This is one of the harder reviews to write, as I honestly don't know exactly how I feel about the show. It's . . not funny, is it ? Or is it? The character is and some of the delivery is, but the plot and supporting characters? I don't know.
Veteran British character actor Stephen Toast (Matt Berry) lands a role in the new Star Wars film, which leads to him relocating to Los Angeles. He moves in with the wildly OCD Russ Nightlife (Fred Armisen) and tries to find enough work in L. A. to keep him afloat until the film starts shooting.
I mean, there certainly were elements of this that I didn't like at all. I don't understand what Fred Armisen's characters is supposed to be about, nor why Rashida Jones is playing a character who can't speak English. I hated the LA agent played by Doon Mackichan, (though liked to see Jane Plough) again. The American cameos felt, in general, as though they were stunt casting, rather than any particularly clever or interesting use of the actors. We got more though out of British performers, like Matthew Holness, Natasia Demetriou and Morgana Robinson though. Generally, I got bored by the plot of virtually every episode and found a lot of it pretty tedious.
It's odd though, even just looking through the IMDB pages and reading "Kayvan Novak as Des Wigwam" makes me laugh. And every so often there was a particular reading of a line that's unique to the character and to Berry's portrayal that made me laugh.
If I'm honest though, it's not enough really and it must be truly baffling to anyone starting this as a completely new series (which given that it's moved to the BBC from Channel 4 is a distinct possibility) as to what is going on.
I love the character, but this might be dreadful... or not... I don't know anymore.