Ok people, we all know that the British have cranked out better sitcoms than those from the US networks. In fact some of the best or very popular US sitcoms have been essentially rip-offs of what was successful in the UK. All in the Family and Three's Company come to mind. Anyhow of the many fantastic British sitcoms which are your favourites and why?
Mine? Let's see. At the top of my list would be a tie.
1) The Blackadder series: Blackadder is perhaps the most intelligent sitcom ever written, regardless of the time period each set of episodes is set in. Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson play off each other extremely well. One of the most underrated catch phrases came from this show, that is of course Baldrick's "I have a cunning plan."
1) Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister: Then the greatest political sitcom ever devised. The rapport between main characters Jim Hacker (Paul Eddington) and Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne) is fantastic. In fact Hawthorne performs a wonderful verbal dance in each episode with the bureaucratic bafflegab given to him in the script.
2) Fawlty Towers: John Cleese as Basil Fawlty, one of greatest TV characters of all time. The episode with the Germans in which Basil performs a whacky goosestep march is enough to split one's side. And the fellow who play Manuel the Portugese waiter/bellhop took just as much crap from his boss if not more than Baldrick did from Blackadder.
3) Are You Being Served?: It can be an acquired taste, as I didn't care much for it the first few episodes I saw. But it grew on me with a vengence. The constant mocking of the upper class snobbery is wonderful through the strict protocol of the staff on the floor. A great cast ensemble.
4) Mr. Bean: Who needs words? Rowan Atkinson's second greatest character, after Blackadder of course. Some of the greatest physical comdey I've have seen on tv. Let's not mention that goddamn movie that should have NEVER been made. Bugger all was original about it.
Honourable Mention: Monty Python's Flying Circus. That's because it was skit comedy and not a sitcom. Still one of the funniest tv shows ever made.
Others worth mentioning: Keeping Up Appearances, On the Buses, Some Mothers Do Have Them, and Father Ted (or was this from Irish tv?).
Way Overrated: Doctor in the House, The Office, Da Ali G Show
Mine? Let's see. At the top of my list would be a tie.
1) The Blackadder series: Blackadder is perhaps the most intelligent sitcom ever written, regardless of the time period each set of episodes is set in. Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson play off each other extremely well. One of the most underrated catch phrases came from this show, that is of course Baldrick's "I have a cunning plan."
1) Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister: Then the greatest political sitcom ever devised. The rapport between main characters Jim Hacker (Paul Eddington) and Sir Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne) is fantastic. In fact Hawthorne performs a wonderful verbal dance in each episode with the bureaucratic bafflegab given to him in the script.
2) Fawlty Towers: John Cleese as Basil Fawlty, one of greatest TV characters of all time. The episode with the Germans in which Basil performs a whacky goosestep march is enough to split one's side. And the fellow who play Manuel the Portugese waiter/bellhop took just as much crap from his boss if not more than Baldrick did from Blackadder.
3) Are You Being Served?: It can be an acquired taste, as I didn't care much for it the first few episodes I saw. But it grew on me with a vengence. The constant mocking of the upper class snobbery is wonderful through the strict protocol of the staff on the floor. A great cast ensemble.
4) Mr. Bean: Who needs words? Rowan Atkinson's second greatest character, after Blackadder of course. Some of the greatest physical comdey I've have seen on tv. Let's not mention that goddamn movie that should have NEVER been made. Bugger all was original about it.
Honourable Mention: Monty Python's Flying Circus. That's because it was skit comedy and not a sitcom. Still one of the funniest tv shows ever made.
Others worth mentioning: Keeping Up Appearances, On the Buses, Some Mothers Do Have Them, and Father Ted (or was this from Irish tv?).
Way Overrated: Doctor in the House, The Office, Da Ali G Show
