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Subject: RT: UK sitcoms
Rate these UK TV sitcoms of the last 30 years or so...
Rising Damp
Porridge
Steptoe & Son
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Are You Being Served?
Dads Army
The Office
The Royle Family
Hi De Hi
'Allo 'Allo
Open All Hours
Only Fools And Horses
Birds Of A Feather
The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin
2.4 Children
It Ain't 'Arf 'Ot Mum
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
You are unlikely to get much of a response from across the Atlantic here Maddog ! :o
But I can ! We got nearly all your stuff !
Here goes !
Rising Damp 3.5
Porridge 5 - Quintissential Ronnie Barker !
Steptoe & Son 5 - Perfect also ! Sanford and Son was an abominably poor copy if you had seen the original first !
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em 4.5
Are You Being Served? 4 - Very Campy but right for it's time
Dads Army 5 - once again perfect mix of characters
The Office U/K
The Royle Family U/K
Hi De Hi U/K
'Allo 'Allo 3 - Campy again
Open All Hours 5 - More perfect Barker !
Only Fools And Horses 4
Birds Of A Feather U/K
The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin 3.5
2.4 Children U/K
It Ain't 'Arf 'Ot Mum 4 - more camp ! ;D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
I cant beleive that you omitted Faulty Towers!!!!!!!
I dont know any of these...but I have heard of a few..never watched them though...........
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Are You Being Served? 4
;D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
Steptoe & Son 5 - Perfect also ! Sanford and Son was an abominably poor copy if you had seen the original first !
End Quote
Okay, I have not seen the original, but you have got to be kidding about the 'abominably poor copy' part, Fuss! :o Sanford & Son remains to this day one of my all-time favorite comedies! 8)
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
Okay, I have not seen the original, but you have got to be kidding about the 'abominably poor copy' part, Fuss! :o Sanford & Son remains to this day one of my all-time favorite comedies! 8)
End Quote
I did not mean to offend, Karen !
Here are my reasons for saying so....
They are simply based on the fact that the show was taken, copied virtually word for word, and transplanted into America. Not that there is anything wrong with that per se, but the whole concept of simply taking a script across the Atlantic irked me then, and still does !
Having said that, it is a LONG time since I have seen it (Sanford), maybe my views have changed....(doubt it though) :P
FB :)
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
I did not mean to offend, Karen !
Here are my reasons for saying so....
They are simply based on the fact that the show was taken, copied virtually word for word, and transplanted into America. Not that there is anything wrong with that per se, but the whole concept of simply taking a script across the Atlantic irked me then, and still does !
Having said that, it is a LONG time since I have seen it (Sanford), maybe my views have changed....(doubt it though) :P
FB :)
End Quote
I understand, Fuss, and I know that we have been guilty of stealing other sitcom ideas from the Brits. I tend to feel the way you do here with songs remakes. Almost always the original is better! :)
You should see if you can watch it again. Redd Foxx was really quite a character! ;D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
I cant beleive that you omitted Faulty Towers!!!!!!!
End Quote
I can't believe I omitted that either Mike...what was I thinking!?
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Rising Damp 3
Porridge 5
Steptoe & Son 4
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em 5
Are You Being Served? 5
Dads Army 4
The Office ???
The Royle Family 4
Hi De Hi ???
'Allo 'Allo 3
Open All Hours 5
Only Fools And Horses 4
Birds Of A Feather 4
The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin ???
2.4 Children ???
It Ain't 'Arf 'Ot Mum 4
Good one maddog ! :D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Out of 5 . . .
Rising damp - 3
Porridge - 5 (The chemistry between Ronnie Barker and Richard Bekinsale is incredible)
Steptoe and Son - 5 (I don't know about Sanford and Son but it's going to have to impress me after watching this)
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em - 4 (I've never seen Michael Crawford so effective)
Are you being served? - 1 (Turgid innuendos based department store sitcom)
Dad's Army - 3 (Some nice charactizations in this one featuring the impeccable Arthur Lowe)
The Office - 4 (I urge anyone to watch this! This is wonderful. Watch the humour though, it's not obvious!)
The Royle Family - 4 (A sitcom about nothing in particular. Lovely chemistry between the cast and Ricky Tomlinson is outstanding)
Hi De Hi - 2 (Paul Shane, Jeffery Holland and Su Pollard star in this silly Holiday camp style 'comedy')
'Allo Allo - 2 (Featuring Gordon Kaye and Carmen Silvera) A sitcom created by the same makers of Hi De Hi. Suffered with repetition of jokes.
