Favorite British TV comedy?

[Deja Q]

Poll question: Favorite British TV comedy?

It's amazing what doesn't get shown on PBS anymore... :shrug:

[galadrium]

1. British men behaving badly

I saw a few of these on BBC America. I laughed my ass off.

[Earth_First]

2. Benny Hill

[Liberal_Andy]

3. OTHER!!! Ofcourse!! How could you poll without "Good Neighbors"?

or "FAulty Towers"?

[Deja Q]

4. I was trying for the obscure comedies...

Everybody knows of those two shows. :-)

Well, people know Coupling but I'd rather advertise the good UK version instead of the crap US version I won't even go into because it's so bad...

[joeybee12]

65. Edit your title to include "Obscure" or I will flay you for forgetting:

AbFab
Fawlty Towers
Monty Python
BlackAdder
Keeping Up Appearances

[bobbieinok]

43. Good Neighbors forever

[ForrestGump]

5. "Fawlty Towers" would be the first I think of...may forever reign as

the supreme British comedy, though they've turned out a few good ones since.

[rawtribe]

Absolutely Fabulous

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/abfab/

[Earth_First]

7. FANTASTIC show...

I am a BIG fan...

[supernova]

8. Sweeety Dahling!

:D

I love Patsy and Eddie!

[RebelOne]

60. Yes, my favorite, too.

[ronnykmarshall]

73. Right, cheers, thanks a lot!

[TN al]

6. How could you leave out...

...Dad's Army, The Goodies, and my vote, Father, Dear Father.

[rooboy]

9. Yes, Minister / Yes, Prime Minister...

is the stand out favorite for me.

[nuxvomica]

18. I concur wholeheartedly

An unvarnished view of commonplace political bafoonery. I wish it were possible to do an American version.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

36. I would love to see an American version, but it could never get

on the air.

One suspects that it's too close to the truth of how things are actually done in government.

[earthside]

10. What about ...

Rowan Atkinson's trio of great comedies ---

Black Adder

Mr. Bean

Thin Blue Line

Each are very different; each are terrific.

[LibertyorDeath]

50. Black Adder At the Front

The episode where their stuck in the trenches & the field commander keeps sending messenger Pigeons with vital info to them.

and the cook keeps killing them & serving them up vital messages and all.

Laughed till I cried.

[Fenris]

11. I'm Alan Partridge...the funniest britcom show no one in America has seen

Steve Coogan's talents will unfortunately be wasted in "Around The World In 80 Days", but he's one of the funniest people on the planet.

[rooboy]

42. Steve Coogan is hilarious - the pride of Norwich. n/t

[DS1]

12. 10 options aren't enough

The Young Ones
Father Ted
Fawlty Towers

[Eloriel]

13. Keeping Up Appearances

and there's another one I liked but don't see these days -- about a woman Episcopal minister in a tiny bucolic hamlet in rural England. Can;t even remember the comedienne's name -- Dawn something?

[Bridget Burke]

28. "The Vicar of Dibley" with Dawn French....

She's half the creative team that came up with "Absolutely Fabulous". And she's married to Lennie Henry, known to many as "Chef".

[fudge stripe cookays]

66. I love the Vicar of Dibley! n/t

[Lorien]

77. Yes! Chef! The Vicar of Dibley, and Keeping up

Appearaces; our local PBS station used to have all three on Saturday nights-loved them! Now the just have "The Lawrence Welk hour" and "Are you being served"? :-(

Dawn French had a cameo as "The fat lady" in the latest Harry Potter movie.

[Catshrink]

47. Mrs. Bucket has my vote!

[Tripper11]

68. It's BOUQUET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! eom

:-)

[bikebloke]

14. What? No Python?

Then there's Blackadder, which I'm currently going through.

A couple weeks ago, on a flight to London (on the office's tab) I saw Ab Fab for the first time. I wonder if my public library will someday acquire the DVD's.

[SarahB]

39. I say Monty Python as well.

:thumbsup:

[Athletic Grrl]

81. Python was the pioneer

Along with Benny Hill. Without them, I would have never become as addicted to BBC America as I am these days.

One of our PBS stations does the Sunday night comedies. I don't know how you all could have left out Red Dwarf. Blasphemy. :evilgrin:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

76. It's like

having a poll on "Best Male Hollywood Dancer" and leaving out both Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.

