# UK Dopers: I have some questions on CONTEMPORARY Brit sitcoms **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2002, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902 "2002-07-26T09:25:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/1 "2002-07-26T09:25:06Z")
For decades American PBS junkies have been exposed to “classic” [sub]cough[/sub] UK sitcoms - Monty Python, Benny Hill, Red Dwarf, Are You Being Served, etc. Never mind Comedy Central and AbFab. (Not that there is anything WRONG with these series; it’s just that they’re old, for the most part.) In the past two months or so, however, my local PBS affiliate has begun running more recent series, to include Waiting for God, Chef!, and My Hero (? That the one about a superhero trying to live a real life?). I, personally, find My Hero (if I’m thinking of the correct program) kinda hokey, but I really do like the other two (especially Waiting for God: Diana and What’s-his-face remind me of people I know). So my question is: Were/Are any of these programs popular over there? And if not, what (non-American) sitcoms/dramas ARE big over there? ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/2 "2002-07-26T09:28:12Z")
I really like My Hero. I think it is quite funny. Much better than Keeping Up Appearances. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/3 "2002-07-26T09:30:37Z")
Those sitcoms aren’t generally regarded as big ratings winners, IMHO. I believe they’re still making **My Hero** , which definitely doesn’t have a particularly good reputation. **Waiting for God** had some odd scheduling, which would suggest it wasn’t a big hit (early evening on BBC2 competing against the soaps on other channels). I’m not sure that sitcoms are very ‘in’ a the moment; the only one that springs to mind is the superb **Spaced** , which was a sitcom in name but not in style (drug references, clever in-jokes, surreal scenes etc) and isn’t currently on. Most comedy seems to involve sketch shows or comedy quiz/talk shows at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/4 "2002-07-26T09:31:13Z")
_The Office_ is my current favorite. Ricky Gervaise is brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/5 "2002-07-26T09:35:18Z")
Bugger. I knew there’d be at least one I forgot. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/6 "2002-07-26T09:37:36Z")
mmmm…The Office? Do the opening credits consist of a guy literally climbing a ladder? Cos that one’s not bad, either… ---
**Author:** ![Xerxes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d2c977/32.png) [@Xerxes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xerxes)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/7 "2002-07-26T09:42:55Z")
I’ll second that, **yojimbo**. Don’t know how well it’ll travel, though. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/8 "2002-07-26T09:48:13Z")
**The Office** is a mock-documentary (a ‘mockumentary’ if you will) about a sad and pathetic manager and his petty staff. It’s pure genius, and is one of the only current crop of UK comedies that’s any good at all. Before that, **Alan Partridge** was another brilliant comedy (about a sad and pathetic failing TV presenter - do I note a theme here?). It bugs me that people put Benny Hill in the same class as other genuinely funny comedy. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/9 "2002-07-26T09:57:01Z")
_Spaced_ didn’t grab me, particularly, but I very much enjoyed _Black Books_ - I have a feeling that a third series of that one is on the cards. ---
**Author:** ![QueenAl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/d26b3c/32.png) [@QueenAl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QueenAl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/10 "2002-07-26T10:14:53Z")
I love **Spaced** and **Black Books**. **My Hero** is fun too, but it’s much lighter, more mainstream than the other two. What they do, they do well, though, and it’s a very _likeable_ programme, IMHO. **Waiting for God** is a slightly older series - from maybe 5 years ago? At that time, any comedies that weren’t totally mainstream were shown on BBC2 rather than BBC1, so that doesn’t mean it was unpopular. BBC2 always mucks around with the scheduling too, so that’s not significant. I want to be like Diana when I grow old, and I _never_ would have thought I’d be so interested in the romantic relationships of pensioners. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/11 "2002-07-26T10:19:47Z")
**QueenAl** : I liked **Waiting for God** , but it was fairly mainstream, and the scheduling truly was strange – 7pm-ish on BBC2?? ---
**Author:** ![QueenAl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/d26b3c/32.png) [@QueenAl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QueenAl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/12 "2002-07-26T10:37:49Z")
**Crusoe** , I’ve had a look round for any info on viewing figures and so on for WFG, but not found anything yet. If it was at 7pm, that’s actually not _too_ bad a time, since the soaps mostly start at 7.30, I think. Still, for some reason all the BBC’s ‘good’ shows (ie, ones I like) seem to be badly-scheduled and underpromoted. There’s another well-written, well-performed, completely mainstream comedy - **Coupling** - that’s still kept on BBC2 at 9.30 on a Monday, which is hardly prime-time, and I’ve never seen any promotions for it. I really have no idea what the BBC are thinking of with their scheduling. Most likely they don’t either. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/13 "2002-07-26T10:40:25Z")
Too true. **Coupling** ’s another show I forgot, but I find it a bit hit-and-miss: sometimes very funny, sometimes a little bundle of cliches. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/14 "2002-07-26T10:40:47Z")
