Ideal: Johnny Vegas rolls spliffs on IFC in June

Johnny Vegas is already a household name for U.K. hipsters—and American audiences are about to find out why. He's starred as Moz, a small-time, overweight pot and hash dealer who lives loosely by the motto "No cash, no ash" for four seasons on BBC 3's Ideal. The fifth season just kicked off on the BBC. In June, IFC picks up the first season of Ideal for its U.S. premiere—and we're told it's highly addictive, the show that is.

The first two episodes I screened are a comically dark introduction to the enterprising businessman/loser's world and its cast of characters. Moz deals out of his own flat in Salford, Manchester, and it's a pit that makes the Young Ones house or that dumpy rowhouse I lived in after college look like a Soho loft. Squalid as it is, Moz has often got the "gear" that people want and the main action in Ideal (a play on I deal, eh?) revolves around visits from Moz's business associates, clients and other freaky folks on the fringe. To get prepped for the show, it'd be wise to get familiar with the initial set of characters, lest the Mancunian accents trip you up, because I've heard that the plot and relationships get a bit more complex in later episodes. You'll thank me later, I think.

Nicki – unhappy girlfriend of Moz
PC (Police Constable) – Moz's main supplier
Jenny – the childminder who can't remember whose kids she's watching
Colin – hooligan "on probation"
Kuldip – the know-it-all DJ
Asia and China – hot new female customers who forget to bring cash
Cartoon Head – mysterious dude in a mouse mask
Psycho Paul – the rival dealer in the 'hood
Troy – Moz’s brother

Ideal debuts on IFC June 7 at 1o:30pm and encores Tuesdays at 9:30pm