A appraisal of this British television sitcom starring Simon Pegg, currently in How to Lose friends and Alienate People and in last year's Hot Fuzz.
The cover of the second series DVD case quotes SFX magazine in calling this `literate and intelligent.' The first series' cover proclaims this original and award winning. Yet despite its cult status and warm recommendations, I struggle to see the appeal and quality.

The premise is that two mid twenties strangers bond over their unsuccessful flat hunt, and pose as a couple to obtain a flat. Their north London home introduces us to their live in landlady...
see rest of review at http://www.telewatcher.com/Comedy/Spaced.303997

I bought this recently after hearing good feedback from friends and various web sites over the years and I have to say I think it is almost up there with The Office and Phoenix Nights (although there are not as many laugh out loud moments). I just love it! Great characters, interesting episodes and unobtrusive film references aplenty! 4 out of 5 !!!

Looking back it's remarkable that such a young, talented group of people managed to reach such a large audience in 1999, and its no surprise that those very same people have made the successful transition to the big screen (Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz). I hadn't watched this since its original broadcast and was a little surprised to find that it had lost little of its original freshness (which says something about the quality of today's television). All the performances are brilliant and even though director Edgar Wright can't resist stacking up every shot with sly nods to his influences he, like Tarantino, still manages to make things original and inspired. There are too many amazing, hilarious moments to list here but my favourite episode has to be Epiphanies starring the legendary cycle-courier-so-into-my-clubbing-i'll-dance-to-a-ringing-telephone; Tyres. Absolute class. The extras are okay; you have the usual about-as-intersting-as-watching-someones-holiday-film in-joke outtakes and a few fairly pointless deleted scenes. Of most interest is the raw footage which provides a terrific insight into how Wright directs.

This has to be one of the best sit-coms ever, never mind contemporary. Completely off-the-wall, lunatic genius it really milks the most out of its' terrific cast and well-crafted gags. I really believe anyone who doesn't find this even slightly funny has severely missed the point.

The basic premise of this now cult comedy is a couple of twenty-somethings renting a flat and fleshing out their early life crises in as surreal a way as possible. But that just doesn't begin to do justice to this fantastic show. Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson superbly hold everything together as Tim and Daisy, while being well supported by their oddball collection of friends. The best thing of all in 'Spaced' is the many film and pop culture references that are crammed everywhere- they are just some of the best takes on things like 'Star Wars' and 'Resident Evil' I have ever seen and probably get even better in series 2.

But, most important of all, it's just extremely funny. I can't possibly choose a favourite episode as they are all brilliant, though my favourite bit has to be Tyres' 'trip' to the sound of a ringing phone (man, it's inspired!) Nor can I choose a favourite series- both 1 and 2 are equally excellent in their own right. Rather than buy both individually (as I did!) I'd go for the complete box set. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Do you like your comedy rather off the wall? Do you like comedies like Shaun Of The Dead, Big Train & Green Wing? If the answer is "Yes," then all I can say is that Spaced (both series 1 & 2) is quite simply the funniest & most addictive comedy series ever written.