Which British comedies are funny in England?

[jtexas]

Just wondering what passes for humor over there. <br /><br />Our PBS station keeps running Keeping Up Appearances and Are You Being Served? over and over and over - they have their moments, sure, but they're just not that good. Are they still shown in England?<br /><br />How about My Hero? Vicar of Dibley? Yes, Prime Minister?<br /><br />I know there will never be another Fawlty Towers or 'Allo 'Allo, but are there any more like Coupling? Red Dwarf?<br /><br />Any favorite American sitcoms?

 

[jinx]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

I used to love "Are You Being Served" and "Benny Hill", but both are pretty old by now.<br /><br />Jinx

 

[Twidget]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

I cant watch Keeping Up Appearances, Hyacinth is too much like my soon to be ex step mother. <br /><br />I still enjoy Are You Being Served, even though I've seen them all at least five times.

 

[TexomaAv8r]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

I really enjoyed Good Neighbors, Yes minister and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin and of course Fawty Towers will make me laugh out loud everytime. <br />But I am curious about what the folks in the UK think.

 

[JB]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

I liked many BritComs over the years, and found a few rather shallow.<br /><br />My favorites of all time are "As Time Goes By" and "Chef!".<br /><br />I also enjoyed "Good Neighbors", "To The Manor Born", "Yes, Minister", "Are You Being Served?" and others I can't remember.<br /><br />Can take or leave "Fawlty Towers", "Benny Hill" and a few others.

 

[Link]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

My Hero and Red Dwarf Ofcourse!<br /><br />Benny Hill, not in my house! Right up there with the Simpsons<br /><br />Are You Being Served... seldom watch since Mrs.Link doesnt like watching people make fools of themselves. But every once in awhile I enjoy it.<br /><br />I'm sure there have others that Im forgetting.<br /><br />Basically I like all 20 of their actors! <br /><br />Our Favorite, As Time Goes By

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

Well most of the stuff you mentioned is now very old, although for "As Time Goes By" fans in the US keep your eyes peeled for the Christmas 2005 specials that just aired (at Christmas strangely enough). I personally felt that a bit of the sparkle had been lost from the script but the acting was as good as ever.<br /><br />Good British comedies are very thin on the ground at the moment. Some people rave about "The Office" and "Little Britain" but I'm afraid I just don't get the "comedy" in those at all, maybe it's just me?<br /><br />Ironically the comedies that have me tuning in without fail have been American ones recently:<br /><br />"My name is Earl" is absolutely hilarious and extremely cleverly written: a top notch show.<br /><br />"Two and a Half Men" is pretty good and seems to get better with each episode.<br /><br />Got to agree with the choices you guys have made so far, even if they haven't been updated in a long time.<br /><br />However,if you ever get the chance to see a British Comedy called "Phoenix Nights" or "Mick and Paddy on the Road" then do whatever it takes to get by the telly! Both written and starring the same two blokes they are absolutely gut-bustingly funny. <br /><br />Phoenix Nights is so funny that I actually ended up in the back of an ambulance after watching one particular episode: I had a chest infection at the time and was having a few breathing problems. Towards the end of the show there is a scene that is just brilliant: I laughed so much I couldn't breathe and passed out: when I woke up I had an oxygen mask on and was being driven at high speed to our local hospital

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

Stan, we are getting "Creature Comforts" here, in 10 minute programs. Is that old in your country.<br />They may be animal puppets, but I am sure we can recognise ourselves in one of the characters.<br />I still reckon Faulty actually hit Manuel over the head with the pan. Have played that tape over many times.<br />Mention wasn't made of "Open all hours", or Ronny B, but i guess that dates me.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

Hi Phillip, yes Creature Comforts is brand new(ish) and new ones come out all the time: I'm with you on that one.........I'm sure they just taped me secretly <br /><br />Open All Hours was probably Ronnie Barker at his height along with "Porridge". Just a pity he followed it up with "Going Straight", that was a stinker!<br /><br />Good old Fawlty Towers! I got the double dvd set a few years ago but am only allowed to watch it when Ms Deezy isn't here: she can't stand it! takes all sorts I guess? Favourire episode has to be the builders: sheer genius. <br /><br />Another one that I don't think we've mentioned was "The Good Life" (I still fancy Felicity Kendal even after all these years!). Penelope Keith in the role of Margo was fantastic acting and casting and of course led her onto "To The Manor Born".<br /><br />Some of the others that are now springing (crawling at my age) to mind: "Yes Minister" and then "Yes Prime Minister" and who can forget "Drop The Dead Donkey"?<br /><br />Current ones: "Have I got News for You" (although it doesn't really count as comedy but it's pretty funny).<br /><br />I feel like I'm rambling a bit but it's a brilliant thread and you can tell I spend too much time in front of the goggle box during the long winter months......

