Review: Comedy Feeds - A Brief History Of Tim, iPlayer

One of the highlights of this latest series of BBC iPlayer comedies is Tim Renkow’s short film clearly based on some of his real-life experiences.

Renkow has cerebral palsy and, perhaps connected to the way people have treated him over the years, this UK-based American comic has developed a pretty dark sense of humour as well as a thick skin. When he spots someone else using the disabled toilet in a pub - we’ve all done it, I know - he pours lager down his leg to make it look like he has pissed himself while waiting. On his way to a job interview he falls in the lift and claims the stranger watching him (played by David Mills) shoved him over.

The film follows his attempts to get a job - he dreams of being an illustrator. Renkow’s style is to make a comedic pre-emptive strike and address his CP before somebody else does. But even when they try to be sympathetic he winds them up - in one scene a woman at a bus stop says her brother died of CP. Renkow accuses her of killing him as CP does nothing in itself to shorten life expectancy.

This taboo-busting film is not always hilarious and one of the job interview plot twists involves a corny sitcom trope that is as old as the hills, but there are plenty of good lines. At one point Renkow says that gay people are greedy - disabled people don't have a flag because gays took all the colours of the rainbow for their flag. As he stumbles along to another meeting with his long-suffering recruitment officer Idris he suggests that “maybe land is not my forte”.

Lots of comedy cameos here too and a Skype appearance from big American star Lorraine "Dr Melfi in The Sopranos" Bracco as Renkow’s loving but ball-busting mum who keeps sending him special cream to rub on.  

Watch A Brief History Of Tim on iPlayer here.

Articles on beyond the joke contain affiliate ticket links that earn us revenue. BTJ needs your continued support to continue - if you would like to help to keep the site going, please consider donating.

Zircon - This is a contributing Drupal Theme
Design by WeebPal.