If you haven’t experienced the brilliance that is the hilarious ABC 2 TV series ‘twentysomething’ starring Jess Harris and Josh Schmidt then you are definitely missing out on some excellent home grown Australian comedy.
While their friends are settling down and getting ‘real’ jobs, Jess and Josh just want to party and the show follows their journey as they try to make their way in the world and support their fun loving lifestyles without actually working.
From starting an erotic cleaning business to collecting lost dogs to return for rewards, the brash and outgoing Jess drags her best friend, sweet and quiet Josh along on all her crazy schemes.
When I sat down to chat with Josh and Jess the first thing I was surprised about was how sensible they were and how adult they sounded.
I suppose it's only natural to think that when two people are playing characters that are named after themselves, they are simply just playing themselves
And although they admit there are some similarities they have drawn on, Jess says they are definitely not playing themselves.
“We’re quite different to our onscreen characters which is good to be able to draw the difference between who we are and who they are,” says Jess.
“I wouldn’t say I’m as arrogant or as wildly confident as the character Jess is and Josh is not as submissive and sweet.”
Although Josh says that he is most similar to his character in his hopefulness.
“I think Josh is really quite hopeful and loving and easy going and part of that is my personality but I’m probably not as submissive as Josh,” he says.
“But if you catch me hungover on a Sunday, that’s pretty much Josh.”
Best friends in real life and on the show Jess says the biggest similarity is their friendship.
“I think the friendship is what we most connect to, that is the same as us, but we’re definitely amping it up playing characters not just playing ourselves.”
“And the drive too I think, they’re both so driven,” adds Josh.
Josh and Jess are certainly driven. The original twentysomething was first made in about 2004 and it aired on community television in Melbourne in 2007.
“We just made it ourselves, a friend of ours filmed it for us and we did it over a couple of years because we were still working at other jobs,” says Jess.
“We didn’t really know where it was going to end up and then we put it on Channel 31 and it got a really good response.”
The show got noticed and has now been remade for ABC 2 as a completely new series with new story lines.
Josh and Jess seem to be similar to their characters in their determination, after all most struggling actors don’t decide to go all out and make their own show.
“Josh and I haven’t had any formal training in the conventional sense so that’s why we did the show the first time was because we didn’t really know how to break into the industry and get ourselves out there,” says Jess.
“So we thought, lets make this show and use it as an extended showreel to showcase what we can do.
Partners in crime, Josh and Jess have known each other since they were teenagers.
“We met when we were like 14 years old at a youth organisation that was all about empowering young people,” Josh explains.
“Jess and I went along separately there and saw each other and got along ever since.”
Josh says being able to work with your best friend is a blessing.
“The good thing about doing the show with a best friend is that it’s the best experience because part of it’s so exciting and part of it’s so petrifying,” he says.
“Being able to look across when we’re doing a scene and know that’s just Jess my best friend, makes it a lot easier.”
Jess says that a lot of the show was inspired by things themselves or their friends did in their twenties.
“We’re drawing on our experiences that we had in our twenties where we weren’t sure what we were doing, we were frustrated, it sort of came quit easily to play these characters," she says.
So what advice to Josh and Jess have for twentysomethings out there trying to find their way in the world?
“Don’t stress about it I think would be the message, ‘ says Jess.
“Have fun and build up the life experience in your twenties, enjoy it.”
“I don’t think anyone should be taking our advice!” says Josh.
“I think most people in their twenties want to set their life up and try to achieve something, so I would say just starting would be my only advice,” he says.
In the series finale of the show Josh and Jess decide to get married so Jess can get a VISA to work in England… as you do.
“We always knew we wanted that ending. Josh and I actually wanted to get legally married but they wouldn’t let us,” says Jess.
“But we will, one day Josh and I will end up in Vegas no doubt with rings on our fingers!”
So what's next for Josh and Jess, in real life and in the show?
"There’s nothing locked in yet but we would love to do another season," says Jess.
"Now that people know the show, and know the style and know the characters we can have so much more fun with it. I think there’s heaps more adventures they could go on."
"I’m always thinking about it, about where they’re going to end up and what’s their ultimate place, what’s their happy ending."
Check out the twentysomething Facebook http://www.facebook.com/twentysomething
WIN!
Glam Adelaide is giving you the chance to win a copy of the twentysomething DVD and the soundtrack to the series which features Triple J Unearthed artists.
The soundtrack also features two tracks from Adelaide bands The Keepsakes and Hawks of Alba.
To win, just tell us what was the craziest thing you did in your twenties!
Email you answer, name, email address and mobile phone number to [email protected]
We have three DVD and CD packs to give away so be quick!
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