James May's Man Lab: Difference between revisions
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'''''James May's Man Lab''''' is a [[television in the United Kingdom|British television]] series presented by [[Top Gear]] presenter [[James May]]. The first, three-part series was aired on [[BBC Two]] between 31 October and 14 November 2010. The second, five-part series was aired between 25 October and 18 December 2011.<ref>https://twitter.com/#!/jamesmaysmanlab/status/125867929853100032</ref> Repeats of Series 2 continued on late night [[BBC One]] with signing for the deaf throughout January 2012. |
'''''James May's Man Lab''''' is a [[television in the United Kingdom|British television]] series presented by [[Top Gear]] presenter [[James May]]. The first, three-part series was aired on [[BBC Two]] between 31 October and 14 November 2010. The second, five-part series was aired between 25 October and 18 December 2011.<ref>https://twitter.com/#!/jamesmaysmanlab/status/125867929853100032</ref> Repeats of Series 2 continued on late night [[BBC One]] with signing for the deaf throughout January 2012. |
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The show explores traditional skills that are being lost by the modern man, and how to stop them from being lost forever. Each episode has a variety of themed tasks, including construction, seduction, destruction and more. If science, geometry, maths, logic and explosives can be used in these tasks, so much the better. Tasks include sending a dead pet's ashes into space using a homemade [[hydrogen balloon]], creating one's own smelting furnace, constructing a [[pool table]], felling a tree using explosives, escaping from [[Dartmoor prison]] whilst avoiding detection from expert trackers and making a magnetic ceiling panel to throw your keys at so you don't lose them. |
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The first series also had a celebrity man task, where a celebrity attempted to beat a personal best of a certain 'man task', such as changing a [[tyre (wheel)|tyre]]; however, this aspect has not continued into series two. The show boasts the inclusion of the rare sight of the usually deadpan James May laughing so hard he nearly cries (Episode 1 of Series 2) and being so scared he screams like a girl and shakes with fear (Episode 2, Series 2). The theme tune was written by May himself and is often played live over the end credits by a variety of different performers (barber shop quartet, bagpipes etc). |
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The location of the Man Lab studio was revealed by James to be {{coord|52|26|23|N|0|13|11|W|region:GB|display=inline}}. This appears to be an arable field in Cambridgeshire<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&cp=52.439722~-0.219722&style=h&lvl=15&sp=Point.52.439722_-0.219722_James%20May%27s%20Man%20Lab___ |title=Bing Maps – Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions |publisher=Bing.com|accessdate=2011-11-26}}</ref> so, unless built recently, it is probably not accurate. |
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Series 3 is currently in production, as announced on the Man Lab Twitter page. Series One was released on DVD on 7 November 2011 by [[Acorn Media UK]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Gear |first=Top |url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0057OGPB2 |title=James May's Man Lab Series One [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV |publisher=Amazon.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2011-11-26}}</ref> Series Two is due for release on 2 April 2012 by [[Acorn Media UK]].<ref>http://www.amazon.co.uk/James-Mays-Man-Lab-Two/dp/B005ZPM9ZE/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1324283041&sr=1-1</ref> |
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==Episode list== |
==Episode list== |
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Revision as of 21:14, 15 February 2012
| James May's Man Lab | |
|---|---|
 Series Two Title Card (2011) | |
| Genre | Science |
| Created by | James May |
| Written by | James May |
| Directed by | Tom Whitter |
| Creative director | Simon Cabb |
| Presented by | James May |
| Theme music composer | "Dr James May BMus" |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Will Daws |
| Production locations | Cambridgeshire, England |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Two & BBC HD with signed repeats on BBC One |
| Release | 31 October 2010 – 18 December 2011 |
James May's Man Lab is a British television series presented by Top Gear presenter James May. The first, three-part series was aired on BBC Two between 31 October and 14 November 2010. The second, five-part series was aired between 25 October and 18 December 2011.[1] Repeats of Series 2 continued on late night BBC One with signing for the deaf throughout January 2012.