[On the Road]

15. "Oh, No! It's Selwyn Froggett!"

Not really. I just remember that title from a long time ago.

I am a huge Ab Fab fan -- I actually stayed at a huge beach house in the outer banks owned by my girlfriend's British boss. The 4-story house was CALLED "Absolutely Fabulous" (Brits all give their houses names), and contained a complete set of videos from the show.

[mac56]

16. What?! Where are "The Goodies"?!

nm

[ForrestGump]

21. Yep, them and "The Kenny Everett Video Show" and the Reginald Perrin

series, Dad's Army, Fawlty Towers, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (Michael Crawford!), Man About The House (template for Three's Company), The Good Life, A Fine Romance, To The Manor Born, etc, etc, etc.

[supernova]

23. OMG Reggie Perrin

I loved that show. I'd really like to see that again.

And The Dave Allen Show.

[LibertyorDeath]

32. yes the Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin

It's an acquired taste but once you get it you're hooked



http://www.mgnet.karoo.net/reggieperrin.htm

[ForrestGump]

52. "I didn't get where I am today by

wishing that I could see this show again....

Definitely one to watch out for...haven't seen it since way back, probably in its initial run.

[earthside]

37. Oh, yes ...

Reginald Perrin, what a great show.

Dave Allen, one of the fuuniest comics ever, dry ...

Makes me remember "Yes, Minister" and "Yes, Prime Minister" ... also very good and funny programs.

And what about "The Two Ronnies"?

[LibertyorDeath]

48. I hang my head in shame

Indeed The Two Ronnies

Brilliant Brit Comedy

Ronnie Corbett & Ronnie Barker

The Two Ronnies :)

[ForrestGump]

53. Also Ronnie Barker in "Open All Hours," with David jason as Granville.

I loved that show.

David Jason was also great in The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs back when I was a kid.

[ForrestGump]

51. "Super!"

(nova)

I loved that show...well, both shows, the rise and fall and the fall and rise, or however it worked out.

And before that Leonard Rossitter was in Rising Damp, also a good one.

[LibertyorDeath]

56. You know your Brit Coms

The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs

Rising Damp

That brings back good memories

Both excellent especially Rising Damp

[supernova]

69. Welcome to Grot!

[lapauvre]

17. You didn't list my absolute all time

favorite, Fawlty Towers. John Cleese and the whole crew were the most hilarious.

Second most favorite, at my age, was Waiting for God.

Third most favorite was Are You Being Served.

Fourth most favorite was Keeping Up Appearances.

The status of the last three often fluctuated, but Fawlty Towers was, to me, the absolutely most hilarious without question.

Unfortunately, my State of South Carolina, being rather limited in their abilities to appreciate the value of humor or the value of funding my favorite programs offers me very little.

Thanks be, I video taped many of the programs while living in Georgia, so I can enjoy them from time to time.

Helluva lot better than Termite-ater and Jason and Freddie and Michael (Halloween) VIII or whatever they are up to by now.

[LibertyorDeath]

57. Fawlty Towers the Episode where the Germans come to stay

What ever you do don't mention the War. :) LOL

Sybil goes into the hospital to have an ingrowing toenail removed. Basil has to cope with a fire drill and a party of Germans unaided. His determination to avoid 'mentioning the war' has disastrous results.

[Kellanved]

58. absolutely

British Comedy has peaked with that episode.

[bbernardini]

19. Fawlty Towers and Vicar of Dibley!

Absolutely brilliant casting in "Vicar".

[CanuckAmok]

20. of the choices: Alexei Sayles' "Stuff"

Great Socialist/Progressive sketch comedy.

Sayle: "Good morning, Comrade Broadcast Facility Ushers!"

Ushers: "Good morning, Comrade comedy show host! ...Who was that fat bastard?!"

[MrSlayer]

22. Monty Python's Flying Circus.

The best ever.

[Mr. McD]

27. "Monty Python's Flying Circus."

I would have to agree.:)

[lapfog_1]

24. An oldie but a goodie

Doctor in the House

but there are many other good ones too.

