Monkey Dust leads me back to TV and Wife Swap…

I've watched more TV in the past few days than in the past 2-3 months. At Dan Hill's recommendation I watched Monkey Dust a few days ago and it is a superb programme. A dark, witty beautifully detailed exploration of suburban life. I'm very late to the party on this one I know, but I've been sort of avoiding TV for the past few months, as I've had other things to get on with. The detail of the illustration is fascinating, lots of random throwaway comments and parody. Each character seems quite real, though they are readily identifiable types. Some clips bring the bizzareness of it to life, see this one about a phone (Real), more clips here and the music is good too. I've heard it described as better than South Park, or the Simpsons, but for me it it kind of a more real Ren and Stimpy, with a UK viewpoint. Quite some of the best animation I've seen. Sadly not available on DVD yet.
[UPDATE: Monkey Dust Series 1 on DVD]

I've also seen my first episode of Wife Swap, compelling viewing, people are vile. No-one from last nights programme came out with any pride, the posh one from Bristol were seen as grasping and superior, then poor ones from up north had a huge chip on their shoulder. I'd be curious who in each couple decided to suggest the wife swap and what they expected to get in exchange, both as an experience from the two weeks and which sort of person they'd get. The Bristol couple clearly thought / hoped they might get a posher person, the poor couple looked like they'd take who ever they got along for a ride, their household manual didn't look like it was the truth. There is a sense from the programme, that celebrity is too distant, reality tv too dull, but real lifes, especially entered into voluntarily, now that is something to watch. It might be true, given the populariity of things like What not to wear and Life Laundry,

Maybe there is something to this TV lark... or maybe I'll run back to the web and radio and books...