Mandatory Credit: Photo by David Buchan/Variety/REX/Shutterstock (10081959k)
Paul Simms, Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Mark Proksch, Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillen and Beanie Feldstein
FX ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ TV Show Panel, TCA Winter Press Tour, Los Angeles, USA – 04 Feb 2019
The FX Network stands above the other cable channels in innovation and risk-taking. I’m impressed with Fosse/Verdon for drama and now What We Do In the Shadows for comedy. What We Do In the Shadows is based on the 2014 movie of the same name conceived by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. This new incarnation presents a mock-documentary that follows a group of vampires who live together in Staten Island, NY.
The leader of the vampire group is “Nandor The Relentless” (played by Kayvan Novak). Nandor was a great warrior and conqueror from the Ottoman Empire. He leads this group despite the fact that his Old World thinking results in comic situations. British vampire “Laszlo” (played by Matt Berry) is a pretentious rogue. Laszlo loves chaos and generates much of the comedy in What We Do In the Shadows. “Nadja” (played by Natasia Demetriou) is my favorite character. Nadja is a seductive vampire who is smarter than Nandor and Laszlo combined.
Also living in the vampire household is “Guillermo” (played by Harvey Guillén), Nandor’s familiar (a servant/protector of a vampire during the daylight hours). Guillermo yearns to be made a real vampire just like his master. But, Nandor is reluctant to grant that wish. The odd “Colin Robinson” (played by Mark Proksch) is an energy vampire. He can survive in daylight and feasts on human energy–not on their blood like the other vampires. “Jenna” (played by Beanie Feldstein) is a student at a nearby community college. Nadja turns Jenna into a vampire and watching the transformation is both horrifying and humorous!
Yes, there’s plenty of silly stuff in What We Do In the Dark, but I found this 10-episode series refreshingly funny. It’s been renewed for a Second Season. GRADE: A-.
This is further proof that it is impossible to keep up with every show on every network these days. Not only haven’t I seen this, but this is the first time I have ever heard of it. I’ll check out the first episode.
Jeff, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS is a 30-minute show. I suggest you watch at least a couple episodes before you make any decisions about whether you like it or not. I found each episode was funnier than than one before it.
I set the DVR to record the first three episodes, and will catch the last two this week. We will wait for the others to be rerun, or watch them On Demand.
Jeff, prepare to watch something different…and silly!
Don’t know whether this will be shown in Europe – but a side remark:
Nandor and Laszlo or rather Nándor and László are very common Hungarian names …
Wonder where they got these from? 🙂
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%A1ndor
And even more OT:
László Biró was a Jewish Hungarian who had to flee before WW2 began, went to France and then to Argentine – and took his invention with him:
The ballpoint pen …
He also has a page on wiki.
Life can be strange
Wolf, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS has very Old World European feel to it. I enjoy it!
George, thanks again! I’ll have to tell my wife to look for this, might soon be available.
Wolf, if WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS shows up in your neighborhood, let us know what you think of it. Just give the series a few episodes to get a grip on you and your wife!
Had not heard of it before, and from your description, that’s probably a good thing.
Rick, you have to be in the mood for silliness if you watch WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS. I guarantee you would laugh!
The film had the same format, only set in New Zealand as I recall, with a similar set of vampires in a group home.
Todd, the addition of a woman vampire makes all the difference in the FX version of WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS.
Having the creator/producer of NEWSRADIO, Paul Simms, on staff to help adapt it to half-hour sitcom format was a pretty good idea.
Todd, I think the half-hour format is ideal for this kind of TV show.