[IrishBloodEngHeart]

25. THE OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's wrong with you? Didn't even list it!

[AlGore-08.com]

26. Since nobody else has listed it: "As Time Goes By"

[bobbieinok]

44. that's really great ............ did he die recently????

[AlGore-08.com]

80. Geoffrey Palmer (who played Lionel)? No, he's still alive

Joan Sims, who played Madge (Lionel's stepmother) died in 2001. As far as I know, she's the only regular from "As Time Goes By" who has passed away.

[Neecy]

29. Father Ted

utterly sick...and hysterical.

[T_i_B]

63. Father Ted is brilliant!

Monty Python has to be mentioned as well, not to mention The Young Ones!

[No2W2004]

30. lets see...

Monty Python
Fawlty Towers
Blackadder
Mr Bean
Young Ones

[aljones]

31. So Graham Norton!!

Love that show!!

ally

[ironflange]

33. I have a tie

Fawlty Towers

Man About the House - the one Three's Company copied, and 1000 times better

[LibertyorDeath]

34. AB FAB is my current fav

[Dastard Stepchild]

35. Father Ted

If we're counting Irish telly as well, then it has to be Father Ted. Hands down. French and Saunders is up there, too. Girls on Top... funny as well. The Young Ones - a classic.
And I was always partial to Groundforce. That Alan Titschmarsh was just delightful, and he could throw together one hell of a garden. It was not a comedy, but he was charmingly funny, and worked well with his crew.

[Redleg]

38. Red Dwarf and Blackadder.

There are so many good ones.

[sasquatch]

45. Blackadder, Black Books, Monty Python and Mr. Bean

:thumbsup:

[loftycity]

40. Ripping Yarns--Michael Palin's show--it was great.

Starring: Michael Palin

Nine lavishly filmed half-hour comedies,

[mitchum]

41. "The Office"...because I hate every other Britcom

[LWolf]

46. Monty Python

Fawlty Towers

and Keeping Up Appearances

[Maestro]

54. I second that!

[delete_bush]

49. Fawlty Towers

...and Coupling. I don't really get that Bean guy though, doesn't work for me.

[Donkeyboy75]

55. The Office

Makes the short list of best comedy EVER...in any country

[Atlanticist]

62. Agreed, there's just not enough respect for The Office

I once read all the Amazon.com (not .co.uk) reviews, and the Office only got one of two scores - usually 5 stars, but it was amazing that if it didn't get 5 stars, it got 1 !!

The Office is class and recommend it unreservedly to anyone who hasn't yet seen it. They only made 2 6-episode series, but it's one of the great original comedy series of all time - mould-breaking and side-splitting. The David Brent character is outstanding, and gives Basil Fawlty a run for his money.

Glad to see Leonard Rossiter getting his props on here - truly that man was a comic genius - God rest his soul.

[Donkeyboy75]

72. A great thing about that series is its subtle use of humor

It doesn't beat you over the head with a laugh track. I've seen the same episode 3 or 4 times, and you can always find something new.

[SmokingJacket]

75. not just funny either

By the end, it was positively tragic. Can't get the final scene out of my head...

[Donkeyboy75]

82. When Brent got fired? I felt badly for him.

You know there's good writing involved when you can both loathe and pity a character. Plenty of both. I loved the "You'll have a mutiny on your hands."

[JCMach1]

59. No Python, Ab Fab, or Black Adder in your list?

[Maat-hotep]

61. Blackadder Goes Forth, you insensitive clod!

Sorry, wrong forum!

Followed closely by Yes (Prime) Minister.

Wubble.

[Mr Creosote]

64. I'm British

and I've never even heard of "The Piglet Files" or "Good Neighbours". The winner of course is "Dad's Army". Ensemble playing par excellence and hilarious scripts.

[Khephra]

67. Feck off!!

Father Ted rules!

[greatauntoftriplets]

70. Two...

"Keeping Up Appearances" and "As Time Goes By".

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

71. Keeping up Appearances & Ab Fab....probably a tie....

I really like both.

Actually, KET (the Kentucky public television network) schedules a Saturday nights' worth of British comedy. Alot of fun!

[Speck Tater]

74. Other: Ab Fab

[pink-o]

78. oh, it's obvious!!!!

The Office, of course!

[AP]

79. Alan Partridge, Ali G.