# Intro to British Comedy **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 12, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259 "2006-07-12T23:51:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/21 "2006-07-13T09:47:10Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] You’re obviously not _local_. _League of Gentlemen._ Best thing in many many years. [/QUOTE] It certainly was groundbreaking stuff, and I liked it (the first series, at least), but I have never quite had the courage to recommend it as viewing material to anyone. Other things I tend NOT to recommend: -The Young Ones - great for its time, but has not aged well at all. -The Fast Show and Little Britain - I love these, but they are very repetitive and this is what tends to come across most when they are recommended - I think most people that love these sorts of shows discovered them independently. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/22 "2006-07-13T10:03:04Z")
\*\*Yes, Minister \*\* (and later **Yes, Prime Minister** ) excellent look at life in the civil service, great dialogue and a genius comic figure in Sir Humphry. Also a vote for **Spaced** and **Think Blue Line** ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/23 "2006-07-13T10:49:22Z")
If you can find it, [Drop the Dead Donkey](http://imdb.com/title/tt0098781/) is a brilliant show. ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/24 "2006-07-13T11:50:15Z")
Has no one yet mentioned [Only Fools and Horses](http://imdb.com/title/tt0081912/)? Or how about [Men Behaving Badly](http://imdb.com/title/tt0101143/)? From radio you can always try [I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue](http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/comedy/progpages/clue.shtml?focuswin). Or even [Just a Minute](http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/comedy/progpages/justaminute.shtml?focuswin). ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/25 "2006-07-13T14:19:28Z")
[QUOTE=Smeghead] I beg to differ. It started off decently enough, but went downhill fast. [/QUOTE] Hmm. I’ll agree that it certainly divides opinions! FWIW, I loved the final series. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/26 "2006-07-13T14:38:54Z")
No one has mentioned **Ripping Yarns** yet, so I will. It is some of the most hilarious stuff I’ve ever seen, and it’s recently been released on DVD in the US. (My copy is from the UK, so I’ve had to set up one of my home computer DVD drives as Region 2 just to play this one series). An **Fawlty Towers** is one of my favourites, too. The painful part is that Basil and Sybil Fawlty are really totally socially inept, each in their own way, and their marriage is consequently a total failure. (I think they only go on living together in order to make life difficult for the other.) But once you accept that as part of the black comedy, the rest is brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/27 "2006-07-13T17:34:31Z")
[QUOTE=HoldenCaulfield] I’ve always been a Python fan. Several years ago a friend sat me down to watch Red Dwarf and it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Well, last week I started watching Black Adder and I love it. Now I’m interested in seeking out other British comedy, and I’m looking for suggestions (possibly based on the little information I’m providing here.) I watched the first episode of Fawlty Towers this week and it didn’t really grab me. Does it get better? I’m a recent convert to House also, so I’m interested in seeing other stuff with Hugh Laurie. What should I check out after Black Adder? [/QUOTE] Fawlty Towers DEFINITELY gets better. Stick with it. Or better yet, skip to “The Germans”, “Gourmet Night”, or “Communication Problems” first. If you don’t find those entertaining, then you can certainly give up. More than likely you will then want to watch the rest of them (some of the first season aren’t up to par with the rest of the installments). I’ve only just started “Father Ted”, and I’m told it takes a few episode to warm up to. But I LOVE the (BBC) “The Office” (and, consequently, can’t stand the american version). Absolutely brilliant, and I’d highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/28 "2006-07-13T20:34:18Z")
[QUOTE=cormac262] But I LOVE the (BBC) “The Office” (and, consequently, can’t stand the american version). Absolutely brilliant, and I’d highly recommend it. [/QUOTE] Consequently? It’s not possible to love both? ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/29 "2006-07-13T20:54:18Z")
**Men Behaving Badly** and **Coupling** are _hilarious_ as the original British versions. (Sad generic sit-coms in their inexplicably re-shot U.S. versions.). Like others here, I think you’d enjoy **Jeeves and Wooster**. I do like some **Fawlty Towers** more than others; perhaps see the shows **cormac262** lists. Also I find the earlier episodes of **Red Dwarf** to be the best - if you saw only the most recent ones perhaps check back again. For stuff no-one has listed yet, IMHO **Bottom** is the best comedy show ever. (Starring two of the characters from **The Young Ones** ). I also came across a few episodes of **The I.T. Crowd** on the 'net last month (probably the only way it’ll ever be seen over here) and found it to be quite watchable. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/30 "2006-07-13T21:24:23Z")
[QUOTE=HoldenCaulfield] I watched the first episode of Fawlty Towers this week and it didn’t really grab me. Does it get better? [/QUOTE] The best episode is “The Germans”. In fact, that episode is one of the funniest shows in the history of comedy. And check out these links **after** you’ve seen it (because they contain spoilers): > **[Latest news & breaking headlines](https://www.thetimes.com/)** > > The latest breaking UK, US, world, business and sport news from The Times and The Sunday Times. Go beyond today's headlines with in-depth analysis and comment. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5409116](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5409116) Check out **Yes, Minister** , and **Yes, Prime Minister**. They’re mostly about the difficulties an elected official has when dealing with bureaucrats who in theory work for him. I think these series are brilliant. I’ll also recommend trying BBC radio series. My favorite is **I’m Sorry, I’ll Read That Again** , which had John Cleese as a performer for most of its run (at about the same time as Python), and Graham Chapman and Eric Idle did some writing for the series. You can listen to **ISIRTA** on BBC7 online here: [BBC 7 - What's On - Full Schedule](http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/listings/). Note the previous six days are always available. BBC7 also has a great variety of other audio comedy. One well-liked series was **The Goon Show**. It’s been called groundbreaking, and many comedians (including Python) have stated it was an inspiration. BBC 7 has also broadcast **Saturday Night Fry**. If it sounds interesting, email me. Also see this previous thread: [Recommend to me some Britcoms - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=298351) ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/31 "2006-07-13T23:03:51Z")
