Six of the Best: Philip Webb
The COO of LGBTQ+ streaming service OUTtv selects a pair of shows from his own platform alongside two British comedies and two iconic dramas from both sides of the Atlantic.
Absolutely Fabulous
Season one, episode three: France (specifically). There’s this iconic moment – it’s shot through the windows from the other side of a car – when Patsy drunkenly approaches the door, only to pass out and topple out of shot at the very last second. It’s burned into my brain. It’s hands down my favourite scene of all time, and no matter how many times I’ve seen it, it still makes me laugh.
More broadly, the show is a masterclass in writing for the actors. Jennifer Saunders knew exactly who she wanted in each role, and shaped the characters so perfectly that they fit the cast like a glove. I don’t know how it still feels so current, but it does, and to this day I’ll laugh at every single episode no matter how many times I’ve watched it.
Sugar Highs
This show was written by Thom Fitzgerald – an amazingly talented writer who we’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with on a number of series, including this one. His earlier work on Sex & Violence (also for OUTtv) cemented him as a firm favourite for me, and as we’ve continued to work together, I’ve come to really admire his voice as a writer.
Sugar Highs is undoubtedly a standout from our years of collaboration. It’s LGBTQ-focused and has this dark sense of humour (the story follows three men in their 20s as they vie to find sugar daddies to get out of working for a living), so on the surface, it’s right up our street. But what sets it apart for me is how it weaves in current and relatable issues. Struggling to survive and make ends meet is an experience that a lot of people can relate to, and I think it makes the comedy even more accessible. I also really loved that one of the main characters is straight; it brings a fresh perspective to the story and allows for a funny exploration of what it’s like for someone stepping into queer spaces for the first time.
Queer As Folk
The UK version, of course. This is the show I wish I’d had the chance to be part of. It was hugely influential – not just for me, but also for other LGBTQ+ creators. It was the first time I’d seen a series completely centred on the LGBTQ+ experience that was totally honest, authentic, and still maintained the quality threshold. Watching it felt like holding a mirror up to my own life in a way I hadn’t ever experienced before. I saw myself reflected on screen, and that gave me a kind of permission to live as I wanted to.
It was the 90s, the AIDS crisis was still casting a very dark shadow, and there was so much fear and doubt in the gay community. Coming out felt like a real risk, like you could lose everything. Your friends, your family – they might never speak to you again. This show recognised that reality, but also offered another possibility. For me, and I think for a lot of people, it showed both parents and children what acceptance could look like. It reminds me of my youth, and it definitely continues to inspire me.
Womb Envy
Womb Envy is an OUTtv original that was a co-commission in partnership with Accessibility Media. We’d been keen to work with them for a while, so when they approached us about this series, we said, ‘Hell yeah!’ It was created as accessible media, using innovative techniques to ensure blind and partially sighted audiences can fully experience the show. It features integrated described video, where audio description is built into the footage via the dialogue of the series rather than added separately. With optional closed-caption subtitles also available, the result is a version that’s accessible to blind and partially sighted audiences, as well as deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.
In Canada, described video is required on a certain number of projects each year, but as it’s still a relatively new format, there’s a lot of room to explore how it can be used more creatively. It’s such an important tool for accessibility, and we really relished the opportunity to experiment with it, to find a way of using it that keeps you engaged with what’s happening on screen. In Womb Envy, the described video is often a narrator who becomes part of the experience, stepping in with humour and personality, so it feels more woven into the story rather than an add-on. I’m proud that OUTtv was part of this.
Succession
This show is just genius. Every single character is so well drawn and somehow still incredibly shallow, and yet that’s the joy of it. Not one character with more depth than a paddling pool – sublime. The cast inhabit their roles so effortlessly and with such conviction, I’m not sure I’ll ever believe Sarah Snook isn’t actually Shiv. For me, it’s also a masterclass in ensemble drama. Every storyline is so well balanced, and no one character ever fully takes centre stage; it’s a constant push and pull between them all.
I also love the real-world relevance, and how it echoes current affairs without being too heavy handed. I’m keen to see how this show endures when the real-world backdrop it was created against fades from memory.
Friday Night Dinner
Speaking of family dysfunction… It’s quite hard to make me laugh out loud, but this show does just that. I love that these completely absurd plotlines are tethered by an experience I think most people can relate to – sitting around a dinner table with your family. The parents, the kids, the weird neighbour; to me, these characters are humanity at its finest. The parents are my favourite. They’re so familiar and completely ridiculous in the best way possible.
What this show captures so brilliantly is really intense awkwardness – and for me, that’s pure joy. Nothing is quite as entertaining to me as watching a group of people navigate uncomfortable silences or social tensions. I think this is something that a lot of people are more inclined to cringe away from, but I’ve never shied from projects that sit in those moments. That’s something I also loved about Womb Envy; there are certain beats of awkwardness that I find fascinating and funny, and I like that.
Honourable Mention: Abigail’s Party
I know it’s supposed to be six… but I have to give shout out to Abigail’s Party. Another painfully funny comedy of manners about a neighbours’ get-together in suburbia. I reference it constantly. If you don’t know it, you really should.
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tagged in: Absolutely Fabulous, OUTtv, Philip Webb, Queer as Folk, Succession, Sugar Highs, Womb Envy