# Are You Being Served Your Favorite Britcoms? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2000, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041 "2000-11-13T19:11:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/41 "2000-11-14T03:56:11Z")
Gwaaaah! Alexei Sayle’s Stuff! I’d forgotten that one too! ‘Hey, didn’t you kill my brother?’ ‘Who is that fat bastard?’ Classic stuff. (Pardon the pun) (Oh, and BTW, Are You Being Served isn’t the UK equivalant of Three’s Company - [Man About The House](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0069607) is. Or rather Three’s Company is the US equivalant of Man About The House.) ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/42 "2000-11-14T04:02:05Z")
**betenoir** , I’ve never seen the original **'Til Death Do Us Part** in the US, but it was re-made into the very funny (IMO) **All in the Family** in the '70s. –sublight ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/43 "2000-11-14T05:23:56Z")
For years I’ve been telling people my favorite British comedian is Lenny Henry. He’s the star of _Chef!_, but I don’t think that’s him at his best. He did one American movie in 1991 - _True Identity_. Unfortunately it bombed. That’s too bad, since I think that with the right vehicle he could become a star. Incidentally, he’s married to Dawn French of _The Vicar of Dibley_. ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/44 "2000-11-14T05:31:44Z")
My mother is completely obsessed with “Keeping Up Appearances.” I think it’s funny but I’m not quite _that_ crazy about it. Now, “The Vicar of Dibley” is hilarious! I love that show! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/45 "2000-11-14T05:43:35Z")
Great: “Alexei Sayle’s Stuff” although it wasn’t a sitcom. (Wasn’t he in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” as some pasha or something?) “Reginal Perrin” It’s been a while. Local PBS has to rerun it. “To The Manor Born”–fell in love with Penelope Keith when she guested on “No, Honestly” (a show that bit the big one) but never had a chance to watch “Good Neighbors.” “Keeping Up Appearances” because she reminds me of Wife’s aunt when she and Wife’s mum aren’t the spitting image of Terry Jones and Michael Palin in drag. “Class Act” sort of a dramady, but I lust after Joanna Lumley and would love to do her…makeup. Can’t Bear: “Are You Being Served” Smarmy, leaves me feeling dirty. “Vicar of Dibly” Boring, not funny. Borderline: “As Time Goes By” because I adore Dame Judy. I was at a dollhouse show (sorry, “dolls’ house” since the theme is Brit. Beter yet, “miniatures,” cuz at those prices nobody’s gonna play with it) and someone showing had an endorsement by her. I was suitably impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/46 "2000-11-14T06:03:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dropzone \* > **"As Time Goes By" because I adore Dame Judy.** Nitpick - She spells her name Judi. Dame Judi Dench. I have to add a ditto to ‘May to December’ with the first Zoe - both because the writing was better, and because the first Zoe was cuter. Wendel - Lenny Henry is hillarious. I have to disagree on Chef! though - it’s the best of a great lot. I’m trying to remember the title of a britcom that I really enjoyed - if anyone can help me remember it, I’d be ever so grateful - bear with me, my memory is awful, so this’ll be a tad vague: A particular Lord is, to be honest, a tad short. Flat broke in fact. It’s decided that they’ll open his estate to tourists - much to the dismay of and older lady who’s been part of the estate for decades (a servant, IIRC). They end up deciding to hire an American woman to run the touristy bit. She has many run-ins with said older lady, and there’s much romantic tension between her and the Lord. Anyone have any idea what I’m talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/47 "2000-11-14T06:49:11Z")
I think we are really fortunate here in Canada as we get a great deal of material from across the pond on our cable and local stations. Each evening I can turn on channel 14 and watch Are You Being Served followed by Keeping up Appearances followed by Yes Minister. I love Chef, Red Dwarf, Fawlty Towers, and of course… Monty Python. PBS rocks. When I was a wee tyke I watched The Goodies every afternoon. My mother watched it with me once and I thought she was going to keel over laughing… Blackadder and Bless Me Father are great. And how could I neglect AbFab? I heard that one of the American networks wanted to do their version AbFab but didn’t think the drug references would go over that well if at all. ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/48 "2000-11-14T07:14:34Z")
Most of my favorites have alreaky been mentioned but I can’t believe no one has mentioned the The Last of the Summer Wine. ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/49 "2000-11-14T07:17:04Z")
Of course, if I had previewed that would have said already been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/50 "2000-11-14T07:54:11Z")
