Inbetweeners

The Inbetweeners

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Inbetweeners is a British sitcom which aired for three series from 2008 to 2010 on E4. Created and written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, the show follows the life of suburban teenager Will (Simon Bird), and three of his friends at the fictional Rudge Park Comprehensive.

The show has been nominated for 'Best Situation Comedy' at BAFTA twice, in 2009 and 2010. At the British Academy Television Awards 2010, it won the Audience Award, and in 2010 the show won the Best Sitcom award at the British Comedy Awards.[1] In the 2011 British Comedy Awards, the show also won the award for Outstanding Contribution to British Comedy. The Inbetweeners Movie was released on 17 August 2011.

Main Cast

  • Will McKenzie - Simon Bird
  • Simon Cooper - Joe Thomas
  • Neil Sutherland - Blake Harrison
  • Jay Cartwright - James Buckley
  • Carli D'Amato - Emily Head
  • Mark Donovan - Henry Lloyd-Hughes
  • Mr. Gilbert - Greg Davies
  • Charlotte Hinchcliffe - Emily Atack

Principal characters

Main article: List of The Inbetweeners characters

Will McKenzie

  • Played by Simon Bird[2]
  • 2008-2011

Will arrived at the school as an outsider, having transferred from a private school after his parents divorce. Confident and focused, he is academically able, and eager to get into a good university. He is romantically frustrated, and pessimistic about his chances, being acutely aware of his lack of any kind of coolness. He also annoys the lazy head of Sixth Form, Mr Gilbert, by enthusiastically suggesting ideas and schemes that will mean more work for him. Often quick-witted and controversial, he is also the most sceptical of the gang about Jay's tall stories.

His mother is considered highly attractive by the other boys, among others. He objects to comments on the subject, to no avail.

Simon Cooper

  • Played by Joe Thomas[2]
  • 2008-2011

Simon is a mild mannered member of the gang, although he is prone to outbursts of hysterical swearing at the slightest setback. He is also the most romantic of the boys, his on-off relationship with Carli D'Amato propelling many of the plots. He also is the only one of the four to own a (working) car, an embarrassingly small, old and yellow Fiat Cinquecento Hawaii.

His father tries to maintain a frank and friendly relationship with him, delivering heart-to-hearts which he finds acutely embarrassing.

Jay Cartwright

  • Played by James Buckley[2]
  • 2008-2011

Jay is, in his own mind, the most sexually experienced of the group, frequently telling wild stories about his exploits, and handing out wrongheaded advice. In fact, everything he knows about sex is gleaned from the pornography to which he frequently masturbates. He is sometimes believed by Simon or Neil, with disastrous results.

His compulsive lying seems to have something to do with his relationship with his father, who often mocks and belittles him. He is also known to have a rather small penis, as regularly mentioned by his father.

Neil Sutherland

  • Played by Blake Harrison[2]
  • 2008-2011

"Neil Lindsay Sutherland" is the dim-witted member of the group. Due to his slow nature, he is often the only person who believes Jay's outrageous stories, and often fails to pick up the sarcasm in Will's one liners. On the other hand, he is invariably cheerful, a characteristic which is envied by Will. He has a penchant for older women. He is also the most sexually experienced of the group.

His friends tease him about his father being homosexual. Both he and his father strongly deny these rumours.

History

Beesley and Morris met as producers on Channel 4's The 11 O'Clock Show. Following posts as commissioners at Channel 4, where Morris shepherded Peep Show, the two launched their own company, Bwark Productions, in 2004 and landed their first series with The Inbetweeners.[3] A pilot for the show was produced in 2006 under the direction of James Bobin titled 'Baggy Trousers'.

E4 originally aired the first series in May 2008, and Channel 4 also broadcast it in November that year. The second series began screening in the United Kingdom on 2 April 2009 and finished on 7 May 2009. A third series was commissioned by E4, commencing on 1 September 2010[4][5] and ending on 18 October 2010. The first episode of the third series had the highest-ever audience for an E4 original commission.[6] Following the conclusion of the third series, the cast and crew of the show indicated that a fourth series would be unlikely as the show had run its course, but that an Inbetweeners movie would be produced, set some time after the third series and following the cast on a holiday in Malia, Crete.

