David Mitchell on sound of young america

[PianoWizzy]

Cool interview.

[hmmhowstrange]

David is so adorable

[taigakirdape]

Oh, this interviewer was painful to listen to. David was fine, of course. But....oy

[highway234]

actually, a M&WL skit with mitchell as prime minister and webb as an unusually unhinged MP could be a particularly good time.

[NebulousSquirrel]

not that i don't like the sketch they used for an extract but wouldn't it have been better to use one of M&W's radio sketches or one that featured mitchell more prominantly since he was the one being interviewed... just saying

[thelaughingman79]

thats right David Cameron is most certainly NOT the non existent MP of england. stupid americans... Jesus christ read a book now and then people..without elves or vampires in it

[lamestguyintown]

UK is Bloody Awesome!

Piss off americans

[jennie8908]

Wow this interviewer is really... not good...

Love David though! :)

[guysmiley00]

Americans are always shocked at how confrontational both Question Period and the UK media in general are with British pols. Americans, for all their talk of their rebellious past, are some of the most deferential people to authority in the world. I always think that an injection of that rough-and-tumble sensibility could only improve the incredibly simpering attitude both the American media and people have toward their political leaders.

[pleasejump]

@guysmiley00 LOL WHAT? Have you been to Idaho, Texas, California, Montana, New Mexico, Illionis maybe? or I don't know maybe ever gone to the South? lol I know people who still say long live the confederacy lol. Have you lived in America? I bet not because otherwise you'd realize how stupid you sound. I'm not complelely sure how you can be serious. Maybe the religious right over here is but only when it suits them. Sure we got people like that but everywhere does

[pleasejump]

@guysmiley00 Also watch some american news, we hate our leaders.. Besides whose authority is everyone over here bowing to? Lol our own rampant consumerism? The republicans and democrats lol? The military lol? I don't have enough time to explain all the reasons your statement is so funny... you should come over and stay for a bit and see for yourself. Man when Obama got elected and some states thought he was going to try and take our guns... four states governments preemptively said they leave.

[MrPoundNote]

This interviewer does know that there is no prime minister of England, right?

[Artisn]

@MrPoundNote Probably not, since it's hard enough keeping track of all the senators, representatives, and local government figures in your surrounding area(usually 6 states worth of people at least), without having to keep track of exactly how another country runs their government.

[marshhen]

David Mitchell is genius. 

[PurpleFunnyChocolate]

Is it worng that I knew the entire sketch that was played just from the first few seconds?

[Takaouto]

@PurpleFunnyChocolate No, it means you're our new best friend. XDD

[Coolguyrob2006]

I'll give him the BAFTA, but PM of England, c'mon mate

[fitz11ful]

David Mitchell is brilliant. Fact.

[theactordavidbath]

"THE PRIME MINISTER OF ENGLAND - HOW STUPID, WHINY AMERICANS, STUPID AMERICANS" If any Americans are still wondering - yes Britain has a high percentage of whiny, stuck up, not-it-alls with inflated opinions about their own intelligence. He knows David's from England so does saying "The Prime Minister of England" mean he's not aware it's in the UK? Maybe he was asking what a BAFTA was for the sake of the listeners!! An American comic on radio 1 would get such and intelligent interview I'm sure.

[theactordavidbath]

@theactordavidbath That was meant to say "know-it-alls" damn-it!

[SilentwolfGRRR]

Prime minister of England my god Us citizens are clueless.

[MrRunescapeElite]

David Mitchell should deffinatly be priminister! if not be somewhere within the Government! =D

[Grojzekola]

"Prime Minister of England".... what an idiot.

[jsymons1985]

ha!

[jimbob1969]

the sound of dumb america

[flankspeed]

It appears the Sound Of Young America is a nasal whine.

[jimbob1969]

@flankspeed Ha Ha well done

[kidwrap123]

i love how smart he is

[DannyAdelante]

How does the host not know what the BAFTAs are? Is he just reading off a photocopy that an intern handed him 5 minutes before?

He sounded really stupid. I'm sure he would've done a great interview with Spencer Pratt or Paris Hilton though. You know, the hard hitting issues.

[Artisn]

@DannyAdelante Because most americans don't give a shit about comedy/television awards overseas. I would expect the same from anyone else from anywhere else about television awards in america, or any other country.

You sound obtuse riding around on your high horse, talking about levels of intelligence in radio hosts. He's a DJ, not a journalist. How is this interview any different from any other casual radio interview in any other country?

[mimosveta]

@Artisn Actually you are wrong. This is not some random award giving event, entire world knows what BAFTA's are, same as OSCARS or Palme d'Or. It's not some british thing, it's universally recognized award, and not knowing it, I'm sorry, but it is, monstrous lack of culture.