Spaced, Black Books and the League of gentlemen are all absolute corkers. I like coupling, but a lot of people don’t. I was a huge fan of Big TRain, but it seems to have died. I wonder what the Americans would make of Brasseye. It might tickle their Shatners Bassoons. Theres no evidence of this, but it is a scientific fact. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/15 "2002-07-26T11:06:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by owlstretchingtime \* > \*\*Theres no evidence of this, but it is a scientific fact. \*\* An arguing technique I’ve seen many’s a time in GD. Got any clarky cat? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/16 "2002-07-26T11:11:58Z")
I tried that but I threw up my own pelvis. I stick to cake nowadays as its a made-up drug. BALTIMORA? I’m talking nonce sense ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/17 "2002-07-26T11:23:10Z")
> [@](#): > > I wonder what the Americans would make of Brasseye. It might tickle their Shatners Bassoons. Theres no evidence of this, but it is a scientific fact. As soon as I saw this thread, I wondered “What would the US make of Brasseye”. Can you _imagine_? Of course, I may be talking nonce sense. I believe The League of Gentlemen and Black Books are both showing in the US, although I’m not sure which channel. I love them both, along with Spaced, The Office and The Book Club. Ricky Gervais and Ian Mackenzie are a comedy geniuses. Waiting For God, as has been confirmed, is actually quite an old show - it started running in the 80s and had some rather unhelpful scheduling as far as ratings go. And Father Ted runs the US too, I’m told? I don’t really rate My Hero - it’s a bit “ITV Saturday Entertainment” for me. Chef! is, eh, okay. It’s a vehicle for Lenny Henry (married to Dawn French of The Vicar of Dibley, for those who don’t know). It’s the osrt of thing I’ll watch if nothing else is on, but I wouldn’t sit down to watch specifically. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/18 "2002-07-26T11:33:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Francesca \* > \*\* > > As soon as I saw this thread, I wondered “What would the US make of Brasseye”. Can you _imagine_? Of course, I may be talking nonce sense. > > . \*\* Let’s send 'em Blue Jam. That should be the end of the “special relationship”. We couldget Ted Maul to do a special report, or Brian OhanroOhanrahan. Clips here: [http://cabinessence.cream.org/](http://cabinessence.cream.org/) Chris Morris is the finest talent in television (and a radio genius)today. And I’m including Alan Titchmarsh in the list! ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/19 "2002-07-26T11:37:47Z")
I don’t think any US Network would touch **Brasseye**. Hell, I’m not sure how Channel 4 feel now. You have to have a _lot_ of faith in your audience to run that, IMHO. More votes for **Coupling** and **The Office**. Though I tired of the man-child stereotype a _looooong_ while ago (probably about mid-point in the Men Behaving Badly run) I do think Coupling is fresher and is more even in its scorn. Have no idea how The Office would travel but I’d guess pretty well – superb characterisations, subtle and harsh…loved it. If **‘My Hero’** is the one with the Irish comedian as a superhero, it’s not my cup of tea. One of the good things about the BBC _in the past_ has been their willingness to give a show the opportunity to mature - maybe three series/seasons to find it’s stride. I thought those days had gone but – even though not my thing – I hope ‘My Hero’ is indicative of a return to that former mind set. Don’t seem to catch many US sitcoms at the moment although the old chestnuts like Friends and Frazier are still running. **Scrubs** looks vaguely interesting from the trailers (though I worry – groundlessly at this point - it tries too hard) and **Six Feet Under** is difficult to class as a sitcom but has it’s moments and is interesting. BTW, BBC America runs some interesting stuff in the daytime and you might want to set the video to record one or two of those. For example, I understand **‘This Life’** is shown then. Not a sitcom but do check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902/20 "2002-07-26T12:36:37Z")
There’s also **TV To Go** , sort of magazine-format thing, currently running after the news on Mondays. Has its moments. (The line-up includes the spectrally thin Mackenzie Crook, from the Eleven O’Clock Show - he might appeal to some Americans, the sort who think Calista Flockheart is too fat…) Of course, that’s currently on just after the Alan Partridge re-runs, so that makes for one painless hour of a Monday evening. (I don’t know what America would make of Alan Partridge. Put him in charge of CNN or something, I suppose.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-i-have-some-questions-on-contemporary-brit-sitcoms/120902.md?page=2)