The show explores traditional skills that are being lost by the modern man, and how to stop them from being lost forever. Each episode has a variety of themed tasks, including construction, seduction, destruction and more. If science, geometry, maths, logic and explosives can be used in these tasks, so much the better. Tasks include sending a dead pet's ashes into space using a homemade hydrogen balloon, creating one's own smelting furnace, constructing a pool table, felling a tree using explosives, escaping from Dartmoor prison whilst avoiding detection from expert trackers and making a magnetic ceiling panel to throw your keys at so you don't lose them.
The first series also had a celebrity man task, where a celebrity attempted to beat a personal best of a certain 'man task', such as changing a tyre; however, this aspect has not continued into series two. The show boasts the inclusion of the rare sight of the usually deadpan James May laughing so hard he nearly cries (Episode 1 of Series 2) and being so scared he screams like a girl and shakes with fear (Episode 2, Series 2). The theme tune was written by May himself and is often played live over the end credits by a variety of different performers (barber shop quartet, bagpipes etc).
The location of the Man Lab studio was revealed by James to be 52°26′23″N 0°13′11″W / 52.43972°N 0.21972°W. This appears to be an arable field in Cambridgeshire[2] so, unless built recently, it is probably not accurate.
Series 3 is currently in production, as announced on the Man Lab Twitter page. Series One was released on DVD on 7 November 2011 by Acorn Media UK.[3] Series Two is due for release on 2 April 2012 by Acorn Media UK.[4]
Episode list
Series One (2010)
| # | Guest | Director | Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Whitter | 31 October 2010 | ||
|
James shows how to disarm a WWII bomb, builds a cement kitchen worktop, teaches the art of seduction in the style of Thomas Campion, learns how to polish a boot, builds a large scale model railway, makes a fish finger sandwich and builds a radio control powered picnic table. | ||||
| 2 | Tom Whitter | 7 November 2010 | ||
|
James shows how to build your own bar, navigate the seas using the Powder of Sympathy and a dog, how to duel with percussion pistols, stop running out of toilet paper and build an orchestra composed of grade 1 level musicians. | ||||
| 3 | Tom Whitter | 14 November 2010 | ||
|
James shows how to make an old movie and how to build a cinema, how to duel with sabres and how to act on a first date, and showcases the Grade 1 orchestra performance at St Martin-in-the-Fields. | ||||
Series Two (2011)
| # | Guest | Director | Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Whitter | 25 October 2011[5][6] | ||
|
James and Oz escape HMP Dartmoor and go orienteering; James builds a pool table, paints a portrait and shows how difficult it is to remember names of party guests. | ||||
| 2 | Tom Whitter | 1 November 2011 | ||
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James reunites Love Fungus, an indie rock band that split up 20 years ago, fells a tree to make toilet paper and goes ghost hunting in Lympne Castle, Kent. | ||||
| 3 | None | Tom Whitter | 8 November 2011 | |
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James casts a lemon squeezer using a home made furnace, teaches how to cheat at playing guitar, launches the ashes of late pets into space, and promotes the boiler suit as the only necessary clothing needed by the modern man. | ||||
| 4 | Tom Whitter | 15 November 2011 | ||
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James attempts to prove an Englishman can score a penalty, builds a ferry out of willow, creates an indoor garden in the toilets, and builds a multifunctional "Swiss Army Bike". | ||||
| 5 | Tom Whitter | 18 December 2011[6] | ||
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James and Oz attempt to make it snow; James shows how to cook christmas dinner using strict timing and legislation, how to make an exciting christmas cracker and how to decorate a christmas tree without using a step ladder. | ||||
Series Three
A third series is planned to enter production during 2012. [7]
References
- ^ https://twitter.com/#!/jamesmaysmanlab/status/125867929853100032
- ^ "Bing Maps – Driving Directions, Traffic and Road Conditions". Bing.com. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ Gear, Top. "James May's Man Lab Series One [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ http://www.amazon.co.uk/James-Mays-Man-Lab-Two/dp/B005ZPM9ZE/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1324283041&sr=1-1
- ^ "Transmission – BBC Top Gear James' Man Lab is back – Tuesday 25 October, 7pm, BBC2. Here's the trailer «". Transmission.blogs.topgear.com. 19 October 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
- ^ a b Official site
- ^ https://twitter.com/#!/jamesmaysmanlab/status/154871648066076672
External links