[Artisn]

@mimosveta I didn't belittle the award, i belittled your point of view. Also i love how you assume this is something other than a soft interview to promote that mitchell and webb look. Great job.

[mimosveta]

@Artisn I actually never talked to you before so I doubt you are familiar with my point of view. I also don't assume anything about this show, it's you assuming I'm assuming. I don't really care.

[boffdog]

@DannyAdelante

You are quick to criticize Jesse Thorn for not knowing what a BAFTA is but you clearly don't know who Jesse Thorn is. Only showing your own ignorance of America's modern comedy culture.

[burtosa]

kitchen peninsula!

[cegriffin]

I genuinely don't get what it is that everyone hates so much about the interviewer. I mean, he's not exactly Terry Gross or anything but he at least sounds genuinely interested in the interview.

And I thought the Cable Ace Award thing was pretty clearly a joke. Sort of like "America's Radio Sweetheart" clearly being a joke.

[owenhunt]

I agree with you, both of those statements were jokes, it is utterly ostensible as he is chuckling throughout an sounds pretty unpretentious.

As an American, this guy was immpressive to me as he knew what megalomanical meant, and I bet David Letterman himself wouldn't recept tthat word on first hearing. He is a fairly adept interviewer, nothing less than competent.

[brilliantfranz]

why do all people keep asking: if you're famous how you to live in a dumpplace like yours?

[jememboD]

i would love to see the first year cambridge student version of david.

[thatdrattedcat]

I feel like the heroin sketch is really good visually... it lacks impact without the incongruity of the Christmas sweaters

Oh nooo I just heard the Cable Ace question. What are you doing, interviewer??? How on earth did you get the impression that Prime Minister's Questions was a bunch of people saying HAR HAR HAR HAR???

[alilessthanthreesyou]

'that's how decisions should be made in a democracy' - hahaha brilliant!

[stecfc]

This is painfully awkward. 

I hope David Mitchell exports and translates well over there he's a friggin genius. This guy though doesn't seem to get it.

[Mangina9000]

I'm American and I've been a fan of M&W for a few years. I'm sure they'll do great here as a whole, or at least as well as any British comedy does.

[intowiz]

I think you know he hasnt reasearched his subject when he says and or creators.

[worthlesspeon13]

I don't get why they played a piece since Mitchell and Webb had their radio sketch show "That Mitchell and Webb Sound"

[QuixoticTendencies]

@worthlesspeon13 The Hufflepuff sketch would've been great.

[romavictor1SPQR]

Kitchen peninsula!

[afterscore]

Brillian! Absolutely brilliant!

[jedman0]

It just goes to show you can't be too careful!

[lobo2237]

I agree that the interviewer was awful and unprepared. I do not agree that Americans don't "get" British humor. I am from the States (Alabama, even) and think The Office UK is better, love Fry and Laurie (who is not just "House"), and think Mitchell and Webb are brilliant. Bruiser was very underrated.

David was very patient with the interviewer. I'm surprised that the experience didn't make it into one of his rants, or maybe it did and I just don't know.

[soulofshiver]

I actually prefer with American version of The Office. They did a much better job with it.

[townsjim]

Yeh but he's still funny

[azraphon]

The UK Office was better. I've seen the US version... I don't think the writers actually understood the point of the office.

[phytoalexa]

Thank you! I am so sick of everyone going on about how great the NBC re-write is and it's terrible. Ugh. Simply terrible.

[wardyladohaye]

@azraphon oh i loved the US office...far more than just a US remake i think

[TherealMrChristophel]

@azraphon same with "Life on Mars"

[RandBMuiscSupplement]

@azraphon You do know that it's written by the same people lol :P

[KhazModan]

@azraphon i agree the type of humour didnt translate. BUT the US version is hilarious in its own right, you just gotta separate it.

[phytoalexa]

Yeah, but you have to admit that *most* Americans are incapable of appreciating British humour. Can you honestly say that PBS programming is insanely popular over here, regardless of what side of the Mason-Dixon line one is on? As for David's patience, I'm thinking (and I could be completely off) that he was just trying not to rock the boat as M&W have yet to "break America". I was incredibly insulted for him when the idiot interviewer compared the BAFTAs to Cable Ace, but what can you do.

[lobo2237]

What you can do is shake your head and think of 20 million other questions you'd like to ask David if given the chance to interview. I know I did.

Phytoalexa, you're probably close to right about his reactions during the interview. I just think his soapbox rants are what makes his comedy appealing to me.

I can't even think about what NBC has done to The Office, but, to the subjet at hand, M&W should be showcased a lot more on BBC Americe.

[phytoalexa]

What amuses me is the thought of Robert in the same situation being far more dismissive (understatedly so, of course ;o) ), if not just plain curt. I mean, even David calls him "haughty" :lol:

Argh, I think the majority of people ANYWHERE seem to prefer drivel, whether it be housewives of the desperate sort or light-up screwdriver-wielding "doctors". I think we'd be better off just moving to England (once Brown's out of power)... who's with me?!

