Watch Look Around You
- TV-PG
- 2002
- 2 Seasons
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8.4 (3,000)
Look Around You is a British television comedy series that originally aired on BBC Two from 2002 to 2005. The show was created and written by Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz, who also starred in the series alongside Olivia Colman and a rotating cast of guest stars.
The premise of the show is that it is a parody of educational science programs from the 1970s and 1980s. Each episode focuses on a different scientific concept, such as germs, ghosts, or music, and presents it in an absurd and surreal way.
The show is presented as if it were a series of educational films or television programs from the fictional company 'Pear Tree Productions'. The program's hosts, Popper and Serafinowicz, play absurdly serious and overly enthusiastic scientists who present the information in a deadpan style. Colman appears in various segments as an interviewer or presenter.
The show's humor is derived from its absurd presentation of serious scientific concepts, and the use of deadpan humor and intentionally cheesy special effects. The series also features a number of running gags and visual jokes, including recurring "forbidden numbers," such as 3 or 9, and the fictional substance "superheated steam".
One of the most famous episodes of Look Around You is "Music," which parodies educational films about the history and science of music. The episode includes segments on how music is made, explanations of different musical instruments, and the use of music in films and television. The episode also contains a running gag about a fictional band called "The MusicEpisode features a cameo from Jack White of The White Stripes.
Another memorable episode is "Sulphur," which focuses on the periodic element and its uses. The episode features surreal segments on the history of sulphur, including its use in ancient Rome and medieval medicine. The episode culminates in a parody of a car commercial that promotes the idea of adding sulphur to fuel in order to create a "speed energy cycle."
Other episodes of Look Around You focus on topics such as computers, water, germs, ghosts, and sport. The show frequently lampoons popular culture and scientific trends of the time, such as the rise of electronic music and the popularity of horror movies in the 1980s.
Overall, Look Around You is a surreal and absurdist program that parodies the educational science programs of the past. The show's intentionally low-budget production values and deadpan humor make it a cult classic among fans of alternative comedy.