The Classic Britcom Q&A Thread

Y0u're welcome. I hope you enjoy it.

 

One which you are probably familiar with is BBC Two's "The Young Ones". Now approaching nearly forty years (gasp) since it's original transmission, it was a subversive take on the comfy sitcom format. I watched it on it's original transmission, and, whilst not fully grasping some of the more adult themes, knew it was something pretty special. Wisely, only two series were ever made. It made stars of writer Ben Elton, Ade Edmondson and Rik Mayall almost overnight. Try and find the versions with the complete musical slots. I understand these were later edited out due to licensing issues.

 

I liked that as a little girl but prefer Cliff's version of the song to theirs.

 

Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister were rewritten as a series of diaries. I think these books are actually better than the TV show.

 

Yes Minister on first glance doesn't appear to be a show I'd like. I know nothing about British government so think a lot of the jokes would probably go over my head.

 

Here's a question - why are there so few episodes in a season of UK shows? Here in the States a series can have 15 to twenty episodes (or more) in a season.

 

A big part is most UK sitcoms are written by one or sometimes two writers. A writers room generally (although not always) doesn’t happen.

 

Although I retired my telly years ago, I must recommend "Black Books" and "The League of Gentlemen". It's been a while since I last watched them, but I did actively seek them out and found those two head and shoulders above most of their contemporaries

 

I like 'Black Books'. I've never heard of or seen the other you mentioned, but I'll look for it. Thanks!

 

Here's a question. Some people here have a lot of information and/or good memories...

There was a pilot called "Oh, no! Not them!" that was trying to make a US version of The Young Ones (failed attempt). Was that pilot ever actually shown, or not?

 

I found this....

Oh, No! Not THEM! (Unaired "The Young Ones" US Adaptation Pilot)

 

I'd call that half-reliable. It's only as correct as a few contributors made it. The comment from someone who swears it was aired, and that he had it, but that he has lost the tape, well that might or might not be genuine. It can happen but it seems to happen a lot.

 

The key thing about sitcoms is that you don't really need to know much about the situation. The characters and their interactions are far more important.

 

What about minder?
Not a straight comedy like the other shows mentioned, more a drama with a lot of comedy elements.
I've been watching repeats in ITV4 for the last year & a half. Love it.

 

Broken record dept: Check out HANCOCK'S HALF HOUR, STEPTOE AND SON, and TILL DEATH US DO PART on YouTube(Dailymotion has most of the Hancock TV episodes, actually).

 

Likely Lads and (especially) Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads are recommended.

 

League of Gentlemen really is something special and different. You might find it a bit strange at first but it is definitely worth sticking with.

 

If anyone’s looking for some more recent comedy shows, then I can highly recommend Staged, Ghosts, and The Goes Wrong Show.
Three very different shows, but all VERY funny.

 

Yeah the Goes Wrong Show is a bit of a hidden gem and as they go on they take the 'props go wrong' concept to some very clever extremes. Also good clean fun for all ages with no 'language' etc!

 

Ok everyone I am totally hooked on Steptoe & Son. I loved Sanford & Son here in the US when I was a kid. They used to show old reruns on local television.

Do they still use phrases like ‘Gordon Bennett’ and ‘cobblers’ in the UK anymore? I don’t even understand what those phrases mean LOL. I’ll do more digging online but just thought I’d ask. Another one, ‘how’s your father’. You don’t hear these phrases in the US... ever.

 

Some of these go way back - some before I was born - but these are my favourites:

Porridge
Steptoe and Son
Father Ted
Fawlty Towers
Dad's Army
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
Spaced
Hancock
Still Game
Detectorists
Catastrophe
Catterick

 

Steptoe & Son is good.

We still use phrases like "Gordon Bennett" & "Cobblers" I 1st heard the phrase "Gordon Bennett" when I was in year 5 at school. The teacher used it when someone said something stupid so that might give you a clue. "Cobblers" is used when you think something someone said is rubbish. Lol. A bit of "How's your Father?" is a euphemism for the process of getting intimate with someone of the opposite gender.

 

Thanks for the information. I didn't know if some of these expressions were dated, like if you were to watch a t.v. show from the US that was made in the 1970's and heard someone say 'groovy'.... you don't hear anyone say that anymore. Well, almost no one

 

A.Word.A.Day --Gordon Bennett

 

You're welcome. :0)