Look Around You

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Did anyone catch this 10 minute comedy prog on BBC2 just now? It was a very detailed spoof of ITV Schools & Colleges programmes from the late seventies / early eighties. I quite enjoyed it - though it wasn't exactly uproariously hilarious, it was quite amusing, and very well observed. Lots of quiet little surreal throwaway gags - a chemistry bottle containing liquid maths, hooligans spray painting quantum equations on walls, and so on. If you saw it, what did you think?

― Chriddof (Chriddof), Thursday, 10 October 2002 20:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Bum. I meant to see it but forgot. Which meant I saw the end of Celebrity. Excuse my lack of 'yay'.

― Sofa King Alternative (Sofa King Alternative), Friday, 11 October 2002 11:19 (twenty-three years ago)

i forgot i'm afraid.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 11 October 2002 16:24 (twenty-three years ago)

An overall rating of "tries too hard" from me, I think, but I did laugh a few times, and the first question about the relative heights had both me and my mother (maths teacher) in fits of giggles for several minutes. Also I so wish my calculator had a "stun" setting.

― Rebecca (reb), Friday, 11 October 2002 16:38 (twenty-three years ago)

I really liked it - didn't catch the name of the narrator: sounded like Michael Alexander St John, but fruitier. Thought I spotted Simon Pegg and the lower half of whathisname's face - chap from Spaced & Black Books with the deep voice. Was apparently Darth Maul?

Here's a nice still from the original short film which spawned this series.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 11 October 2002 16:40 (twenty-three years ago)

I just thought I'd post here that I thought last night's episode was a lot better than last week's - while i was merely amused by "Maths", with "Water" I was giggling like a loon. The bit where the nitrous oxide turns the water into whisky, and Peter Serfanowitz's (sp) hand getting horribly burned by repeatingly failing to get the egg out of the boiling beaker properly, and the ants building an igloo were superb.

"Oh, Water. What hast thou done?"

― Chriddof (Chriddof), Friday, 18 October 2002 10:29 (twenty-three years ago)

four years pass...

Is on BBC 2 now

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 8 November 2006 22:23 (nineteen years ago)

this is one of the best shows ever. what series is on now, ed?

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Wednesday, 8 November 2006 22:32 (nineteen years ago)

superior 1st

― 2 american 4 u (blueski), Wednesday, 8 November 2006 22:32 (nineteen years ago)

yeh?

as usual i disagree with you steve, first one is very good but series two has Medibot, Cobbles, the casserole restaurant, the dream machine, Prince Charles saying Maseltov, Machedeynu, The Rapping Song, the sex change machine, Leonard Hatred and loads of other stuff. It's non-stop with the roffles. Particularly the Health episode had me laughing more than any other TV show I care to name.

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Wednesday, 8 November 2006 22:37 (nineteen years ago)

second series had it's moments (ones you mention plus Synthesizer Patel, 2am snack/St. Michael's meal thing, bear+skeleton as most terrifying image ever) but had a similar problem to Extras - they overstepped the reliance on the nonsensical and just used silly ideas for the sake of it. first series has a narrower focus and range of ideas but the simplicity and playfulness of it wins for me. plus i just love the narrator's voice.

― 2 american 4 u (blueski), Wednesday, 8 November 2006 22:44 (nineteen years ago)

more on series 2 here: Look Around You series 2

― 2 american 4 u (blueski), Wednesday, 8 November 2006 22:48 (nineteen years ago)

synthesizer patel is maybe the funniest thing "you see pealy, crimes so bloody bad and these bastards always try to nick your synthesiser". something about his wistful, faraway look just cracks me up. i like stupid ideas.

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Wednesday, 8 November 2006 22:55 (nineteen years ago)

thanks steve.

theve.

― wogan lenin (dog latin), Wednesday, 8 November 2006 22:55 (nineteen years ago)

Wonderful, and almost all the episodes are on youtube for those without BBC2. I've only seen the first series, and I liked them all except for 'Brain'.

― S- (sgh), Thursday, 9 November 2006 03:14 (nineteen years ago)

two years pass...

apparently CARTOON NETWORK is showing this sunday at 1 am?

EVERYONE WATCH IT BECAUSE IT'S GREAT

― HELPING CHILDREN THROUGH RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Friday, 16 January 2009 12:46 (seventeen years ago)

if there was a series 1 episode poll, i would vote "sulphur"

― single-issue white nonhipster (country matters), Friday, 16 January 2009 12:49 (seventeen years ago)

it's one of the best shows in the history of british telly and quite typically underrated. i preferred the second series, mostly for the music and food episodes.

thanks look around you.

thook around you.