For Red Nose Day 2011, the stars of the show travelled around the UK in the yellow Fiat Cinquecento featured in the show in a special named The Inbetweeners: Rude Road Trip. The aim was to try to find the fifty rudest place names in the country.

Episodes

Main article: List of The Inbetweeners episodes

Episodes of the first, second and third series can be viewed by United Kingdom and Irish viewers through Channel 4's service, 4oD,[7] and on YouTube.[8] The Inbetweeners: Rude Road Trip is also available as is Top Ten Inbetweeners Moments.

Future

No talks have been made at this point in time. There are rumours spreading that there could be a fourth series of the comedy as well as a sequel to the movie. It has at this point not been confirmed whether or not this or the sequel will take place.

Film

Main article: The Inbetweeners Movie

In September 2009, Beesley and Morris confirmed that a film had been commissioned by Film4.[9] The plot revolves around the four boys, now eighteen years old, going on holiday to Malia, Crete.[10] It was released in cinemas on 17 August 2011[11] with a 15 certificate. Up until the end of November it had grossed over £45,000,000 in the UK Box office, a large amount considering the film's meagre budget of just £3,500,000.

List

In 2011, an Inbetweeners: Top 10 Moments special aired on Channel 4, featuring a countdown of the series' "top 10 moments".

Music

The opening theme tune to The Inbetweeners is an instrumental version of "Gone Up in Flames" by English rock band Morning Runner. The first series also features music by Rachel Stevens, Tellison, Paolo Nutini, The Maccabees, Air Traffic, Calvin Harris, The Ting Tings, Arctic Monkeys, Theaudience, The Fratellis, Vampire Weekend, Two Door Cinema Club, Phoenix, General Fiasco, Gorillaz, Hot Chip, Belle & Sebastian, Field Music, Jamie T, The Libertines, Rihanna, Oasis, Jack Peñate, Guillemots, The Feeling, Kate Nash, The Wombats, The Jam, The Cure, Lily Allen, Mumm-Ra, Kylie Minogue and Feist.[12] The second series also featured Oasis, Biffy Clyro, Passion Pit, Royworld, MGMT, Maximo Park, and The Cribs and the third series also featured Ludacris. A full list can be found on the E4 website. A soundtrack album, The Inbetweeners Soundtrack, was released in 2009.

Worldwide broadcasting

BBC America began airing The Inbetweeners from 25 January 2010.[13] The network aired both existing series as a single 12 episode television season. The same was done by MTV Latin America.

In 2010, The Inbetweeners started airing in Australia on the Nine Network's digital channel GO!, on Super Channel in Canada, on the comedy channel TV4 Komedi in Sweden, on TV2 in New Zealand, on MTV Latin America.In Israel, yes Next aired the first 2 series, while the 3rd series airdate is unknown.

On 28 February 2011, The Inbetweeners started airing in France on MCM.[14]

Country Network(s) Premiere
 United Kingdom E4/Channel 4 1 May 2008
 Australia GO! 2010
 Australia UKTV 2011
 Canada Super Channel 2010
 Belgium JIM 2010
 Sweden TV4 Komedi 2010
TV2 2010
UKTV 2010
 Ireland E4/Channel 4
RTÉ Two
1 May 2008
9 January 2012
yes Next 2010
 Italy MTV Italy 2010
MTV Latin America 2010
 France MCM 28 February 2011
MTV Portugal 2010
2x2 31 November 2011
 United States BBC America 25 January 2010
Veronica 6 December 2011

