Same for “Beane’s of Boston”, the US version of “Are You Being Served?” It’s on YouTube and it is abysmal.
So not really different from Are You Being Served?
No, it’s worse. No chemistry whatsoever plus they got Tom Poston for “Old Mr. Grace”, Charlotte Rae for Mrs. Slocombe, and Alan Sues for Mr. Humphries. And they combined the role of “Mr. Rumbold” with the role of “Young Mr. Grace”; George O’Hanlon Jr played Poston’s son!
The only remotely redeeming bit was John Hillerman as Peacock.
They did WHAT now?
Well, so they did. Richard Mulligan is fun to watch, but terribly cast to be anything like Reginald Perrin.
What an opening.
Huge difference. Are You Being Served? is silly (and vulgar) rubbish, but it’s executed with superb technique and professionalism. I think the difference here has something to do with the American caste system for actors. In England, it’s entirely possible for a single actor to do a James Bond movie, a sitcom, and live Shakespeare all in one season. In America, you’d think there’s a law against it.
Another factor is that, in US television, people with no education other than an MBA think they’re creative geniuses, and leave their muddy footprints all over every show they come across. In Britain, writers are mostly left alone.
And—oh yes! There’s the way that American executives are frightened by any speech longer than about two typewritten lines. So the screamingly funny extended monologs in Coupling and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin were sliced and diced and intercut with other scenes until all the juice evaporated out of them.
Reggie: In fact, I provide a valuable social service.
Colin: Mr Perrin! Are you trying to tell us that you provide a valuable social service?
Reggie: No.
Colin: But you just said—
Reggie: I’m not trying. I‘m succeeding. If I had said, “I like squashy bananas,” I would have tried and failed to tell you that I provide a valuable social service, but I didn’t say, “I like squashy bananas,”, I said, “I provide a valuable social service,” thus succeedingly brilliantly in telling you that I provide a valuable social service!
I didn’t get where I am today by not allowing for a long, entertaining monologue!