David Mitchell's Soap Box

Mitchell’s Soap Box

“Hey kid, I’m a computer”

Web specific entertainment has come a long way from the over-dubbed G.I. Joe  PSA’s of the late 90’s.   Brands like The Onion and Vice have produced web content that has successfully expanded their audience.  Nearly all mainstream television programs are releasing content that can only be found online.  Sites like Vimeo and Youtube have opened the door for any and everyone to produce their own breed of internet amusement, though most of it is unbearable.  Show’s like David Mitchell’s Soap Box stand out amongst the sea of cyber sewage.

“Pillage is like a spoon full of sugar to help the rape go down”

David Mitchell off the U.K.’s comedy duo Mitchell and Webb (Peep Show, That Mitchell and Webb Look, That Mitchell and Webb Sound) has found yet another outlet for his comedic brilliance.  His 3 minute Youtube program, David Mitchell’s Soap Box, showcases his ability to rant about a variety of subjects in an informed, articulate, and absolutely hilarious manner.   Mitchell covers topics like proper grammar, raping and pillaging, beer advertising and male grooming in this collection of funny yet sincere video blurbs.  David Mitchell’s ability to be an absolute dick about anything in an intelligent and logical way rivals Larry David’s “Bald Asshole” persona. 

The look and format of the show are wonderful for the online format. The episodes are short and concise.   There is no arching narrative, but each show follows the same format.  Mitchell always takes one specific topic and immediately places it within the realm of its absurdity.  He makes his point and ends with a hilarious yet valid point.  It is great for web because episodes can be watched individually as a quick distraction or viewed in succession depending on when and where the audience is consuming it.  The production is extremely low budget.  This allows the program to have just one sponsor that runs a short ad before each video.  With some webisodes airing commercials that are nearly equal in length to the program, it is nice to see a show with minimal advertisement.   Each installment has David in the same clothes sitting down with a different green screen background every time.  The background images are always simple static images that are related to the episodes topic.  None of them are nearly as amusing as Mitchell’s rants and they don't need to be.  The writing on this series stands on its own. 

This show is great.  If you are a Mitchell and Webb fan, you will adore it.  If you aren’t familiar with their work this show is a great introduction to David Mitchell’s extremely smart brand of comedy.  This series’ ability to pick apart everything in a humorous fashion is a lot like much of Adam Corollas work.  Each installment is only three minutes long so that's all that can be wasted on giving it a chance.   Watch David Mitchell’s soap box the next time you have a few moments to spare.