Saxondale
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| Saxondale | |
|---|---|
| Genre | sitcom |
| Creator(s) | Neil Maclennan, Steve Coogan |
| Starring | Steve Coogan, Ruth Jones, Morwenna Banks, Rasmus Hardiker |
| No. of episodes | Seven |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Baby Cow Productions |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC 2 |
| Original run | June 19, 2006 – present |
| Links | |
| IMDb profile | |
Saxondale is a British television situation comedy programme, starring and co-written (with Neil Maclennan) by Steve Coogan. The series is directed by Matt Lipsey and produced by Ted Dowd. Coogan and Henry Normal served as executive producers.
Produced by Baby Cow Productions and broadcast on BBC Two from 19 June 2006 - 31 July 2006, the seven episodes feature Coogan as Tommy Saxondale, an ex-roadie with anger issues who now owns a pest control business. Other principal characters include Saxondale's Welsh anarchist girlfriend, Magz (Ruth Jones) and his naïve assistant, Raymond (Rasmus Hardiker). British actors Morwenna Banks, Mark Williams, Ben Miller (who script edited the series and also directed the first episode) and Liza Tarbuck also feature. Comedian Matt Berry composed the incidental music for the series
According to a BBC press release, over the course of the series Saxondale "gets his eyesight improved by a prostitute, almost befriends a celebrity, kneecaps an annoying hippie... and experiments with women's makeup." [1] Coogan describes his character as "genuinely witty, while still being a bit of a dick." [2]
BBC America began running Saxondale in November 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
[edit] Tommy Saxondale
Steve Coogan plays pest-controller Tommy Saxondale, the survivor of a hostile divorce, who now lives with his girlfriend Magz, played by Ruth Jones, proprietress of the anarchic T-shirt shop "Smash the System". Tommy speaks with an East Midlands accent, though he and Magz live in Hertfordshire. Tommy regards himself as a maverick and a free-thinker and takes every opportunity to impart his wisdom to his young assistant Raymond. In his line of work, as well as Pharaoh ants, mice and occasionally moths, Tommy has to battle with snowboarders, pigeon-loving activists... and people who talk about property prices. Tommy knows his own mind and isn't afraid to speak it. Unfortunately, those around him don't give him quite the level of respect he feels he deserves. And that's going to result in a few more visits to the anger management course. Tommy is devoted to his Ford Mustang Mach 1, although drives the much less macho Renault Kangoo for work; a fact that he refuses to affect his fierce sense of dignity. As he insists, it's not 'Kangaroo', it's 'Kangoo'.
[edit] Magz
Tommy Saxondale's girlfriend. She's Welsh, and is the proprietor of a shop where she sells "shocking" t-shirts and posters she designs, often depicting cultural icons smoking drugs. Magz is level-headed and kind, acting as a stabilizing influence when Tommy seems on the verge of becoming enraged.
[edit] Raymond
Raymond is Saxondale's assistant and lodger. Thus, while Tommy enjoys talking about himself, training him in the mysterious and deadly art of pest control, and sharing a few life lessons, Raymond has little choice but to listen. He lives in Tommy's spare room and gets an uncomfortably close view of Tommy and Magz's sparky relationship.
[edit] Vicky
Vicky, played by Morwenna Banks, is a receptionist for the agency that hands out jobs for Tommy's Stealth Pest Control operation. She is able to provoke instant frustration.
[edit] Episode guide
Tommy attends his anger management course and clashes with the group leader. Magz is considering a new line of "FUCK OFF" tshirts, and Tommy is searching for a replacement after sacking a previous assistant from his pest control business (he needs a 2nd man to convince Vicky to let him handle a "5 grand" pigeon job). Eventually Tommy hires 19 year-old Raymond (who also moves into Tommy's spare room at Magz's suggestion), and the pair are confronted by animal rights protesters when they turn up to remove the pigeon infestation.
