A rather amusing video popped up on the Internet's neverending series of tubes earlier this week: one of Hugh Laurie's early acting gigs as a rather rude person.

Laurie plays the world's worst customer service clerk in this instructional video opposite Jennifer Saunders, star of Absolutely Fabulous and one-half of the comedy duo French & Saunders, called How to Lose Customers produced by John Cleese's Video Arts company. Laurie not only becomes the rudest clerk since the dark days of Service Merchandise, but Saunders becomes one of the few people to successfully put the overbearing House in his rightful place.



[via Fark]

Fox has announced plans to make a pilot based on the UK hit The Vicar of Dibley. The Americanized version will be renamed The Minister of Divine. Of course, bringing comedies across the Atlantic to be retooled for the American audience is nothing new. What does remain to be seen is whether this latest attempt leans more toward the updated Office, or the updated Coupling.

The Vicar of Dibley tells the story of Geraldine Granger (Dawn French). She comes to the small town of Dibley after their ancient vicar dies. Initially she encounters some reluctance, but eventually her outgoing spirit breathes new life into the failing congregation. Most of the show focuses on Geraldine and her interactions with the collection of misfits that make up the church council. It's very English and very funny.

Now if someone would bring Black Books across the pond, we'd really be in business...

[ via Digital Spy ]