Laughing is never a take-back. As we get older, sometimes it takes more to amuse us, but then when we least expect it, something special comes along that entertains us in a way where we have no words …
I meant to tell you about my experience with The Spoils of Babylon a few months ago, but with this week’s announcement, now is as good of a time as any because it’s official: Eric Jonrosh will be sharing his first best-selling novel The Spoils Before Dying a la a soapy second season on IFC. THIS. IS. HUGE.
The Spoils of Babylon
For those of you sad few who missed it, The Spoils of Babylon is probably one of the funniest, most genius collaborations of writing, acting, and directing in years. I love a good laugh just as much as the next guy. And a parody? Even more so. There’s a certain skill involved in creating a truly enjoyable parody and The Spoils of Babylon nailed it on the head. I was laughing so hard, I literally cried. My husband didn’t quite get it, though.
Was it because he didn’t grow up with the same serials in South Africa? Was it because his television prowess didn’t include soppy stories wrought with wholly unbelievable histories and overplayed acting? Was it because he was a dude? For whatever reason, yes, he laughed, but he was watching me rolling on the floor gasping for air way more than he was watching the affected theatrics being performed on screen.
I don’t know why The Spoils of Babylon struck such a chord. It was definitely unexpected. Perhaps it’s because I hadn’t seen anything so well executed, nor as brilliant, from its genre – ever. The ham served by Kristen Wiig and Tobey Maguire was perfection. The top notch supporting cast had Iceman, the Invisible Woman, that creepy kid from The Sixth Sense, and Nuke Laloosh … need I say more? How about Will Ferrell as the exaggerated lush that wrote and directed the entire miniseries that never aired? Mad respect for every actor involved in this production. Again, completely unexpected.
The visual effects were just as amazing as the acting chops on display. The writers’ (Matt Piedmont and Andrew Steele) and director’s (Matt Piedmont)attention to detail was incredible. From the cheesy models used to display exteriors, to the strings that were visibly towing an airplane or toy car, every single little thing that in hindsight made the miniseries of the 70’s and 80’s the beasts of melodrama that they were, were incorporated into this six episode show. Click here to see the trailer for The Spoils of Babylon.
With Reality TV consuming the airwaves like wildfire, a lack of smart well-written comedies and the era of the serial drama slowly coming to a close, The Spoils of Babylon is an inspired throwback to the stagy cliff-hanging days of yesteryear mixed with the campy quality of Batman and Dark Shadows. Those miniseries were sensational. They were overacted. They were poorly produced. BUT, they were beloved.
If The Spoils Before Dying is as much a mix of the Thornbirds meets Dallas meets Soap as its predecessor, I’m in, and you should be, too. And if you still haven’t seen The Spoils of Babylon – find it now and watch!
Thank you Matt Piedmont and Andrew Steele for sharing your genius.
