Sneak Peak! The Fabulous Beekman Boys on Planet Green

As you may have read in my post regarding the BEA, I was recently offered The Bucolic Plague for review, a memoir about two city guys who decide to completely change their lives in order to own and operate a farm.  As it turns out, that is only half of the story.

You can also watch the story play out in the new series coming to Planet Green, The Fabulous Beekman Boys.  This documentary/comedy follows the crazy lives of Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell (the latter being the author of The Bucolic Plague) as they stumble their way through learning the ropes of the farming profession.  Check out the official trailer here.

I was able to get a sneak peak of the first couple of episodes, and I thought it would be fun to share my first impressions with you!  First of all, what Brent says in the trailer is true:  The couple really doesn't know anything about farming.  This is one of the things that makes the show so funny.  They bring in an expert (Farmer John) to help them manage the farm, and the relationship between the three of them is something that keeps you on your toes, especially when Farmer John gives Brent a look of death when he is told to do extra chores (seriously, poor guy).

Of course there are the requisite Odd Couple dynamics:  Brent is the up tight neat freak and Josh is the easy-going fun-loving one.  Although this makes some of the show a little too familiar, the boys' relationship is always apparent under it all - whether they are arguing or apologizing - which makes the series stand out.

The first couple of episodes serve to set up the scene, and we follow the duo as they buy pigs, host a party on their farm, and worry over their llama, Polkaspot.

As with all shows of this nature, I really have to wonder what is real and what is staged.  Especially the fact that the Boys' enormous mansion, farm, and business is seemingly only supported by Farmer John.  One would think that would be too much work for one man.  Brent and Josh also seem to get into a fight, realize that their relationship is more important, and make up in each neat, 21 minute episode.  However unrealistic it may be, The Fabulous Beekman Boys proves to be a humorous romp through the pigpen.  You can check it out on Planet Green on Wednesday, June 16th.