Add another voice that will defend “Are You Being Served?” Well, somewhat. As with any show, I believe it degenerated. For my money, the first three or four seasons (roughly 24-25 episodes) are great. It began to decline, IMHO, after Arthur Brough (Mr. Grainger) died. The risque jokes and ludicrous goings-on of the first few years were fine, the veiled references to Mr. Humphries’ sexuality, Mrs. Slocombe’s ever-beleaguered “pussy,” etc. worked until the show turned into a self-parody. From the way most people on this thread have reacted to the show, I believe you must be only watching the last four or five series (seasons). Give the early years a chance, then stop watching when Mr. Grainger leaves. And another voice for the Eve Matheson seasons of “From May To December.” Classy show, really enjoyed it. Sir ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/51 "2000-11-14T09:17:47Z")
What… no mention of French and Saunders?!? I love Waiting For God, The Vicar of Dibley, AbFab, As Time Goes By, that other sitcom with Judi Dench, and the Mrs. Bradley Mysteries with Diana Rigg. Diana Rigg to me is still the template all women were fashioned from. A smart, sexy woman who can handle herself. Her’s are the funniest mysteries I have ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/52 "2000-11-14T09:22:06Z")
The Irish comedy _Father Ted_ was wonderful. Shame he died ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kawliga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@kawliga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kawliga)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/53 "2000-11-14T10:05:41Z")
Hancock’s Half Hour, starring Tony Hancock and Sid James, is my all-time favorite British comedy. I’m surprised it hasn’t been mentioned in this thread before now. Others I like: Mr. Bean Blackadder Ripping Yarns Fawlty Towers Dad’s Army Waiting for God Keeping up Appearances No, Honestly Butterflies Chef ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/54 "2000-11-14T11:36:19Z")
Another vote for Father Ted here. Has it been shown in the US? My other faves recently have been Space (and no it has nothing to do with space travel) and Black Books. Both were a bit surreal. ---
**Author:** ![TomH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@TomH](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TomH)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/55 "2000-11-14T13:43:42Z")
I’d go with Fawlty Towers as my all-time favourite sitcom, closely followed by Yes, Minister. IMHO the best British sitcom of the past decade was the first series of The League of Gentlemen. From the answers people are coming out with, it looks like the US has been spared two of our worst comedy atrocities, the unrelentingly unfunny Only Fools and Horses and Birds of a Feather. These are probably the two best-loved shows of the Great British Public™ for reasons which I still cannot fathom. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/56 "2000-11-14T14:11:14Z")
How could I have forgotten to mention The League of Gentlemen? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/57 "2000-11-14T14:11:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tengu \* > **Nitpick - She spells her name Judi. Dame Judi Dench.** _dropzone pointedly ignores **Tengo** _ ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/58 "2000-11-14T14:48:54Z")
Tengu—that show was “To the Manor Born,” with the wonderful Penelope Keith. They showed it here in the NY area about 15 years ago but it has not been seen since. I’d forgotten “The Brittas Empire”—the whole show really was Chris Barrie, who is great in just about anything (did you catch his cameo on season III of “Blackadder?”). Anyone remember Pauline Collins and John Alderton in “Wodehouse Playhouse?” I loved it in college, but it might be a bit twee for me now. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/59 "2000-11-14T15:10:39Z")
Zounds, I can’t believe I get this one first: Rowan Atkinson first TV series [I think]: “Not the Nine 'O Clock News” [I guess now this title would be obsolete] Also, ‘the two Ronnies’ [I can still find uses for the phrase ‘Packed Programme’], and in the Ronnie Barker vein, ‘Open all Hours’ ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2000, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041/60 "2000-11-14T18:27:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > **Tengu—that show was “To the Manor Born,” with the wonderful Penelope Keith. They showed it here in the NY area about 15 years ago but it has not been seen since.** Sorry, Eve, wrong one. I watch To the Manner Born, and while the premises are similar, in the one I’m trying to remember, the noble in question is a man, and he doesn’t sell his estate outright. And there’s no Americans in TtMB. A bit of further information - I seem to remember the title being a variant on a common British patriotic phrase. This is killing me! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-being-served-your-favorite-britcoms/41041.md?page=4)