Btw brush strokes was very big at the time. People liked karl howman. He had played a cheeky chappie in a few programmes so he was a natural for Jacko. Another mentioned higher up which takes some understanding at first is Father Ted. Sounds crap? Irish priests swearing and saying Feck on tv but 5 minutes in i needed oxygen!!!
I'm pleased that Brush Strokes was popular. I watched an episode yesterday and while the show itself isn't Total Hilarity Unleashed, there is amusement throughout and a game, quite appealng cast. Karl Howman makes Jacko likable when he could be pond scum of the lowest order. Gary Waldhorn is also excellent (and that includes his rigid authoritarian in the reviled-by-most VICAR).
One of the many thngs I enjoy about UK programs is the "casual depiction" of "pub culture." It's somethng so prevalant there and so different--in a good way--than the drinking culture in the US. I'm sure there's an ugly side too, though.
As for other shows, I have heard of Father Ted and would lve to see it. There is also YES, MINISTER, whch I saw an episode of years ago. I liked it well enough but I think--based on what my dim brain can recall--that it to be "stayed with" and required several episodes in order to get into the thing. I don't recall if a knowledge of then-current events (that is, politics) was also needed. I did get the vague notion that the show thought itself cleverer than it actually was though that could have been jst me being cranky.
Anyone here ever seen "You Rang, M'Lord?" Very funny, mostly forgotten British show from the late '80s/early '90s. I first caught it on a PBS station in the very late '90s that showed it on Sunday afternoons at 4PM (just in time for tea!). I liked it so much that a few years ago I bought the boxed set of the entire show on DVD, but so far I've only watched the entire thing once, and the video transfer isn't that great, but a truly wonderful show to get into if you've never seen it.
Thanks again for THE STILL GAME recommendation; I'm really enjoying it. However, beneath the wacky situations and sometimes crude visuals and references I get a pang of sadness when seeing their environment--dreary apartment buildings, older people trying to fit in, etc., but then that's just me being a huge wuss.
A couple of other shows I've been looking into is The Good Life aka Good Neighbors, which boasts both the then-fetching Felcity Kendal and effervescent Penelope Keith. I just now found the series and have read nothing about it as yet. I've got the "wind break"--which means something entirely dfferent to we Yanks-- episode ready for viewing so we'll see how this show fares.
I also remember liking THE YOUNG ONES, which used to air on MTV late nights on Friday or Saturday in the mid-to-late '80s. I would watch an occasional episode (which was during my high school days) with the Motorhead episode being a "big deal" back then to some people. Having seen part of another episode recently and it was painfully unfunny. There was a friend of mine back then who worshipped The Young Ones and probably wanted to live his life just like those characters did theirs.
Jimbo why are you messing with this stuff when all you need is a hefty bite of Blackadder pie? This is like somebody saying ive bought 5 dreary dated 80s electronic scores but Spartacus and ben hur and Dirty Harry and Marathon man are sitting on the shelf untouched!!
Is Blackadder series one really as poor as everyone keeps insisting it is? People feel compelled to place an asterisk next to the title whenever they make a list of all-time favorite Britcoms!
I also remember liking THE YOUNG ONES, which used to air on MTV late nights on Friday or Saturday in the mid-to-late '80s. I would watch an occasional episode (which was during my high school days) with the Motorhead episode being a "big deal" back then to some people. Having seen part of another episode recently and it was painfully unfunny. There was a friend of mine back then who worshipped The Young Ones and probably wanted to live his life just like those characters did theirs.
See the house in this video Jim, I lived there from 1987 - 1993 ( even then it was some years after The Young Ones was filmed ), it appears in quite a few episodes and obviously the interiors were studio shot. As a cult show there were quite regular 'rubber neckers' turning up taking photos.
See the house in this video Jim, I lived there from 1987 - 1993 ( even then it was some years after The Young Ones was filmed ), it appears in quite a few episodes and obviously the interiors were studio shot. As a cult show there were quite regular 'rubber neckers' turning up taking photos.
That's crazy! You, Essankay, JohnnyG, and a fourth listens-to-nothing-but-classical-music-and-John-Barry guy must have driven those Punk rockers mad with all that racket!
Is Blackadder series one really as poor as everyone keeps insisting it is? People feel compelled to place an asterisk next to the title whenever they make a list of all-time favorite Britcoms!
its manic, unusual, a little crazy, some bits work, some didnt. It is just on another planet to 2 3 and 4. The emphasis switching to studio work, character-led situs and clever razor-sharp dialogue.