Open all hours - 3 (Not Ronny Barkers best but you do feel sorry for Granville - David Jason)
Only Fools and Horses - 5 (I'm not sure I know anybody that hates this comedy. Well timed, great cast and brilliant characterizations - I like Boyce and can do an impression of him "Mar-lane!"
Birds of a feather - 2 Allright. Nothing special from Pauline Quirk or . . . the other one.
The Fall and rise of Reginald Perrin - Not seen it.
2.4 Children - 2 'Safe' Domestic sitcom featuring Bellinda Lang and that kid from Grange Hill.
It 'aint half hot mum - 1 Erm . . . Rubbish featuring Melvyn Hayes and Windsor Davies.
And a 5 for Fawlty Towers! ;D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Fuss and Mandamoo - do yourselves a favour by going to the video library or the ABC shop and getting yourselves a copy of The Office. It was on here at the start of this year. It was classic.
Fuss - I agree wholeheartedly with you about Sanford and Son. It was awful compared to Steptoe and Son (sorry CF).
Actually wasn't All In The Family a take off of 'Til Death Us Do Part? I'd choose an English show over an American one any time. All of the mentioned shows (the exception being 2.4 Children and The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin ???) I have watched and enjoyed.
:)
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
Fuss and Mandamoo - do yourselves a favour by going to the video library or the ABC shop and getting yourselves a copy of The Office. It was on here at the start of this year. It was classic.
Fuss - I agree wholeheartedly with you about Sanford and Son. It was awful compared to Steptoe and Son (sorry CF).
Actually wasn't All In The Family a take off of 'Til Death Us Do Part? I'd choose an English show over an American one any time. All of the mentioned shows (the exception being 2.4 Children and The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin ???) I have watched and enjoyed.
:)End Quote
Thanks jaytee, I had no idea it had been shown here. ;)
The idea for All In The Family was, I'm pretty sure, taken from 'Til Death Do Us Part. I also prefer English comedies.
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
I can't believe I omitted that either Mike...what was I thinking!?
End Quote
Mike? Read the name......
and yes, both All in the family and Threes company were stolen from British shows...in fact, most of the shows the "genius" Norman Lear produced were actully stolen from British shows......
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
'Till death us do part' featured the unimitable Warren Mitchell as Alf Garnett. In a time were 'politically incorrect' wasn't a term used often, it caused outrage in Britain because he kept calling his wife a 'silly cow' - it was later changed to 'silly moo'. Mary Whitehouse (a censorer in Britain) also counted a staggering amount of 'bloodys' in one episode!
I love that show. Nobody is that daring to do a sitcom like that these days. We get luke-warm efforts like 'My Family' instead . . .
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
it caused outrage in Britain because he kept calling his wife a 'silly cow' - it was later changed to 'silly moo'. End Quote
Muwahaha ! Mandamoo take note :P ;D
I am afraid Bobby, that I am forced to agree with your comments re sanitisation.... :(
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
Muwahaha ! Mandamoo take note :P ;D
End Quote
Hey ! Maybe I should change my screen name to sillymoo ! I quite like it ! :o ;D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
Muwahaha ! Mandamoo take note :P ;D
I am afraid Bobby, that I am forced to agree with your comments re sanitisation.... :(
End Quote
Oh yeah. Ha ha! You don't want to be called 'Silly Moo'. Though saying that I have to be careful when I write my name on the boards (which isn't often) - One false move and it turns into 'Booby'. :D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Rising Damp 3.5 Enjoyed it at the time but looks dated now
Porridge 4 Still funny
Steptoe & Son 3 Has funny moments but not my favourite
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em 5 Hilarious and those stunts!
Are You Being Served? 3 see steptoe
Dads Army 3 is o.k.
The Office 4.5 subtle humour and not everyone's cup of tea
The Royle Family 1 can't stand it
Hi De Hi 2 liked the first series but very samey
'Allo 'Allo 4 good but jokes wore thin towards the end
Open All Hours 3 never really got into this one
Only Fools And Horses 5 so many classic moments in this
Birds Of A Feather 3.5 all right to 'veg' to
The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin 2 never got into this one though my husband loves it
2.4 Children ???
It Ain't 'Arf 'Ot Mum 3 o.k. for the time
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Rising Damp - not seen
Porridge - 4
Steptoe & Son - 2
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em -3
Are You Being Served? - I'm 3
Dads Army - 5
The Office - 1 madly overrated
The Royle Family - 1 see above
Hi De Hi - 2 seen it repeated and it's less funny now
'Allo 'Allo - 4 Good Moaning
Open All Hours - 4
Only Fools And Horses - 0
Birds Of A Feather - 2
The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin - 3
2.4 Children -3
It Ain't 'Arf 'Ot Mum - dunno
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Surprised I've taken so long in getting to this...