― the next grozart, Friday, 16 January 2009 13:05 (seventeen years ago)

i loved the first series, didn't really like it as much after the change of format to the more Tomorrow's World type show although there were still decent parts in the second series. "Because I'm rapping, I'm rapping, I'm rap rap rapping" still comes in to my head quite often.

Favourite parts, "thanks ants, thants" and some kid in the first season being called something ridiculous like Partario.

― Women can be captains too, you know? (jim), Friday, 16 January 2009 13:09 (seventeen years ago)

#MEDIBOT#

― hologram of balls (gnarly sceptre), Friday, 16 January 2009 13:15 (seventeen years ago)

it's one of the best shows in the history of british telly
― the next grozart, Friday, 16 January 2009 13:05 (10 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

No it isn't.

― The boy with the Arab money (The stickman from the hilarious 'xkcd' comics), Friday, 16 January 2009 13:16 (seventeen years ago)

Amend "history" to "this decade" and he's got a point.

― single-issue white nonhipster (country matters), Friday, 16 January 2009 13:38 (seventeen years ago)

if one of the best means 'top 40 british 00s comedies' then yeah. first series top 5 tho.

― Timezilla vs Mechadistance (blueski), Friday, 16 January 2009 13:54 (seventeen years ago)

two weeks pass...

I have just found this.

It is making me laugh a lot.

― Dear Tacos, how are you? I am fine. The weather is nice. I miss yo (Oilyrags), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 17:01 (seventeen years ago)

I did enjoy this one:

― Frank Sumatra (NickB), Wednesday, 4 February 2009 17:43 (seventeen years ago)

― James Mitchell, Wednesday, 4 February 2009 19:57 (seventeen years ago)

Robert Popper has been making some amusing prank calls to phone-in programmes recently.

Just heard him on Talksport talking about creationism and bears with wings.

― James Mitchell, Sunday, 8 February 2009 22:59 (seventeen years ago)

And he'll be on Five Live in a few minutes pretending to be an extra from Slumdog Millionaire.

― James Mitchell, Sunday, 8 February 2009 23:17 (seventeen years ago)

lol is it a bad thing that I not only laffed at the birds one but could identify pretty much every bird :D

― Robin van Injury (country matters), Sunday, 8 February 2009 23:40 (seventeen years ago)

― James Mitchell, Monday, 9 February 2009 00:12 (seventeen years ago)

one month passes...

Watching the "Music" episode on Adult Swim tonight.

God, this show brings back way too many memories for me, and I live on the other side of the pond.

http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2008/10/14/7588/say_hebbo_to_tarvuism!

Say 'Hebbo' to Tarvuism!
Serafinowicz sets up bogus religion
Peter Serafinowicz and his Look Around You co-creator Robert Popper have created a bogus new religion on the internet.

Tarvuism claims there are two universes, that octopuses are holy, and that everyone in this universe has an invisible guardian from the other one.

The pair are working on a comedy series for US network Adult Swim about the religion.

But Popper said: ‘In the meantime we thought we'd start the whole religion on the net. It seems to have gone a bit crazy....’

They have made this video to promote Tarvuism:

Read more at tarvu.com…

― kingfish, Saturday, 4 April 2009 07:57 (seventeen years ago)

I wonder how easy it would be to join.

― StanM, Saturday, 4 April 2009 08:03 (seventeen years ago)

one month passes...

I don't get it.

― billstevejim, Thursday, 7 May 2009 05:41 (seventeen years ago)

You shouldn't bother watching it then. The whole thing revolves around references to something else, and if you're not familiar with that other thing then yeah, there's not going to be any lols in there for you.

Amazed it's even being shown on Adult Swim tbh.

― JimD, Thursday, 7 May 2009 12:01 (seventeen years ago)

I get it and I'm not britisher! But I do get the kind of show it's parodying. Didnt they have school TV programs like that in the US, perhaps?

― 65daysofsugban (Trayce), Thursday, 7 May 2009 21:45 (seventeen years ago)

The problem with this show is that it isn't even close to as funny as ACTUAL old educational videos.

― Your heartbeat soun like sasquatch feet (polyphonic), Thursday, 7 May 2009 21:49 (seventeen years ago)

i never laughed at them at the time

― Hard House SugBanton (blueski), Thursday, 7 May 2009 21:53 (seventeen years ago)

lot of wrongness in this revive.

― GÖTT DAT SCHING (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Friday, 8 May 2009 04:07 (seventeen years ago)

I get it

― chocolatepiekid, Saturday, 9 May 2009 01:09 (seventeen years ago)

I'm laughing at the episode that's on now.. "Music 2000"

Maybe I do get it.. I'm not even sure.