It was like a slap stick series suddenly turned into fawlty towers level wit and sarcasm.
I like The Black Adder. Just because they rejigged it to better effect doesn't make the first series a total misfire. Personally I like the production values and some of the guest turns, and I think it has the best theme music!
But back more or less on topic, I had the pleasure of seeing a personal appearance by John Challis, alias Boycie, last night at a little Doctor Who event. He was in a 70s classic starring Tom Baker in 1976, The Seeds of Doom, which was here merely a springboard for an entertaining and funny evening, during which we were treated to that laugh and several lapses into his character's voice.
Just around 70 attending so it was quite intimate with everyone getting the chance to chat, and get stuff signed and a photo if desired.
Now there was a WONDERFUL little award-winning show called 'Rev' starring Tom Hollander a coupla years ago, about an inner city vicar. Such as Liam Neeson (who turned up as Christ in the guise of a guy in a shellsuit!) and Ralph Fiennes (a bishop), gave their services for no salary, it was that special. The last season ended on a deliberate cliffhanger, and it was agreed to cap it there as a work of art.
Lots of adult humour, but profound too. I dunno if it made it trans-Pond, but it's a gem.
Yeah, Rev was ok, but like most (all) half decent contemporary sitcoms, I found myself smiling agreeably at it rather than laughing. Sometimes I wonder whether old school laugh-out-loud comedies are viewed as somewhat vulgar by commissioners these days. Apparently, the mere physiological response of laughter is no longer the minimum requirement.
While Absolutely Fabulous the series is routinely ranked towards the top of "Best Britcom" polls, the recent film doesn't live up to its series quality--now why doesn't that surprise me?
Of the UK sitcoms I've seen it's definitely one of the best. John Sullivan, who was responsible for the UK/US versions of "Dear John", was a writing genius having scripted every segment of OFAH since it's premiere episode in 1981. Incidentally, the only reason I know about OFAH was because of a book called "Now, That's Funny," which included interviews with some of Britain's top comedy writers (radio and TV) and that I picked up because of the interview with one of my favorite comedy minds, Denis Norden (who we know over here from the BBC radio panel games "My Word" and "My Music"). After reading a half dozen or so laudable mentions of OFAH in "Now, That's Funny" I purchased from amazon seasons 1-3 of OFAH (the years featuring Lennard Pearce's Grandad Trotter character). Great laughs, season 2 being where the show really starts to take off with the classic episode "A Touch of Glass." Starting with season four Sullivan's emphasis is less on jokes/stock comedy scenarios and more on character development/evolution (though the comedy element, when present, is stronger than ever).
Other "Favourite" episodes (On this series a season is three to eight episodes, some years, only a single holiday special)
S1 Christmas Crackers
S2 The Yellow Peril
S3 Healthy Competition Who's a Pretty Boy?
S4 Strained Relations It's Only Rock and Roll Sleeping Dogs Lie
S5 Tea for Three
S6 Danger UXD The Unlucky Winner Is...
S7 The Sky's the Limit Mother Nature's Son
S8 Heroes and Villains (a classic!) Time on Our Hands (another classic!)
season four Sullivan's emphasis is less on jokes/stock comedy scenarios and more on character development/evolution (though the comedy element, when present, is stronger than ever).
Yes, emphasis on character development and interaction is what I look for first in any series or film that I like. Plots can be done to death but the chemistry between performers and good writing is what I hold highest.
As I posted in this thread in 2010, "Tea for Three" was the episode I saw. Other than the old man character (Albert?) it was really funny.
season four Sullivan's emphasis is less on jokes/stock comedy scenarios and more on character development/evolution (though the comedy element, when present, is stronger than ever).
Yes, emphasis on character development and interaction is what I look for first in any series or film that I like. Plots can be done to death but the chemistry between performers and good writing is what I hold highest.
As I posted in this thread in 2010, "Tea for Three" was the episode I saw. Other than the old man character (Albert?) it was really funny.
Thanks for the suggestions, too!
Though I love it when Albert starts to sing "Aida" (actually "Hey There"). That was hilarious.
An early entry into the comedy career of Sir David Jason, the 1977-81 sitcom A Sharp Intake of Breath.
Though the series is out on dvd on Network-I REALLY need to get a region-free player--, a blog post from some years before mentions that Sir David is not a fan of the series:
Yeah, BBC Video bundled the seasons together. I have the first set comprising seasons 1-3. Sadly, the Region 1 release was in a digipak. I think the Region 2 versions were released separately.
