Sean Lock’s ‘Fifteen Story’s High’ Series 1 & 2, R2 UK DVD February 19th 2007.

Although the first series has been out before on DVD, Sean Lock (sometimes Sean Locke, it changes in credits) still maintains the stance that this show was ”badly treated by the BBC” on his website. I agree. It’s a travesty when a clear frontrunner in quality completely misses its key audience and any additional viewers it might find because it’s just a little too askew from the usual stuff. It’s because of elements like this that shows tend to take their time to find the audience they deserve, and some shows are just so different (but clearly show familiar characteristics) that they never quite get the break they deserve; I think the BBC got a show they didn’t quite understand and so they didn’t know what to do with it. Here’s just one example, but there have been so many over the years, so it’s not so unusual to recommend or watch a show that never quite took because I know there’s many who like observational humor out there and this is a damn fine example of it.

This is a dry, gentle, subtle piece of work that could easily swoop over your head the first time you watch it (trust me, it really got me first time around, then it slowly dawned on me how it all worked so incredibly well), but it’s easily as good as other character-observation shows like ’Alan Partridge‘ or ’The League of Gentlemen‘. It doesn’t have that instant reaction laugh-out-loud or easily-appreciated style. Very dour, downbeat, everyday feel to it. Yet it’s like listening to a blues record, or something just inspired by blues, because it has a kind of euphoric joy to it. And Sean Lock, well, my favourite for the last couple of years becuase his sense of observation is so sharp, so different, but so familiar and understandable. Love it.

‘15 Storeys High‘ at Sean Locks’ Official Website.
Sean Lock at Wikipedia.
Sean Lock (and ‘15 Storeys High’) Search at YouTube.

Pre-Order ’15 Storeys High‘ Series 1 & 2, R2 UK DVD Box Set at Amazon.co.uk [Direct Link] for February 19th 2007 Release.