Friday 12 April 2013

'Plebs', we *heart* you


This is what the wonderful Wikipedia says about PLEBS:

The plebs was the general body of free, land-owning Roman citizens (as distinguished from slaves and the capite censi) in Ancient Rome. It was the non-aristocratic class of Rome and consisted of freed people, shopkeepers, crafts people, skilled or unskilled workers, and farmers.[1] Members of the plebs were also distinct from the higher order of the patricians. A member of the plebs was known as a plebeian (pron.: /plɨˈbən/Latinplebeius). This term is used today to refer to one who is or appears to be of the middle or lower order; however, in Rome plebeians could become quite wealthy and influential.

Our take on this refreshingly madcap *did I just say that? Oh yes I did* new sitcom from the ITV2 boys (Mondays10.00pm) was immediately that it crossed the Inbetweeners - a cringeworthy forgettable series but brilliant movie  and one of my heroes Frankie Howerd's Up Pompeii with a hint of Blackadder thanks to the curmudgeonly Badrickian slave, Grumio.

The sets are gorgeous, the scripts are spot-on. The lads are very much 21st Century savvy whilst living in hysterical and historical ancient Rome and their office jobs reflect life today ; one is a *shredder*, one a *copier* and the guy who stands in the corner of the room with a jug of water would be the... what?  HYSTERICAL!

The episode with Danny Dyer as a Gladiator in touch with his feminine side had to be watched  more than once.

It takes a lot to properly tickle MY funny bone these days and I don't often extol the virtues of a new sitcom on the telly box but this is polished, clever, snort-tea-out-of-your-nose funny stuff and I dare you to not get hooked :)


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