Spaced: Series 1 (1999) & Series 2 (2001)

Before Hot Fuzz, and before Shaun of the Dead, there was Spaced, the Channel 4 sitcom starring Simon Pegg, Jessica Stevenson, Nick Frost, Mark Heap and Julia Deakin, and directed by Edgar Wright. I remember watching most of the series when it was first broadcast, and recently we watched them all over again as Andrew had never seen it! 

Spaced is full of movie references that I often don't get, but I appreciate the humour of, and as I continue my movie experiences in the future hopefully I'll be able to revisit Spaced and enjoy new elements. It's also full of pop culture references to things I was into in 1999 and 2001, such as Buffy, and most especially the X-Files, with particular emphasis on Tim's crush on Gillian Anderson. So, Spaced is nostalgic, and also a right hoot from beginning to end. 

My favourite character is Brian (Heap), the tortured artist who lives below Tim and Daisy. He's just so out there, and Mark Heap does an excellent job making Brian both funny and warm - he's rather sweet in his own special way. Nick Frost's Mike is also a wonderful creation, incredibly dim and massively lovable - you can see how he and Tim share one of Spaced's central (b)romances. 

Tim (Pegg) and Daisy (Stevenson) are of course just beautiful lead characters - the actors are never less than magnetic and their energy and enthusiasm for the show really shines through. There are some marvellous sight gags - the Shaggy and Velma reveal being one of my faves - and some just generally funny lines, that have no recourse to movie or TV or pop culture. Edgar Wright's direction shows exactly why he's now making movies. The guest cast too, a veritable who's who of comedy around the turn of the 21st century, are a game bunch. Spaced works so well, I think, because everyone involved really cares about what they're doing, and underneath all of the hilarity is a genuine emotional heart.