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Post by oh oooh on Apr 9, 2019 10:07:53 GMT
I know you all love lists even if you say you don't. FT topping another all-time Brit TV comedy poll makes sense as much as these things can make sense. I don't have a problem with the idea of a 'comedy canon', really. But I wonder how much longer its appeal will hold. Anyway - what's missing? What shouldn't be there? 1. Fawlty Towers, 1975-9, BBC Two 2. Father Ted, 1995-8, C4 3. I’m Alan Partridge, 1997-2002, BBC Two 4. Blackadder, 1983-9, BBC One 5.Dad’s Army, 1968-77, BBC One 6. Only Fools and Horses, 1981-2003, BBC One 7. Porridge, 1973-8, BBC One 8. The Royle Family, 1998-2012, BBC One 9. Absolutely Fabulous, 1992-2012, BBC Two, BBC One 10. Dinnerladies, 1998-2000, BBC One 11. The Thick of It, 2005-12 BBC Four, BBC Two 12. The Office, 2001-3, BBC Two, BBC One 13. Peep Show, 2003-15, C4 14. The Vicar of Dibley, 1994-2007, BBC One 15. The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, 1976-9, BBC One 16. The Young Ones, 1982-4, BBC Two 17. Gavin & Stacey, 2007-10, BBC Three, BBC One 18. The Good Life, 1975-8, BBC One 19. Detectorists, 2014-17, BBC Four 20. Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, 1973-74, BBC One www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/fawlty-towers-best-sitcom-british-list-only-fools-horses-father-ted-a8860986.html
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Post by driftin on Apr 9, 2019 11:28:04 GMT
Where the hell is Monty Python's Flying Circus?
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Post by Reactionary Rage on Apr 9, 2019 11:49:36 GMT
Where the hell is Monty Python's Flying Circus?
It's sitcoms
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Post by driftin on Apr 9, 2019 11:58:41 GMT
Where the hell is Monty Python's Flying Circus?
It's sitcoms
Ah, I didn't see the link at the bottom which mentions this.
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Post by Reactionary Rage on Apr 9, 2019 12:01:31 GMT
Was Fools and Horses any good? I remember watching it as a kid with the folks and enjoying it but have not watched an episode in years but suspect it's actually a bit crap. It was huge though, huh? Like our Mash or summat.
1. Fawlty Towers, 1975-9, BBC Two - yeah it is great and perfect and self-contained. Morning Fawlty!
2. Father Ted, 1995-8, C4 - Endlessly rewatchable and still funny which is the sign of a great sitcom.
3. I’m Alan Partridge, 1997-2002, BBC Two - made me laugh my fucking arse off and still does. I think it's peak Partridge.
4. Blackadder, 1983-9, BBC One - Ben Elton and that Curtis fella aren't exactly likeable, the former in particular is a bit of a joke figure these days but I do think Blackadder was excellent, especially seasons 2 and 3. I've watched it a lot over the years.
5.Dad’s Army, 1968-77, BBC One - meh. One of those sitcoms where the acting and performances can be great but the yucks aren't there. Maybe it's just "clever" comedy
6. Only Fools and Horses, 1981-2003, BBC One - I suspect it was a bit shit
7. Porridge, 1973-8, BBC One - same as Dad's Army
8. The Royle Family, 1998-2012, BBC One - i thought it was great to begin with (real appointment telly) but then I became increasingly annoyed with it and found it increasingly patronising. I mean nobody is this thick surely? Some very funny moments though
9. Absolutely Fabulous, 1992-2012, BBC Two, BBC One – thought it was enjoyable enough at the time, mostly because of Patsy but I don’t think it’s aged well
10. Dinnerladies, 1998-2000, BBC One – never seen it
11. The Thick of It, 2005-12 BBC Four, BBC Two – Yes! Should be top ten easily. Fabulous stuff.
12. The Office, 2001-3, BBC Two, BBC One – I’ll give Gervais this. I think it’s far superior to your Dad’s Army’s etc
13. Peep Show, 2003-15, C4 – I lost track but was very funny
14. The Vicar of Dibley, 1994-2007, BBC One – fuck off
15. The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, 1976-9, BBC One – Probably the best sitcom of that period on British telly. Should be higher
16. The Young Ones, 1982-4, BBC Two – meh. Of its time
17. Gavin & Stacey, 2007-10, BBC Three, BBC One – never seen but has that cunt Corden, no?
18. The Good Life, 1975-8, BBC One - meh
19. Detectorists, 2014-17, BBC Four – never seen
20. Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, 1973-74, BBC One – pretty good. Greatest tv song ever?
There have been some good sitcoms from more recent years that I think are worthy like Spaced and Inbetweeners too.
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Post by oh oooh on Apr 9, 2019 12:14:58 GMT
The thing about The Young Ones is that it's much more than a show about a bunch of annoying students who live together. There's a great deal of variety. Alexei Sayle pops up for a 20-second monologue, then there's some cutaway featuring talking vegetables, then Madness play a song in the street, etc. etc. etc. It rattles along with all this lunacy and because of that, it hasn't dated much at all. It really is a joy.
For what it's worth, I think Rik Mayall was as good a comedy actor as Cleese. Like JC, he gives his all, he's immersive. It's incredible to watch him whether you're just looking for giggles or if you're taking a more critical stance. He's probably even better in Bottom (although I think TYO is just a wee bit better as a show, overall).
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Post by oh oooh on Apr 9, 2019 12:22:39 GMT
and Dinnerladies is good because it features Victoria Wood's writing, which at its best is sort of genius, especially when Julie Walters is delivering it. I can see why some might not like it, but stuff like this really cracks me up:
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Post by bungo the mungo on Apr 9, 2019 16:19:38 GMT
The league of gentlemen is a glaring omission for me.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2019 16:41:44 GMT
These are the ones I'm familiar with. The Top three are interchangeable classics...The rest, really good.
1. Fawlty Towers 2. Father Ted 3. Blackadder
I’m Alan Partridge Absolutely Fabulous Peep Show The Young Ones
The Office- This is the only one that comes up with a "Meh" for me...It was funny, but nowhere near as good as the others listed.
The only things missing are Red Dwarf and Spaced
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Post by oh oooh on Apr 9, 2019 16:45:01 GMT
The most glaring omission is Steptoe and Son. Not because I like it (I do) but because it's always in these polls/lists.
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Post by oh oooh on Apr 9, 2019 16:45:39 GMT
oh, and Hancock
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2019 17:05:33 GMT
Dad's Army before only fools.... I don't know about that.
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Post by Reactionary Rage on Apr 9, 2019 17:08:51 GMT
The league of gentlemen is a glaring omission for me. The first two seasons anyway were fantastic. I don't think of it as a sitcom though
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Post by bungo the mungo on Apr 9, 2019 17:22:06 GMT
The league of gentlemen is a glaring omission for me. The first two seasons anyway were fantastic. I don't think of it as a sitcom though in that case, i'm struggling with the definition of sitcom. hancock's half hour is a huge oversight, i'd have that in my top 3. and where the fuck is 'on the buses'?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2019 17:24:36 GMT
Sean's Show is also missing.
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