I'd be really curious to find out what Richard Ayoade thought of the entire situation. "So you want me to come play the exact same character, saying the exact same lines and doing the exact same things ... but now it's a 'US' version?"
I believe it led to him directing episodes of Community and potentially helped lead to him directing his movies. So he probably has great things to say about the experience.
The producers just have to pick various people who are a good pick to play off Richard Ayoade being himself, and send them off places to film how they get along with each other. Ideally, picking people who love to travel and have a good time to slightly annoy Richard.
TV that produces itself.
The curve ball, which defied all expectations, was the episode in Madeira which paired him up with someone with a similarly rapid-fire and dour wit: Robert Webb. In contrast to the rest of the series, one of the funniest things I've ever watched.
What do you think of Joe Lycett's series of Travel Man? I've only watched clips rather than full episodes but while he's very different to Ayoade I've still enjoyed it. I'm perhaps biased though because he has James Acaster for an episode and I could watch that man do anything.
A very good series but was way more contrived. The relationship between those two is uncomfortable at times too (which is pretty much 100% Ricky's schtick).
I’d watch Richard Ayoade in just about anything. Travel Man was absolutely brilliant. I keep trying to find a way to watch his Crystal Maze episodes — what little I’ve seen of them has been hilarious.