Reception

The first series began on 1 May 2008, with the pilot episode garnering 238,000 viewers.[15] The series averaged 459,000 viewers,[16] with 474,000 viewers watching the series finale.[17] The Inbetweeners received two nominations at the British Comedy Awards; the show was nominated for "Best New British Television Comedy (Scripted)" and Simon Bird was nominated for "Best Male Comedy Newcomer".[18] Both won their respective categories.[19] The show was also voted by the British Comedy Guide website as the "Best New British TV Sitcom 2008".[20] It was nominated for "Best Situation Comedy" at the British Academy Television Awards 2009,[21] ultimately losing out to The IT Crowd.[22] It then won the Audience Award at the British Academy Television Awards 2010.[1]

The first episode of series two, which aired on E4 at 10 pm (BST) 2 April 2009, averaged 958,000 viewers,[15] with another 234,000 viewers watching at 11 pm on the time-shift channel E4+1 meaning it was watched by 1.2 million, the highest audience of 2009 for E4.[17]

Joe McNally, writing for The Independent, commends an "exquisitely accurate dialogue, capturing the feel of adolescence perfectly"[23] and Will Dean of The Guardian comments that the show "captures the pathetic sixth-form male experience quite splendidly".[24] The series is often contrasted with E4's successful teen drama, Skins; commentators have offered that "The Inbetweeners' portrayal of dull suburbia is closer [than Skins] to the drab teen years most of us spent, rather than the decadent time we wished we spent."[25]

Episode one of series three aired on 13 September 2010 on UK digital terrestrial network E4, attracting a record breaking overnight average audience of 2.6m viewers (12.5% audience share) in its 10 pm slot, the highest ever viewing figure for a show screened on the channel until 2011 when Glee beat the record.[6]

DVD releases

  • Series 1 was released on DVD on 2 June 2008.
  • Series 2 was released on DVD on 18 May 2009.
  • Series 3 was released on DVD on 25 October 2010.
  • Series 1-3 boxset was released on 25 October 2010.
  • The Inbetweeners Movie was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on 12 December 2011 in the UK.

All of the DVDs received an 18 certificate due to their high number of sexual references and bad language. The theatrical version of The Inbetweeners Movie received a 15 certificate in the United Kingdom, with the extended cut release receiving an 18 certificate.

Ratings

Series 1

Air Date Episode Viewers[26] E4
Rank
1 May 2008 First Day 321,000 #10
1 May 2008 Bunk Off 321,000 #8
8 May 2008 Thorpe Park 305,000 #10
15 May 2008 Will Gets a Girlfriend 436,000 #8
22 May 2008 Caravan Club 432,000 #6
29 May 2008 Xmas Party 422,000 #6

Series 2

Air Date Episode Viewers E4
Rank
2 April 2009 The Field Trip 1.21m #1
9 April 2009 Work Experience 1.182m #1
16 April 2009 Will's Birthday 1.057m #1
23 April 2009 A Night Out in London 1.015m #1
30 April 2009 Duke of Edinburgh 1.205m #1
7 May 2009 Exam Time 1.205m #2

Series 3

Air Date Episode Viewers E4
Rank
13 September 2010 The Fashion Show 3.456m #1
20 September 2010 The Gig and the Girlfriend 3.336m #1
27 September 2010 Will's Dilemma 3.572m #1
4 October 2010 The Trip to Warwick 3.456m #1
11 October 2010 Home Alone 3.721m #1
18 October 2010 The Camping Trip 3.701m #1

Awards

  • Best New TV Comedy, British Comedy Awards 2008
  • Best Male Comedy Newcomer (Simon Bird) British Comedy Awards 2008
  • Best New British TV Sitcom, The Comedy.co.uk Awards 2008
  • Best Comedy Show, TV Quick & TV Choice Awards 2009
  • Nominated for Best Situation Comedy, British Academy Television Awards 2009
  • Best TV Show, NME Awards 2010
  • Best Television Comedy Actor (Simon Bird) British Comedy Awards 2009
  • Nominated for Best Situation Comedy, British Academy Television Awards 2010
  • YouTube Audience Award, British Academy Television Awards 2010
  • Best Situation Comedy, Rose d'Or Awards 2010
  • Digital Choice National Television Awards 2011
  • British Comedy Academy Outstanding Achievement British Comedy Awards 2011

