# Fawlty Towers ep. The Germans - "...took her to see India"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000 "2011-12-04T02:35:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/21 "2011-12-05T00:45:58Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > All of which is just my excuse for getting into this thread so that I can assert once again that “The Germans” is not in fact the best episode of Fawlty Towers. The best episode is “Communication Problems”, the one with the scene about what the old lady expected to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window. I agree! “Communication Problems” is the best with “The Germans” a very close second. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/22 "2011-12-05T01:34:04Z")
Hotel Inspectors is probably my favorite, though I do agree that Communication Prolbems is a great one. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/23 "2011-12-05T02:39:34Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Soooooo just to clarify he meant he took the lady to see, what, the Indian national cricket team play there? Referring to them as just ‘India’ like that just sounds odd. Of course here in America aside from the occasional Olympics (and Canadian) we never see any foreign sports teams… Are you seriously this thick? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/24 "2011-12-05T02:48:32Z")
> [@BeaMyra](#): > > Don’t mention the war 🙂 You started it! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/25 "2011-12-05T02:55:09Z")
I speeaak Eng-a-lish. I learn it from a book. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/26 "2011-12-05T03:19:55Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Are you seriously this thick? Why would you say this? Having grown up in America myself, it does seem weird to say “I took her to see India.” to mean “I took her to see the Indian national team play.” We wouldn’t say “I took her to see Cincinnati.” to mean “I took her to see the Cincinnati club play.” I knew what he meant mostly because I’ve been an Anglophile my whole life ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/27 "2011-12-05T03:32:02Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Why would you say this? > > Having grown up in America myself, it does seem weird to say > > “I took her to see India.” > > to mean > > “I took her to see the Indian national team play.” > > We wouldn’t say > > “I took her to see Cincinnati.” > > to mean > > “I took her to see the Cincinnati club play.” > > I knew what he meant mostly because I’ve been an Anglophile my whole life But you might hear “I took her to see Cincinnati play Denver,” right? Also, do people still refer to sports teams as “clubs?” That sounds really archaic to my ear, like something Mr. Burns would say. But I’m not a sports fan, so what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/28 "2011-12-05T03:35:24Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > I can assert once again that “The Germans” is not in fact the best episode of Fawlty Towers. The best episode is “Communication Problems” I would like to express a contrary opinion. In “The Germans”, we don’t _just_ get the scenes featuring the German guests. We get: - the visiting-Sybil-in-hospital scenes, with great lines such as ‘It’s not a doctor you need, dear, it’s a plastic surgeon…’ - Basil’s inability to put the Moose up - Basil back at the hotel dealing with Sybil’s incessant calls, including ‘Anything else? Would you like the hotel moved a few inches to the left…?’ - the talking Moose, with Manuel’s wonderful ‘I can speeek Eeengleeesh, I learn it from a boook’ and the Major’s total bewilderment - the entire fire drill episode, with one of Basil’s greatest ever meltdowns, lines such as ‘I don’t know why we bother we should let you all burn!’ and Basil pushing Manuel back into the kitchen where a very real fire has started - the Germans, including ‘Yes you did, you invaded Poland!’ and the silly walk All this in approximately 30 minutes of television! It seems clear to me that this is not only the best episode of Fawlty Towers, but the finest 30 minutes of situation comedy ever broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/29 "2011-12-05T03:48:39Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > I would like to express a contrary opinion. In “The Germans”, we don’t _just_ get the scenes featuring the German guests. We get: > > - the visiting-Sybil-in-hospital scenes, with great lines such as ‘It’s not a doctor you need, dear, it’s a plastic surgeon…’ > > - Basil’s inability to put the Moose up > > - Basil back at the hotel dealing with Sybil’s incessant calls, including ‘Anything else? Would you like the hotel moved a few inches to the left…?’ > > - the talking Moose, with Manuel’s wonderful ‘I can speeek Eeengleeesh, I learn it from a boook’ and the Major’s total bewilderment > > - the entire fire drill episode, with one of Basil’s greatest ever meltdowns, lines such as ‘I don’t know why we bother we should let you all burn!’ and Basil pushing Manuel back into the kitchen where a very real fire has started > > - the Germans, including ‘Yes you did, you invaded Poland!’ and the silly walk > > All this in approximately 30 minutes of television! It seems clear to me that this is not only the best episode of Fawlty Towers, but the finest 30 minutes of situation comedy ever broadcast. Brilliant comedy. My 12 year old son agrees too. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/30 "2011-12-05T04:01:47Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > The scene where Basil and (inadvertently) Sybil are miming a conversation to make Mrs. Richards think her hearing aid isn’t working–and then shouting into it–is possibly the funniest single bit in the series The first time I saw that scene I nearly had to have CPR. Basil bends over and picks up some fluff then asks her “Is this a piece of your brain?” OMG I’m tearing up even now, 30-something years later. 😃 Favourite Manuel line: “We have veef, beal, and thothoghes!” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/31 "2011-12-05T04:05:43Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Are you seriously this thick? This is rude and uncalled for. Don’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/32 "2011-12-05T04:08:24Z")
> [@BeaMyra](#): > > That’s all well and good, but whatever you do… > > Don’t mention the war 🙂 I did once, but I think I got away with it! ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/33 "2011-12-05T04:36:22Z")
I honestly think that Fawlty Towers is the closest to comedy sitcom perfection we’ll ever see. It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen - in a real streaming tears kinda way. Only Blackadder comes close. Actual, literal genius. Cleese should be remembered with Mozart and Einstein. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/34 "2011-12-05T05:01:51Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Why would you say this? > > Having grown up in America myself, it does seem weird to say > > “I took her to see India.” > > to mean > > “I took her to see the Indian national team play.” > > We wouldn’t say > > “I took her to see Cincinnati.” > > to mean > > “I took her to see the Cincinnati club play.” > > I knew what he meant mostly because I’ve been an Anglophile my whole life It’s called [metonymy.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metonymy) ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/35 "2011-12-05T05:07:06Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Favourite Manuel line: “We have veef, beal, and thothoghes!” We never have sausages at our house…it’s always thothoges. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/36 "2011-12-05T05:43:36Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Are you seriously this thick? It’s okay, he’s from Barcelona. Now drink plenty of liquids. ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/37 "2011-12-05T06:37:51Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You started it! No, you did. You invaded Poland ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/38 "2011-12-05T12:11:09Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > It’s called [metonymy.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metonymy) I know what it is. That doesn’t change the fact that this particular manifestation of metonymy can unfamiliar to a lot of people and can sound strange. Especially if you don’t follow sports, you might not be used to hearing a verbal construction in which going to see a country stands in for being a spectator at a sporting event. It would sound a little less weird if the event was actually located in that country. It’s not that unusual to physically visit Cincinnati after all. And even Fawlty was confused until the Major specified. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/39 "2011-12-05T12:15:41Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I know what it is. That doesn’t change the fact that this particular manifestation of metonymy can unfamiliar to a lot of people and can sound strange. Especially if you don’t follow sports, you might not be used to hearing a verbal construction in which going to see a country stands in for being a spectator at a sporting event. “I’ve got tickets to see Green Bay next Sunday.” We do it all the time. The only ‘weird’ thing about it is that in America, almost none of the sports that we follow involve international teams, so we’re not used to hearing country names in this context, aside from during the Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2011, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000/40 "2011-12-05T12:18:15Z")
In that construction you’re indict sting your meaning with “gots tickets to see.” Without that or other context that you’re talking about football it could be ambiguous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fawlty-towers-ep-the-germans-took-her-to-see-india/605000.md?page=3)