He Never Stood a Chance

As a long-time enthusiast of offbeat humor and a connoisseur of shows that push the boundaries of conventional dating scenarios, I find “Chicken Shop Date” to be a delightful and refreshing addition to the genre. The show’s unique blend of awkward encounters, sharp wit, and a dash of surrealism is a testament to its creator’s keen eye for comedy.

Andrew Garfield recently appeared on Amelia Dimoldenberg’s YouTube comedy show, Chicken Shop Date. This show involves celebrity guests being put through a simulated awkward first-date scenario and playful teasing. There has been much speculation about their interaction due to their mutual admiration for each other, with both engaging in flirtatious banter at red carpet events where Amelia is a correspondent. Given his new movie promotion, it seemed almost inevitable that he would appear on the show. The anticipation culminated in Andrew Garfield experiencing the full Dimoldenberg treatment, and as predicted, their interaction was delightful. (Dimoldenberg: “I knew you would do this.” Garfield: “Did I predict all your ‘moves’?”)

As a movie reviewer looking back on Garfield’s latest film, I must admit his portrayal was an intriguing twist, given his ongoing image as a sensitive, lanky actor. Despite his private persona following the split with Emma Stone nearly a decade ago, he has continued to embrace these vulnerable roles. The movie itself, much like any other ‘Chicken Shop’, is relatively uneventful. However, Garfield’s character seems to overplay the “what could have been” card in our fictional date, which felt repetitive for my taste.

In a unique twist on a dating-like scenario within the show “Chicken Shop Date,” Dimoldenberg takes her guests through an unconventional interrogation, reminiscent of a first date but with distinct British flair. Instead of meeting in a café or restaurant, she chooses chicken shops and plays an exaggerated version of herself. The conversations often mimic flirty banter, but what sets Dimoldenberg apart is her ability to create awkward moments that keep her guests off-balance. When she’s particularly sharp, the effect can be as unexpected as a knife’s jab. This is how she generated the viral moment from Jack Harlow’s interview where she challenges him with “Can you read?” after he mentions his interest in little free libraries but admits he hasn’t used them. The humor of the situation is heightened by Jack Harlow’s self-assured demeanor.

In a unique and engaging style, Dimoldenberg’s approach skillfully elicits memorable moments from various guests by embodying a character that is finely tuned: a nonchalant yet intriguing interlocutor who effortlessly transitions between indifference and eagerness, skepticism and sharpness. For instance, when interviewing the baby-faced Manchester rapper Aitch, she playfully commented, “You look a bit like a prawn.

In other discussions, Dimoldenberg has mentioned her inspirations, which are clearly visible throughout the series. Chicken Shop Date shares a flattened comedic style reminiscent of mockumentaries like This Is Spinal Tap and Best in Show. Characters such as Leslie Knope from Parks & Recreation serve as significant references, with Dimoldenberg’s character embodying someone who is equally a part of the joke and the subject of it. Zach Galifianakis’s Between Two Ferns might be the most direct comparison in terms of concept, but there’s a notable distinction: while Galifianakis shines as a bitter troll aiming jabs at others, Dimoldenberg is most intriguing when it’s unclear whether she’s maintaining character or being genuine. This ambiguity pervades the Garfield episode, enhancing the fantastical aspect of the show. In this interaction, Garfield consistently tries to guide the conversation towards Dimoldenberg’s background and persona, to which she responds by oscillating between sincere answers and redirecting in character. This exchange underscores the fact that Chicken Shop Date is entering its later stages: the intrigue surrounding both the show’s internal mythology and its concept have become equally captivating as the show itself.

Garfield’s episode marks the end of this particular narrative arc for Dimoldenberg, one that has played out in venues well beyond Chicken Shop Date. It probably won’t be the last of its kind, but it does raise an interesting question about whether the YouTube show could run in perpetuity. On Chicken Shop Date, Dimoldenberg plays a character who’s unabashed and uncompromising in her hunt for a partner, and here we have Garfield emerging as one of many possible Mr. Bigs in the fictional sitcom universe she’s been cultivating for years, not quite rejected by the end but not quite promoted to primary love interest either. (“I think we should be friends,” Dimoldenberg says in the final minute. “Okay,” Garfield sheepishly replies.) The show can and will persist past this point, because there will always be more celebrity guests with projects to plug, but as far as the Dimoldenberg character goes, it’s fun to think about where else she can take it from here. It’s not that a fantastical thought experiment, since the line between Dimoldenberg as a person and as a persona is already fairly thin to begin with. In many senses, she reminds me of how Stephen Colbert played his faux-right-wing persona through The Colbert Report years: loosely, with a wink, but with determination. When he finally shed the guise to take over Late Night, it felt like a long time coming, but it also didn’t feel like that much of a stretch.

2024-10-19 01:54

He Never Stood a Chance

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