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-   -   best british show? (https://forum.dvdtalk.com/tv-talk/243182-best-british-show.html)

hgar78 10-13-02 12:27 PM

best british show?
 
i could never get into absolutely fabulous but i love british humor. i've been wanting to see faulty towers, everyone says it's hysterical. just curious which ones are the tops in everyone's opinion.

cheers!

Creek Rat 10-13-02 01:29 PM

The three Classics:
Faulty Towers
The Young Ones
Black Adder

benedict 10-13-02 01:47 PM

Leaving aside the older classics, details of some more current favo(u)rite BritComs can be found on the International Forum:<ul><li><A HREF="http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=136820" target="_blank">The complete THIN BLUE LINE</a><li><A HREF="http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=173751" target="_blank">Britcom updates - Black Books etc</a></li></ul>I never tire of mentioning Coupling, Spaced, Black Books but there are also such "northern" classics as Dinner Ladies and Phoenix Nights which may or may not translate to a North American audience (but which were great, nonetheless).

Neush 10-13-02 03:28 PM

"Are You Being Served?", hands down.

tasha99 10-13-02 03:49 PM

Black Adder is my favorite.

calhoun07 10-13-02 05:27 PM

Father Ted is great. There is also a new series called Black Books from the creators of Father Ted that is highly enjoyable (and on DVD from the UK). Personally, tho, I love the britcoms that are more like continujng stories that feel more like a mini series. Such as The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin and My Secret Army. Butterflies is another Britcom that had a running continuing story line that ran thru each episode. Those types of series really need to be seen in chronological order from episode one thru the last episode, as they are not so much stand alone type shows.

Are You Being Served and Open All Hours come to mind immediately as I think of series that were great as stand alone type series, where each episode stand alone by itself.

naughty jonny 10-13-02 08:50 PM

Too many good ones to pick from (and that's just the comedies). Ones not mentioned already that I would buy (and have bought) are:

Jeeves and Wooster (a definite classic)
A Bit of Fry and Laurie
Dave Allen (everything he's done)
The Goodies (again a classic show, although a little dated now)
Brushstrokes
It Ain't Half Hot Mum
Some Mother's Do Have Them (caught a recent episode when I was in the US - forgot just how funny this is).
Dad's Army
Goodnight Sweetheart
Porridge
The Two Ronnies
Steptoe And Son (this is about the only one that I probably wouldn't get, but do enjoy catching up the odd episode)
Vicar of Dibley
Only Fools and Horses
One Foot In The Grave

And - I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned already: Red Dwarf

Lampei 10-13-02 09:57 PM

I enjoyed all of naughty Jonny's suggestions (especially Red Dwarf, coming to R2 DVD November 4 :D)

Also enjoyed
'Allo 'Allo
Lenny Henry Show
Chef
Hi-De-Hi
Benny Hill
Black Adder
Only Fools And Horses (had to repeat this one as it's so good :))
Auf Weidersehen Pet
Brittas Empire
Danger Mouse
The original Wind In The Willows (with David Jason as the voice of Mr. Toad)

and too many others that I'm blanking on right now.

blakader 10-14-02 01:04 AM

Can you guess what my favorite one is?

redhenry 10-14-02 03:30 AM

The League Of Gentlemen is very dark and extremely clever and funny.

Of course Blackadder wins hands down form Fawlty Towers and The Young Ones, but these four are the standouts.

Notable mentions though there are many
Black Books
Yes Minister
Are You Being Served
To The Manor Born
The Good Life
Dad's Army
It Ain't Half hot Mum
some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em

Terry

Groucho 10-14-02 07:36 AM

Fawlty Towers
Black Adder
Red Dwarf
Doctor Who
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Mr. Bean

adamblast 10-14-02 10:43 AM

British drama is every bit as good as British comedy, if not better.

Upstairs, Downstairs is probably the "best British show" as a whole, followed by the original Forsyte Saga.

Lampei 10-14-02 10:46 AM

Ah that's right...I almost forgot
Cracker
London's Burning

calhoun07 10-14-02 11:17 AM


Originally posted by adamblast
British drama is every bit as good as British comedy, if not better.

