Little Britain USA News

30/12/2008 - Johnny Depp? He'll have to audition like everyone else

Shooting Stars legend Matt Lucas told yesterday how he wants to invite Hollywood idol Johnny Depp on to Little Britain - but joked: “He’ll have to audition like everyone else!” The tubby comic — who stars alongside Depp in Tim Burton’s film version of Alice in Wonderland — added: “Johnny is very friendly and a good laugh.” Matt said his new pal Anchorman star Will Ferrell is also in line for a possible guest appearance on the new series of Little Britain USA. Full story...

03/12/2008 - Beeb recommissions Little Britain USA

Despite its controversial brand of humour, the series was successful in the states with USA Today calling the creators, Matt Lucas and David Walliams 'marvelously talented.'
Mark Hurry, legal and commercial director at PPC Enterprises said: "Little Britain USA has been a huge hit and has added to the value of what is already a fantastic brand.
"Little Britain has gone truly global and as well as renewing licensing agreements with existing partners, we expect to be announcing new deals across the board in the near future." Full story...

28/11/2008 - Little Britain USA set for return

Little Britain USA is to return for a second series, despite claims Americans failed to get the jokes and found it too rude. Numerous headlines claimed Americans were shocked by the show, but the pair deny that it caused any controversy. "We're getting a second series. It was very successful on HBO, it got good viewing figures, great reviews, everyone was really pleased," David Walliams added. "We're delighted, we're very proud of it." But they do admit that they pushed taste limits. "It has some of our most outrageous things in it," said Walliams. "Tom and Mark those bodybuilders with the big muscles and their small... it's not for everybody but we thought it was funny. "We're always just trying to entertain people, not offend them, and I think if it's not your cup of tea, don't watch it." Full story...

27/11/2008 - Lucas, Walliams defend 'Little Britain USA'

Matt Lucas and David Walliams said British reports that the show received a mixed response from American TV critics were not accurate. "I think it's gone well," Lucas told GMTV. "We're doing another series for HBO in America next year, which is great... people have responded really well to the show out there. "The viewing figures went up every week. And most of the reviews were great." Walliams added: "We got one bad review - and then the British papers - they went, 'They've had terrible reviews!' Well, we had one!"

23/11/2008 - Now complaints flood in over 'obnoxious' Little Britain USA

Little Britain USA is at the centre of a taste and decency row after 400 people lodged complaints about the series. The BBC comedy sketch show, starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams, featured apparent full-frontal male nudity and sexual innuendo from one of the comedians dressed as a child.
TV watchdog Mediawatch described the programme as in ‘poor taste’ and called for a public consultation regarding decency on the BBC. Many of the complaints are believed to have been about the Gym Buddies, two American bodybuilders who brag about their love lives but hint that they are actually homosexual. Full story...

'Mark and Tom' now most viewed clip on YouTube

With over 290,000 views, our upload is now the most viewed clip on YouTube for LBUSA! Check it out...

18/11/2008 - Little Britain USA triumph

Matt Lucas and David Walliams are celebrating as their controversial comedy Little Britain USA has been recommissioned. The cheeky series was not universally well-received across the pond - but thankfully that hasn't affected its future. A source told Closer magazine: “Matt and David are ecstatic as they really enjoyed making it. "It’s going to be bigger and better and there are plenty of new characters in the pipeline!” Source.

Little Britain USA heading to New Zealand

The new series starts on Friday November 28 at 9.30pm on TV2. Source.

11/11/2008 - Little Britain USA DVD

The series may be over but now you can catch the entire series plus extra footage on DVD which will be released on November 24 2008 (UK).

Special features include:

The Making of Little Britain USA
Audio Commentary by Matt Lucas and David Walliams on all six episodes
Character Playlist
Deleted Scenes
Bloopers

05/11/2008 - Tearaway Vicky Pollard completely Speechless

The mouthy teenage chav comes close to killing herself - after jumping off a roof as part of a dare. The track-suited slapper, played by Matt Lucas, is forced to communicate using a Stephen Hawking-style speech box - which she controls with her eyes - in the Little Britain USA sketch. Matt’s comic partner David Walliams plays a doctor who breaks the bad news about Vicky’s accident to her brat camp drill instructor, saying: “She’s in a bad way. “She’ll have to learn how to walk again. And she’s lost the power of speech.” Source.

