Remember Fawlty Towers

mrbond

I loved Fawlty Towers still do very funny. Some people say the Episode with the German is racist but if it was it wouldn't still be shown. In a interview JC claimed that it's not about the Germans it's about the way the english haven't got over it. But still funny. 'QUE?'

thesecretagent

I agree that the German episode isn't racist, it just shows the worst type of English people up. It's funny, especially as Basil has practically had a complete mental breakdown along with his hit on the head.
The rest of the series is really funny as well. I worked in the hotel trade as a teen, and although not quite like fawlty Towers, you'd be amazed at the underlying association hotels have with this series. All hotels have daft things happening every day, and with a slight exageration, all could be the basis of Fawlty Towers, especially the smaller independantly run family hotels.

Loeffelholz

As an American of German descent, I've never taken a bit of offence by that episode; what a brilliant series...and what a pity there are only twelve episodes. They should've done a feature film of it, at some point, with the original cast.

DangerMouse

Ah, Fawlty Towers! One of my favourite sitcoms, and yes, it is a shame that only 12 episodes were made. So what if people find the episode with the Germans offensive? If they don't like it, they can turn the channel over...especially when the episode itself has some such rememberable quotes....

"I don't know why we bother. We should just let you all burn!"

"Is not fire, is only bell."

"Ve did not start it."
"Yes you did; you invaded Poland!"

"I speak English. I learn it from a book."

"Oh, he hit me on the head."
"No, you hit him on the head. You naughty moose."

mrbond

You forgot 'Don't mention the war!'

Napoleon Plural

Loeffelholz wrote:

As an American of German descent, I've never taken a bit of offence by that episode; what a brilliant series...and what a pity there are only twelve episodes. They should've done a feature film of it, at some point, with the original cast.

Ooh, no no no missus! You obviously aren't too familiar with UK sitcom's record in doing big screen spin-offs; it's lamentable. Although there were a few of them in the 1970s, thanks to the mammoth success of 1971's On The Buses, which actually beat Diamonds Are Forever at the UK box office. But generally, whether it's Steptoe & Son, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads, Are You Being Served, Porridge or Dad's Army, the feature-length films are a few jokes stretched thinly over an hour and a half.

But why no mention of Hotel Babylon? Now that's a classic...

Dan Same

Napoleon Plural wrote:

But why no mention of Hotel Babylon? Now that's a classic...

Superb show. I've only seen the first season, but I really like 'good' trashy shows with a sense of humour. This is an example of one, although I really wish that the Australian television station, which screened the first season, would screen the second season.

thesecretagent

I once stayed at Fawlty Towers. Only this one was in Cocoa Beach, Florida. It was bright pink, looked nothing like Fawlty Towers, had no theme of Fawlty Towers, and no British owners. It was the only place available due to a shuttle launch, but was actually really nice despite the pink decor. I asked about the name and was told it was named after the British sitcom (she thought my wife and I were Australian), but the desk clerk had never personally seen it, although they had a video of four of the episodes that you could borrow... It was good of them to put so much effort into their venture...

DangerMouse

mrbond wrote:

You forgot 'Don't mention the war!'

Quiet, you!

Sir_Miles_Messervy

I'm not in the position to "remember" the show really, but I did check it out some months back. I found it absolutely hilarious and watched every episode online.