- BAFTA-winning sitcom Lyan's Boys script writers Sean and Beverly Lincoln are startled by US studio boss Merc Lapidus's offer to work on a remake in Hollywood. Sean persuades suspicious Bev, who is at least impressed by the grand, albeit fake, residence they get to use, despite the insufferably dull security guard. Their superb Shakespearian lead star Julian Bullard was supposed to be part of the deal, but Lapidus insists on a 'formality audition', which goes wrong on account of accent prejudices. The Brits are startled to hear the studio intends to sign up sitcom (Friends, Joey) star Matt LeBlanc. Yet by now they know the studio isn't committed to anything content-wise.—KGF Vissers
- Sean and Beverly Lincoln are a happily married English couple who are also the creators of a hit British TV show. Their life seems complete...that is, until a hugely powerful and charismatic US television network president persuades them to move to Los Angeles and recreate their show for American television. Things begin to unravel as soon as Sean and Beverly arrive in L.A. It soon becomes clear that the network executive has never even seen their show. To make matters worse, he insists that they replace their brilliant lead actor, an erudite Royal Shakespeare veteran with...Matt LeBlanc!—Showtime Publicity
- Bev (Tamsin Greig) packs furiously as Sean (Stephen Mangan) tries to convince her to stay. They're British, in LA. He's trying to figure out why she's angry. (One of his guesses is that it's because he went surfing.) There's only a week of shooting left on their show. Apparently, it's not going well. She caught him "wanking" to Morning (who we later learn is one of the stars of their show). Finally, she drives off in a huff -- on the wrong side of the road.
In another car, TV's Matt LeBlanc drives. They come around the corner and narrowly miss colliding head-on, but still crash.
7 Weeks Earlier, London: At the BAFTAs, Bev and Sean Lincoln enjoy their win, and each other.
Sean spies Merc Lupides (John Pankow), the head of an American network. He raves about their show. "I love your show. I want to have sex with your show," he says.
He tells them he wants to do an American version of their show, but he doesn't want American writers to do it. He invites them.
Bev resists. Merc tells her their scripts are perfect the way they are, it'd barely be any work at all.
In the car ride home, Sean is already keen on the idea.
They come home to find a giant fruit basket from Merc on their front steps.
Sean tries to convince her. "I don't know, LA -- it's just so...LA," Bev whines, wincing at the thought of driving. He really wants to.
She agrees.
In LA, they drive in a convertible, enjoying the sunshine. They drive up to their gated Beverly Hills community. The guard doesn't see their name on the list. He won't let them in. There's some arguing.
Finally, they arrive at the house that's been rented for them. It's a gigantic mansion.
"This is just for the two of us?" Bev says. "Our show's not that good."
The front door talks.
The marble pillars in the entryway, however, are props.
The bath is the size of a hot tub. They decide to try it out. They turn the water on and undress. And wait. And wait. The tub takes some time to fill. By the time it's halfway, the mood is gone.
At the network, Carol (Kathleen Rose Perkins) introduces them to Andy Button (Joseph May), the head of casting, who proclaims their show "beyond hysterical." Myra (Daisy Haggard), the humorless Head of Comedy, dryly and unenthusiastically proclaims it "really funny."
Carol tells them the network just finished shooting several reality shows in their giant house and the network had a few weeks left on the lease.
They talk about casting. The show is called "Lyman's Boys" and the actor who plays Lyman, Julian, is already committed, Bev tells the group.
The network folk all Hollywood rave about Julian and then Carol mentions that Julian will need to audition for Merc for his own part. She says there's a chance Merc never actually saw the show.
Bev and Sean are stunned. They wonder why he can't just watch tapes of the show. "He's not a big TV watcher," Andy tells them of the television network head.
"You don't want to say no to Merc," Carol says. "You really want him on your team."
"I thought he was on our team," says Sean.
"Totally. But if he likes Julian -- and he will -- you're pretty much guaranteed you're on the air," Carol says.
"He already guaranteed we were on the air," Bev says.
"Absolutely," says Carol. "But, you know, nothing's in stone."
"Actually Merc said this was in stone," Sean points out.
"And, it is, but you know...." Carol says.
"Clearly, we don't know," says Bev.
"It's in stone, but you know... stone?" Andy says, noting that there are things stronger than stone... like Merc.
Bev and Sean drive home, supremely irritated.
Later, Bev and Sean apologize to Julian (Richard Griffiths) for the fact he has to audition. He goes into the network room and begins the reading, trying to get the part that's been his for four years.
Merc and everyone laugh (except for Head of Comedy Myrna, who grimaces and doesn't seem to get anything).
They applaud when he's done and ask him for a moment.
Merc asks if anybody else things he comes off a bit too English. The network toadies all agree.
Sean and Bev reluctantly ask Julian to do the scene with an American accent. He does. Nobody laughs.
Julian tries again, trying to find the funny with various versions of American accents. Once he veers into cowboy, he ends the scene himself and leaves.
Back at home with their fake pillars, they get a call from Carol. She reassures them they still love the show. She tells them they have a suggestion of a huge actor, who's very funny and wants to come back to TV: "Matt LeBlanc."
Bev and Sean stare blankly into the phone.
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What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of Episode One (2011) in Australia?
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