Episode 2 - June 26, 2006 Tommy fights to save Magz's shop. He's also hired by a famous TV motoring presenter (guest star Alexander Armstrong playing him like Jeremy Clarkson) to deal with an infestation of mice.
Episode 3 - July 3, 2006 An old friend from Tommy's days as a roadie turns up. While he still clings desperately to his rock 'n' roll lifestyle Tommy is embarrassed to admit he has settled down. He soon finds himself dragged around some old haunts for a night out involving prostitutes and economy vodka. Guest starring Mark Williams.
Episode 4 - July 10, 2006 Tommy meets his daughter's new boyfriend (James Lance) and is determined not to come across as an authority figure. However, he changes his tune when he feels he isn't getting enough respect from his prospective son-in-law, and turns down an invitation to a party - a decision he soon has cause to regret.
Episode 5 - July 17, 2006 Tommy's convinced he's out of shape so he goes to the gym but ends up over-exerting himself.
Episode 6 - July 24, 2006 Tommy's car is wheel-clamped, an incident that leads him into conflict with Bernard Langley (Ben Miller), owner of rival exterminators. Tommy's convinced he is involved in dodgy dealings so he vows to expose his corruption
Episode 7 - July 31, 2006 The future of Tommy's relationship with Magz is in jeopardy after his latest dreadful breach of social etiquette. However, he soon becomes tempted by a new woman in his life in the shape of full-figured client Rock Chick (played by Liza Tarbuck).
[edit] Critical reception
Advance critical opinion of the show was favourable. The Daily Telegraph reported that it "brims with promise" [3] and The Guardian described it as "very, very funny" [4]
[edit] Second series & DVD
A producer from the show has confirmed that a second series is on its way as well as a DVD featuring cast commentaries and deleted scenes.[citation needed]
[edit] Remake
American television network NBC announced, as part of a two-year deal with Baby Cow Productions, they will remake Saxondale for an American audience. NBC's senior vice-president of comedy described their aim to access the "creative sensibility" of Coogan and his colleagues. [5]
[edit] Quotations
- Tommy: "I'm gonna leave now for two reasons. One: I don't want to lose my temper, which I think you'll agree shows some growth, and two: this clown's just let one go... don't deny it."
- Tommy (on folk music): "It's just 40 verses about crop failure sung by a bloke with hair like a brillo pad."
- Tommy: "We're all a bit of a dick. It's the human condition. Nothing to be afraid of..."
- Tommy: "You know why they never found any weapons of mass destruction? Because I've got 'em all in the back of the van."
- Raymond: "I got the sack because they found vomit in the store room and I got the blame because I was out the night before. It wasn't me. It was the special needs lad on work-experience. I didn't say anything because he couldn't help it. He had a spastic stomach."
- Tommy: "There she was, a goddess in a Pearl Jam T-shirt"
- Tommy: "Y'know something, you're orange! ! Y- y- you're physically orange. You could work for the 'phone company... Orange!"
- Crusty (animal rights protester): "Listen to me, it ain't fair: shooting pigeons. I mean, they ain't got a gun, have they?"
Tommy: "And I don't have wings. And I don't shit on other people's property. Well, you do daft things as a student, don't you?"
- Tommy talking about dance music:"If I want to hear electronic bleeps and farts, I'll put my foot through the windscreen of the Rascal and listen to the alarm going off."
- Finance sales rep: "Have you thought about consolidating all of your credit cards into one low cost repayment?"
Tommy: "No, but I've thought of caning them all into the red and then fakin' me own death..!"
- Vicky: "Wow. That's beautiful on the back of your jacket."
Tommy: "Designed by a native American."
Vicky: "Oh. What's it say?"
Tommy: "Born to kill".
Vicky: "Kill what? Moths?".
[edit] Theme music
The theme music is House of the King by Focus. Additionally, some episodes have ended with an excerpt from Hocus Pocus by Focus.
The composer for the series was Matt Berry, who wrote all the music for his own series, Snuff Box.