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

Originally posted by Link:<br /> <br /><br />Basically I like all 20 of their actors! <br /><br />

How did I miss this one? <br /><br />Y'all gotta remember we is just a wee island <br /><br />Anyway it's quality not quantity that counts! <br /><br />Some of the shows that have been mentioned (Vicar of Dibley, My Hero, Keeping up Appearances) are getting very tired and don't do so well in the ratings anymore.....in fact My Hero never really did very well for obvious reasons.<br /><br />One to watch out for is "My Family". Robert Lindsay stars as a father of a very dysfunctional family with Zoe Wannamaker as his wife. The eldest son is wired to the moon and they could easily commission a spin-off series on him alone. <br /><br />Fovourite American comedies in this house included Frazier (Niles should have been given a spin-off series), Scrubs (because we're both in the medical world and can identify with some of the characters!), Just Shoot Me, Everybody Loves Raymond, and occasionally The Simpsons.<br /><br />On a side topic (sort of) keep your eyes open for BBC playing a drama-comedy called "Life on Mars". I'm not sure if they'll show it overseas because of the plot but I predict this being a major hit. Might be too "British" for overseas tastes but it works very well and gets a huge thumbs-up from me. <br /><br />See? I told you this was a favourite topic of mine <br /><br /><br />I need to get out more

 

[JB]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

How about "A Fine Romance"?<br /><br />I haven't seen it, but I think Judi Dench is the best actress I have ever seen.<br /><br />Would someone who wouldn't miss an episode of "As Time Goes By" enjoy that?

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

The show "Little Britian" over here in Norway. I dont think it stands much of a chance of showing in the USA. Not very PC.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

Old stuff - Basil Faulty<br /><br />New stuff - Cold Feet

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

What about "Waiting for God"?

 

[stan_deezy]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

JB; A Fine Romance was pretty good and certainly if you liked As Time Goes By then it's very very similar. On a trivia topic; Judi Dench was joined by her real-life husband in "A Fine Romance" and his name escapes me at the moment. He was a very good character actor (I say "was" because I'm sure he passed away recently). <br /><br />Agree Kiz: Little Britain is very un-PC and unlikely to cross to America all that well.<br /><br />Cold Feet doh! Good call Elmer! I completely forgot about one (despite having the dvd boxed set!)

 

[JB]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

YES!! "Waiting For God" was one of my favorites, too.<br /><br />I think I will get "A Fine Romance" on DVDs.<br /><br />By the way, my apologies to DAME Judi Dench. No disrespect intended. Seems Her Majesty agrees with me.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

Thanks, just wondered.<br /><br />When I mentioned to my wife how much I admired the theme music for "Vicar of Dibley" (23rd psalm set to music), she surprised me by finding a CD with it. Turns out, it's an original piece written for the show by the same man who wrote the themes for "Blackadder" (probably my all-time favorite Britcom), "Red Dwarf", and many others including "Mr. Bean", the lyrics of which, interestingly, are two latin phrases which translate to something like "the man is a bean; see the man who is a bean" or something like that.

 

[TexomaAv8r]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

Vicar of Dibley I found her kind of sexy for some reason

 

[all thumbs]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

Stan, for winter months I too spend alot of time in front of the tube. Are you being served, last of the sumer wine, and lord of the glen. For humor, I prefer the second over the first one. For an on going soap opera type ,glenbogle castle[sp] especially the older ones I like.

 

[RPJS]

Re: Which British comedies are funny in England?

I agree with Stan on this one, the latest British comedies are very flat and I find it hard to get my head around the humor.<br /><br />As for classic old comedy anything from the following list I feel would be a must see,<br /><br />Dads Army<br />Some Mothers Do have 'Em<br />Rising Damp<br />Steptoe & Son<br />Only Fools & Horses<br />Hancocks Half Hour<br />Open All Hours<br />Monty Python<br />Absolutley Fabulous<br /><br />All of the above are good clean humor.<br />IMHO a good comedian does not need foul language or sex to be funny.