I have never seen a moment of Utopia so l can’t comment on it, but l rat Yes Minister as one of the top three UK TV scripts ever, (along with Fawlty towers and Minder).
It was great until they tried to match up Sam and Rebecca.
In typical British spirit of “leave them gasping for more” was Staged with Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes (née Stevenson) as a young pair who had to claim they were married to get a flat. Probably still happening today in attempts to rent.
And one of my favourites was another spinoff from Monty Python was Ripping Yarns with Michael Palin and Terry Jones. Only 12 episodes and 11 were classics…Tomkinson’s Schooldays with the school bully, The Testing of Eric Olthwaite where it were always raining in Denley Moor and Golden Gordon where the former stars came out to keep Barnstoneworth United going when their ground was going to be turned into a scrapyard…8-1, 8 bleeding 1.
One of the Irish barmen at Molly Bloom’s in Port Melbourne used to play local soccer for a club called Barnstoneworth United where they wore the 1930’s outfits - red and white striped shirts, knee length black shorts and old-style socks.
1 Like
My favourite episode was the Queen’s Birthday honours (Even god calls me god!)
I grew up on British comedy.
The two Ronnies was a gem.
I feel I should also mention Dave Allen, Open all hours and The Kenny Everitt video cassette.
2 Likes
rare instance of the addition of ted mcginley improving a show
2 Likes
Gary McD, not Norm the Bomber star.
1 Like
In some of the immortal words of Basil Fawlty when asked by Sybil if was going to wear a certain jacket out: “It’s called style, you wouldn’t understand.” I use that line from time to time for different situations.
At various times he referred to her as, “The Benzadrene Puff Adder,” while she called him a “Brilliantine Stick Insect.”
3 Likes
Not to mention Charley Farley, played by Arthur Pint.
This is one form of comedy that translates very well across cultures, due to the lack of language and the reliance on universal physical comedy. Bean is huge in China, Indonesia and Thailand among other places and l have used The Exam skit among others in many classes.
2 Likes
Or Ronnie Barker as Nana Moussaka, with her agent Takis Tenpercentovous.
1 Like
With Sid Snot, the punk. “The other day me and my bird Diedre went down to the park, and fed the pigeons… to my cat.”
2 Likes
He had Sally Struthers in stitches. I loved the bit where she suggested he use an electric razor to avoid all the shaving nicks on his face and he replied “I do!”.
5 Likes
I don’t know if it was two full seasons or not, it wasn’t my choice and because l didn’t find it all that funny l tuned out.
I am finally all caught up on this thread now. Almost out likes for today, but l knew in advance that would happen. I will have to come back later and list some of my faves.
Always gets a chortle.
Diver Dan was seriously funny.
Cutting brilliant comedy into real drama takes some serious writing skills I would think.
I watch mostly Chinese TV and film and they do humorous moments in drama brilliantly, but I don’t understand the straight up jokes in any of their comedy shows.
2 Likes
Dave is farking hilarious. Great way to forget about the horrible shot going on in the world for a little
I’ll always remember Sid window shopping with girlfriend Deidre, “what do you think I am, made of bricks?”
,and Hot Gossip
3 Likes
The best line was the closing one, when Sigrid tells the new squeeze ( played by William McGuiness) she’s preggers - What on earth can we name the baby, who can we call him after?’ He says ‘ maybe Max ? (after his dog). She belts him. The end.
Almost as good as the end of Some Like it Hot, when Jack Lemon ( masquerading as Daphne) tells Joe E Brown she can’t marry him , because she’s really a man. Joe E not fussed ‘Nobody’s perfect, all good’. People who’ve only lived with SSM being legal won’t get that joke.
What’s the closest thing to Silver?
The Lone Ranger’s arse.
3 Likes