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STUDIO: BBC Warner
MSRP: $129.98
RATED: Not Rated
RUNNING TIME: 1475 minutes
SPECIAL FEATURES:

  • Interview

  • Bonus Clips

  • Featurette


The Pitch

Ghetto British twins make video diaries and perform stand-up.

The Humans

Steve Coogan and Karen Taylor

The Nutshell

Paul and Pauline Calf were the first big hits for Steve Coogan. Coogan started the characters alongside his original Duncan Thicket creation on Saturday Zoo. For some reason, the characters caught on and the BBC decided to pimp them out. Sure, they were government housing dwelling freaks that represented the worst in society. But, they were fun to watch.

The Lowdown

The initial Calf offering was Video Diaries. Paul Calf is the star for most of the two episodes. He fights, he tries to impress girls and he gets drunk. Pauline Calf is the headliner for the second half of the sub-series, as she tries to get married. Nothing works out and we’re all left to laugh at the low-class trash. What blows my mind is how both of the Calf siblings look like distant cousins of Edgar Winter.


It’s Sodding Showtime at the Bloody Apollo.

Paul and Pauline Calf’s Cheese and Ham Sandwich actually gave me hope that there was humor to be mined out of the siblings. The comedy special benefits from age and distance, as this is more of a live special that Coogan headlined in 2003. Nearly a decade out, Coogan gets to work some of that Alan Partridge magic and flesh out the slag and the dope. What does suck about the special is how they try to play the characters off of other Brit TV staples. It becomes a little topical, which doesn’t do shit for those of living in the here and now.


Jennifer Coolidge never looked better.

Steve Coogan has been such an odd guy to watch develop across this Collection. As a BBC America viewer, I didn’t get the privilege of watching the Coogan shows in any sort of chronological order. We took what we got and tried to make sense of it. If the hardcore Brit Chewers have a problem with that, well nobody’s perfect. I’m just here to make the dick and fart jokes.


Keepin’ it real.


Paul and Pauline Calf served a point at the start of Coogan’s career, but they’re not what I would call peak material. Much of the setup for Alan Partridge starts here, but I don’t know how that can be called a plus for this show. Patrick Marber steals the show from Coogan more times than not, but even he doesn’t do anything that amazing. The Calf legacy is built on a few quick laughs and some awful images. Steal, it’s better than most of the shit on American TV.


I had a Pet Shop Boys joke, but I can’t get over the guy upfront. He looks like Joe Pantoliano, but with a dash of Adam Ant. He frightens me.

The Package

The
DVD
package comes with an interview, plus a look behind the scenes. The original Calf siblings’ debut on Saturday Zoo. It’s all basic stuff, but you don’t get a commentary. Why is it so hard to get Steve Coogan to actually sit down and offer up a real commentary. Not one of those quickie bits like he did on the Alan Partridge Christmas Special, but a substantial commentary that informs the fans.

6.7 out of 10