Favorite British comedies

RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
edited December 2005 in Off Topic Chat
Mine are:

Rising Damp- I pray that BBC America will finally hear my pleas and air this show. It's classic.

Are You Being Served- I hope to God that this is never made into a movie. It's fine the way it is.

Blackadder- Rowan Atkinson...nuff said...

Brittas Empire- Rimmer strikes gold. Plus Julia St. John is sort of hot IMO...

Keeping Up Appearances- You'd have to be insane not to love this show. Onslow is my favorite character.


Chef- Although this program weaves injections of drama into the subtext, Henry is quite humorous.

The Thin Blue Line- Again Atkinson...plus I have a crush on Mina Anwar.


The Young Ones- Where can I buy a Vyvyan t-shirt?
"Do we have a video?"


The Comic Strip Presents- Please, if you haven't already, see "The Bad News Tour". It's hilarious. Why Peter Richardson isn't as well known here is beyond me.



I realize that Brit humour isn't quite as "catchy" for some Americans as I'm sure vice versa for the English to catch on to ours sometimes but I love it nonetheless...probably more than the shows that air here. Anyone have any shows they like?
Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
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Comments

  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    I forgot Fawlty Towers. Please don't beat me up. :P
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
  • FelixLeiter ♀FelixLeiter ♀ Staffordshire or a pubPosts: 1,286MI6 Agent
    Fawlty Towers rules!

    The Two Ronnies
    Only Fools and Horses (please say that counts!)
    Little Britain!

    I know some people totally loathe LB and I'd like to ask them not to comment and start a row, but I do enjoy it and think it's great. It's the only reason my parents let me swear. :D
    Relax darling, I'm on top of the situation -{
  • SeanConnery007SeanConnery007 The Bond Archive - London, EngPosts: 169MI6 Agent
    edited January 2006
    Here is my list, no particular order:

    dinnerladies - Not a huge fan of Victoria Wood, but this very British and down to earth comedy just has brilliant laughs.

    The League Of Gentlemen - Hilarious, if slightly macarbe - absolutely perfect plots, more like a mini-film series than straight sketch sitcom.

    Men Behaving Badly - The Bible for all young men - still hilarious and sheer classic of its time.

    Little Britian - this is a sketch show really, as opposed to sitcom, but still brilliant - best show in a long time for the BBC.

    Trigger Happy TV - the best hidden camera show EVER!

    Father Ted - one of the finest sitcoms to mix reality and exceptional obscurity.

    I'm Alan Partridge - this has to be an all time classic - superb characters - just hilarious.

    Bottom - the slapstick violence is the jewel of this hilarious comedy detailing the superb doomed-to-failure pair (perhaps the Men Behaving Badly of the 70/80's?)

    Fawlty Towers - The God of all British comedy classics - still laugh out loud hilarious now - like a fine wine, this just gets better with age

    Mr Bean - this is probably the one programme that will live with me forever - absolute classic, absolutely hilarious - so much of an iconic character I've based myself on the man.

    Hounerable Mentions:
    George And Mildred
    Man About The House
    Spaced
    Nobody Writes Threads Better.
  • AlexAlex The Eastern SeaboardPosts: 2,694MI6 Agent
    Sketch shows and slapstick is more my cup of tea. Call me unsophisticated but. (actually, don't) :D

    Just a few from memory.

    Monty Python's Flying Circus
    Mr. Bean
    Absolutely Fabulous
    Blackadder
    And Benny Hill. (no smart comments) :D
  • The CatThe Cat Where Blofeld is!Posts: 711MI6 Agent
    You Rang M'Lord? - The show that has a cult following in Hungary and apparently forgotten everywhere else. :D
  • VampiressRNVampiressRN CaliforniaPosts: 203MI6 Agent
    As a Yank...let me just tell ya...British Humor is usually considered very dry and tongue-in-cheek by the USA. Some of the intent is missed if it is in reference to people/places/things in Britain. You are right that some Yanks just don't get it. OK...having said that...I love British humor, it may take a few times for me to catch it all (like watching it several times) but I appreciate the art.

    I am gaga over Absolutely Fabulous. None of my friends watched it sadly. Recently my best friend spent a week at my house (since she was working away from home), so I introduced her to AF. She nearly died laughing and now wants to buy the series to turn her daughter on to it. She is a great fit for Edi and her daughter is like Saf. I am Pats (how I wish I had her figure) and frequently have to remind her how wondeful it is that I don't have kids...LOL Anyway, we refer to each other as Pats and Edi now. :-)

    I also love Faulty Towers (John Cleese is absolutely brilliant).

