Psychoville: a message from Steve Pemberton
So Psychoville has been launched into the world and we are left with a curious mix of euphoria and deflation. Watched it go out on Thursday night (and for the record Tweedleglum was invited round several times but clearly didn't want to be bothered) and then didn't know what to do with myself. Lots of very nice comments texted in by friends (quickest off the mark one David Tennant - well done David) and then waited for something to happen. The most exciting part of the night was getting a text from my friend Derren telling me that Twitter was all aflutter with people discussing the show, so I went and had a look.Now I'd accidentally joined Twitter a few weeks ago, attempting to read a 'tweet' from someone who'd mentioned Psychoville. I didn't realise that this made me an official Twitterer. Even though I'd used a silly name (Uncle Pockets, from the Danny Kaye song) my real name appeared alongside it. I started to attract 'followers' at an alarming rate, a bit like Life of Brian. I'm afraid I panicked and closed down my account.
However I since learnt to read Twitters without having to expose myself to the world, and I was delighted to see that we had 'trended'.Ìý This means that Psychoville was one of the ten most discussed subjects on Twitter IN THE WORLD!Ìý Just below IranElections and the new iPhone. I don't know much about webstuff, but I knew that was a good sign - they couldn't all be saying it was crap.
The reviews were largely very good, though I have to take issue with the critics who dismissed it as 'banal' or 'lacking in plot'.Ìý Whatever you think of Psychoville, I'm pretty sure it isn't bland or storyless. But you have to take the good, bad and indifferent reviews in the same spirit I suppose. I hope that everyone who enjoyed Episode One will tune in this Thursday for Episode Two, which tells us a bit more about Mr Lomax's commodities, sees Mr Jelly sabotage Mr Jolly's Punch & Judy show (filmed at our children's school in North London), and we discover why Joy takes a bottle of Vimto into work with her every day.
So a huge thank you to all bloggers, twitterers and website posters out there for getting behind the show and spreading the word so quickly and so effectively. We hope you're enjoying the websites we've created for the characters and aren't too taxed by the Black Gloved Figure's questions (if you don't know what I'm talking about, you can take part in the Psychoville Experience at the website) - and if you do find them, please do have a good look round the sites, there's funny stuff in the biogs, guestbooks, FAQs etc - not just answers to the questions you've been posed.
Ìý
Thanks for watching. And please, do have nightmares.
PS - Apologies to all angry Bristolians, we know there are many arguments about Bristol being a county in its own right, but the caption 'Bristol, Bristol' just wouldn't have seemed right. Mind you, now I look at it, it is rather funny...
Steve Pemberton is co-creator of Psychoville.
Psychoville continues this Thursday at 10pm on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two.
MORE PSYCHOVILLE
Comment number 1.
At 24th Jun 2009, LittleScarletBlue wrote:Thanks for the blog Tweedleglee....
Congratulations on the success of 'Psychoville'. I'd say the reviews were overwhelmingly excellent...only a handful saying there wasn't a story (well there was one review in particular saying that after actually outlining the blackmail plot in the same review!) & a couple of reviews in post-Rossgate mode who said it was 'sick', 'disturbing' blah blah blah. I think my favourite was from a particularly 'angry from Tunbridge Wells' type reviewer who complained about its "blood-spattered, faeces-encrusted" images (!)
I'd say take the very few negative reviews as idiots who don't know what they're talking about (I suppose I'm rather bullish about it because 'Psychoville is so brilliant;)
The online Psychoville Experience is fantastic too - so much care and attention to detail has gone into that aspect of 'Psychoville' & its really appreciated.
I've seen the first two episodes of 'Psychoville' (I went to the BFI preview back in May) as am really looking forward to this Thursday & seeing Episode Three on the Red Button option (after watching Episode Two again of course)
A request please if you're reading this...can you think about blogging on thisisalocalshop.com. If you're in the blogging mood after this blog, it would be very nice to have a Local Shop blog.
I'm a member on thisisalocalshop and if you've been on there recently you would have seen how much the fans on there are raving about 'Psychoville' & how fantastic it is.
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Comment number 2.
At 24th Jun 2009, MeladoriMagpie wrote:I'm going to put forth my best attempt at keeping this as short and to the point as possible. If you see this, brilliant... if not, *shrugs*. ;) I'll put this out there anyway.
I'm in America Texas to be more specific and I've has the pleasure of seeing Psychoville. How? Don't worry about it. What matters is that the show is complete brilliance so far. You boys have done a fantastic job! (Honestly, I don't see all that much of The League in it aside from the fact that it touches on "touchy" subjects AND has yours and Reece's names attached; however the way it's executed is in a completely different category.)
I've shown the first two eps to everyone I know, and they all LOVE it! Those who, for whatever reason, were turned off by the League love Psychoville. I'm unsure of what you've sprinkled on it, but it's done the trick. If the series makes it to telly this side of the "pond", I expect it will do pretty well. Several of us have pre-ordered the DVDs (thank the Gods for multi-region players) but we'd still watch it if it were aired over here... Just sayin'. :)
I guess that was not as short as I was planning. Oh well, I could go on and on about how proud we all are of you, but I won't. Instead I'll say congrats x 1000000 on a job well done!
x - Melanie M.
PS: Totally knew Uncle Pockets was you you sneak but didn't want it to be another "Fake Alan Rickman" situation so I didn't add yeh. ;)
PPS: Give that Shearsmitz a kick up the backside for not taking you up on your drink offer. As lovely as he may be, I think we all need a swift kick once in a while.
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Comment number 3.
At 24th Jun 2009, MeladoriMagpie wrote:Thought I would add this, let's see if it makes it through the mods.
Sorry about the seeming lack of punctuation on my first post. It seems several endashes and such were removed in transit from the time "Post Comment" was hit to the time the comment was posted, so sorry for the run-ons. :)
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Comment number 4.
At 24th Jun 2009, ElliePlimsolls wrote:Hiya Mr P, good to hear from you.
Psychoville is a magical return to the telly for you and Reece. Having heard how hard you two had worked on it, it really is great to see the positive reactions from viewers and most reviewers.
It is a shame you were unable to witness the brilliant reaction at the BFI preview to it, but it's swings and roundabouts I suppose!
That's great that you started Tweeting! Awww, get yeself back on there - your privacy isn't encroached on in any way, really! ;) Just ask Wossy!
Well done again and looking forward to the rest.
Ellie
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Comment number 5.
At 25th Jun 2009, LittleScarletBlue wrote:Ah sorry, I was really getting ahead of myself regarding seeing episode 3 via the red button...I've found out the red button option was only for the first week...which means I'm looking forward even more to seeing episode 3 a week on Thursday!!
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Comment number 6.
At 27th Jun 2009, DailyCrumb wrote:absolutely amazing. I loved League of Gents because it was all based in one town and everything seemed to connect. So i was worried this would lack that. But it does not, the characters connect up by the mysterious character and each one is very interesting.
Excited to see more and where the storyline goes!!
-nathan viney
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Comment number 7.
At 5th Aug 2009, jannlind wrote:Guys never bothered blogging before but what a fabulous show we loved every minute how you two dont crack up when u do the near kissess etc between david & mum ( for which I felt I shuld turn away from the screen but couldnt that weird compulsion you have on us viewers as with Pauline & Ross oooh!) My mate & I have discussed this since the last episode & the scene in Haringay citizens advise was just superb watched it at least 6 times. Also the costumes sets characters & the actors everything every little detail was brilliant roll on psychoville 2 there must be one? thanks for this JannLInd xx
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