The Brilliant 'Spaced' Finally Hits Region 1 DVD!
Filed under: Comedy, Home Entertainment
I have a really cheap DVD player that I was able to convert to "region free" by entering one of those 1-2-up-down-3-4 codes, which means this news is only slightly less awesome for me -- but it's freakin' GREAT news for anyone who loves Shaun of the Dead / Hot Fuzz and has yet to experience the very first experiment from sirs Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, and Nick Frost. Now, in most cases I wouldn't cover TV shows (mainly because TV Squad does such a kick-ass job of covering TV shows), but seeing as how most of America "met" these guys through the movies, I figure it's news worth doing at Cinematical.I'll keep it brief: The two-season Spaced set will be released on Region 1 DVD by BBC Video. Release date is July 22. (One certainly hopes that none of the music has been altered. Allegedly, "music rights" is the reason it took so long for Spaced to make its North American debut.) For those who have yet to experience the blissful magic of Spaced, here's a recap that makes it sound like a moronically conventional sitcom. (It's not.) "Two young 'grown-ups' pose as a married couple in order to rent a very attractive flat." (Yep, that's it.) Mr. Pegg's fantastic co-star is Ms. Jessica Stevenson (now Jessica Hynes), and the supporting cast features Julia Deakin, Mark Heap, Katy Carmichael, and (of course) Nick Frost -- all of whom you'll love after about six episodes.
Collider has the full run-down on the DVD specs, but I'm most intrigued by the commentary tracks that will team Pegg, Stevenson, and Wright with audio guest stars Kevin Smith, Bill Hader, Quentin Tarantino, Matt Stone, and Diablo Cody. Plus the three-disc set promises a bunch of new goodies that are not on the Region 2 DVD -- which means I'll soon be in possession of two different Spaced volumes. But really, the show is that damn good.
(The first one who mentions the upcoming American version will get a cyber-slap from me. After seeing how the American producers treated the Spaced creators, I'm absolutely boycotting the new rendition.)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-06-2008 @ 8:33AM
edd said...
Spaced, and Arrested Development, are the two finest comedies ever created. I'm from the UK but so glad to see the DVD finally wing it's way overseas. Just watch it! Then go watch I'm Alan Partridge!
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5-06-2008 @ 8:34AM
RP said...
Those new commentaries sound like a pretty bad idea to me.
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5-06-2008 @ 8:57AM
Robin said...
Yay! Can't wait to get my hands on this.
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5-06-2008 @ 9:15AM
L. said...
I also converted a dvd player to be region-free in order to watch Spaced. Despite the fact that I already own the 3 disc UK release of Spaced, I'll be preordering this one as soon as possible. Spaced is hands down one of the best shows I've ever seen and is infinitely rewatchable.
I can't wait to see the footage from "Spaced on Stage". I was lucky enough to be on vacation in London when the event was held and it was a major highlight of the trip. Everyone was so funny and gracious, with a jet-lagged Edgar Wright sticking around afterwards to talk to fans.
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5-06-2008 @ 11:15AM
harosa said...
Man, it sucks that I have to get this because of the new content, hope theyre worth it, any news on a Blu ray release?
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5-06-2008 @ 10:37AM
mooman said...
Im pretty sure that like most UK TV shows, Spaced was filmed on standard Definition Video and not film, so a blu-ray release would be pointless.
5-06-2008 @ 11:16AM
Hugo said...
My reasoning is that since going Blu ray Id rather just spend money on that format.
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5-06-2008 @ 1:35PM
AJ Wiley said...
Yes! I have been waiting forever to see Spaced! All I've seen of it previously was a snippet of an episode on BBC America, and they haven't played it since...
Those commentaries sound great. I love every one of the "special guests..."
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5-06-2008 @ 1:54PM
Gabe said...
Why the hell is Diablo Cody involved in any way with doing commentary for this? The humor in this great show is NOTHING like her "look-at-me,I'm-so-f*ing-hip" trendier-than-thou crap she passes off as talent. Guess I'll stick with my region 2 DVDs.
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5-06-2008 @ 6:04PM
carson said...
I too played the region 2 on a dvd player. My Mac to be exact. I too will be picking this up because of the special features.
P.S.
I don't think a US version of SPACED can happen without the UK talent trifecta.
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5-07-2008 @ 10:13AM
Mandy J said...
I think Edgar, Simon and Jessica Hynes (not Nick Frost. Why do so many people overlook the major female creative force on this show?!), wanted to do something special for the Region 1 release, rather than just recycle the British edition. They have clearly got friends in to provide a new point of view on the commentaries and I would guess a bit of lively banter. Diablo Cody is definitely a friend of the group, particularly Edgar Wright, having seen them pictured together at a number of events. Without DC the guests would all be men and one of Spaced's strong points is its appeal to both sexes. I trust their choices entirely.
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5-07-2008 @ 10:14AM
Mandy J said...
I think Edgar, Simon and Jessica Hynes (not Nick Frost. Why do so many people overlook the major female creative force on this show?!), wanted to do something special for the Region 1 release, rather than just recycle the British edition. They have clearly got friends in to provide a new point of view on the commentaries and I would guess a bit of lively banter. Diablo Cody is definitely a friend of the group, particularly Edgar Wright, having seen them pictured together at a number of events. Without DC the guests would all be men and one of Spaced's strong points is its appeal to both sexes. I trust their choices entirely.
Reply