John Cleese interviews top scholars and professionals in psychology, cosmetic surgery, and evolutionary psychology to study facial expressions (e.g., Paul Ekman), how we communicate with them (e.g, John Gottman), and our evolutionary preferences for symmetric faces (e.g., David Buss).

In the first episode Cleese reviews the literature (including Ekman’s), which I first read in Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, that shows how simply smiling can put one in a better mood. This may sound like the clichéd ideas of motivational speakers, but it’s true.

At the end of the third episode, Cleese references quotes George Orwell: “At 50 everyone has the face he deserves.” (article about it.) I wonder if there’s truth to it. It reminds me of a Talking Heads song from their Remain in Light album, Seen & Not Seen.

First 3 episodes are quite good. The last one is weak: very little or no scholarship or science. It’s more like a feature on Entertainment Tonight. The 2nd disc is also disappointing. There’s an interview with David Buss and a neuroscience researcher that are worthwhile.