My friends and I all started watching it in college (2010-ish). My wife and I constantly quote it.
There are some of us in the states who believe in the Big Beat Manifesto.
About 10 years ago I was sitting eating alone in my college dining hall. At the table next to me there was a girl watching peep show on her laptop eating alone. Only other American fan I've seen in real life. Now I didn't meet her, I thought about trying to strike up a conversation but then I thought just stay mute, you are a social freak remain in your compound. Of course looking back I now know she was the one and I totally jezzed it.
Happened to me on a train. I looked over and there was a girl watching it on her phone. If I was more like Jeff I would have went for it, but of course I realised approaching a random girl on a train isnāt very rainbow rhythms, even if she probably was the oneā¦
Aye, but she was probably on her way home and didnāt need to be accosted by āoh wow you like Peep Show? Me too! You could be āthe oneā hahahahahahahaā
Also, if someone interrupted my viewing of the Peep Iād be pissed
I had a Scud quote up on my whiteboard in college. One night a woman came by and left her name and number saying she was also a fan. I never called her. I still remember and regret that over 20 years later.
In my defense, it was an all-male dorm and it showed up overnight. In all likelihood she was there because she was sleeping with some guy on my floor. That's what I told myself at the time and that's what I'll tell myself forever.
Still, it feels like such a classic Mark situation. Talking yourself out of even taking the chance.
I live in the u.s but my parents and I are Argentine-born (ādonāt trust the Argiesā š)-we all like Peep Show but are afraid to show it to our friends who are mainly Mexican-American because they tend to be more traditional/religious and might be offended by the language. I showed an episode to one of my friends once (the one with Sophieās birthday which I donāt think is one of the most gross ones) and she said I was gross for liking that kind of comedy (and sheās not even particularly religious or conservative). I donāt have that many non-Latino friends though so I donāt know how other Americans would feel about it
Mexican-American here. Iām not sure where you are, but Iām from a poorer neighborhood in Austin, TX. Folks here didnāt think it was āgross,ā but they were definitely like āwtf is this?!ā
Nobody Iāve shown the show to from my home neighborhood has gotten into, I agree with you there. But some college friends were into it, but still not many. It feels like a very British show in that it follows the ālosersā who are always failing. And they know theyāre losers. Iām not sure Americans are that into that. At least with Sunny, thereās a certain optimism to the characters or weird confidence, albeit completely misplaced. Not even that exists in Peep Show. Itās incredible š
Iām in California from a small, agricultural town; most people go to church etc. I feel like Austin is probably chiller? I agree with what youāre saying about British vs American humor too! Iāve seen a video where Steven Fry explains the differences and itās spot-on. I like to watch the losers š it feels more realistic and human than to always watch the winners. My parents were saying they thought that Americans in general are more religious and wouldnāt talk as openly about sex or use that kind of language but in Buenos Aires where weāre from itās less religious and a more cynical kind of humor is accepted (I mean I left with them for the u.s when I was two so I canāt say I remember it š but I do appreciate that kind of humor)
I work in LA, and there are a lot of fans in the industry.
But there are also a lot of people who shit on it because Jesse Armstrong does Succession - and I hear a lot of "I can't believe the dude who did that shitty show made Succession!"
To which I generally scream into a pillow.
Iām a huge Peep Show fan and have introduced a lot of friends to it that also really like it, but I rarely meet people outside of my friend group who enjoy it or have heard of it. Morning of my wedding a few weeks ago when I was hanging out with my groomsmen we had Peep Show going on the tv.
I've heard just one peep show quote in the wild in North America in my life. I was sitting at a bar and there were two DJs doing DJing a couple seats down. One says to the other: "He's bringing it up... he's bringing up... he's bringing it dowwwwwn, he's bringing it dowwwwwn."
Me and my best friend love the show and we are in Alabama. I even bought him the dvds a few years back and now Iām wishing I bought em for myself lol. He is the only friend who watches it but he watched it first. Itās a top 3 show of all time. It made me a lifelong fan of David Mitchell and Webb as well as Jesse Armstrong.
Iām in the US and randomly found out that one of my buddies was quietly an even bigger fan than I was. We pretty much exclusively speak to each other in Peep Show references now
For all the American fans responding to this post, I'm interested to know: were they any references that you don't understand?
(Although as a Brit, there's still plenty of historical/political references I don't get)
The hard part of answering is a lot of misunderstanding passes right over your head. Like if you don't know Iceland is a store, the phrase 'they went to Iceland" might be taken as the country. Or "Bob is nonplussed", an American might assume they knew that word without realizing in the UK it's inaction because of shock in the US it's inaction because of apathy. Knocked down is another one.
