Review with Myles Barlow
| Review with Myles Barlow | |
|---|---|
 First DVD Released | |
| Genre | Black comedy |
| Created by | Phil Lloyd |
| Developed by | Phil Lloyd |
| Written by | Phil Lloyd, Trent O'Donnell |
| Directed by | Trent O'Donnell |
| Presented by | Phil Lloyd (as Myles Barlow) |
| Starring | Phil Lloyd (as Myles Barlow) |
| Narrated by | Phil Lloyd |
| Theme music composer | Matt Blackman |
| Composers | Trevor Bell, Cameron Bruce, Matt Blackmon |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Megan Harding |
| Producer | Dean Bates |
| Production locations | Sydney, Australia |
| Running time | 30 Mins (No ad breaks) |
| Production company | Starchild Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC, ABC2 |
| Release | 16 October 2008 – 26 August 2010 |
Review with Myles Barlow is an Australian black comedy television series screened on Thursday nights on ABC2 and Friday nights on ABC. It started screening on 16 October 2008. The series is written and directed by Trent O'Donnell and also written by Phil Lloyd. It is produced by Starchild Productions (Dean Bates and Reuben Field). The first series comprised six half-hour episodes and the second series a further six half-hour episodes. Episodes were made available for full download on the ABC website. Series two aired began airing ABC2 on 22 July 2010 and finished on 26 August 2010.
Synopsis
Myles Barlow is a critic who reviews life experiences in response to viewer questions.[1] Barlow reviews real-life experiences such as being a murderer and a drug-mule, the rush of pleasure as he pays for sex and the bleakness of living on the streets.[2]
Regular segments include "Letter of the Week" along with a summary of the show at the beginning and highlights of the next episode which don't actually reflect the actual episode contents.
Myles uses often unnecessarily complex metaphors to conclude each segment, choosing an abstract notion or object, then comparing his experience to it. For example; when reviewing stealing , Myles had this to say:
Stealing
Stealing is a reprehensible, dishonest act of exhilaration and daring. And, like a staircase leading to the top of a never-ending lighthouse, it can quickly spiral out of control. The higher I climbed, the more giddy I became. And once I'd stolen the light bulb itself, I stumbled about in an orgy of kleptomania as ships of moral decency came to grief on the rocks below. Embracing anarchy and ignoring morality became frighteningly normal, causing me to chuckle callously at the poor shipwrecked sailors trying to clamber up the cliffs of consequence while I soared to freedom high above them on a hang-glider of corruption. Luckily for me, I was able to evade punishment. But Krystal, if you do give in to this spine-tingling thrill ride and steal Renee's boyfriend, be warned that the pilfering may not stop there. Stealing is an iniquity of unexpected excitement, which is why I'm giving it three stars.
List of episodes and reviews
Series One: Episode 1
- Stealing: 3 Stars
- Running out your partner: 1 Star
- Dickheads: 4 Stars
- Bushranging: 1 Star
- Risk: 4 Stars
Episode 2
- Murder: 1/2 a Star
- Fishing without bait: 1/2 a Star
- Self Belief: 1 Star
- Lying: 3 1/2 Stars
- Divorce: 1 star
Episode 3
- Voyeurism: 2 Stars
- Budget Airlines: 1 Star
- Vanity: 2 Stars
- Being a rock star: 4 Stars
- Heroism: 3 Stars
Episode 4
- Criticism: 2 1/2 Stars
- Open heart surgery: 3 1/2 Stars
- Inter-generational Romance: 3 Stars
- Losing one's train of thought: 1 1/2 Stars
- Betrayal: 1 Star
Episode 5
- Paying for Sex: 2 Stars
- Sex with a Male Prostitute: 1 Star
- Regret: 1/2 a Star
- Freeloading: 3 Stars
- Meeting Your Ex-Wife's New Partner: No Stars
- Destitution: 4 Stars
Episode 6
- Stress: 1 1/2 stars
- Disappointing Others: 1 Star
- Testing Loyalty: 2 Stars
- Bare-knuckle Boxing: 3 1/2 Stars
- Reconciliation: Not reviewed
2009 TV Week Logie Awards
- Logies: 4.5 stars (one off appearance)
Series Two:
Episode 1
- Wanderlust: 1 Star
- The Pill: 1 Star
- Addiction: 2 Stars
- Saint Bernard Rescue Dogs: 1 Star
- Starting Your Own Cult: 2 Stars
Episode 2
- B-Grade Celebrity: 2 Stars
- Cockblocking: 4 Stars
- Bucks Parties: 4 Stars
- 9/11 Jokes: 1/2 a Star
- Loss: 3 1/2 Stars
Episode 3
- Killing Kyle Sandilands: 1 Star
- Abby Road Re-enactments: 1 Star
- Fear: 3 1/2 Stars
- Meeting Your Doppleganger: 2 Stars
- Racism: 1/2 a Star
Episode 4
- Imitation: 1 1/2 Stars
- Being Molested by a Rugby League Player: 2 Stars
- Hatred: 1 Star
- Pet Llamas: 1 1/2 Stars
- Justice: 1 Star
Episode 5
- Treechange: 2 Stars
- Throwing a Pair of Shoes over a Power Line: 4 Stars
- Art: 2 Stars
- French Restaurant Runners: 3 Stars
- Sympathy: 4 Stars
Episode 6
- Happiness: 2 Stars
- Office Cricket: 2 1/2 Stars
- Escapism: 2 Stars
- Road Kill Sandwich: 1 Star
- Acceptance: 4 Stars
Cast
- Phil Lloyd as Myles Barlow
- Amanda Bishop as Catherine Barlow (Divorced in Series 1, Episode 2)
- David Stratton as Himself (Guest Star in Series 1, Episode 4 Criticism segment)
- George Negus as Himself (Guest Star in Series 1, Episode 3 Heroism segment)
- Emma Leonard as Ivy (Guest Star Series 1, Episode 3)
- Josh Lawson as Himself (Guest Star Series 1, Episode 3 and Series 2, Episode 2 B-Grade Celebrity segment)
Controversy
On August 6, 2010, the sketch Killing Kyle Sandilands sparked a bit controversy after it aired. Parts of the sketch including stabbing a picture of him and burning of an effigy of Kyle was recieved with negative views. A Current Affair did a story on the sketch commenting it was far too graphic and potentially dangerous. Kyle himself didn't comment on the segment at all.[3][4]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/tv--radio/tv-reviews/review-with-myles-barlow/2008/10/15/1223750117257.html
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc2/200810/programs/LE0705H001D16102008T213000.htm
- ^ http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/7941073/sandilands-refused-to-star-in-mock-killing
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/abc-laughs-off-killing-kyle-sandilands-joke/story-e6frfmyi-1225901930217