20/10/2008 - Sting gets a smacker on the lips from David Walliams

Rock star Sting made a memorable appearance in Little Britain last night when he shared a passionate kiss with David Walliams. The 57-year-old puckered up during a sketch in the US version of the popular BBC show.
Last month Walliams discussed the encounter, joking that the rocker seemed more than happy to try out the steamy tongue tussle. Full story...

14/10/2008 - Sting to appear in Episode #4

It's confirmed! Emily Howard performs an impromptu duet of "Fields of Gold" with Sting during episode #4.

Little Britain USA episode 2 review

I had some issues with Little Britain USA when it debuted, but I don't think I mentioned some of the positive aspects of it  that I've noticed more in the second episode of the series. There are a lot of good things about it that American sketch comedy programs could learn from this show's example, and it has nothing to do with naked Bubbles DeVere. That part I could have done without.
One of the best things about Little Britain USA is the pacing. This show is excellently paced, especially episode two. Since they've set up some of their recurring characters in the first episode, they can breeze right into those recurring sketches without a lot of palaver. This balances out really well with the new characters they introduced this week, making the show flow a little bit better than last week. Full story...

10/10/2008 - Matt and David on 'The Late Show with Craig Ferguson'

Matt and David are on the American chat show tonight. Source.

Audio: Characters people relate to

Last week’s premier of the HBO series Little Britain USA served as an introduction to American audiences of some of the more bizarre character creations of Brit writers Matt Lucas and David Walliams. But the success of the original Little Britain series on BBC and BBC America prove that audiences are receptive to the pair’s strange ways and don’t scare easily. At a recent TCA press conference for the new show, Lucas and Walliams talked about how they hope the audience relates to the characters they create. Listen here...

Fans unhappy with 'Little Britain USA' edit

Fans have claimed that they are disappointed with the edited version of Little Britain USA shown on the BBC. Viewers expressed annoyance that scenes were cut and censored from the opening episode of David Walliams and Matt Lucas's sketch show. One fan told DS: "Most UK Little Britain USA viewers have watched the US HBO version online before it was broadcast this week. "They were mortified when it turned out that censor changes have been made to the BBC version. Including the axing of a highly anticipated scene. Full story...

The Guardian review LBUSA

The Guardian (well, a TV critic from The Mirror) has reviewed episode #1. I'm seeing a bit of sarcasm here...

06/10/2008 - Little Britain USA is not big, funny or clever

"It’s the last sketch of Little Britain USA and Bubbles de Vere displays the kind of sharp observation totally lacking in the “comedy” up until then. “I think it’s very important to know when to stop,” Bubbles confesses, having gambled – and lost – her dress, wig, and ruby-encrusted “panties”, given her by Omar Sharif, on the roulette table." Full review...

05/10/2008 - Little Britain USA pulls in five-million viewers

BBC ONE on Friday night was the premier of Little Britain USA which pulled in over five million viewers reports Mirror.co.uk

News of the World tell Matt and David: “Hey buddy, you suck!”

Probably the worst review I have come across: “Hey buddy, you suck!” A real shame. Because it really needed saying. The upshot being? Unless Vicky Pollard At Brat Camp can pull them out of the mire we can quickly add Walliams and Lucas to that long list of British success stories in America. Walliams and Lucas’ barnstorming shift on Jonathan Ross a week ago had me believing they were comedy geniuses again. Impressive momentum. Stopped dead in its tracks the moment that frickin’ canned laughter onslaught kicked in. Full story...

I have received many reviews of the first episode from the public, here is a small handful...

• Saw the first one and it had me in stitches - Top Drawer!

• What can I say, pure genius!

• Wicked Slick! More More More! Tom Baker's narration is funny as ever!

• So funny! The first one was just to die for. Me and my mum died of laughter.

• I don't think it's that bad but the original is a million times better.

• That's so wrong its funny!

03/10/2008 - Little Britain USA premiers tonight (BBC)

The wait is over! Tune into BBC ONE at 9.30pm for the premier of Little Britain USA. Alternatively, watch here.

