Spaced

Spaced is a British television situation comedy written by and starring Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson, directed by Edgar Wright, and broadcast on Channel 4. It is notable for its almost constant dropping of pop-culture references. Two series of seven episodes have been broadcast (in autumn 1999 and spring 2001). The first series was a nominee for Best TV Sitcom in the 1999 British Comedy Awards.

Style

References to popular culture - particularly but not exclusively to science fiction and horror films, comic books and video games - abound in Spaced to the extent that the DVD of Series 2 includes the "Homage-o-meter", an alternative set of subtitles listing every reference and homage; for the "Definitive Collectors Edition" DVD boxed set, the Homage-o-meter was added to the first series as well. Providing the artwork for Tim's comic 'The Bear', drawings and doodles were 2000 AD's artists Jim Murray and Jason Brashill, who also provided other incidental artwork for the show.

Related Topics:
Science fiction - Horror - Film - Comic books - Video games - DVD - 2000 AD - Jim Murray - Jason Brashill

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Spaced has a distinctive cinematic style set by director Edgar Wright and shot (unusually for a sitcom) with a single camera. In addition to borrowing liberally from the visual language of horror film, it has particular stylistic mannerisms like the recurring device of scene changes occurring in the middle of a pan. The series' atmosphere is also established by the use of a particular flavour of contemporary electronica on its soundtrack.

Related Topics:
Horror film - Electronica

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The series is also noted for its regular references to recreational drug use, from its title onwards: Tim and Daisy are shown smoking cannabis on a number of occasions, the plot of "Art" is built around the after-effects of a night taking amphetamine, and "Epiphanies", while not showing any explicit drug-taking, is full of references to the effects of ecstasy. The drug-taking goes unremarked, as a normal part of the characters' lives, which is no more significant than the caffeine intake on Friends.

Related Topics:
Recreational drug use - Cannabis - Amphetamine - Ecstasy - Caffeine - Friends

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