[QUOTE=Nanoda] \*\*I also came across a few episodes of _The I.T. Crowd_ on the 'net last month (probably the only way it’ll ever be seen over here) and found it to be quite watchable. [/QUOTE] I’m glad somebody mentioned _The I.T. Crowd_ because I think it’s a real grower. I watched the first episode and was not impressed at all, but by the end of the first series I really liked it. Once it hit its stride there were some pants-wettingly funny episodes. It’s written by Graham Lineham, who co-wrote _Father Ted_, and it definitely has that feel to it. I’m looking forward to series two. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/32 "2006-07-13T23:07:53Z")
[QUOTE=Nanoda] For stuff no-one has listed yet, IMHO **Bottom** is the best comedy show ever. (Starring two of the characters from **The Young Ones** ). [/QUOTE] I’m hardly an expert in British comedy, but I do loves me some _Young Ones_! Great stuff that I can watch over and over again. I finally got around to watching _Bottom_ not too long ago, and I like it a lot too, though it’s more slapsticky. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/33 "2006-07-14T02:00:20Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] No mention of Are You Being Served? yet? Give it a try. If you don’t like it, you’ll find that it will ride up with wear. [/QUOTE] This is a whoosh, right? ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/34 "2006-07-14T03:41:55Z")
[QUOTE=Yookeroo] Consequently? It’s not possible to love both? [/QUOTE] Perhaps “consequently” wasn’t the proper term, but for me, I’ve tried, but I cannot get into the american version. (Apologies for slight hijack) The american version could have possibly stood on its own had there not been the BBC version. But the big problems I have with it are that, to me, they miss what made the BBC version work so well - it was believable. First, whereas you can imagine a boss like David Brent, the american version (in typical american form) is too over the top - there is no way he could have achieved a position such as he has in any company. I actually do like Steve Carrel, but he (and the writers) takes things just too far to be believable. Funny, perhaps, but not realistic. Second, though they try, they do not “sell” the supposed documentary aspect of the premise. There are far too many “lucky” camera placements to catch the action (happened to be on the other side of a door before one of the characters comes through to make a joke, etc.). And there are scenes where there would have had to have been 3 or 4 cameramen crammed into the (supposed) small conference room to have caught all the different characters and angles. But aside from just the camerawork, the actors don’t sell that this is supposed to be “real life” either - there are too many deliberate pauses after jokes (so the audience can get the joke and laugh). Add this all up and the american version ends up being little more than a sitcom (over the top, non-realistic characters) done with a shakey cam and no laugh track. The BBC version was subtle and believable. In fact, the joy is that you can get so much more out of it on repeated viewings - it just gets better. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/35 "2006-07-14T04:12:46Z")
Based on you liking Python and Black Adder and not so much Fawlty Towers and Red Dwarf, I’m betting your tastes would run towards what **Clockwork And Candy** suggested. Also as **e-logic** said, the Yes, Minister/Prime Minister series. Good wordplay without the goofiness of Fawlty Towers and Red Dwarf (though I personally liked Red Dwarf). ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2006, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/36 "2006-07-14T04:31:03Z")
My favorites are Are You Being Served, Vicar of Dibley, Father Ted, Keeping Up Appearances, Fawlty Towers, and Monty Python. There are many more that are excellent, these are just the ones off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![wheelie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b4bc9f/32.png) [@wheelie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheelie)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2006, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/37 "2006-07-14T06:40:44Z")
[QUOTE=Nanoda] For stuff no-one has listed yet, IMHO **Bottom** is the best comedy show ever. (Starring two of the characters from **The Young Ones** ). [/QUOTE] I just came in to recommend **Bottom** as a good intro to Britcoms. Also, you really should watch **Red Dwarf** from the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2006, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/38 "2006-07-14T08:32:28Z")
[QUOTE=Nanoda] **Men Behaving Badly** and **Coupling** are _hilarious_ as the original British versions. (Sad generic sit-coms in their inexplicably re-shot U.S. versions.). [/QUOTE] I knew about MBB, but had no idea they had done the same with _Coupling_. Why?!? Things like this just make the world a bit less shiny - I’m just going to pretend that one never happened. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2006, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/39 "2006-07-14T09:01:15Z")
A bit hard to find on video (I managed to find some VHS tapes of questionable legality on eBay [wound up with extras, if anyone’s interested]), but I highly recommend [the work of Dave Allen](http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/tv/comedy/daveallen.htm). > [@](#): > > Dublin-born comedian Dave Allen (real name David Tynan O’Mahoney) sits on a stool, smoking a cigarette and taking regular swigs from a glass of whisky while telling risqué jokes about the pope, the Catholic church and sex (sometimes all three in one joke). Between the monologues, he appears in a stream of quick-fire sketches. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2006, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259/40 "2006-07-14T09:11:50Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] A bit hard to find on video (I managed to find some VHS tapes of questionable legality on eBay [wound up with extras, if anyone’s interested]), but I highly recommend [the work of Dave Allen](http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/tv/comedy/daveallen.htm). [/QUOTE] To update the information on Dave Allen , the poor man died just after a year ago. Here is his [obituary](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4340115.stm) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intro-to-british-comedy/364259.md?page=3)