    Are You Being Served is also a hoot.

    (Never too much into Benny Hill though. I have heard of some of those others mentioned here and may have to give them a try. I love Rowan Atkins.)

    FYI...I got every tongue-in-cheek Bond joke from the very start...not bad for a dim-witted Yank HUH? LOL
  • jetsetwillyjetsetwilly Liverpool, UKPosts: 1,048MI6 Agent
    RogueAgent wrote:
    Rising Damp- I pray that BBC America will finally hear my pleas and air this show. It's classic.

    Sadly Rising Damp was made by ITV, not the BBC (it's famous for being the one good comedy show they ever made!) so the odds on it being shown are pretty slim - especially as it is no longer even shown by ITV in the UK.
    Are You Being Served- I hope to God that this is never made into a movie. It's fine the way it is.

    Does this mean you've never seen the "classic" Are You Being Served - The Movie, in which the cast visit the Costa Plonka? It gives new meaning to the word "dire"... :D
    Founder of the Wint & Kidd Appreciation Society.

    @merseytart
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    jetsetwilly wrote:
    RogueAgent wrote:
    Rising Damp- I pray that BBC America will finally hear my pleas and air this show. It's classic.

    Sadly Rising Damp was made by ITV, not the BBC (it's famous for being the one good comedy show they ever made!) so the odds on it being shown are pretty slim - especially as it is no longer even shown by ITV in the UK.
    Are You Being Served- I hope to God that this is never made into a movie. It's fine the way it is.

    Does this mean you've never seen the "classic" Are You Being Served - The Movie, in which the cast visit the Costa Plonka? It gives new meaning to the word "dire"... :D




    Great...then someone should invent ITV America. It's a good thing that I recorded most of the RD episodes on VHS back in the 90s but the old wear and tear is slowly starting to show on them.


    AYBS was a movie? Surely you jest...:))
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    VampiressRN wrote:
    As a Yank...let me just tell ya...British Humor is usually considered very dry and tongue-in-cheek by the USA. Some of the intent is missed if it is in reference to people/places/things in Britain. You are right that some Yanks just don't get it. OK...having said that...I love British humor, it may take a few times for me to catch it all (like watching it several times) but I appreciate the art.

    I am gaga over Absolutely Fabulous. None of my friends watched it sadly. Recently my best friend spent a week at my house (since she was working away from home), so I introduced her to AF. She nearly died laughing and now wants to buy the series to turn her daughter on to it. She is a great fit for Edi and her daughter is like Saf. I am Pats (how I wish I had her figure) and frequently have to remind her how wondeful it is that I don't have kids...LOL Anyway, we refer to each other as Pats and Edi now. :-)



    FYI...I got every tongue-in-cheek Bond joke from the very start...not bad for a dim-witted Yank HUH? LOL



    I couldn't get into Ab Fab for whatever reason but I remember laughing hard at the French & Saunders show from the 80s. It was the equivalant of Alas, Smith & Jones. BTW, what is Mel Smith doing lately?

    Here's a Yank that not only appreciates Brit humour but understands it...most times...some of the venacular's a bit tricky.
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
  • jetsetwillyjetsetwilly Liverpool, UKPosts: 1,048MI6 Agent
    Oh God no - after four hours of "Man about the House" (the original for the US' Three's Company), "Love Thy Neighbour" (like the Ku Klux Klan movie, only not quite so PC) and "After Henry" (which makes Last of the Summer Wine look like hardcore porn), ITV America would have its studios burned down by irate subscribers.

    And yes, Are You Being Served was a movie (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0075696/) - it was making films like this that were a death knell for British cinema until the 90s...
    Founder of the Wint & Kidd Appreciation Society.

    @merseytart
  • VampiressRNVampiressRN CaliforniaPosts: 203MI6 Agent
    Rouge Agent...maybe we get it because we are from the best place in the US (I've got the West Coast covered)....LOL. Even my 86 year old Mother loves Are You Being Served. Next time she is staying with me, I am going to see if she appreciates AbFab. She should...my sister and I were completely stoned through the 60's and I think my sister still is sometimes. OK...I admit it...I can slam back a few martinis when slightly encouraged.