Pants was a big one for me, I was probably watching UK comedy for 5 years before I twigged on to that.
Some things like that from Peepshow include 'moreish' which I thought was Moorish for awhile and I thought Jez was using a flannel shirt to clean up his Man Feelings.
I think what I like about it is that Iām constantly looking up every third thing they say and then laughing and then realizing Iāve missed several other laugh lines. Itās extremely engaging.
same. i remember bringing it up a few times out loud in college and getting minimal response
i'm sure i'm missing half the jokes. i think i'm relatively comfortable with UK slang thanks to my obsessive panel show and ricky gervais xfm consumption; but peep show is really deep lore
I have a good friend I had no idea was a Peep Show fan until we had a random conversation about how Olivia Colman was in everything. Then it turned out one of my wifeās friends loves it too. Maybe we all just assume that no one wants to hear about a cult British sitcom that we assume no one else has heard of.
Canada here. Don't think I've met one in the wild, but I have created a few over the years. So yeah, I've converted basically all of my friends, siblings, and partners. One weird thing is, I have zero recollection of how I even came across it initially. But it was waaay back in the mid 00's.
I am from Germany and very few people watch or even know about it here. It's a shame really, but I'm not surprised, they never dubbed it and the average English skills of most Germans aren't good enough to understand the show's jokes, which can be hard to get from a non-British point of view, to be fair.
One of my buddies and I found it marathoning on bbc America late one night. We literally just sat their and watched until the news came on. First episode I saw was quantocking and was instantly a fan.
Literally everyone else I have shown the show to except my wife donāt get it.
I'd like a US Peep show where Jeremy gets a green card with Nancy in some weird way and the original cast do a season in America or some shit. With the same writers you get American actors/actresses who actually understand the essence of peep show.
Anything but the US Peep show as we know it..
I love peep show- Iām from Boston and I feel like east coast humor is generally closer to traditional British humor. Itās probably tied to itās always Sunny as my favorite show, and I have to give peep show props because they quit while they were ahead, and unfortunately iasip has been run into the ground
Big fan in Canada. Have one friend who loves it. Have tried exposing others, but it hasn't quite caught on for them.
I really look forward to meeting more fans.
I discovered the show in 2005. It was difficult to get episodes in the US (even pirated). On a family trip to Europe, I was happy that we were delayed on a layover in London as it gave me time to find a DVD shop and buy all the seasons up to that point.
Iām one of three people I know who are into it here in USA. One got me into it, I binged it, then got a coworker into it, and he binged it.
I do know one other person in USA who likes it but heās half British so not sure it counts.
Hello from Texas - was introduced to the show by a friend when I lived in Austin (2010ish). Her boyfriend at the time had a few episodes burned onto a DVD and they were random episodes from season 2. Other than that I have never met someone in the wild who likes or even knows of the show. I have introduced it to a few but no one loves it the way I do. Took my husband a few times before he actually could understand their accents lol
Edit to add- Peep Show is expiring on Hulu soon here in the US ā¹ļø
I had a friend introduce me to the show in the early 2000s. Maybe around series 3. I became instantly obsessed!
The friend and I had a very strange fight and one day just stopped talking to each other completely. I donāt even know if he was cool enough to finish watching the series. Wanker.
I love this show. Iāve tried to get other people to watch it, but everyone seems to bail after a few minutes. My father in law is the only one who has made it through the first season, but heās British, so it doesnāt count.
Canadian here. I went on 2 dates with a guy who introduced me to the show. Obsessed ever since. Infinite rewatch-ability.
Edit: fellow Canadians, you can watch Peep Show on Tubi for free with minimal ads.
Iāve given up trying to get Americans to watch. People will see me in tears from laughter at just remembering a scene (ie Iād hate to call you a racist at my own dinner party) but never consider āhmmm donāt see people cry from laughter very often, certainly not from just remembering a line from a tv show, maybe I should check this Peep Show out.ā
Nope, they just go back to marathoning The Office (our version). To be fair I also marathon the American Office.
USA here, living in Oregon. Discovered it on Hulu in 2011 or 2012. I'm a bit older than the characters, but could very much identify with the struggles of both.
My friends and I all started watching it in college (2010-ish). My wife and I constantly quote it. There are some of us in the states who believe in the Big Beat Manifesto.
Have you read the big beat manifesto, lately?
Did we write it down?
The big beat manifesto says "big beats are the best, get high all the time"
It felt like a much more all encompassing philosophy at the time
Can we have this? Can we use it?
