Stephen Fry in
America
R4 DVD
Madman
"Above
all, I love how America is constantly surprised at itself. You often hear an
American say, 'Sheesh! Only in America!' in response to something weird,
extraordinary, outlandish, exaggerated, pioneering."
Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry has a dry and incisive wit and
offers a very different sort of travelogue.
It has recently been shown on ABC and is now out on DVD. Due to a change
in his father’s career he was born in England rather than in the US and hence
he takes this as a starting point to explore what his life may have been like
if he had become a denizen of the United States. He takes his trusty London cab
and drives though each state of America. In his typical laid back manner he
narrates his journey choosing sites, attractions and people to visit according
to his own personal whim and fancy. In some states he examines a range of
fascinating locations, in others none at all. He skips right through Idaho, so
surprise really. (What was that B-52’s song ? Ah yes: “We’re all living in our own private Idaho”) There is no rhythm or
rime to his choices and this makes the show a fascinating and very personal
view of the U.S. Sometimes we see major tourist attractions, other times minor
sites, we visit everything from a “corpse farm” used to teach forensics to
ghost town which has next to no inhabits. We meet jazz musicians, shooters;
stand up comedians, the rich and famous and the average man on the street. Fry
pays particular attention to the multi cultural blend of the various States
experience introducing us to the diversity of the American experience as seen
through the eyes of many different immigrant groups from the earlier Europeans
to more recent groups such as the Mong.
Fry’s dry wit makes the series especially
enjoyable, rather than offering one-liners or a laugh-track, Fry offers a
relaxed some sardonic commentary; sometimes biting, sometimes sarcastic, at
other times sympathetic and even informative, but always entertaining. It is
also rather fun to see a slightly rotund Englishman a bit out of his comfort
zone as he goes shooting, fishing, out in a submarine and down a mine !
Stephen Fry in
America is a 6 part
BBS series which is 375 minutes. The DVD and Blu Ray releases come on two DVDs
and includes footage not included in the television program. A five-part
companion series, More Fry in America,
has been commissioned for BBC Four; it will feature more in-depth programs that
were excluded from Stephen Fry in America because of time constraints.
In my mind the most endearing thing about
the series is its unique tone. There is something very special about the
understated nature of Fry’s English humour. It is as though you have a very
witty and refined friend over for dinner who shows you his home movies and
along the way entertains you with a very funny and witty repartee. It is a real gem.
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This
review will appear in Volume 2 No.5
(2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.
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