Monster Mash

Steven Toast finally makes it into the set of the new Star Wars.

It is not what he expected to be. Ray Purchase turns up.

Before that Toast keeps getting kidnapped, gets drunk with Orson Welles.

Russ Nightlife turns out to be a criminal on the run.

It is an end to an enjoyable series, fun and frivolous.

The hectic Star Wars bit is nearer the mark if you have a bit part in Star Wars. I speak from personal experience!

This is one of the harder reviews to write, as I honestly don't know exactly how I feel about the show. It's . . not funny, is it ? Or is it? The character is and some of the delivery is, but the plot and supporting characters? I don't know.

Veteran British character actor Stephen Toast (Matt Berry) lands a role in the new Star Wars film, which leads to him relocating to Los Angeles. He moves in with the wildly OCD Russ Nightlife (Fred Armisen) and tries to find enough work in L. A. to keep him afloat until the film starts shooting.

I mean, there certainly were elements of this that I didn't like at all. I don't understand what Fred Armisen's characters is supposed to be about, nor why Rashida Jones is playing a character who can't speak English. I hated the LA agent played by Doon Mackichan, (though liked to see Jane Plough) again. The American cameos felt, in general, as though they were stunt casting, rather than any particularly clever or interesting use of the actors. We got more though out of British performers, like Matthew Holness, Natasia Demetriou and Morgana Robinson though. Generally, I got bored by the plot of virtually every episode and found a lot of it pretty tedious.

It's odd though, even just looking through the IMDB pages and reading "Kayvan Novak as Des Wigwam" makes me laugh. And every so often there was a particular reading of a line that's unique to the character and to Berry's portrayal that made me laugh.

If I'm honest though, it's not enough really and it must be truly baffling to anyone starting this as a completely new series (which given that it's moved to the BBC from Channel 4 is a distinct possibility) as to what is going on.

I love the character, but this might be dreadful... or not... I don't know anymore.

Toast has finally made it, the moment has arrived for him to appear in the next Star Wars movie, sadly all does not run to plan, as kidnappers are operating in the area, and the real identity of Russ Nightlife is revealed.

I enjoyed it, it's totally off the wall, it's incredibly zany, but this was a good end to the series. Toast's Hollywood dreams turns into a nightmare, he had real dreams of grandeur, he'd hoped to conquer The US, instead his dreams were left in tatters, the humour was very much loaded down with tragedy, it worked.

Seeing Danny Bear and Clem Fandango teasing Toast, and finally revealing their true feelings for him was a joyous moment, seeing the star of the new Star Wars film, outrageous and funny.

Great seeing Ray Purchase return, Blair and Jane's cameos seemed unnecessary, both scenes, hardly worth getting dressed for.

Sorry Johnson, the same with several of the new characters, not funny, just irritating.

Is this the end for Toast? I hope not, but please, get him back to Britain.

8/10.