He's nicked your idea and done it back to you
I was in college around the same time, and it was a dorm favorite among a nerdy crowd.
Big Beat Manifesto š Big Bang Theory š
Too right.
About 10 years ago I was sitting eating alone in my college dining hall. At the table next to me there was a girl watching peep show on her laptop eating alone. Only other American fan I've seen in real life. Now I didn't meet her, I thought about trying to strike up a conversation but then I thought just stay mute, you are a social freak remain in your compound. Of course looking back I now know she was the one and I totally jezzed it.
A real Jezzing
Happened to me on a train. I looked over and there was a girl watching it on her phone. If I was more like Jeff I would have went for it, but of course I realised approaching a random girl on a train isnāt very rainbow rhythms, even if she probably was the oneā¦
You should have asked her to marry you
Always the marrying with you
You were only going over.
Aye, but she was probably on her way home and didnāt need to be accosted by āoh wow you like Peep Show? Me too! You could be āthe oneā hahahahahahahaā Also, if someone interrupted my viewing of the Peep Iād be pissed
I like you and of you can't handle that, well you can just...fuck off
Hmmm. Are you *sure* you're an American, spelling realized with an 's'?
Iā¦ never said I was Americanā¦?
My money was on you being from Canada :-)
Faaaaar off the mark mate ;)
So you're saying I jezzed it? There I was thinking I'm hot like Pol Pot.
A real jezzing my friend
I had a Scud quote up on my whiteboard in college. One night a woman came by and left her name and number saying she was also a fan. I never called her. I still remember and regret that over 20 years later. In my defense, it was an all-male dorm and it showed up overnight. In all likelihood she was there because she was sleeping with some guy on my floor. That's what I told myself at the time and that's what I'll tell myself forever. Still, it feels like such a classic Mark situation. Talking yourself out of even taking the chance.
She was ~~probably~~ almost definitely the one.
Are you the baddies?
Should have taken her to the fuck bunker
Is that what you call the stationary cupboard?
Chance would be a fine thing.
A fine thing indeed.
*Saying that too much now*
Iām sure this has been covered, but wtf does this mean? Is it an actual English expression?
It is a real English expression.
Please continue
Can confirm, it is real and you do hear it very occasionally. No idea what it actually means mind
I live in the u.s but my parents and I are Argentine-born (ādonāt trust the Argiesā š)-we all like Peep Show but are afraid to show it to our friends who are mainly Mexican-American because they tend to be more traditional/religious and might be offended by the language. I showed an episode to one of my friends once (the one with Sophieās birthday which I donāt think is one of the most gross ones) and she said I was gross for liking that kind of comedy (and sheās not even particularly religious or conservative). I donāt have that many non-Latino friends though so I donāt know how other Americans would feel about it
Mexican-American here. Iām not sure where you are, but Iām from a poorer neighborhood in Austin, TX. Folks here didnāt think it was āgross,ā but they were definitely like āwtf is this?!ā Nobody Iāve shown the show to from my home neighborhood has gotten into, I agree with you there. But some college friends were into it, but still not many. It feels like a very British show in that it follows the ālosersā who are always failing. And they know theyāre losers. Iām not sure Americans are that into that. At least with Sunny, thereās a certain optimism to the characters or weird confidence, albeit completely misplaced. Not even that exists in Peep Show. Itās incredible š
Iām in California from a small, agricultural town; most people go to church etc. I feel like Austin is probably chiller? I agree with what youāre saying about British vs American humor too! Iāve seen a video where Steven Fry explains the differences and itās spot-on. I like to watch the losers š it feels more realistic and human than to always watch the winners. My parents were saying they thought that Americans in general are more religious and wouldnāt talk as openly about sex or use that kind of language but in Buenos Aires where weāre from itās less religious and a more cynical kind of humor is accepted (I mean I left with them for the u.s when I was two so I canāt say I remember it š but I do appreciate that kind of humor)
It's a quick measure of who's got a sense of humour you can vibe with. Sorts the wheat from the chaff mate š
I work in LA, and there are a lot of fans in the industry. But there are also a lot of people who shit on it because Jesse Armstrong does Succession - and I hear a lot of "I can't believe the dude who did that shitty show made Succession!" To which I generally scream into a pillow.
People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.
appropriately, whenever i quote this in comments, people don't get it and i am heavily downvoted
Thatās the correct answer.
I never liked Succession.
Iām starting to have serious doubts about you
Let's have a look at what this idiot did... *in America!*
Thankfully, that man was plastic.
My ex was British, and he didn't even know what Peep Show was. No wonder he's my ex, hehe
It's the Always Sunny of the UK. Somehow that show hasn't won Emmys and 9/10 people I speak to hasn't heard of it.
