Even when life swims along…we all need a little laughter.
Like the opening scene of a comedy: You’re in a city you’ve always wanted to live in, you’ve got a job, you’ve got a roof over your head and you’ve even got time to finish your novel (at last!).
Then: Life falls flat and you need things to laugh at. Bring on the comedy!
Mindless laughs help but the writer in my cries for good plot and character development. Intricate comedic timing comes as a bonus.
Hello, Cabin Pressure.
A little BBC Radio sitcom that trekked along from 2008-20016.
It involves lemons, yellow cars, otters, a piano, an airdot (because you cannot have an airline with only one plane) and the four individuals who make up the charter company known as MJN Air.
Cabin Pressure as a Nikon Ad
(See what I did there? Don’t you want to join the family now?)
I stumbled into this obscure gem in 2009 on a recommendation of a friend who was trying to cheer me up. It helped bucket loads. However it wasn’t until this past summer when I introduced it to my little sister, that I dived back in. I really appreciated it for the imagination and provoking thoughts it creates.
British radio drama exists as an eternally underappreciated area. Especially the comedy. The writer (John Finnemore, who has a blog located here) of Cabin Pressure also does another called “The Souvenir Program” which is equally clever.
I entreat you to be open and try new things. It’s better than kale (which I adore but to some it exists as the new broccoli). Also, Cabin Pressure is best appreciated by listening to the episodes in order due to a number of recurring characters, jokes and subtle plot lines.
Anyhow, seeing as I am not going to type more than I should today, no matter how much I want to, because there is, as with everything, a lot to say about Cabin Pressure.
Aside from the silly things mentioned above (like otters), Cabin Pressure may be a sitcom but at its core it touches on the importance of always being positive, though few can probably rival Arthur and his innate trust that things will always work out. It also touches on going for your dreams no matter what other people say or how much of a struggle it may be for you. Ultimately, it is about friendship, even if most interactions are based on ritual teasing. When things matter. They matter.
You can find bits of it on iTunes, all of it on Amazon, or, just download free off any torrent site before deciding to fully support it through a purchase. (And so begins my plugging of things I adore and want others to at least become aware of).
Take some time to laugh and, like Arthur, find fun in the littlest things. Like airport security gates, watching for yellow cars or playing word games with friends no matter how terrible you might feel.
Life is Brilliant. So Are You.
Go forth unto the world and be your own airdot!
Experiencing life through brilliant lemon glasses and a dervish of moonbeams past the plane window.
Moony
PS: The tidbits.
Cabin Pressure Series 2: Helsinki Sample
