MTV’s newest series, The Inbetweeners, is about four teenage boys and their journey to become cool and “get some” in high school. The show features Will McKenzie (Joey Pollari), a student who recently switched schools due to bullying. Somewhat against his will, he makes friends with Jay (Zack Pearlman), Simon (Bubba Lewis) and Neil (Mark L. Young), who are not losers, but just cannot seem to find their spot in the popular circle. They are the Inbetweeners.
So far in the season, the gang has encountered crazy ex-boyfriends, genital-engorging Jacuzzis, angry homeless men, hideous yellow cars and Goldschlager attacks.
In the latest episode, which aired Monday at 10:30 p.m., Simon tries avoiding the girl he believes is the love of his life but keeps embarrassing himself in front of by tagging along on an RV trip with Jay’s family and the rest of the gang. As always, Jay exaggerates how awesome their trip will be, promising the boys that the campground will have tons of hot chicks ready to throw themselves at the group. Once they arrive and realize the falsity of Jay’s statements, they settle for hanging out in a lame rec room, but still do what they can to catch some tail. Fortunately for some, a few of the boys still manage to get a little action.
Every episode of this series has had me rolling around, laughing until tears flow. Although very underrated, this new series is definitely one for those viewers who enjoy dry humor and awkward moments. The best description I’ve heard of The Inbetweeners is that it is “The perfect combination of Awkward. and Superbad.” The actors chosen for these roles play their character perfectly, down to the angry vice principle played by Brett Gelman, who currently co-stars in Adult Swim’s Eagleheart and NBC’s Go On.
The MTV series is a spinoff of the British sitcom also titled The Inbetweeners, which had a successful three series and a low rate movie produced last year. The show was created by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, and the American version was developed by Brad Copeland, best known for his work on the FOX series Arrested Development. He also wrote the comedy series Grounded for Life and My Name is Earl.
ABC attempted to re-create the series in 2008, but was unsuccessful. MTV seems to be running with the “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to producing the series, as episodes have been very similar in content and in comedy. The show airs Monday nights at 10:30 p.m., and the first two seasons of the original version are available on Netflix.

By Taylor Zimmerman