2004: The Stupid Version
| 2004: The Stupid Version | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Mock reality |
| Created by | Armando Iannucci |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | Armando Iannucci |
| Starring |
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No.of seasons | 1 |
| No.of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Adam Tandy |
| Running time | 60:00 |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Three |
| Release | 31 December 2004 |
2004: The Stupid Versionis a satirical documentary written byArmando Iannucci,broadcast in two parts onBBC ThreeonNew Year's Eve2004. The one-off programme is a parody of review programmes, which are typically broadcast at New Year. It features edited footage from news and television series, as well assatireson the politics andfadsof a year in which "onlyAndrew Marrkept his dignity ".
The documentary was shown again onBBC Twoon 29 January 2005, but has not been repeated since or released on DVD, although clips are available on the internet. Iannucci's other seriesTime Trumpet(2006) follows a similar format toThe Stupid Version,reviewing events satirically from a future perspective.
Format
[edit]Iannucci himself narrated the content, but only appears on screen once to assess the aftermath ofThe Room Show,a spoof of thereality televisionshows prevalent at the time, in whichIan McCaskill,Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwardsand a number of other minor celebrities were locked in an (unfilmed) container for ten hours.
In particular, the show focuses on stories that made the headlines from 2004, for example theUS Presidential Election,featuring edited footage showingGeorge W. Bushsinging “New York, New York”during a presidential head to head, and anmontageof election speeches emphasising the buzz words used by Bush's campaign.
In addition, the programme satirised politics in the United Kingdom, for example, edits ofTony BlairandGordon Brownapparently contradicting one another, the favourite swear words of politicians in theConservative Party,and the controversial documentary byPanorama,"Where the Tits wereSaddam'sWMD?”
The programme also features a series of banal interviews interspersed with the clips, with the interviewees either misunderstanding or misinterpreting their content; "The Olympics – what was allthatabout?” In reality, these were actorsRichard Ayoade,Matthew Holness,Adam BuxtonandStewart Lee.
Television programmes by the BBC which were spoofed includedJohnny & Denise: Passport to Paradise,Hard Spell,The Weakest LinkandAlan Titchmarsh'sBritish Isles: A Natural History.Other scenes included a world where every object was in the style of aniPod,a dubbedNews 24interview with the editor ofAl Jazeeraand a parody of the song byThe Streets,“Dry Your Eyes”(featuring Buxton as the protagonist).