# Britcom Ratings--Choose 10 Please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769 "2008-06-04T16:14:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/1 "2008-06-04T16:14:02Z")
Inspired by the sitcom ratings thread… While looking over the list, I realized that there are many Britcoms that I prefer to American sitcoms, so, for the like-minded, here’s a list of 20 British sitcoms from which you can choose your 10 favorites. I am limited to the ones we Yanks have been exposed to. If our British contingent has any subs for their list, feel free to include them: Fawlty Towers Blackadder Are You Being Served? The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Keeping Up Appearances Father Ted Dad’s Army Open All Hours Butterflies Red Dwarf Man About the House Robin’s Nest Ripping Yarns The Vicar of Dibley The Young Ones Absolutely Fabulous Only Fools and Horses Hot Metal As Time Goes By Executive Stress My list: Fawlty Towers Blackadder Are You Being Served? Father Ted Red Dwarf The Young Ones Absolutely Fabulous The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Ripping Yarns The Vicar of Dibley I realize that _Ripping Yarns_ is more of an anthology, but since it follows the sitcom format, I included it. And I purposely left out Python since it’s strictly a sketch show. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/2 "2008-06-04T16:21:04Z")
I’d like to sub in \*\*Spaced \*\* please. [Wiki link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced) Also, your list doesn’t include **One Foot in the Grave** - I don’t believe it! [Wiki link](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_foot_in_the_grave) The Young Ones Fawlty Towers Blackadder The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Father Ted Red Dwarf Man About the House The Vicar of Dibley ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/3 "2008-06-04T16:24:26Z")
**Fawlty Towers Blackadder Father Ted Dad’s Army The Vicar of Dibley** Add: **Keeping Up Appearances The Good Life (Good Neighbors) The Brittas Empire** ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/4 "2008-06-04T16:30:46Z")
I don’t see Allo Allo on the list… Or Peep Show. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/5 "2008-06-04T16:32:05Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] **Fawlty Towers Blackadder Father Ted Dad’s Army The Vicar of Dibley** Add: **Keeping Up Appearances The Good Life (Good Neighbors) The Brittas Empire** [/QUOTE] Thank you, **silenus**! I was racking my brain trying to remember Chris “Smeg-head” Barrie’s other show that aired here. Oh, and KUA was on my original list. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/6 "2008-06-04T16:42:42Z")
Just been rewatching all of mine (on my iPod, on the train). I’d make my top ten (in no particular order): The Young Ones Blackadder Fawtly Towers Monty Python Father Ted The Day Today (precursor to the Daily Show IMO, except all made up news, totally awesome) Brass Eye (Follow up to The Day Today) League of Gentlemen (on of the most twisted shows on TV, absolutely awesome!) Little Britain Red Dwarf EDIT: Missed a couple: The Fast Show(‘Brilliant’ in the states) and The Mary Whitehouse experience. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/7 "2008-06-04T16:47:13Z")
Too many on that list that I’ve never seen, and too many of the ones I have seen are mediocre or poor. But I’d have time for: Fawlty Towers Red Dwarf Blackadder Ripping Yarns As Time Goes By Add: Yes Minister/Yes Prime Minister (one of the best coms ever, Brit or otherwise) Chef Waiting for God ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/8 "2008-06-04T16:48:08Z")
Blackadder Red Dwarf The Dinner Ladies (I have to add this. After all I’m a Yank and I’ve been exposed to it. We have to get it over here.) The Young Ones. One Foot in the Grave. The Good Life. The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin Didn’t you forget To the Manor Born? Open All Hours. The Vicar of Dibly. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/9 "2008-06-04T16:49:20Z")
Chef! How did I forget that one? I own it on DVD! **W2K** , My sloppy C&P kept KUA off my initial list. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/10 "2008-06-04T16:49:28Z")
I don’t know enough Britcoms to be able to participate in this one…but…no Jeeves and Wooster?! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/11 "2008-06-04T16:53:31Z")
Coupling AbFab The Young Ones Monty Python Fawlty Towers ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/12 "2008-06-04T16:57:30Z")
Fawlty Towers Blackadder Red Dwarf Ripping Yarns Absolutely Fabulous I’d also add **The Good Neighbors** (Felicity Kendall – yum!) **The Office My Hero** ---
**Author:** ![Aziraphale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@Aziraphale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aziraphale)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/13 "2008-06-04T16:58:36Z")
Seconding most on the list, most importantly Spaced and Yes (Prime) Minister. Additional recommendation for The League of Gentlemen and Brass Eye if you like your humour extra black. Wouldn’t include Python though because the format isn’t really “Britcom” IMHO, rather sketch comedy. Adding: **The IT Crowd** )(written by Graham Linehan, who was one of the authors of Father Ted) \*\*Black Books \*\*(you haven’t lived until you’ve watched this. Really. I promise. First season also partially co-authored by Linehan.) **Absolute Power** (which was excellent as a radio series as well). You should now go and make it your goal to find and watch at least Black Books and Absolute Power if you haven’t seen them. Drop everything else, find 'em. You won’t regret it. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/14 "2008-06-04T17:06:49Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] **The Office** [/QUOTE] Good God, how did I forget The Office! Add this to my list as well. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/15 "2008-06-04T18:39:41Z")
Fawlty Towers Blackadder Dad’s Army Open All Hours Red Dwarf Man About the House The Vicar of Dibley The Young Ones As Time Goes By Coupling ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/16 "2008-06-04T18:48:37Z")
No _Coupling_ on the original list? It’s brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![MJinks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@MJinks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MJinks)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/17 "2008-06-04T19:59:11Z")
In a kind of rough order… **Red Dwarf.** I’ll admit, the last season was pants, the first 7 though: Awesome. **ADDED: Black Books.** Bill Bailey rocks! **Dad’s Army.** I think I prefer it on the radio though. **Father Ted.** It suffers from too many repeats. **ADDED: The IT Crowd.** I wrote this off at first viewing, now I love it. **The Vicar of Dibley.** Great, lovable cast. **Blackadder.** **Only Fools and Horses.** Suffered from too many repeats. **Open All Hours.** A perfect early evening show. **The Good Life.** Yum yum… Keeping Up Appearances is just my cup of tea for a relaxed Sunday afternoon. I wouldn’t watch it at any other time though. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/18 "2008-06-04T20:04:07Z")
Little Britain doesn’t seem to be on BBC-American anymore - did it get cancelled? I used to tell my wife that I wished the Britcoms came with subtitles - some of the dialogue is impossible for me to decipher. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/19 "2008-06-04T20:04:35Z")
Monty Python The Good Life The Young Ones The Avengers (no way that’s anything but a comedy) ---
**Author:** ![Mongo\_Ponton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mongo\_Ponton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mongo_Ponton)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769/20 "2008-06-04T20:04:38Z")
Coupling The Office Keeping up Appearances - I honestly feel like Patricia Routledge is the Jackie Gleason of Britcoms! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britcom-ratings-choose-10-please/451769.md?page=2)