Rising Damp - 3...was always a bit of a mystery to me - some hilariously funny bits and pieces (and a fine actor in the late Leonard Rossiter), but didn't always hit the mark...
Porridge - 5 - only the British could stage a sitcom within the walls of a prison! (Though the Aussies did try with 'Prisoner Cell Block H' (har! har!))...Outstanding writing and celebrated performances from Barker & Beckinsale, not forgetting the immortal cry of the late Fulton McKay..."Fletch-aaaar...!" The follow-up series 'Going Straight', is best left forgotten...
Steptoe & Son - 5 - was originally intended as a one-off attempt as part of 'Galton & Simpson's Comedy Playhouse' in 1962, but rapidly took on a life (and many series) of its own...impeccable writing, and the performances by Corbett & Brambell were amazing...most of the time, these two were the only people who appeared in the show!
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em - 4 - amazingly popular at the time, this was probably Crawford's finest hour...apparently did all his own stunts in the show, which must've saved the BBC a fortune!
Are You Being Served - 4 - another strange setting...a department store, of all things! If there was any excuse for a bit of stereotyping (John Inman as token 'flamboyantly camp' guy, or smut (Mollie Sugden's 'pussy' jokes...) it was here! And it somehow worked! The attempted 'comeback' in the '90's with 'Grace & Favour' however, was not such a good idea...
Dad's Army - 5 - had class written all over it...good scripts, fantastic characters and (what made it work) brilliant actors (most of whom are sadly long-gone...)
The Office - 2 - strange one this...I've caught a few episodes, and whilst I admit it is very well observed and written, it does nothing at all for me...
The Royal Family - 1 - if watching Ricky Tomlinson uttering "arse" frequently is your idea of comedy, fine! Personally I can't stand it...!
Hi De Hi - 3 - ultra-corny '50's 'holiday camp' setting...was okay for the first few series, but the ideas grew stale rather quickly...
'Allo 'Allo - 3 - and another huge dollop of innuendo came with this...good performances by most, but once again the show ran out of steam after a while...apparently based on the dead-serious drama 'Secret Army'...
Open All Hours - 3 - Barker again as the st-st-st-stuttering Arkwright in this homely 'grocer store' effort...not as essential as 'Porridge' but has its moments...
Only Fools And Horses - 3 - has become something of a landmark in British comedy, but I've never been that taken by it...don't get me wrong, some very funny pieces, but by and large (especially by the later series) you just knew what the gags were and where they were gonna happen...last couple of 'specials' were anything but...
Birds Of A Feather - 2 - some good bits, but rather dull on the whole...
The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin - 4 - Leonard Rossiter's other 'big show'...this was amazingly surreal for its time...!
2.4 Children - 3 - okay for what it was...some funny bits, but weak characters and some quite unbelievable scenarios...
It Ain't 'Arf 'Ot Mum - 5 - couldn't really go wrong with Melvyn Hayes being camper than a row of tents and the amazing Windsor Davies in his finest role ever as the BSM ("Shaaddduuup!")...marvellous...!
In actual fact, such is the woeful state of British TV as a whole that most of these programmes, given their age, are still shown on an alarmingly regular basis...even more alarmingly, they're still amassing quite healthy viewing figures...!
Good topic that, maddog - I still hold 'The Good Life' (and Felicity Kendal's backside!) dear to my heart...!
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
Good topic that, maddog - I still hold 'The Good Life' (and Felicity Kendal's backside!) dear to my heart...!
End Quote
Oooh Yeah ! :P :P :P :P And the voice too :P
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
Oh yeah. Ha ha! You don't want to be called 'Silly Moo'. Though saying that I have to be careful when I write my name on the boards (which isn't often) - One false move and it turns into 'Booby'. :D
End Quote
I can see how that could happen Booby....oooops....I mean Bobby ! ;) ;D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
I can see how that could happen Booby....oooops....I mean Bobby ! ;) ;D
End Quote
Oops ! Moo boobed ! ;D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
Oops ! Moo boobed ! ;D
End Quote
I'm such a silly moo cow ! :P ;D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
I can see how that could happen Booby....oooops....I mean Bobby ! ;) ;D
End Quote
LOL ;D
Subject: Re: RT: UK sitcoms
Quoting:
Good topic that, maddog - I still hold 'The Good Life' (and Felicity Kendal's backside!) dear to my heart...!End Quote
'The Good life' was a bit too twee for me, Paul. Everything was fine and dandy even in struggling times. At least I don't think it stooped to 'Oh I've just trod in pig s..t' style jokes.