also Joel McHale is a pretty decent choice as Roy. Even the actress playing Jen, although a bit annoying, wasn't too bad. And the twist that the boss actually isn't crazy is interesting.
Not like the US Red Dwarf pilot. That actually is tear-your-eyes-out bad.
- ShakataGaNai 4y agoI'd be really curious to find out what Richard Ayoade thought of the entire situation. "So you want me to come play the exact same character, saying the exact same lines and doing the exact same things ... but now it's a 'US' version?"
- boomboomsubban 4y agoI believe it led to him directing episodes of Community and potentially helped lead to him directing his movies. So he probably has great things to say about the experience.
- lostlogin 4y agoThe guy is a legend. Travel Man is excellent and a great format. Rewatched during lockdown and completely recommend.
- RajT88 4y agoThe formula for Travel Man was genius. The producers just have to pick various people who are a good pick to play off Richard Ayoade being himself, and send them off places to film how they get along with each other. Ideally, picking people who love to travel and have a good time to slightly annoy Richard. TV that produces itself. The curve ball, which defied all expectations, was the episode in Madeira which paired him up with someone with a similarly rapid-fire and dour wit: Robert Webb. In contrast to the rest of the series, one of the funniest things I've ever watched.
- vgeek 4y agoWhat about An Idiot Abroad? Similar concept, albeit Karl is more of a crank.
- lostlogin 4y agoA very good series but was way more contrived. The relationship between those two is uncomfortable at times too (which is pretty much 100% Ricky's schtick).
- lostlogin 4y agoSeason 1 episode 2 with Richard and Adam Hills in Istanbul is truly excellent too, particularly the bit at barber and the massage.
- ck425 4y agoWhat do you think of Joe Lycett's series of Travel Man? I've only watched clips rather than full episodes but while he's very different to Ayoade I've still enjoyed it. I'm perhaps biased though because he has James Acaster for an episode and I could watch that man do anything.
- KerrAvon 4y agoI’d watch Richard Ayoade in just about anything. Travel Man was absolutely brilliant. I keep trying to find a way to watch his Crystal Maze episodes — what little I’ve seen of them has been hilarious.
- gibspaulding 4y agoRoy is even wearing a less conspicuously political version of the same RTFM shirt that he wears in the UK pilot!
- pndy 4y ago> the US Red Dwarf pilot Terry Farrell got role of Cat in the 2nd attempt for pilot, a year before arriving in Deep Space Nine as Jadzia Dax
- denton-scratch 4y agoWhy would they re-cast Cat? In the UK version, he spoke with a US accent. (Maybe that's it - Cat was a stereotype of a black american street dude, and perhaps that stereotype only works for brits).
- pndy 4y agoI guess they thought they wouldn't sell this show in the US if it would have all-males cast
- bena 4y agoSee, I didn't like Joel McHale as Roy. He's too charming and attractive. I think the key difference is that O'Dowd played Roy as tired of this shit while McHale plays it as annoyed with this shit. But I think it suffers the same problem as the US Red Dwarf and the early episodes of the US Office, you can't expect to clone the characters. You have to deviate. Hew to the spirit, but not necessarily the letter.
- icodestuff 4y agoAgreed. Seems like a miscast. Feels like any of the protagonists of Silicon Valley could have played the character better. Well, maybe not Kumail Nanjiani, for the same reason as McHale.