― billstevejim, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 05:36 (seventeen years ago)

Rappin all day, and I'm rappin all night

― 65daysofsugban (Trayce), Tuesday, 12 May 2009 05:40 (seventeen years ago)

Look Around You isnt belly-busting LOLs, not to me, it's just quietly silly, but I do like that.

― 65daysofsugban (Trayce), Tuesday, 12 May 2009 05:41 (seventeen years ago)

I love campy 80s educational videos.. but i think this show is hit or miss.

― billstevejim, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 05:43 (seventeen years ago)

it's just quietly silly

subtle is good. first time I saw this I didn't realize it was satire.

― billstevejim, Tuesday, 12 May 2009 05:46 (seventeen years ago)

four weeks pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBcrTucxiRc

― am0n, Thursday, 11 June 2009 01:33 (seventeen years ago)

Could never get into this

― admrl, Thursday, 11 June 2009 01:37 (seventeen years ago)

New from these guys: http://rsw.cc/

haven't had the chance to listen yet.

― Bangelo, Wednesday, 17 June 2009 22:12 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

amazing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSG2pD-2O2g

― piscesx, Monday, 23 August 2010 20:07 (fifteen years ago)

That's great!

― no gut busting joke can change history (polyphonic), Monday, 23 August 2010 20:10 (fifteen years ago)

Thanks piscesx for the revive.

Thiscesx.

― StanM, Monday, 23 August 2010 20:18 (fifteen years ago)

That's Jack Hargreaves. I used to watch 'Out of Town' all the time as a kid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ckJCajWh0

― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Monday, 23 August 2010 20:27 (fifteen years ago)

Also the music in the background is called 'A Tune For Lucy' and usually accompanied this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1FTI9eH3gk&feature=related
...circa 1974

― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Monday, 23 August 2010 20:28 (fifteen years ago)

he got an OBE you know.

― piscesx, Monday, 23 August 2010 20:35 (fifteen years ago)

And here he is again, followed by the equally legendary Fred Dineage throwing a pot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS1-aoUNBbE&feature=related

― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Monday, 23 August 2010 20:38 (fifteen years ago)

always found the name of this really funny and doubt peepz who don't would get any of it anyway.

― taojjbtcrf (or something), Monday, 23 August 2010 21:41 (fifteen years ago)

"my good friend Alan White from Pol Pottery" !?

― StanM, Tuesday, 24 August 2010 14:14 (fifteen years ago)

(1.38)

― StanM, Tuesday, 24 August 2010 14:14 (fifteen years ago)

That'd be Poole Pottery

― Chaim Poutine (NickB), Tuesday, 24 August 2010 14:18 (fifteen years ago)

lol but no...
Poole Pottery

― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Tuesday, 24 August 2010 14:18 (fifteen years ago)

They should change their name though.

― Chaim Poutine (NickB), Tuesday, 24 August 2010 14:18 (fifteen years ago)

Poole Pirates should drop the 'e' and the speedway nonsense and become pirates for hire for people's swimming pools.

― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Tuesday, 24 August 2010 14:20 (fifteen years ago)

Machadaynu remix is awesome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlbBF9UgbQE

― Jarlrmai, Tuesday, 24 August 2010 14:23 (fifteen years ago)

one month passes...

Watched this for the first time and omg irl lols. Out loud, with my teeth showing.

Narrator's voice reminds me of the Connections guy. And that belaboured "Look around you..... Look around you....Look around you...Look around you" was immediately hilarious.

Thanks Ants

Thants

― VegemiteGrrrl, Monday, 4 October 2010 22:16 (fifteen years ago)

Also: "Ghosts" is hilarious.

― VegemiteGrrrl, Monday, 4 October 2010 22:16 (fifteen years ago)

This show is very very funny!

This thread title always gets the theme song from "David the Gnome" stuck in my head.

― Mormons come out of the sky and they stand there (Abbbottt), Monday, 4 October 2010 22:42 (fifteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82GUX_NA7AU

― Les centimètres énigmatiques (snoball), Tuesday, 5 October 2010 08:11 (fifteen years ago)

one year passes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz-l5HiJ3NY

Intermission film made for Look Around You 10th Anniversary at the BFI, 12th January 2012.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 13 January 2012 17:30 (fourteen years ago)

one year passes...

http://24.media.tumblr.com/be0027b34fe4ec83c968eebdf9979d7c/tumblr_mf1wj5wxPr1r5upv9o1_400.gif

― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 9 September 2013 21:22 (twelve years ago)

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