# Best Britcoms of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709 "2003-11-22T18:01:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/21 "2003-11-22T21:25:45Z")
Red Dwarf. ---
**Author:** ![guy\_from\_wpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@guy\_from\_wpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guy_from_wpa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/22 "2003-11-22T21:30:32Z")
Waiting For God The Thin Blue Line Bless Me Father Vicar of Dibley–the funniest of all. Especially when the town had its own radio station at the vicarage. Geraldine: “What does it mean when that red light goes on?” Jim: “You’re a prostitute.” Or when Frank Pickle hosted his own show. He was dissuaded from doing his version of desert island discs–he was going to do destert island desks; a show about the favorite desks he has worked from. He instead started a monologue that no one listened to. “I first knew I was gay…” ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/23 "2003-11-22T21:41:04Z")
Black Books Spaced The Day Today (and other Criss Morris or Alan Partridge stuff) Father Ted (Tho’ the talent involved was Irish rather than Brit) The Office (of course) Old Skool sitcom:- Rising Damp (hurrah for ol’ Leonard Rossiter) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/24 "2003-11-22T21:49:25Z")
The Good Life Mmmmm…Felicity Kendal [drooollllll…] ---
**Author:** ![punkkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@punkkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punkkid)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/25 "2003-11-22T21:54:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BrainGlutton \* > \*\*\ > > Of the shows mentioned so far, I am completely unfamiliar with the following (not all Britcoms get aired in the States, not even on PBS): > > Young Ones > New Statesman > League of Gentlemen > The Day Today > Father Ted > The Vicar of Dibley > Spaced > Keeping Up Appearances > \*\* The Young Ones is a fast-paced, anarchic comedy about four college students who get into fights with each other, al whilst being pummeled by the most random obstacles in the universe. (Time travel, murderers, lions, Angels of Hell, etc.) Hilarious. The New Statesman is a political satire starring Rik Mayall (of Lord Flasheart fame) as right-wing Tory MP Alan B’Stard. Does a good job of exposing the corruption within. THe League Of Gentlemen is a dark comedy-horror set in the small Northern town of Royston Vasey. # actors play the towns 100+ inhabitants, all of whom range from strange to downright insane (You’re MY wife now, Dave). Very, very funny, very, very sick. The Day Today is a fairly unpopular mock-news show, which parodies every aspect of the news, bad stories, patronizing vox-pops, stupid sports reporters (Alan Partridge, check that show out too). Very underrated. Father Ted is an Irish comedy about 3 priests living on a remote island of the west coast. Ted is the straight one, Dougal is the stupid one, and Jack is the violent alcoholic. Stars the funniest comedy creation ever: Father Larry Duff (Craggy Island’s answer to Kenny McCormack) I haven’t seen those last three shows in ages, so I can’t really help you. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/26 "2003-11-22T22:29:25Z")
Fawlty Towers Red Dwarf Blackadder The Young Ones Absolutely Fabulous Monty Python Yes Minister/Prime Minister Doctor In The House Not The Nine O’ Clock News Spitting Image The Goodies Still haven’t seen The Office or Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin… but I will. The League of Gentlemen and The New Statesmen look interesting too. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/27 "2003-11-22T22:39:57Z")
Am I the only fan of **As Time Goes By** and **Waiting for God**? Come on, I’m hoping to be Diana when I get to be her age! As for the new ones other than **Coupling** , I suppose I’ll have to wait until they make it to the local feckless PBS station, or until I can afford BBC America or a trip back to England. CJ ---
**Author:** ![hanza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/eb8c5e/32.png) [@hanza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hanza)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/28 "2003-11-22T22:49:43Z")
Glad to see a vote for Black Books. Oh how I love that show. And Spaced too- both future classics (as neither have been around long enough to be classed as classics yet.) Other favourites: Blackadder Monty Python Father Ted Fawlty Towers Red Dwarf Yes Minister/ Prime Minister For the record, I find the League of Gentlemen truly disturbing, so can’t real vote for it as comedy, although it is undoubtedly highly original T.V. Also, I HATE only Fools and Horses, and have no idea why it so so popular. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/29 "2003-11-22T23:35:04Z")