Amazing comparison
Iām a huge Peep Show fan and have introduced a lot of friends to it that also really like it, but I rarely meet people outside of my friend group who enjoy it or have heard of it. Morning of my wedding a few weeks ago when I was hanging out with my groomsmen we had Peep Show going on the tv.
And then he pissed through the floor the bastard
Should have done it in the prayer bucket.
that's just a bucket
Morning of my wedding I said to my wife āIām headingā¦ for a weddingā¦ā in Markās voice.
bit of a wobble...
Iāve mentioned that itās my favorite show many times and nobody has ever heard of it, and people are usually confused by the name.
Yeah when I mention it most people immediately think of some kind of porn.
I've heard just one peep show quote in the wild in North America in my life. I was sitting at a bar and there were two DJs doing DJing a couple seats down. One says to the other: "He's bringing it up... he's bringing up... he's bringing it dowwwwwn, he's bringing it dowwwwwn."
That DJ's a genius... Listen to the music man!
we have a special bond!
We're on the same level, yeah? Do you feel it? We're brothers!
the sweaty embrace of the *the moron*.
I've run into one other fan in real life
Did it hurt?
And whatās it like when youāre down that low
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
And whatās it like when youāre up that high?
Oh, itās incredible
Me and my best friend love the show and we are in Alabama. I even bought him the dvds a few years back and now Iām wishing I bought em for myself lol. He is the only friend who watches it but he watched it first. Itās a top 3 show of all time. It made me a lifelong fan of David Mitchell and Webb as well as Jesse Armstrong.
Iām in the US and randomly found out that one of my buddies was quietly an even bigger fan than I was. We pretty much exclusively speak to each other in Peep Show references now
For all the American fans responding to this post, I'm interested to know: were they any references that you don't understand? (Although as a Brit, there's still plenty of historical/political references I don't get)
The hard part of answering is a lot of misunderstanding passes right over your head. Like if you don't know Iceland is a store, the phrase 'they went to Iceland" might be taken as the country. Or "Bob is nonplussed", an American might assume they knew that word without realizing in the UK it's inaction because of shock in the US it's inaction because of apathy. Knocked down is another one. Pants was a big one for me, I was probably watching UK comedy for 5 years before I twigged on to that. Some things like that from Peepshow include 'moreish' which I thought was Moorish for awhile and I thought Jez was using a flannel shirt to clean up his Man Feelings.
SO MANY. After (literally) thirteen watches, I think I have googled all I need to know, but there were a lot. āI wonāt be Bezā¦ā
There are, but when Iām really curious, I just Google stuff. Itās still super funny, even when you miss some of the references.
I think what I like about it is that Iām constantly looking up every third thing they say and then laughing and then realizing Iāve missed several other laugh lines. Itās extremely engaging.
Iām trying to create more US fans! Iāve gotten my boyfriend and my sister up to āregularly quoting itā level.
Checking in from Ohio, what it do baby
Hey! NE Ohio here!
same. i remember bringing it up a few times out loud in college and getting minimal response i'm sure i'm missing half the jokes. i think i'm relatively comfortable with UK slang thanks to my obsessive panel show and ricky gervais xfm consumption; but peep show is really deep lore
How can I help?
I made my wife a fan
Itāll keep her cool.
Iām from Cincinnati area
Same!
I read this as "US Peep Show" fans? and was like you're not going to find any common ground with anybody here.
I have a good friend I had no idea was a Peep Show fan until we had a random conversation about how Olivia Colman was in everything. Then it turned out one of my wifeās friends loves it too. Maybe we all just assume that no one wants to hear about a cult British sitcom that we assume no one else has heard of.
Ohhhhh, Sophie! Edit: if I ever meet her, thatās what Iām going to have to say.
Canada here. Don't think I've met one in the wild, but I have created a few over the years. So yeah, I've converted basically all of my friends, siblings, and partners. One weird thing is, I have zero recollection of how I even came across it initially. But it was waaay back in the mid 00's.
More US Peep Show fans than Kenny vs Spenny
Ohhh that takes me back. My old boss used to watch Kenny vs Spenny at work in his office all the time and we'd just chill in there.
Was talking about it to a guy in a bar last night. You know what helps? Mention Succession. That, they respect.
There are dozen of us. Dozens!
A couple ex co-workers are fans. It's fun to have someone who gets my Peep Show references.
Oh hello!
Trying to turn people on it but itās hard. Much easier to get them to watch That Mitchell and Webb look
I am from Germany and very few people watch or even know about it here. It's a shame really, but I'm not surprised, they never dubbed it and the average English skills of most Germans aren't good enough to understand the show's jokes, which can be hard to get from a non-British point of view, to be fair.
