The Best British Tv Ever

[tigerfish]

Chandeliers dropping through ceilings or some bloke falling over may have been funny a century ago, but aren't now.

Tell that to a Thai - they p!ss themselves at that one.

People will still be laughing at Morecombe & Wise (albeit a bit dated now), Hancock, Only Fools, The 2 Ronnies, Porridge, Open All Hours - maybe even Benny Hill, long after David Brent is forgotten.

(The Invention of Lying was predictable and dull as dish water - Jervais is normally funny though).

What about the Fast Show ?

The Fast Show? It was ok, had its place, but is no great work of art. I've always liked Paul Whitehouse, however. The genius of Gervais is how he killed catchphrase comedy dead. You are very much wrong about who history will be kind to. Brent changed comedy forever; like the Goons, then Python. It is the influence that is impressive, not necessarily the quality of the comedy itself.

liked gervais a lot more, when he was just starting out. used to listen to his show on xfm 104.9 all the time. mind you look what happened to that station, the best and only alternative station at the time. then capital got their hands on it, and they sold out.

wasnt gevaises old man one of the backers or founders of xfm?

[elcent]

Is there a British Brand for TVs? I think everything was sold out decades ago.

[bdenner]

Midsomer Murders for it's down to earth, no glitz, production.

Mr Bean, only to see the joy and laughter my step daughter and her non English speaking friends get out of it.

Edit: Oh I forgot Mrs Bucket -- Keeping up Appearances.

[Traxster]

Is this just about comedy, can we cite Drama as well ?

Because I'd like to recommend,Alan Bennetts's 'Talking Heads'.

[Jonathanpattaya]

Some of the Two Ronnies sketches were hilarious.

[101734]

Some of the Two Ronnies sketches were hilarious.

Yes! Harmless clean fun. This was one of my favourite's...

[carmine]

Only Fools and Horses

Minder

Porridge

Rising Damp

The Office

All of them classics

[thepanicandthevomit]

Some of the Two Ronnies sketches were hilarious.

Yes! Harmless clean fun. This was one of my favourite's...

I was waiting for fork handles...always trotted out by those with a {ahem} less well defined sense of humour. Funny for a child, not for an adult.The Two Ronnies were about as funny as the clap, even at the time.

[thepanicandthevomit]

Jesus, nothing sums up the naffness of expat thailand quite so succinctly as Only bloody Fools and bloody Horses - with the possible exception of Hotel California.

Anyone who's been to Crazy Dave's in Pattaya will understand. How I pity the staff.

Some utter gash in that list...

I don't think you understand the word comedy, most of the stuff mentioned is uncomplicated comedy, designed to make you laugh, and it does, even when repeated, and that is the true measure of classic comedy, that no matter how often you watch the same episode you laugh. Of course there are exceptions, there are those who cannot see the joke or the funny side of a sketch in the first place and l suspect you are one. I imagine you are the type who's thing to make you laugh is hearing B.Connelly saying <removed> in every sentence in one of his stage shows cos that's what makes YOU laugh, swearing in public and getting away with it. yes-no. Think l am right. In fact you sound like a real life BALDRICK (you won't know who that is but the rest of us do)

Yes, petal. Spot on with everything.

[thepanicandthevomit]

Midsomer Murders for it's down to earth, no glitz, production.

Mr Bean, only to see the joy and laughter my step daughter and her non English speaking friends get out of it.

Edit: Oh I forgot Mrs Bucket -- Keeping up Appearances.

Good grief - get help man!

[101734]

^^ They say Thailand has it's fair share of social misfits, this clown is the spokesperson. Your like a cross between Roy Slater and Charlie Chisholm two right horrible bast@$ds, no doubt your two favourite characters.

Let me round off with a quote from BlackAdder, I think even you can work out where I'm coming from...

Baldrick, I would like to say how much I will miss your honest and friendly companionship.

Baldrick: Aaahh, thank you Mr. B.

Blackadder: But as we both know, it'll be an utter lie. I will therefore confine myself to saying simply, "Sod off," and if I ever meet you again, it'll be twenty billion years too soon.

[Richb2004v2]

I think that 'Extras' is the best comedy show I have seen for a long long time. Gervais has influenced comedy already. You can see his style in US comedy already. There are a few Uk shows that have tried but failed to take on his style too.

Nothing stays fresh for long though. I remember that Blackadder 1 and 2 were great but by 3 it was just the same joke over and over again.

I've never found the 'Falk 'andles' joke at all funny. I remember that the final few years of the Two Ronnie's were painful. They were synonymous with dead humour for some time towards the end. It's only been in the last 6 or 7 years that it became trendie to think they were comic geniuses. Although they had a few good spots they were certainly not 'Monty Python' as some like to claim.