Upstairs, Downstairs is probably the "best British show" as a whole, followed by the original Forsyte Saga.

This Life and Our Friends of the North are also great dramas.

BDB 10-14-02 11:18 AM

Jeeves and Wooster
Blackadder, esp Blackadder goes Fourth
Fawlty Towers is genius.
Monty Python everyone knows about


And an oldie but a goodie

Only when I laugh...


And of course the Ali G Show - respect.

goLUCKY 10-14-02 03:09 PM

Second sight - with clive owen was a good murder mystery series.

goLUCKY 10-14-02 03:10 PM

and Red Dawrf! How could I forget Red Dwarf......

naughty jonny 10-14-02 07:38 PM


Originally posted by redhenry
The League Of Gentlemen is very dark and extremely clever and funny.
How could I have forgotten this one (given I own both series on DVD).

"Are you local?"

I simply cannot hear the words "local shop" anymore without thinking of the LoG.

Has anyone here seen UltraViolet? It's an X-Files type series (6 episodes) about a group who hunt vampires. The great thing is, not ONCE do they actually use the word "vampire", but it's obvious what they are.

One series that I do wish they'd release on DVD is the Francis Urquart series (House of Cards/To Play the King/Final Cut). It has the great Ian Richardson in it playing a very corrupt Prime Minister of Britain.

The NogginDrill 10-14-02 09:04 PM

I lived in England for 4 years as a kid, let me see if I can remember (that was a long time ago :D)

1. The Goodies
2. It's a knock out! (awesome live action show with bizzarre challenges)
3. Monty Python
4. The Young Ones (this was after I was back in the mid 80's)

nick-tdi 10-15-02 12:34 AM

I can't believe no one mentioned So Grahm Norton probably the best late night talk show. I found myself actually laughing out loud, something I rarely do when watching TV. Great stuff.

El-Kabong 10-15-02 01:52 AM

So does anyone remember On The Buses? The wacky adventurens of a slacker bus driver, his con man ticket taker and the Pointy Haired Boss of a supervisor? I only vaugly remember the show, mostly because it was on just before Doctor Who.

smokedragon 10-15-02 03:17 AM


Originally posted by El-Kabong
So does anyone remember On The Buses? The wacky adventurens of a slacker bus driver, his con man ticket taker and the Pointy Haired Boss of a supervisor? I only vaugly remember the show, mostly because it was on just before Doctor Who.

I just watched the first three episodes of On The Buses.

Great show

Here's my list

Fawlty Towers

Till Death Us Do Part

Dave Allen At Large

Kenny Everett Video Show

Morecome And Wise

the Two Ronnies

Not The Nine O'clock News

Porridge

Mr Bean

The Young Ones

Haven't seen Spaced,hear a lot about it. Is it shown in the US?

Giles 10-16-02 01:37 PM


Originally posted by goLUCKY
Second sight - with clive owen was a good murder mystery series.
Any idea if a DVD release of this series will ever happen, I think Anchor Bay released this on VHS, and I would love it if they released it on DVD.

French & Saunders - the parody of "Fellowship of the Rings" which I recently saw on British Airways tv had me in tears, by far the funniest thing I have seen in a long time.

I also saw a comedy show called "The Skit Show" which was extremely clever in that most of it, if not all the vinettes were derived from word play.

I really want to own the "Monarch of the Glen" series but it looks like it's exclusively on VHS through BBC America.

Not comedy but a critical acclamied Police soap-opera series that I wish I could see more often of is the series called "The Bill"

Anyone know of the series called "The Office". Just saw it was released on Region 2 DVD, and was curious if anyone could fill me it on what's it all about.

Nick Danger 10-16-02 02:10 PM

Does anyone remember The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin? I saw a few episodes in the 70s.

Monty Python
'Allo 'Allo
Young Ones
Red Dwarf
Dave Allen
Are You Being Served
occasionally I enjoy Keeping Up Appearances

I've recently seen a few episodes of Murder Most Horrid. They were very funny.

Shonn 10-17-02 01:47 AM

I saw Coupling for the first time over the weekend on BBC America and thought it was hilarious. Father Ted and Keeping Up Appearances are also very funny. I also watch Changing Rooms and Ground Force whenever they are on.


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