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This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts & Entertainment

Little Britain USA Screening at the Original Penguin Store

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We were lucky enough to attend a sneak preview screening of HBO's new show Little Britain USA at the Original Penguin Store in West Hollywood last week. Those not familiar with the British hit show, Little Britain, LBUSA is the American spinoff.

We know. We, too, had to stifle a groan at the thought of yet another English show gone American. We were fans of the original show and liked things just the way they were. Besides some of those characters wouldn't survive an American translation.

Fortunately, LBUSA didn't replace the characters or get American comedians to replace the brilliant duo of Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Rather the actors and beloved characters remain the same, it's only the geography that's different. And of course the adaptation to suit American culture. Yay! Even Walliams has called it "Little Britain season four." (The series ended in the UK after three seasons and its writers/stars had said that was it for them.)

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In the sneak preview we were able to revisit old favorite characters from the original show. There's the hyperspeed-smack-talking juvenile delinquent Vicky Pollard arriving at a boot camp for troubled teens. And British tourists Andy "I want that one" Pipkin and his caregiver Lou Todd at a motel in Mississippi.

And as if to celebrate its new American-ness, we saw a fair share of celebrities in this preview. Sting performed with wanna-be transvestite, Emily; Rosie O'Donnell lived to regret a visit with Marjorie Dawes at Fat Fighters; and Paul Rudd went up against Sebastian Love for the affection of the president, who bears a passing resemblance to Barack Obama. HA-ha!

If you want to see more, Little Britain USA debuts on HBO on Sunday, September 28 at 10:30PM.

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