Excellent news with Foxtel confirming they will screen the HBO mockumentary 7 Days in Hell next month.
This star-studded, 45-minute comedy spoof takes an irreverent look at a pair of fictional pro tennis archrivals (Kit Harington and Andy Samberg) from the not-too-distant past, who played a match to end all tennis matches: a seven-day,five-set Wimbledon marathon that took everything, literally, out of the two.
In addition to highlights (and lowlights) from the match, 7 Days in Hell looks back, documentary-style, at the lives andcareers of the two competitors: Aaron Williams (Samberg), the adopted brother of Serena and Venus Williams, whosebehaviour on his best day trumped John McEnroe’s on his worst, and Charles Poole (Harington), a dim-witted prodigywho carried England’s pre-Murray hopes for a Wimbledon champion on his shoulders.
Hilariously colouring the backstory of these faux-superstars are a parade of well-known guests, portraying fictionalcharacters or tongue-in-cheek versions of themselves, including Michael Sheen (The Queen, Frost/Nixon) as a lecherousTV journalist; Mary Steenburgen (Togetherness) as Charles’ domineering mum; Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) as Charles’childhood love (who later made a sex tape with Aaron); Will Forte (Last Man on Earth, SNL) as a tennis historian; FredArmisen (Portlandia, SNL) as the former chair of the All-England Club and Lena Dunham (Girls) as a short-livedJordache executive.
Also appearing are David Copperfield as himself, a party pal of Aaron and Rod Stewart; June Squibb (Nebraska) as acrass and boozy Queen of England; Howie Mandel (America’s Got Talent) as the hapless Duke of Kent; HBO sportspersonalities Jim Lampley and Soledad O’Brien, along with tennis legends John McEnroe, Chris Evert and currentWorld #1 Serena Williams, portraying Aaron’s adoptive sister.
7 Days in Hell airs Saturday, August 8 at 7.30pm EST on Showcase