    I've never heard of ITV America, but I am inclined to agree with you on the bonfire by radicals jetset.
  • RobinsonRobinson Posts: 42MI6 Agent
    Any of you Yanks heard of "On The Buses"? That is British Culture at it's height!
  • VampiressRNVampiressRN CaliforniaPosts: 203MI6 Agent
    I haven't heard of it...is it on BBC? I'm game to give it a try if I find it. :-)
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    edited December 2005
    Robinson wrote:
    Any of you Yanks heard of "On The Buses"? That is British Culture at it's height!



    Okay, you've got my attention. What's it about? They seem to only ration out so many Brit-sits here that there are a lot of shows we haven't had the pleasure to see yet.
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
  • NAOMI_FAN 1NAOMI_FAN 1 Posts: 85MI6 Agent
    I've been a HUGE fan of British comedies for many years! Here's my list of favorites:

    Blackadder (ALL incarnations!)
    Mr. Bean
    Thin Blue Line
    Monty Python's Flying Circus
    Fawlty Towers
    Are You Being Served
    Keeping Up Appearances
    Chef
    Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em'
    Allo! Allo!
  • VampiressRNVampiressRN CaliforniaPosts: 203MI6 Agent
    I'm gonna try to catch a Blackadder when it comes on next...seems to be listed for many folks here.

    Lately I have been getting a kick out of The Kumars at No. 42. Does anyone else like that?
  • ant007ukant007uk Great BritainPosts: 67MI6 Agent
    These IMO are the VERY best of British and the highlights which define the show for me.

    1) Fawlty Towers: Basil and the Germans, it still has me crying with laughter EVERY time.

    2) Only Fools and Horses: The scene from Yuppy Love where Del falls through the bar while chatting to Trigger.

    3) Monty Pythons Flying Circus: The Cornish Fish dance.

    4) Father Ted: Speed 3, Dougal on a milk float going round and round and round around the roundabout.

    5) Little Britain: Basically any sketch with Lou and Andy, I love those two!!! PS, the LIVE show was AWSOME!!!!

    Some other great shows, Porridge, Open all hours, Rising Damp, George and Mildred, Allo Allo. I also loved Auf Wiedersehen Pet, I know strictly it was a drama series, but it did have some great comic moments in all the series :)
  • FelixLeiter ♀FelixLeiter ♀ Staffordshire or a pubPosts: 1,286MI6 Agent
    Since reading some of the past posts since I was first here, I'm going to add to my list as well as go into more detail.

    Fawlty Towers - I think I was 3 when I first saw this on a replay, but I even got some of the things then. :)

    The Two Ronnies - I've only seen the sketchbook versions of this and thought they were great - except for the Christmas one which wasn't as great. :(

    Only Fools and Horses - I've only recently taken more of an interest in this since they changed the times round on UKTVGold for Christmas. But I saw what I think is surely the last one on BBC1 the other day; "This time next year we'll be billionaires!"

    Little Britain - Not much to say really but it's either your thing or not.

    Mr Bean - Not one of my utmost favourites but I do remember when he got dressed in the car. :))

    Some Mother Do 'Ave 'Em - The Nativity Play! Oh that was just fantastic. :))

    Porridge - I've been inspired by one of the episodes when Fletch and this other guy had been playing Monoploy for about 4 days. They won't ever finish cus they're both cheating so much. :))
    Relax darling, I'm on top of the situation -{
  • delon64delon64 RiyadhPosts: 176MI6 Agent
    on the buses was bawdy seaside british sitcom humour at its best...great fun...not a classic but a guilty pleasure...i am torn for genuine classics between porridge which never dates...the tragic yet laugh out loud steptoe and son...the aforementioned rising damp which in a uniquely british way turns a miserly racist awful lead character into comedy gold and the underated whatever happened to the likely lads which along with being hilarious captured a passing of english life highlighting what we in the modern ipod world have lost
  • ScorupcoScorupco Posts: 86MI6 Agent
    edited December 2005
    Little Britain: Repetitive, but still quite enjoyable. :)

    Max & Paddy's road to nowhere: Well...what isn't there to like about Peter Kay and Patrick McGuinness in this hilarious spin-off to Phoenix Nights? :D

    Fawlty Towers: An absolute classic, you haven't lived until you've watched at least one episode. \o/

    Open All Hours: Yet another classic.

