The Trews (web series)

The Trews
Logo featuring Brian the dog
GenreNews, politics, comedy
Created byRussell Brand
Gareth Roy
Presented byRussell Brand
Opening themeThe Rubberbandits
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes367
Production
ProducersGareth Roy
Marika Connoly
Charly Cox
Running timeVaries (6–20 minutes)
Original release
NetworkYouTube
Release27 February 2014 (2014-02-27) –
present
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

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]

  1. ^ a b Laurie Fanelli (13 October 2014). "Russell Brand's 'The Trews' injects humor into the news". AXS TV. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  2. ^ Simon Hattenstone (11 October 2014). "Russell Brand: 'I want to address the alienation and despair'". The Guardian.
  3. ^ Kristian Markus (7 September 2014). "Russell Brand redefines Hollywood celebrity with 'The Trews'". Tech Generation Magazine.
  4. ^ Russell Brand (14 November 2014). "@rustyrockets: The guys who bring you the trews as KISS as we prepare to do Pied Piper (at) the Albert Hall". Twitter. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  5. ^ "How Do We Stop Corporations Becoming Evil?". The Trews. YouTube. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Who's More Dangerous, Me Or Fox News?". The Trews. YouTube. 28 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Gareth Roy". IMDb. Retrieved 7 January 2015.