Everything you need to know about...Little Britain USA

Not content with the extraordinary domestic success of Little Britain on the BBC, those gossip-page darlings David Walliams and Matt Lucas have decided to try their luck stateside. The six-part series was promptly picked up by US production company HBO; it begins tonight on BBC1 at 9.30pm. Press coverage surrounding the first episode, which aired in America on Sunday night, was promisingly intense and the show's creators have come up with a host of new characters to mark the occasion. Quite how the Yanks would take to a vomiting, cross-dressing granny or the incoherent prattlings of a shell-suited chav has been the subject of lengthy debate. Full story...

Little Britain USA is Another Great British Import

Crude, rude, and totally ridiculous are a few of the choice words that could be used to describe "Little Britain USA", an offshoot of the wildly popular UK program "Little Britain" that airs on cable network HBO. It's definitely not for the easily offended or uptight, but for those who enjoy the wacky, self-deprecating hallmarks of British comedy, you're in for a treat. Full story...

28/09/2008 - Little Britain USA premiers tonight (HBO)

Little Britain USA will be released to the public tonight on HBO and BBC ONE on October 3rd.

British comedians invade Wilmington for 'Little Britain USA'

Ask British comedian David Walliams about the perks of filming the new HBO series "Little Britain USA" in Wilmington, and he'll mention the hospitable local crews, the region's ability to stand in for many different locales, and the general friendliness and respect of local residents.
Pose the same question to his co-star, Matt Lucas, and the answer is a bit more precise. "Kohl's frozen custard. It was an enormous factor in filming," Lucas said. The two actors talked with the Star-News earlier this summer about their new sketch comedy show, premiering tonight on HBO. Full story...

27/09/2008 - Little Britain USA is 'too crude'

US television critics have warned viewers of the "crude" humour in Matt Lucas and David Walliams' stateside sketch show, Little Britain USA. Others were more positive about the programme, with USA Today critic Robert Bianco praising the "speed, skill and good humour" of its stars and the the "cheeky, modern effrontery" of the characters. Full story...

'Crude' Little Britain gets mixed reviews days before the series launches Stateside

It seems that Matt Lucas and David Walliams's unique sense of humour may have been somewhat lost in translation. The US version of Little Britain was mauled by one critic, reviewer Brian Lowry, who said: ‘Little Britain USA is mostly just crude, revelling in mock condescension towards American stereotypes.' Full story...

Little Britain stars wait to win their US stripes

For five years Little Britain has been amusing and revolting the British public. Tomorrow evening Matt Lucas and David Walliams will learn what the American market makes of their scatological humour. Full story...

26/09/2008 - Reviews are coming in thick and fast!

The first reviews of LBUSA have been sent in:

American critic slates Little Britain USA.
Little Britain too rude for USA.
Rude humour and outrageous characters combine to make delightful comedy.
Little Britain fails to impress US.
'Los Angeles Times' review.
Little Britain USA brings lowbrow British humour to the new world.
HBO's humor is hit and miss.

25/09/2008 - MBC PR and Little Britain

"In an item in Tuesday's 'Pandora', 'Strange but is it true? The mysterious boycott of Little Britain', we quoted a New York radio presenter who said that he thought that the claimed West Hollywood Gay Lesbian Alliance protests about Little Britain's series for the USA were most likely planted by someone's publicist to generate publicity... ' We accept that MBC PR, publicists for Little Britain, did not do this. We also accept that 'Little Britain's new US show is not the 'most politically incorrect , offensive and obnoxious material ever seen in this country' and is suitable for broadcast. We apologise to all concerned." Source.

22/09/2008 - Sting in Little Britain USA gay kiss

Matt Lucas and David Walliams have vowed to shock America with the US version of Little Britain, revealing camped-up Walliams snogs singer Sting four times in the series. Full story... Source 2.

19/09/2008 - Facebook fanpage

If you have been a fan of Little Britain USA on Facebook, you may have noticed it has changed ownership. Unfortunatly I no longer run the fanpage for Little Britain USA after receiving this letter today from someone that works for HBO:

"We have loved seeing your Facebook page and the many fans you have attracted. Having kept an eye on Facebook for some time we have decided it is time for Little Britain USA to have an official presence within the Facebook community. We are planning on integrating your page in to our official page which will include our original content, official and licensed trademarks, special offers and features that are developed specifically for our fans. Facebook is going to transfer ownership of your page on to our official page."

BBC1 trailer now running

The first showing of the trailer for the new series is now being rolled out between programmes on BBC ONE.

The British Invasion

Until the premier of Little Britain USA, you can check out Matt and David's Fame-O-Metre...