The Peter Serafinowicz Show
Peter Serafinowicz is an undoubtedly talented man, so it's a shame that his redoubtable flair and versatility are diluted by the hit and miss quality of such obvious targets that are contained in his sketch grab-bag The Peter Serafinowicz Show.
At a time when Kevin Bishop was peddling a very similar schtick across the way on Channel 4, this prime-time BBC Two series had the ignominy of rising from the mire of the typical BBC3 comedy wasteland and yet was canned after the first series, with (as yet) not even a repeat to boast of and a Christmas special compilation episode which was slapped together haphazardly with a laugh track that was excruciating (kept for posterity on the second disc).
However, that's not to say that it's an unmitigated disaster: Serafinowicz is not only an accomplished mimic but is able to morph into all the requisite roles that the show demands of him with ease. It is the material that doesn't come up to scratch and also seems remarkably obvious. Bishop was aping Simon Cowell in his Star Stories series years before and Al Pacino as a midget, a pawing QVC presenter, James Bond (who lives at home with his Mum) and O News entertainment journalist Kennedy St King all fall flat - and the least said about robot Jeremy Kyle (Michael-6) the better.
Serafinowicz is perhaps least known for voicing Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace (and best known for playing Pete the flatmate in Shaun Of The Dead) and there's evidence of some nice Star Wars ribbing with his Darth Vader character, who falls for his co-worker (wearing an identically pink version of his body suit) and his appalling attempts at wooing her. However, his Beatles skits are very good and there is a stone cold classic character in Mr Brian Butterfield (wisely used for the DVD sleeve), a down-at-heel fat businessman who appears in infomercials attempting to hock his latest product or service to the unsuspecting. Brian alone garners an extra star.
Released on DVD on 1st February 2010 by 4DVD.
Written by Simon Cole.