[Benjie]

Blackadder 3 was the best one.

Plenty of great UK comedy

Alan Partridge

Peep Show

Nathan Barley

Spaced

The Inbetweeners

The IT Crowd

Mighty Boosh

[thepanicandthevomit]

Blackadder 3 was the best one.

Plenty of great UK comedy

Alan Partridge

Peep Show

Nathan Barley

Spaced

The Inbetweeners

The IT Crowd

Mighty Boosh

Indeed. You can add The Royle Family, Phoenix Nights, Early Doors, Brass Eye, The Thick Of It, People Like Us, Saxondale and a whole load of others I've forgotten as well. There are plenty of great older ones too - Steptoe, Rising Damp, Fawlty Towers, Porridge etc...I just can't work out why OFAH is so revered - it captured the public's imagination during the thatcher years, but is actually pretty poor when compared to its peers. There's only so often you can call someone a dipstick and get away with it.

Nice to see Nathan Barley getting a shout - the character was vile, and the show annoying, but was an accurate portrayal of your typical media wankstain. How i hope the financial meltdown is affecting the likes of them...

[thepanicandthevomit]

I think that 'Extras' is the best comedy show I have seen for a long long time. Gervais has influenced comedy already. You can see his style in US comedy already. There are a few Uk shows that have tried but failed to take on his style too.

Nothing stays fresh for long though. I remember that Blackadder 1 and 2 were great but by 3 it was just the same joke over and over again.

I've never found the 'Falk 'andles' joke at all funny. I remember that the final few years of the Two Ronnie's were painful. They were synonymous with dead humour for some time towards the end. It's only been in the last 6 or 7 years that it became trendie to think they were comic geniuses. Although they had a few good spots they were certainly not 'Monty Python' as some like to claim.

There's a tendency to wallow in nostalgia. I always laugh when people drone on about the golden age of tv at christmas past, for instance.

Gervais is an influence, but he's also been heavily influenced himself, notably by Larry David and his superb Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The first series of Blackadder was crap - it only picked up when Ben Elton was drafted in. The second and third series were sublime; the fourth a little contrived, regurgitating old ideas, as you say. What Elton has since become turns me off Blackadder, however.

[thepanicandthevomit]

Jesus, nothing sums up the naffness of expat thailand quite so succinctly as Only bloody Fools and bloody Horses - with the possible exception of Hotel California.

Anyone who's been to Crazy Dave's in Pattaya will understand. How I pity the staff.

Some utter gash in that list...

I don't think you understand the word comedy, most of the stuff mentioned is uncomplicated comedy, designed to make you laugh, and it does, even when repeated, and that is the true measure of classic comedy, that no matter how often you watch the same episode you laugh. Of course there are exceptions, there are those who cannot see the joke or the funny side of a sketch in the first place and l suspect you are one. I imagine you are the type who's thing to make you laugh is hearing B.Connelly saying <removed> in every sentence in one of his stage shows cos that's what makes YOU laugh, swearing in public and getting away with it. yes-no. Think l am right. In fact you sound like a real life BALDRICK (you won't know who that is but the rest of us do)

Yes, petal. Spot on with everything.

Blimey, am l in the wrong forum, Sooo sorry Ingred or is Brenda today. .

Thelma, actually...

[tigerfish]

I think that 'Extras' is the best comedy show I have seen for a long long time. Gervais has influenced comedy already. You can see his style in US comedy already. There are a few Uk shows that have tried but failed to take on his style too.

Nothing stays fresh for long though. I remember that Blackadder 1 and 2 were great but by 3 it was just the same joke over and over again.

I've never found the 'Falk 'andles' joke at all funny. I remember that the final few years of the Two Ronnie's were painful. They were synonymous with dead humour for some time towards the end. It's only been in the last 6 or 7 years that it became trendie to think they were comic geniuses. Although they had a few good spots they were certainly not 'Monty Python' as some like to claim.

There's a tendency to wallow in nostalgia. I always laugh when people drone on about the golden age of tv at christmas past, for instance.

Gervais is an influence, but he's also been heavily influenced himself, notably by Larry David and his superb Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The first series of Blackadder was crap - it only picked up when Ben Elton was drafted in. The second and third series were sublime; the fourth a little contrived, regurgitating old ideas, as you say. What Elton has since become turns me off Blackadder, however.

interested to hear your views on comics such as sacha baron cohen, and his characters ali g, borat and bruno.

[thepanicandthevomit]

Have been a fan since the 11 oclock show. Obviously very patchy but he's kept moving and kept it fresh in the process. Nice to see he's not a media-whore/sell out. Was good to see Tony Benn dick him as Ali G, however.

