The U.K. Bit

**The U.K. Bit** (also known as **Wait... you grew up in England?**) is a recurring bit on the podcast. It is also the name of bonus audio from the Sweeney Todd episode released as part of Blank Check: Special Features, posted March 24, 2019.

## Background

David was born in New York City, but around age 9 his family moved to London. He attend ~~college~~ uni in Newcastle, briefly bartended in Paris, then returned to New York. Presently he holds both US and UK passports.

## The Bit

Every time David said or merely implied that he lived in London, England during part of his childhood, Griffin and Ben acted like it was a shocking revelation that they'd never heard before and milked it for all it's worth. The baton eventually was picked up by guests and even by David's friends out in the everyday world, to the point where David said that the bit had 'poisoned every well' in his life. The bit even reached the point that Forky referenced the bit during her wedding speech.

## Bit Status

### Retirement

The bit was officially retired, with great fanfare and ceremony, during the Family Dog - Amazing Stories episode at which time the bit was sent to the rafters.

### Resurrection and Evolution

In January 2019, David made a pledge to allow the bit to return if at least 2000 Blankies subscribed to the newly established Blank Check: Special Features feed on Patreon. Then, just two days after the first Special Features commentary was released... (listen! what's that in the distance?).

In 2021 during the New York-centric Nora Ephron miniseries, Griffin tried to flip the bit by pretending to think David had *only* lived in England. He tried several times to express shock that had lived *outside* the UK, but the old bit is so ingrained in his brain that it often ended up botched.

### Death of the Bit

In the fall of 2022 and specifically during the National Treasure: Book of Secrets Commentary, they discussed the death of the bit. David made clear that he hates the bit and that it is not just retired but that the bit is officially Dead. When texting with past guest Alex Ross Perry, they discussed editing it out of all past episodes making it Marvel's *The Sentry* of bits. Not even Lin-Manuel Miranda will be allowed to rap about it.

Following the death of the bit the Dawg has been let off the leash as evidenced by the Koyaanisqatsi Commentary and subsequent miniseries on the films of Danny Boyle.

The Bit was referenced by Griffin and Ben in the commentary for The World is Not Enough during the scene of the chase down the Thames, if only to point out how mature they were being by not doing the bit, a point which David largely ignored.

## Bit Parameters

While Blankies might enjoy the bit in the context of the podcast, that is exclusively where it resides. David does, in fact, hate the bit for real, especially on socials and in real life.   David has said that going forward he will be hardline about anyone doing the bit to him online. Blankies are sincerely discouraged from engaging in the bit should they ever encounter Mr. Sims in the real world.

## The U.K. Bit

### Reddit thread

Link

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> (For some reason?) Tony award winning actor, Michael Cerveris, was nice enough to sit down for 2+ hours and discuss Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with #thetwofriends. We present to you, checkmates, this rare look behind the curtain!
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## References

1. ↑ Family Dog - Amazing Stories @35:14
2. ↑ @DanEngler (2023-01-06). It’s 2023, The Bit is dead, and @davidlsims finally has a Life In Balance.. Twitter. Retrieved on January 9, 2023.
3. ↑ u/jeremyfrankly. PSA (and TIFU): keep the England bit off socials. Reddit. Retrieved on November 9, 2022.
4. ↑ u/BrotherFallout. sorry guys!. Reddit. Retrieved on November 9, 2022. “sorry guys! just gonna be p clear about this from now on cause ignoring it isn't stopping it. don't do the bit at me. I hate it. TY. :)”
5. ↑ @davidlsims (2022-11-09). guys I truly hate the bit. plz don't do it to me online and don't tag me in this stuff :) thanks. Twitter. Retrieved on January 9, 2023.
6. ↑ @davidlsims (2022-11-09). yeah. just sick of it in every way sadly! gonna be pretty hardline about this going forward. Twitter. Retrieved on January 9, 2023.
7. ↑ Blank Check Podcast. The U.K. Bit. Patreon. Retrieved on September 11, 2020.