Posted by **Siege:** > [@](#): > > As for the new ones other than Coupling, I suppose I’ll have to wait until they make it to the local feckless PBS station, or until I can afford BBC America or a trip back to England. What is this BBC America? My local cable provider doesn’t carry it. Is it something you can only get in New York? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/30 "2003-11-23T00:38:36Z")
I get BBC America. I think you need digital cable or satillite TV in order to get it, **Brain**. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/31 "2003-11-23T00:48:41Z")
In no particular order: The League Of Gentlemen (went downhill in series three, but the first two series were simply off the wall, hilarious) Phoenix Nights (I attended a party at the parish hall where this is filmed last year) The Day Today Only Fools and Horses Father Ted I’m Alan Partridge ---
**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/32 "2003-11-23T01:19:05Z")
Are You Being Served? ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/33 "2003-11-23T04:26:54Z")
Of those I’ve seen, I like _Monty Python’s Flying Circus_, _Fawlty Towers_ and _Mr. Bean_. I don’t really care for _Are You Being Served?_ or _Absolutely Fabulous_. Haven’t seen any of the others. When you say “series three”, I’m assuming that’s the same thing as “season three” in the US, is this correct? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/34 "2003-11-23T05:11:42Z")
**Siege** , you’re invading my head again! I loved _As Time Goes By_, although I rarely see it anymore. It was played on the Twin Cities PBS station back when I lived in Minneapolis and I was hooked from the beginning. Every time I see Judi Dench in anything anymore, I can just see her taking Lionel’s custard tart away. I also like _Absolutely Fabulous_, which is probably bigger among gay viewers over here than straight. I know enough queens who try their damnedest to be Patsy and Edina. I have a soft spot for Hyacinth Bucket (“That’s Boo-kay, thank you very much!”), but I never really considered _Keeping Up Appearances_ terribly original. Every episode was exactly the same…Hyacinth acts ghastly to someone on the phone, Hyacinth harasses Elizabeth’s brother, Hyacinth prepares to go to a social function, Hyacinth’s family embarasses her. Rinse and repeat. ---
**Author:** ![eli\_the\_fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@eli\_the\_fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eli_the_fanatic)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/35 "2003-11-23T06:25:18Z")
Blackadder. Fawlty Towers. Jeeves & Wooster. The Young Ones. For sketch comedy, Monty Python and The Comic Strip Presents. I would love it if the CSP woul be released on DVD. Also The Goodies, which I loved as a child. I lived in England when I was a kid. I haven’t seen all of the ones mentioned here. There are a few I’ve liked well enough to watch on TV (Chef, Are You Being Served) or rent (Mr Bean), but not enough to own. ---
**Author:** ![Ultraviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c77e96/32.png) [@Ultraviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ultraviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/36 "2003-11-23T06:30:23Z")
I just love British comedies, and most of my favourites have been mentioned already, with the exception of One foot in the grave. This show is brilliant. Also, I just got the DVD of The Goodies. I hadn’t seen it before, although I had heard lots about it. It was great, very surreal and funny! Well restored, too. ---
**Author:** ![eli\_the\_fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@eli\_the\_fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eli_the_fanatic)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/37 "2003-11-23T07:18:45Z")
THE GOODIES IS OUT ON DVD? THE GOODIES IS OUT ON DVD? :: going to [amazon.com](http://amazon.com) :: ---
**Author:** ![eli\_the\_fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@eli\_the\_fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eli_the_fanatic)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/38 "2003-11-23T07:20:54Z")
Hm. I can’t find it. What’s it called? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/39 "2003-11-23T07:43:07Z")
I found [this](http://www.blackstar.co.uk/video/item/7000000077816) but it looks like it’s only available in the UK. “Ecky Thump” is a classic. ---
**Author:** ![eli\_the\_fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@eli\_the\_fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eli_the_fanatic)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709/40 "2003-11-23T07:48:21Z")
You can order stuff from Blackstar in the US – I’ve done it before for music that is not available in the US – but I think DVD formatting is different over there and their DVDs won’t play on our machines. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-britcoms-of-all-time/214709.md?page=3)