    Mr. Bean: Rowan Atkinson FTW! :D


    I'll probably think of more later.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    edited December 2005
    I remember Porridge. That's the prison comedy, right? Ronnie Barker & Richard Beckensale(Rising Damp). How could I forget to add this show to my list?

    *slaps himself*
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
  • ant007ukant007uk Great BritainPosts: 67MI6 Agent
    How could I ever forget to add these classic shows???

    Steptoe and Son: The show where Albert has to dress up as his long dead wife so he can carry on claiming DSS money :)

    Red Dwarf 3: Polymorph, The Clitoris scene (Fellow fans will understand), absolutely hysterical :) :) :)

    Pheonix Nights 2: Episode 6, Stars in your Eyes scene with Jerry and Brian as Elton and George Michael.

    Some Mothers Do Av Em: Where Frank learns to Fly, a real comic gem.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    edited December 2005
    Oh, yes...Steptoe & Son was the template for what we know as Sanford & Son here. I'd love to get the British version for comparison one day.


    There's another episode of The Comic Strip Presents where Peter Richardson & Ade Edmonson are ex-cons and they take advantage of this band called Toy Dept.that's breaking up or something to that effect...


    "The name's Keith...Keith Epstein..."


    "Epstein? Any relation to Brian Epstein?"

    "He was my brother."


    "Well congratulations...You're the 47th brother of Brian Epstein I've met since I got this job...Now get out."

    I don't know the title of that particular episode but it had me rolling. Those lines I remember distinctly. :))
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
  • chris Walkenchris Walken Posts: 85MI6 Agent
    edited January 2006
    I have loads but here is a couple

    1) Only Fools and Horses:I can watch any eposoide over and over again

    2) Some Mothers have them: This reminds me of a lad I went to school with everything he touched would brake

    3) Open All Hours: This is a great classic about and old shop owner who is very tight with is money and will sell you anything.

    4) Porridge: I was brought up watching this with my Late Father so I always like watching this because my Father loved it.
  • Moore Not LessMoore Not Less Posts: 1,095MI6 Agent
    Just for some fun I think I will list all the British Comedy Series that I can remember at this moment.

    Hancock's Half Hour
    Steptoe & Son
    Till Death Do Us Part
    Nearest And Dearest
    Dad's Army
    Monty Python's Flying Circus
    Fawlty Towers
    Ripping Yarns
    Please Sir
    On The Buses
    Father Dear Father
    Love Thy Neighbour
    Bless This House
    Never Mind The Quality Feel The Width
    The Liver Birds
    The Likely Lads
    Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
    Are You Being Served?
    Sykes
    Last Of The Summer Wine
    Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em
    Man About The House
    Robins Nest
    George & Mildred
    The Goodies
    The Good Life
    Rising Damp
    The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin
    It 'Aint Half Hot Mum
    Porridge
    Going Straight
    Open All Hours
    Clarence
    Butterflies
    Not The Nine O' Clock News
    Only Fools And Horses
    Keeping Up Appearances
    Yes Minister
    Yes Prime Minister
    Hi-De-Hi
    Allo Allo
    Ever Decreasing Circles
    Sorry
    Dear John
    The Young Ones
    The Comic Strip Presents
    Bottom
    Blackadder
    Mister Bean
    The Thin Blue Line
    Red Dwarf
    The Brittas Empire
    The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy
    Father Ted
    Men Behaving Badly
    Dinnerladies
    Absolutely Fabulous
    Waiting For God
    Rab C Nesbitt
    My Hero
    The Vicar Of Dibley
    As Time Goes By
    The Office
    Little Britain

    Hmmm, not all that many. No doubt I will be kicking myself when I am reminded of those which I have currently forgotten.
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,749Chief of Staff
    Moore Not Less wrote:
    Just for some fun I think I will list all the British Comedy Series that I can remember at this moment.

