By NATHAN MELANDER
An unusual British Broadcasting Company comedy about an obnoxious, ugly goofball has many American television viewers laughing.
The BBC program, 'Mr. Bean,' is about a man who doesn't do anything exactly as an average person would. It premiered in 1990 as a series of physical comedy skits where the main character doesn't speak much. The few times he does speak is comical and worth hearing.
'The show has a well-written script, and that makes a huge difference,' said Lincoln Hoppe, a BYU graduate living in Provo and a member of the Garrens comedy troupe. 'Because 'Mr. Bean' is a physical comedy it would be harder to write, and therefore amazing it works so well.'
The actor playing the lead role, Rowan Atkinson, might be familiar to Americans from the movies 'Four Weddings and a Funeral,' and 'The Lion King,' where he was the voice of Zazu.
Before playing the lovable goofball, Atkinson was offered starring roles in two British television series. He chose instead to be in BBC's 'Not the Nine O'clock News,' that won him a British Academy Award and Personality of the Year.
He began writing for comedy, doing the 'Black Adder' series with screenwriter Richard Curtis. It was after this series he began writing 'Mr. Bean' scripts.
'It's hard to explain why Mr. Bean is so popular with the American audience, but I think physical comedy is popular because of Jim Carrey,' said Amy Durham, a junior history teaching major, from San Clemente, Calif.
The character of Mr. Bean has been compared to Charlie Chaplin because of his innocent yet destructive actions. Mr. Bean is all facial expressions, body contortions and funny little noises.
Hoppe said Mr. Bean inspires a few members of the Garrens Comedy Troupe, including himself.
'His character, Mr. Bean, is so well done,' Hoppe said, 'because he is a true person. His actions are stupid, but believable in what he does.'
One episode has him sitting at a park bench about to eat lunch. To make a sandwich he picks food out of his pockets. Then out of other parts of his clothing, including his sleeves and socks.
Mr. Bean is placed in strange circumstances, and it is fun watching him deal with them. One time, for instance, he finds a missing baby at a fair. Throughout the program he searches for the mother while trying to have fun at the same time.
Videos of the show containing two episodes each can be found in local video stores. The show can also be viewed on Channel 7 late Saturday nights.