Siam Sam and I were discussing this in the Movies that make you squirm thread, so I thought I’d give it its own thread.
Siam, you asked about the Old Grey Whistle Theft. It’s an episode where Dougal falls in with “a bad crowd”–well, one bad priest, named Father Damo.
I always loved “A Song for Europe”–that one was so classic.
A Song for Europe is the only episode of television that made me laugh so hard I fell out of my chair. After the following exchange, I couldn’t even breathe.
Father Ted Crilly: Just play the fucking note!
Father Dougal McGuire: The first one?
Father Ted Crilly: No not the fucking first one! The fucking first one’s already fucking down! Just play the fucking note you were fucking playing earlier! I’ve been playing the fucking first one! We have the fucking first one!
Father Dougal McGuire: So i’ll just…
Father Ted Crilly: Just play the fucking note you were fucking playing there! Fucking what you were just fucking doing! Play the fucking note!
This is my favorite Father Ted moment ever. I fecking love Fr. Dougal.
The best scene is the “explaining the concept of perspective to Dougal” one IMO:
Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
[he points to some plastic cows on the table]
Father Ted: are very small; those
[pointing at some cows out of the window]
Father Ted: are far away…
My favorite Father Ted moment (in fact, I love this whole episode):
DOUGAL: They’ve got a spider-baby!
TED: How is it a baby? Does it have a nappy on it or something?
DOUGAL: Er, no.
TED: Well, does it have the head of a baby?
DOUGAL: No.
TED: If it looks like a spider but doesn’t gurgle at you or anything, how do you know it’s a baby?
DOUGAL:They keep it in a pram.
I had no idea what to expect when I saw this episode–a friend had included it on a videotape of some other shows, saying he thought I’d like it. I have rarely laughed so hard in my life as the first time I watched this. The Spinning Cat…Duck Startling…the Tunnel of Goats…I really need to go watch that again.
“We need a crowbar…and another nurse…in the Tunnel of Goats.”
Is that the same bad priest that they eventually got rid of, because he’d gotten the demented-hairy-old-man disease (I’m sure it was named in the episode, but can’t remember it) due to sitting in Fr Jack’s chair?
I’m pretty sure all of those would be “fecking” not “fucking” on Father Ted.
winterhawk11: is that the episode with the sort of local fair that they go to? If so it’s my very favorite episode!
Its common on Uk TV for “Only fools and horses” to be voted the “best” sitcom of all time or something similiar.
In my opinion that award has to go to Father Ted, I can say without hesitation that it is the greatest thing I have ever seen on any tv screen, ever. I dont say that lightly, but I cannot think of a single show or film that I have enjoyed even close to the level of “Father Ted”.
I am curious about one thing though. The show is based in Ireland and is full of references to Irish culture and peoples. Being Irish, I get most of these, but I wonder just how well this aspect translates overseas? Do Americans fully appreciate the type of people all of these random priests are representing? Do Asians get every nuance of every dig at the catholic church?
Case in point, the Song for europe episode was mentioned above, but how many people know just why it ended as it did, in regards to an aspect of Irish culture?
Is Father Ted seen as a sort of, I don’t know, “slapstick” abroad? Or is it recognised as a more intelligent comedy?
My favorite was the one where the three bishops visited and Father Dougal had the following exchange with one of them:
Bishop Facks: So, Father. Do you ever have any doubts about the religious life? Is your faith ever tested? Anything you would be worried about? Any doubts you’ve been having about any aspects of belief? Anything like that?
Father Dougal: Well, you know the way God made us all, right? And he’s looking down at us from heaven and everything?
Bishop Facks: Uh-huh.
[nods]
Father Dougal: And then his son came down and saved everyone and all that?
Bishop Facks: Yes.
Father Dougal: And when we die we’re all going to go to heaven?
Bishop Facks: Yes. What about it?
Father Dougal: Well, that’s the bit I have trouble with.
I’m sure that I miss some of the references*, but I think I get the bulk of it. It probably varies a lot. I’ve watched a lot of British sitcoms and I’ve been to Ireland, and my mom is obsessed with Ireland and goes every year, so I have probably absorbed some of the culture that way.
*of course, the same goes for American stuff, too, and I’m from here.
No, it was fucking. Bleeped, but much funnier than it would be as “fecking.” Go to about 5:30 here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2cdkplegeg
Feck! That’s the one I was going to post!
No, that priest was Father Finton Stack (I think…hard to keep track). But he was a different “bad” priest. Father Damo was more like a faux Goth type kid. Being rude to the priest he lived with, stealing whistles, that sort of thing.
As for “getting” the humor, a lot of it does go over my head–I didn’t get why it was funny for Ted and Dougal to have won with their terrible song till it was explained to me. But I still love it…despite having a lot of friends who love Britcoms, not that many people seem to know of “Father Ted.” Not nearly as well known as it ought to be.
So spill. What is the joke about the song winning? (It’s been so long since I saw the episode that I don’t even remember what happened, let alone whether or not I got the joke.)
The beauty of that exchange is that it encapsulates Dougal’s cluelessness. I mean, it’s the essence of Christianity.
Drink!
It’s been a while since I saw that episode, but IIRC the judges wanted to make sure Ireland lost the competition because then they’d have to host the next competition, which is enormously expensive.
Ah yes. NOW I remember the the Old Grey Whistle Theft. Thanks!
Dougal really stole the show. I looked the actor up one time and saw that his father was in the Irish parliament. His parents were horrified when he went into acting, but With the success of Father Ted, they became his biggest fans.
My wife LOVES the Dougal character. We’ve never seen him in anything else; would be interesting to see what he’s like in another role.
I’ve heard some of his standup comedy stuff and it was hilarious.
That’s the one!