[bdenner]

Good grief - get help man!

<deleted> are you dribbling about now, your tag and other statements here are enough to show your state of mind!

Get a life!

[thepanicandthevomit]

Good grief - get help man!

your tag and other statements here are enough to show your state of mind!

Yeah? In what way?

[soihok]

The Young Ones...." Vivian you bottom burp".

[cdnvic]

[Richb2004v2]

I think that 'Extras' is the best comedy show I have seen for a long long time. Gervais has influenced comedy already. You can see his style in US comedy already. There are a few Uk shows that have tried but failed to take on his style too.

Nothing stays fresh for long though. I remember that Blackadder 1 and 2 were great but by 3 it was just the same joke over and over again.

I've never found the 'Falk 'andles' joke at all funny. I remember that the final few years of the Two Ronnie's were painful. They were synonymous with dead humour for some time towards the end. It's only been in the last 6 or 7 years that it became trendie to think they were comic geniuses. Although they had a few good spots they were certainly not 'Monty Python' as some like to claim.

There's a tendency to wallow in nostalgia. I always laugh when people drone on about the golden age of tv at christmas past, for instance.

Gervais is an influence, but he's also been heavily influenced himself, notably by Larry David and his superb Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The first series of Blackadder was crap - it only picked up when Ben Elton was drafted in. The second and third series were sublime; the fourth a little contrived, regurgitating old ideas, as you say. What Elton has since become turns me off Blackadder, however.

interested to hear your views on comics such as sacha baron cohen, and his characters ali g, borat and bruno.

I thought that the Ali G character was brilliant in it's original format on the 11'clock show, and even the longer versions were good. I was turned off it when he did a comic relief special interview with the Beckhams. I found it quite disgusting and vulgar for vulgars sake. Although it was more a reflection on the idiot Beckhams it was still terrible.

I loved Borat and thought it was one of the funniest things I'd seen for a long time. Again, Borat in the sketch show was even better at times.

Bruno was not as funny and was for some one step beyond the pale, but I still enjoyed it. I think Cohen is good for comedy providing you can get over the shock factor of his material.

[thepanicandthevomit]

Sorry Thelma, Well one things for sure, we are not all the same when it comes to comedy. On the whole here on the forum everyone likes the same sort of classic stuff, except a small minority, you Thelma, so we must conclude that you are wrong and that you only like a particular type of program to make you laugh.

Sorry, but that accusation fits you to a tee.

[Edmond]

For me, as a then young teenager, it would have to be Grange Hill 82-87 "The Zammo Years"

Nothing as nostalgic hits the spot quite like GH did "back in the day"

<deleted> acting, unmissable viewing.

[tigerfish]

another one i liked was, this life. at the time sharing a house with five others, it would be a ritual to gather round the t.v at about 9p.m. on a tuesday night in the winter months. take away from the local indian restaurant, couple of bottle of wine. it was like watching our own experiences unfold right infront of our very own eyes, the odd glance to other members of the house, when certain topics would come up in the series if you get what i mean.

whislt on the subject, but a bit off topic. anyone got any favourite u.s. t.v. shows. or should i start another thread on that subject. for that matter any other countries.

used to like watching the wonder years, cheers, 30 something, l.a. law, beavis and butthead, and frasier. sure theres more just cant think of them at the moment, oh and the paul hogan show from oz.

[Richb2004v2]

Bevis & Butthead were great. Now I like South Park. I bought series 13 this week after about a year of waiting for it to be available here.

There is not a lot of US comedy that I really like at the minute. I've been trying for months to get hold of 'Curb your Enthusiasm' as I think that might be good, but no luck finding it anywhere.

[tutsiwarrior]

an', whaddabout 'till death to us part' with the Alf Garnet character? One of america's best loved sitcoms 'All in the Family' was based on that show...Archie Bunker's lounge chair now resides in the Smithsonian...

an', whaddabout 'Upstairs, Downstairs'?...or was that not aired in the UK an' produced for american viewers only as an illustration of the 'class system'? I was an addict, useta be every week on Masterpiece Theater presented by Alistair Cooke as was 'I, Claudius' also a big hit in the US...

anyway, it's a Daily Telegraph poll innit, buncha tory wanke_rs but I haveta admit that they included Boys from the Black Stuff and Cathy Come Home...to be fair...

'so then, tutsi...Rita tells me that you were made redundant...'

'yeah...gissa job...'

[Chaimai]

anyway, it's a Daily Telegraph poll innit, buncha tory wanke_rs but I haveta admit that they included Boys from the Black Stuff and Cathy Come Home...to be fair...

That will be socialist sh!te then ?

Seeing Thelma mentioned above - who can forget The Likely Lads ? - I had.

[churchill]

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