Sitcoms

[Monk]

Last night I watched "The Germans" episode of Fawlty Towers. In spite of the fact I've seen it about twenty times, I laugh constantly throughout every time.

I think it's the funniest single episode of a sitcom ever.

- the moose that talks to Major
- the attempted fire drill and real fire, with Basil pushing Manuel back in to the burning kitchen.
- " not necessary, we have meat in the building!"
- the goose-step
- Basil absconding from hospital
- "dont mention the war"
- "yes you did, you invaded Poland"


Fawlty Towers: The Germans 1.6 [1/3] - YouTube

fawlty towers episode 2 The germans (2 of 3) - YouTube

the germans fawlty towers [2-3] - YouTube

[sledger]

I used to love Fawlty Towers when I was a kid, but I don't think much of it has stood the test of time particularly well, particular "The Germans" episode.

[Agent Nationaux]

In Pakistan they copied Fawlty Towers with a sitcom of their own called Guest House.

But Mr Bean is my favourite. Laugh every time I watch a Bean episode.

[Monk]

Originally Posted by sledger

I used to love Fawlty Towers when I was a kid, but I don't think much of it has stood the test of time particularly well, particular "The Germans" episode.

Why not? I find the level of frustration and angst works himself in to hilarious.

The first half of The Germans(the fire drill/moose/actual fire) is actually funnier than the second half (which contains the Germans) I reckon.

[Burgey]

My favourite all time sitcom was the long running England Cricket series which ran between 1989 and 2005.

[Hurricane]

Seinfeld would be the only sitcom I would confess to enjoying. I did enjoy parts of Fawlty Towers. Particularly the part where he thrashes the car with a branch.

Basil thrashes his car - Fawlty Towers - BBC - YouTube

[sledger]

Originally Posted by Monk

Why not? I find the level of frustration and angst works himself in to hilarious.

The first half of The Germans(the fire drill/moose/actual fire) is actually funnier than the second half (which contains the Germans) I reckon.

The first half of the episode is fine, it's the dining room scene which I just find particularly cringeworthy. For mine it's in pretty bad taste and completely un-funny.

There are other enjoyable moments from the series' though. The Lord Melbury, Waldorf Salad and Basil the Rat, and the Kipper and the Corpse episodes still have several very amusing moments mind you.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Yes, Minister is the best I've watched. Has stood the test of time much better than any other sitcom - which shows how cyclical politics is.

The first series of Red Dwarf was pretty good at the time, but went off the rails very quickly.

Of course, the Brittas Empire was also right up there...

[sledger]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

Of course, the Brittas Empire was also right up there...

Oh god. Housemate of mine in Reading used to try and get me to watch this. Think I managed to sit through one episode, but that was enough.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Originally Posted by sledger

Oh god. Housemate of mine in Reading used to try and get me to watch this. Think I managed to sit through one episode, but that was enough.

I shudder to think how many series they made of that.

[Hurricane]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

Yes, Minister

what's the definition of a sitcom. I tend to more think of the cosby show when I ever I think of a sitcom rather than yes minister. Is a sitcom any comedy that isn't just sketches?

[sledger]

Originally Posted by HeathDavisSpeed

I shudder to think how many series they made of that.

It's a prime example of why more often than not I dislike British Sitcoms that were made after the 80s. It was just so incredibly bad, but it's the kind of show that created a template for the majority of all "comedies" that have been produced since. Stupid BBC.

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Originally Posted by sledger

It's a prime example of why more often than not I dislike British Sitcoms that were made after the 80s. It was just so incredibly bad, but it's the kind of show that created a template for the majority of all "comedies" that have been produced since. Stupid BBC.

Keeping up Appearances
So Haunt Me
Waiting for God
May to December

And, of course, the "Paul Shane Series" - Hi De Hi, You Rang M'Lord and Oh Doctor Beeching. Early Hi De Hi was okay with Simon Cadell, but good god, the rest was such utter tripe that I could pretty much guarantee you'd get more laughs out of Newsround's reports on the latest Ethiopian famine.

[BoyBrumby]

Colin's Sandwich with the incomparable Mel Smith is a great "lost" sitcom.

Mel played the titular Colin, who worked in the complaints department for British Rail whilst aspiring to be a writer of horror. Not only is it piss funny, it has that crucial ring of verisimilitude that all the best sitcoms have. If you've ever been stuck in a dead end job, surrounded by morons whilst aspiring to more it's required viewing.

[grecian]

Originally Posted by sledger

The first half of the episode is fine, it's the dining room scene which I just find particularly cringeworthy. For mine it's in pretty bad taste and completely un-funny.

There are other enjoyable moments from the series' though. The Lord Melbury, Waldorf Salad and Basil the Rat, and the Kipper and the Corpse episodes still have several very amusing moments mind you.

Nah, totally disagree, your meant to feel for the Germans, because of Basil's crass remarks brought on by his knock on the head, it's very much satirising his views. Of course idiots have taken it up as hilarity against Germans, but that's not Cleese's fault, Fawlty Tower's is still utterly sublime.