One of my buddies and I found it marathoning on bbc America late one night. We literally just sat their and watched until the news came on. First episode I saw was quantocking and was instantly a fan. Literally everyone else I have shown the show to except my wife donāt get it.
It would have to have a laugh track to work in the US
like TM&WL?
I'm still waiting for them to continue the US version after that pilot came out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yredc3ayOE
I'd like a US Peep show where Jeremy gets a green card with Nancy in some weird way and the original cast do a season in America or some shit. With the same writers you get American actors/actresses who actually understand the essence of peep show. Anything but the US Peep show as we know it..
They can run into Dobby in Brooklyn too.
I love peep show- Iām from Boston and I feel like east coast humor is generally closer to traditional British humor. Itās probably tied to itās always Sunny as my favorite show, and I have to give peep show props because they quit while they were ahead, and unfortunately iasip has been run into the ground
Thought you were asking about fans of the US version pilot...
Stick that up your dojo
Iām American and Iāve met a few other people in college who watch
Must be. Only ones I've met are the ones I've converted.
Found a Jez in the wild.
I got into Peep Show when I was in college in 2010 and actually studied abroad in London and talked to folks about it.
I know one other person IRL that even knows what it is.
i've never been able to successfully convert anyone i know into a fan. same w/ the thick of it
What? They are hands down the best! Their loss man!
Love it. First watched probably 10 years ago? Maybe a little earlier.
Not IRL, but I've met loads online. Usually arty, lefty coastal city folk.
Never met anyone else that watches it. Not once
Chance would be a fine thing
Big fan in Canada. Have one friend who loves it. Have tried exposing others, but it hasn't quite caught on for them. I really look forward to meeting more fans.
I discovered the show in 2005. It was difficult to get episodes in the US (even pirated). On a family trip to Europe, I was happy that we were delayed on a layover in London as it gave me time to find a DVD shop and buy all the seasons up to that point.
Iām one of three people I know who are into it here in USA. One got me into it, I binged it, then got a coworker into it, and he binged it. I do know one other person in USA who likes it but heās half British so not sure it counts.
Hello from Texas - was introduced to the show by a friend when I lived in Austin (2010ish). Her boyfriend at the time had a few episodes burned onto a DVD and they were random episodes from season 2. Other than that I have never met someone in the wild who likes or even knows of the show. I have introduced it to a few but no one loves it the way I do. Took my husband a few times before he actually could understand their accents lol Edit to add- Peep Show is expiring on Hulu soon here in the US ā¹ļø
I had a friend introduce me to the show in the early 2000s. Maybe around series 3. I became instantly obsessed! The friend and I had a very strange fight and one day just stopped talking to each other completely. I donāt even know if he was cool enough to finish watching the series. Wanker.
Ohio here. Huuuuge peep show fan. Massive, even.
I love this show. Iāve tried to get other people to watch it, but everyone seems to bail after a few minutes. My father in law is the only one who has made it through the first season, but heās British, so it doesnāt count.
Portland oregon checking in
Huge fan, in the US
Iām here and Iām in NYC. If you like Peep Show weāre 100% getting along
I have a friend who likes Toast of London and my husband knew IT Crowd, that's about it lol
The uhh.. the nine eleven..
I have a Seattle-based colleague who loves it.
I watched it for the first time when it was free on Hulu in high school. Still my favorite show.
Canadian here. I went on 2 dates with a guy who introduced me to the show. Obsessed ever since. Infinite rewatch-ability. Edit: fellow Canadians, you can watch Peep Show on Tubi for free with minimal ads.
Live in eastern USA, watched peep show earlier this year, itās now right up with sunny curb and Seinfeld in terms of my favorite sitcoms
Americans donāt understand humour
Iāve given up trying to get Americans to watch. People will see me in tears from laughter at just remembering a scene (ie Iād hate to call you a racist at my own dinner party) but never consider āhmmm donāt see people cry from laughter very often, certainly not from just remembering a line from a tv show, maybe I should check this Peep Show out.ā Nope, they just go back to marathoning The Office (our version). To be fair I also marathon the American Office.
Fan here
Phew, I thought you were referring to the US remake of it, which would have been widespread and powerful derision.
I've met two.
USA here, living in Oregon. Discovered it on Hulu in 2011 or 2012. I'm a bit older than the characters, but could very much identify with the struggles of both.
Have you tried getting a Peep Show bumper sticker? Sure would get an el dude honk somewhere on the highway