[CloudedBuff]

It just goes to show you can't be too careful.

[db9mady]

It just goes to show you can't be too careful!

[Buffoon1980]

It just goes to show you can't be too careful!

[YKW2]

It just goes to show you can't be too careful.

[artaylor5615]

all americans should watch peep show

tis the best of all british comedy

[mattsgrungy]

'I'm jessy thorn america's radio sweetheart'

What the fuck is that? where the shitting fuck did this guy learn to be a radio presenter? who wrote the fucking script? jesus fucking christ if that prick uses the word 'err' once more is heart will be less sweet and more on a spike outside his house.

I like David Mitchell though and the casual way he is taking the piss out of the guy presenting.

[SpursUltra]

that interviewer is knob

[jenben1427]

I'll decorate your flat, Mr. Mitchell. There'll be shelves everywhere for leather-bound books (the kind that smell like history) and big, comfy chairs for reading. Skip the kitchen; that's why God made take-away.

[Jinda89]

they've gotta be bookshelves that reach the ceiling, with a wooden ladder to reach the top ones...and an open fireplace!

[LittleRuberry]

Oh my God.

He is Stephen Fry. He's Stephen Fry and Webb is Hugh Laurie.

Its just so perfect. :)

[crazytosh1]

This American guy really doesn't get David atall. Good ol' Mitchell.

[meevfan]

Everything David said went completely over that host's head =/ He (the host) was an idiot.

[waynescooby]

it's quite sad, isn't it?

[paddedpencil]

he calls himself "america's radio sweetheart" so douchiness is pretty much a given

[scatterbrainedfloozy]

um, that's a joke.

[sianwordsworth]

American's just don't get it! They are so blinkered - they need obvious 'comedy' like Friends as this is the only kind of humour they understand...basic.

Long live David - love him!

[lcozzarelli]

oh, *please* stop with that twattish generalization. And were you passing notes in the back of class when they went over plurals vs. appositives?

[lcozzarelli]

oops i meant possessives. Maybe you were passing the notes to me, and I was reading them..

[sianwordsworth]

I genuinely love the second half of your reply, so we can now be trans-atlantic friends :o) hehe

[somerandomer]

hes the new stephen fry...

mitchell is fantastic. the host doesnt seem to realise that hes being sarcastic sometimes

[10mintwo]

"I don't even have a kitchen peninsula!" lol. please don't think all Americans are as idiotic and humorless as this host.

[moloney1989]

Bafta is a good award, its like the highest honour for a TV show. Mitchell is great here as always ;)

[xFreyaBobsx]

Arghh the host is one of those annoying people who use 'like' as a filler in every sentence. I will put up with it though, just to hear David!

[pepperdinho]

the chat show host is retardedly stupid

[tskaface]

Agreed.

[waynescooby]

it's really sad. i could have done so much with that interview that this shmuck did not

[MargotVoguey]

Thanks so much for this!

[smurfieboo]

Is that Stephen Fry? no it's David Mitchell.

[troumer]

Good Lord--You weren't kidding about what the interviewer. ("Was he (Webb) nice to you?"--what the Hell?). And if interviewing someone who's won a BAFTA, a very small amount of digging will reveal it's essentially the British Emmy--NOT an Ace Award. Also, I thought Mitchell and Webb didn't write Peep Show, at least not the early seasons. There are good radio interviewers over here, believe it or not.

On the bright side, maybe they'll finally break into the US market and get more BBC funds.

[manicmacintosh]

Series!!! Who cares if they break the US market? They've got enough funding from the BBC as it is!

[scatterbrainedfloozy]

i thought "was he nice to you?" was a really good question.

And the answer was interesting and funny which is mainly what you're going for with interview questions, I would have thought.

[CocoMac877]

its a channel 4 show, in case u care lol

[troumer]

Assuming you mean BBC radio 4, then I guess I misunderstood the origin/purpose of the interview. I thought this was for some US radio station.

But if this was done for a UK audience, it seems like an even weaker interview. I've never been to the UK, and I'm not in the media, but even I know what a BAFTA is and what its US equivalent would be. I'm sure the host is a wonderful person, but...oh, never mind.

[CocoMac877]

sorry i wasnt too clear, i meant peep show was a channel 4 show, its a different company to bbc entirely.

was just pointin it out cos alot of the british sitcoms are comin from channel 4, nt just the bbc.

its a completely irrelevant point lol

[icyangel018]

That host is terribly annoying, but David's wonderful as ever. Thank you for posting this

[GreenElixir]

Stupid ignorant American radio host.

Anyway...

I love David Mitchell's work, especially his character Mark from Peep Show.

I love his voice too... ^-^