Friday Night Dinner

Another fun show that started last month is BBC America's Friday Night Dinner.  It is just what it sounds like; a family dinner each Friday evening with the normal (or abnormal) happenings.  The set up is pretty simple with the two sons arriving by car, the appearance of their half dressed father, a strange neighbor who tends to pop by unannounced, brotherly battles (and poisoning) at the dinner table, uncomfortable questioning about ever-absent girlfriends, and an over-taxed mother trying to hold it altogether.

One of the sons is played by Simon Bird, who you may remember from The Inbetweeners, another BBC comedy that follows the hi-jinx of four high school friends.  The rest of the cast is new to me but work well together.  And while I was afraid the formula would wear thin quickly, the introduction of visitors and odd topics (e.g., the secret storage of science magazines that are treated like porn), as well as the endearing qualities of this very strange family, keep it lively and interesting.  You could do worst than spend a Friday night dinner with this family (by the way, it is on BBC America each Saturday night).

Update:  If you like The Inbetweeners, or just want to see them for the first time, you can check our their new movie (click here for the trailer).  London's Guardian notes that the early returns on the movie are better than Hangover II.