Remember the HOLLOW MEN?

If you don't, well, here's the skinny: They're a hilarious English sketch group who had a short lived show on Comedy Central a year or two back. Had the show-development culture over there been a little less "lowest common denominator"-y and let the boys do the kind of comedy they wanted, HM would have stood a chance of being the next Kids in the Hall.

As it was, though still replete with some solid gags, the show's comedy was sapped of most of its intrinsic Englishness and redirected by CC executives toward more of a "Man Show" sensibility.

Anyway, besides being a fan of this hilarious sketch group who have yet to be given their full due here in the states, I also went to drama school with one of the members, David Armand, perhaps best known (and I'm sure at this point he's completely over doing the bit) for a performance art miming of the lyrics for Natalie Imbruglia's TORN.

Fortunately the boys have been hard at work in their posh London flats (a "flat" translates literally to "lorry" here in the U.S.) and are soon to present their latest offering in the form of season two of their on-going BBC radio show...which is to be recorded live. Not sure if you'd be into a live radio recording? Then just remember that England gave the world the Goon Show, so if anyone can make radio live these days...it's going to be an English sketch group with some chops in the non-visual comedy field. And your best bet for that? The Hollow Men.

Here's the info and invite from the guys themselves:

We're recording a new series of our sketch show for Radio 4, and would be very happy indeed if you could come and be part of the audience.

We're doing three dates - the 30th of July, and the 6th and 21st of August. They all start at 7.15 and they're all taking place at the brand spanking new(ish) Radio Theatre at the Beeb. (Those of you who came to the recordings last year will be pleased to hear that, unlike the Drill Hall, the Radio Theatre has air conditioning. This means that no-one will sweat themselves to death this year, hopefully).

It's going to feature loads of new characters and a bunch of old favourites, as well as a veritable bran-tub of jokes about death, jealousy, obsession and minor field sports. At least, it will when we've written it.

You can apply for tickets and get all the info at: www.bbc.co.uk/tickets

Or by calling: 0870 9011227

It would be great to see you there. You can even come to all three if you're keen or weird.

xoxo,
The HM

Name: The Hollow Men - Radio 4 Recordings
Tagline: ...and this is the second one...
Host: The Hollow Men
Type: Music/Arts - Performance
Time and Place Date: Monday, August 6, 2007
Time: 7:15pm - 10:00pm
Location: BBC Radio Theatre, Broadcasting House
Street: Portland Place
City/Town: London
Contact Info Phone: 08709011227