    Hancock's Half Hour
    Steptoe & Son
    Till Death Do Us Part
    Nearest And Dearest
    Dad's Army
    Monty Python's Flying Circus
    Fawlty Towers
    Ripping Yarns
    Please Sir
    On The Buses
    Father Dear Father
    Love Thy Neighbour
    Bless This House
    Never Mind The Quality Feel The Width
    The Liver Birds
    The Likely Lads
    Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?
    Are You Being Served?
    Sykes
    Last Of The Summer Wine
    Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em
    Man About The House
    Robins Nest
    George & Mildred
    The Goodies
    The Good Life
    Rising Damp
    The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin
    It 'Aint Half Hot Mum
    Porridge
    Going Straight
    Open All Hours
    Clarence
    Butterflies
    Not The Nine O' Clock News
    Only Fools And Horses
    Keeping Up Appearances
    Yes Minister
    Yes Prime Minister
    Hi-De-Hi
    Allo Allo
    Ever Decreasing Circles
    Sorry
    Dear John
    The Young Ones
    The Comic Strip Presents
    Bottom
    Blackadder
    Mister Bean
    The Thin Blue Line
    Red Dwarf
    The Brittas Empire
    The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy
    Father Ted
    Men Behaving Badly
    Dinnerladies
    Absolutely Fabulous
    Waiting For God
    Rab C Nesbitt
    My Hero
    The Vicar Of Dibley
    As Time Goes By
    The Office
    Little Britain

    Hmmm, not all that many. No doubt I will be kicking myself when I am reminded of those which I have currently forgotten.

    Most of those are absolute classic comedies. I'd like to add one more for now - Still Game. It's a very strong series and set in Glasgow. A pity that only the 3rd series and the Christmas special has made it south of the border, I hope we get to see the previous 2 series.
    YNWA 97
  • FelixLeiter ♀FelixLeiter ♀ Staffordshire or a pubPosts: 1,286MI6 Agent
    RogueAgent wrote:
    Oh, yes...Steptoe & Son was the template for what we know as Sanford & Son here. I'd love to get the British version for comparison one day.


    There's another episode of The Comic Strip Presents where Peter Richardson & Ade Edmonson are ex-cons and they take advantage of this band called Toy Dept.that's breaking up or something to that effect...


    "The name's Keith...Keith Epstein..."


    "Epstein? Any relation to Brian Epstein?"

    "He was my brother."


    "Well congratulations...You're the 47th brother of Brian Epstein I've met since I got this job...Now get out."

    I don't know the title of that particular episode but it had me rolling. Those lines I remember distinctly. :))

    That's just reminded me of a scene saw in OFAH.I just can't remember what exactly was said, but know I was almost howling. They were talking about some guy with a similar name and all of a sudden Trigger comes in with "Why are we talking about the Beatles manager?" :))
    But I saw the last half hour of 'Time on Our Hands' the other day. The one where they finally become millionaires. It's on again tomorrow night so I'm gonna have to tape it. :)
    We're gonna have a party with all our neibours. When they found out we were gonna have 1, the rest decided not to go down the pub for the evening. :)) We had only 2 of the neibours round on Boxing Day, and 1 of them was drunk by 9! :)) I couldn't believe it when I saw him. :))
    Anyway, it's gonna be lovely jubbly... or even cushty, as Del would say. :D
    Relax darling, I'm on top of the situation -{
  • NAOMI_FAN 1NAOMI_FAN 1 Posts: 85MI6 Agent
    I seem to remember a comedy (I think it's a British comedy) starring Alan Cummings as an airline steward for Air Scotia! I've only seen about four or five episiodes, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was called. Anyone know?!
  • VampiressRNVampiressRN CaliforniaPosts: 203MI6 Agent
    I'm crying in my Yanky soup.....I have missed so much....especially after seeing that list from Moore Not Less. I haven't even heard of half of those. Thanks for all the names, now I will recognize them when I am searching through the upcoming BBC shows.
  • jetsetwillyjetsetwilly Liverpool, UKPosts: 1,048MI6 Agent
    NAOMI_FAN 1 wrote:
    I seem to remember a comedy (I think it's a British comedy) starring Alan Cummings as an airline steward for Air Scotia! I've only seen about four or five episiodes, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was called. Anyone know?!

    This was the brilliant High Life, a one series wonder starring Alan Cumming and Forbes Masson, and based on their stage act. Astonishingly camp, it was none the less really funny. Amazon UK have it for sale:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008MJ0X/qid=1136030545/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/026-4716163-7342019

    As a bonus, there is a contemporary interview with Cumming where he not only discusses the series but also his work on the then unreleased GoldenEye.
    Founder of the Wint & Kidd Appreciation Society.

    @merseytart
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