The Trews | |
---|---|
Genre | News, politics, comedy |
Created by | Russell Brand Gareth Roy |
Presented by | Russell Brand |
Opening theme | The Rubberbandits |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 367 |
Production | |
Producers | Gareth Roy Marika Connoly Charly Cox |
Running time | Varies (6–20 minutes) |
Original release | |
Network | YouTube |
Release | 27 February 2014 present | –
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The Trews is a YouTube web series by English comedian, actor and activist Russell Brand. The Trews features Brand and his take on media as it appears in newspapers or on television as well as special episodes in which Brand responds to comments left by viewers. The show's name is a portmanteau of "true" and "news".
The show is generally a solo piece to camera supplemented with clips and screenshots from the media but at times also features interviews with celebrities, activists and other guests.[1] Notable guests have included Alain de Botton, Alastair Campbell and George Monbiot.
Brand's status as a comedian delivering political commentary has led to comparisons to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, though Brand's approach is more "low-key".[1] The series is typically filmed in a casual style at Brand's house in the Shoreditch district in the East End of London[2] or in the car with Brand. According to journalist Kristian Markus, the format establishes "an intimate connection with his viewers, portraying himself not as some impenetrably pristine star fans are only to admire from a distance, but as a fellow citizen of the world who seeks connection with the people and world outside."[3] A few episodes have been filmed at rallies, where Brand interviews activists about their causes.
The series is produced, directed and edited by Gareth Roy,[4][5][6] a producer who has worked on other projects with Brand.[7]