James May - The Reassembler
May 3, 2016 4:49 AM   Subscribe

James May reassembles things in his shed. Episode 1 - Lawnmower. Episode 2 - Telephone. Episode 3 - Electric Guitar.
posted by veedubya (15 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
Hey, if I have to watch any of the Clarkson-era Top Gear presenters go on and do their own show, it's gonna be May.
posted by duffell at 5:05 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


I watched these when they were broadcast and really enjoyed them - May is far more tolerable when he's separated from the other Top Gear goons. But all the while, I couldn't help feeling they could have done with being more boring - ok, I don't actually mean boring, but focusing more on the engineering, with fewer quips and asides. Or something more like the "Handmade" series from BBC Four's Slow TV season - which were entirely wordless, and simply followed the act of a craftsman making a thing (glass jug, Windsor chair, steel knife).

(If you enjoyed this and can track down the Handmade episodes, I would heartily recommend them also)
posted by parm at 5:14 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


I watched this on broadcast too, and both loved it and was intensely frustrated. I want every episode to be an hour, if not two or even more. This feels like a lovely British take on slow tv lite ruined by editing and compromise. An unedited chunk of hours of May assembling things while cursing his motor skills and occasionally talking balls at the camera would be amazing. This condensed version isn't it.

Still watched them all twice, still recommend it.
posted by Dysk at 5:18 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


As a heads up, there is a fanfare post for these also.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 5:22 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


Electric screwdriver?
posted by IndigoJones at 5:27 AM on May 3, 2016


Of the three of them I like May the best by far. This smacks of 'James May Does Contractual Fulfillment' though.
posted by GallonOfAlan at 5:37 AM on May 3, 2016


...like the "Handmade" series from BBC Four's Slow TV season - which were entirely wordless, and simply followed the act of a craftsman making a thing (glass jug, Windsor chair, steel knife).

If you liked the "Handmade" program about the steel knife, the featured blacksmith was Owen Bush. He does knife and sword making courses (in the UK) from 1 day up to a week long. I've been on one and heartily recommend it!
posted by faceplantingcheetah at 6:20 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


i wanna see if the lawnmower works

*sigh*
posted by Namlit at 6:51 AM on May 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


Owen Bush... does knife and sword making courses

And only about an hour away in Kent. Mrs 43rd was asking what I might want as a birthday present this year, and I think I've just found it!

(And it would be kind of fun talking to the hipsters in Best Made Company... "Axes? Why? Don't you make your own?")
posted by 43rdAnd9th at 8:43 AM on May 3, 2016


James May has done a several decent solo shows-- "James May's Toy Stories", "Man Lab", "Cars of the People", also "Oz and JAmes Drink to Britain" and "Oz and James Wine Adventure" with a wine writer named Oz Clarke. All generally pretty good infotainment junk food on interesting geeky topics. He looks old with that white beard..
posted by thefool at 8:44 AM on May 3, 2016


his sweater is perfect
posted by clorox at 4:50 PM on May 3, 2016


"Let's just take a minute to quietly contemplate that."

Yes.
posted by not_the_water at 8:24 PM on May 3, 2016


i wanna see if the lawnmower works

Spoiler warning: they test this at the end of the episode.
posted by Dysk at 12:49 AM on May 4, 2016


Were those lawnmower's glued together instead of using gaskets? Seems a little fly by night for someone like James May.
posted by Mitheral at 7:50 PM on May 4, 2016


Dysk: "Spoiler warning: they test this at the end of the episode."

Which is cut from the linked video; full version with operational test here.
posted by Mitheral at 8:12 PM on May 4, 2016 [2 favorites]


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