U.S. version

Iain Morris and Damon Beesley were asked by ABC to produce a pilot for a U.S. version of The Inbetweeners. The pilot wasn't picked up by the network, but they have given Morris and Beesley a second blind script commitment for a future project which the two will create.[3]

On 31 March 2011 it was announced that MTV had ordered a twelve-episode first season for a U.S. version of The Inbetweeners. A pilot episode, written by Brad Copeland, was given the green light in September 2010. Copeland will also serve as executive producer on the series along with Beesley and Morris.[27]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Thick Of It dominates Baftas, BBC News, 6 June 2010.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Inbetweeners (Series 1), Channel 4
  3. 3.0 3.1 The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Reporter (17 October 2008). Retrieved on 18 June 2009.
  4. The autumn hot list 2010 – 11. The Inbetweeners, The Observer, 29 August 2024. URL accessed on 30 August 2010.
  5. The Inbetweeners set to return for third series. CoventryTelegraph.net (2 September 2010). Retrieved on 5 September 2010.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Blunkett, John, The Inbetweeners pulls highest-ever audience for an E4 original commission, 14 September 2010. URL accessed on 14 September 2010.
  7. What's on Channel 4 on Demand: The Inbetweeners. Channel 4. Retrieved on 22 March 2009.
  8. Youtube – The Inbetweeners. Retrieved on 16 November 2010.
  9. Channel 4 develops film of The Inbetweeners. Retrieved on 11 September 2009.
  10. E4 Inbetweeners Movie Application Page http://www.e4.com/inbetweeners/film-application.html
  11. Internet Movie Database The inbetweeners http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1716772/
  12. The Inbetweeners Soundtrack. amazon.co.uk.
  13. Genzlinger, Neil, Dreams of a Teenage Loser, The New York Times, 25 January 2010. URL accessed on 25 May 2010.
  14. http://www.allocine.fr/series/ficheserie_gen_cserie=3705.html
  15. 15.0 15.1 French, Dan (3 April 2009). New 'Inbetweeners' draws 958,000 for E4. Digital Spy. Retrieved on 3 April 2009.
  16. West, Dave (5 June 2008). E4 takes second series of 'Inbetweeners'. Digital Spy. Retrieved on 22 March 2009.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Rogers, Jon (3 April 2009). The Inbetweeners makes 1.2m laugh. Broadcast. Retrieved on 3 April 2009.
  18. The Nominees 2008. British Comedy Awards. Retrieved on 22 March 2009.
  19. The Winners 2008. British Comedy Awards. Retrieved on 22 March 2009.
  20. British Comedy Guide Awards 2008. British Comedy Guide. Retrieved on 19 January 2009.
  21. Nissim, Mayer (24 March 2009). BAFTA TV Awards 2009: The Nominees. Digital Spy. Retrieved on 3 April 2009.
  22. Bafta TV Awards 2009: The winners, BBC Entertainment, BBC, 26 April 2009. URL accessed on 26 April 2009.
  23. McNally, Joe, You Write The Reviews: The Inbetweeners, The Independent, Independent News & Media, 19 May 2008. URL accessed on 22 March 2009.
  24. Dean, Will, Sitcom surbubia with spots, The Guardian, Guardian Media Group, 8 May 2008. URL accessed on 22 March 2009.
  25. Dean, Will, The Inbetweeners is more realistic than Skins, The Guardian, 3 April 2009. URL accessed on 25 May 2010.
  26. Weekly Top 10 Programmes. Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved on 17 June 2009.
  27. Andreeva, Nellie (31 March 2011). MTV Picks Up 'Inbetweeners' To Series. Deadline. Retrieved on 1 April 2011.

External links

This page was last modified 01.02.2012 17:59:08

This article uses material from the article The Inbetweeners from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.