KoldCast.TV Webseries: Invention with Brian Forbes
By Melissa Voelker
It doesn’t take a lot to make a great talk show. Some shows on broadcast television employ large crews, famous guest stars, and fabulous sets to prove how great they are. But, all you really need is a couple of chairs, a camera, a great host, and a hilariously loony guest. Invention with Brian Forbes, the webseries starring Dave Beeler and Tom Konkle, is just such a talk show.
Brian Forbes is clean cut, British, and has a love of inventions. His regular guest, Sir Reginald Bo-Hey No, is also enthusiastic about inventions, but unfortunately he is also almost certifiably insane. From inventing an “electric toupee” that could electrocute and kill its owner, to copyrighting trees and a raunchy new letter for the alphabet, he certainly seems to have more than a few screws loose. But, he is completely and blissfully unaware that he is nuts, which makes his interactions with Brian all the more hilarious. Even when he comes up with a “Rocket Ship to the Stars,” that actually takes visitors on a rocket ship through the homes of the stars, Sir Reginald doesn’t seem to understand why it could be a bad idea.
This series is very well written, and most episodes only last a few minutes so it never has time to get boring. You do start to wonder why Brian would have the loopy Sir Reginald on his show over and over again, but it is worth it for the audience because he is consistently funny. Many of the other reviews and comments I have seen about this series mention a similarity between it and Monty Python, which I’m not sure I saw. While the actors were British (or at least employing British accents), many of their jokes didn’t seem quite what I would expect from something “similar to Monty Python.” Dave Beeler, who plays perpetually optimistic and perpetually misled Brian Forbes, is too straight of a character. He reacts to Tom Konkle’s Sir Reginald as if his ideas are truly the silliest things he has ever heard. If this was a Monty Python sketch, I could see Brian Forbes going along with Sir Reginald’s goofiness, and probably topping it a bit. This webseries just isn’t quite absurd enough to be at the Monty Python level.
This isn’t a very involved show, with a bunch of special effects or even a bunch of actors. But, the two leads play off each other very well and together they make a great comedy duo. It was really easy to watch each webisode back to back and not lose interest. And I continued laughing until the very end, which proves that this show handles its simple but funny concept really well.
There are currently 15 webisodes of Invention with Brian Forbes, all available on Dave and Tom’s website.
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About Melissa: By day a mild-mannered tv station receptionist, by night a fighter of crime and corruption in the dirty streets of Spokane, WA . . . or maybe not so much. More like a hyperactive, anal-retentive daytime receptionist and a melodramatic, hyperactive nighttime fangirl who only wishes she could be a fighter of crime and champion of justice (except that would lead to getting my super costume all dirty and I hate doing laundry.) Though my intent has always been to write bestselling novels and live a life of wealth and luxury, putting my talents for snarkiness and word doodling together while letting my geek flag fly suits me just fine – for now.
By Melissa Voelker
It doesn’t take a lot to make a great talk show. Some shows on broadcast television employ large crews, famous guest stars, and fabulous sets to prove how great they are. But, all you really need is a couple of chairs, a camera, a great host, and a hilariously loony guest. Invention with Brian Forbes, the webseries starring Dave Beeler and Tom Konkle, is just such a talk show.
Brian Forbes is clean cut, British, and has a love of inventions. His regular guest, Sir Reginald Bo-Hey No, is also enthusiastic about inventions, but unfortunately he is also almost certifiably insane. From inventing an “electric toupee” that could electrocute and kill its owner, to copyrighting trees and a raunchy new letter for the alphabet, he certainly seems to have more than a few screws loose. But, he is completely and blissfully unaware that he is nuts, which makes his interactions with Brian all the more hilarious. Even when he comes up with a “Rocket Ship to the Stars,” that actually takes visitors on a rocket ship through the homes of the stars, Sir Reginald doesn’t seem to understand why it could be a bad idea.
This series is very well written, and most episodes only last a few minutes so it never has time to get boring. You do start to wonder why Brian would have the loopy Sir Reginald on his show over and over again, but it is worth it for the audience because he is consistently funny. Many of the other reviews and comments I have seen about this series mention a similarity between it and Monty Python, which I’m not sure I saw. While the actors were British (or at least employing British accents), many of their jokes didn’t seem quite what I would expect from something “similar to Monty Python.” Dave Beeler, who plays perpetually optimistic and perpetually misled Brian Forbes, is too straight of a character. He reacts to Tom Konkle’s Sir Reginald as if his ideas are truly the silliest things he has ever heard. If this was a Monty Python sketch, I could see Brian Forbes going along with Sir Reginald’s goofiness, and probably topping it a bit. This webseries just isn’t quite absurd enough to be at the Monty Python level.
This isn’t a very involved show, with a bunch of special effects or even a bunch of actors. But, the two leads play off each other very well and together they make a great comedy duo. It was really easy to watch each webisode back to back and not lose interest. And I continued laughing until the very end, which proves that this show handles its simple but funny concept really well.
There are currently 15 webisodes of Invention with Brian Forbes, all available on Dave and Tom’s website.
Never miss an update.
Subscribe to Pink Raygun by Email or subscribe via RSS
About Melissa: By day a mild-mannered tv station receptionist, by night a fighter of crime and corruption in the dirty streets of Spokane, WA . . . or maybe not so much. More like a hyperactive, anal-retentive daytime receptionist and a melodramatic, hyperactive nighttime fangirl who only wishes she could be a fighter of crime and champion of justice (except that would lead to getting my super costume all dirty and I hate doing laundry.) Though my intent has always been to write bestselling novels and live a life of wealth and luxury, putting my talents for snarkiness and word doodling together while letting my geek flag fly suits me just fine – for now.
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