Hyperdrive Series 1 & 2, R2 UK DVD Set Due August 13th 2007.

The BBC apparently spent just shy of £100m on comedy last year. Value for money? Based on my consumption of TV comedy, not really. A lot of the corporations reputation for comedy actually exists on radio, and not being a radio listener -- even though much of the same talent is involved, and even though radio shows frequently spawn tv equivalents -- I'm not entirely sure. BBC Three certainly pumped out a lot of drivel, and it's led me to hold off talking about second series and (more importantly) new shows as a result, until I get a sense a recommendation's in order and that there's a widespread opportunity for those outside the UK to view it.

Now, here's one show that's initially not that good. I say this because my initial reaction was that it was a little familiar and flat. Given the immediate likely reaction to an SF Comedy will be some form of comparison to Red Dwarf -- even though it's dated, it's still a rare example of such a thing as an SF Comedy, and it still has it's unfortunate fanbase skipping through its old VHS tapes and newer DVD incarnations with finger on pause button in order to recite lines, reenact scenes and so on -- and it's simply unfair and illogical to make this comparison if you give it a little consideration.

The similarities are unavoidable, the character dynamics (beyond how sitcoms work as a whole) are different, the scripting isn't as tight -- in fact Hyperdrive's main charm, outside a couple of key cast memebers such as Kevin Eldon and Nick Frost, remains it's individual atmosphere that's more dry and a little less obvious or brash -- and it's certainly not as knowingly smart, that's for sure. It's just a nice little, refreshing, easy to watch, charming and increasingly impressive piece of production in many departments. And for this, I recommend it, wholeheartedly; some may have caught it on BBC America.

BBC Official Hyperdrive Website.

Hyperdrive Information at Wikipedia.
Pre-Order Hyperdrive Series 1 & 2 R2 UK Set at Amazon.co.uk for August 13th 2007 Release.