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!

The three Classics:
Faulty Towers
The Young Ones
Black Adder

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).

"Are You Being Served?", hands down.

Black Adder is my favorite.

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.

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

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.

Can you guess what my favorite one is?

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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)

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Don't think so, but both seasons are on DVD (region 2 PAL) in the U.K. I have them both and they are great DVDs, chock full of special features. Great comedy with lots of pop-culture references (especially Star Wars and other sci-fi).

Another funny one now playing on BBC America is Gimme, Gimme, Gimme.

My all-time favorite Britcom is Bottom with Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson (from The Young Ones). You can see the first episode on the new The Young Ones: Every Stoopid Episode DVD set. I've literally worn out my videos, you can watch an episode of that show 100 times and still laugh.

I have to agree that So Graham Norton has got to be the best late night show. It is hysterical!

British comedy begins and ends with Benny Hill (well ok I like monty python also :) )

Gosh, there are so many good shows. I'm really glad I get BBC-America.

My favorites, in no particular order:

So Graham Norton
Blackadder
Red Dwarf
Ground Force
Changing Rooms
Robot Wars (the one and only original with Craig Charles, not the horrible thing with the toothless wrestler on TNN)
Butterflies
Dave Allen at Large
Monty Python (duh)
Young Ones
Brittas Empire
Father Ted (I especially love Father Jack)
Fawlty Towers
The Prisoner
AbFab
French and Saunders
Bottom
Waiting for God
Are You Being Served
Whose Line is it Anyway?

I never got into Blakes Seven or Doctor Who

When I was in england in the early 80's I loved these two shows

Tiswas - it was a british Saturday Morning TV show.
Monkey (Magic) - a british dubbed japanese karate adventure show

Monty Python (any)
Benny Hill.

Red Dwarf. Bunch of smegging geniuses!

Monty Python's Flying Circus
Blackadder
Mr. Bean
Are you Being Served?

New Brittish Comedy
 

The Office is the funniest thing on tv just now. Series 1 was brillliant and series 2 has just upped the cringe factor to the point its almost unwatchable. Its brilliantly written.

The League of Gentlemen is excellent - very dark but very funny. The earlier series were v.good.

Peter Kays Pheonix Nights is genius.

The Dave Gorman Experieence was very different but very funny.

Red Dwarf
Black Adder
Dr. Who

Monty Python is great.

I used to watch one called The Piglet Files on PBS. Anybody remember that one?

I hear The Sweeney is great.

Re: New Brittish Comedy
 

What's it like? Dark, or just funny? I've been thinking of getting this on DVD, but have no idea what it's like.

Re: New Brittish Comedy

quote:
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Originally posted by martin007
The Office is the funniest thing on tv just now. Series 1 was brillliant and series 2 has just upped the cringe factor to the point its almost unwatchable. Its brilliantly written.
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What's it like? Dark, or just funny? I've been thinking of getting this on DVD, but have no idea what it's like.
___________________________________

Anyone, anyone?

BARGAIN HUNT!

The Royle Family

One of the best comedy series I've seen it years.
You can pick it up from amazon.co.uk

I had a chance to watch Goodnight Sweetheart as it's available on DVD from the UK (With season two coming out in September!) and I have to say that this is the most original and intelligently funny show I've seen in a while! In any genre!

Nicholas Lyndhurst (who you may best know him from Piglet Files but he's been in so much more) stars in this series called "Goodnight Sweetheart." I assumed it was about a time travelling detective based on how he looked on the cover of the DVD, but bought it blind based on the review blurb that stated the show is about a guy who travels in time between the 90's and the 40's. (I am sure I could have read the posted reviews to learn what role he actually played in the series, but I was hooked just based on that concept alone) But he's not a detective, he's a TV repair man who stumbles into a hole in the time/space continuum and goes back to war torn London in the 40's and falls in love with a married woman, which adds to his problems with his girlfriend (or wife...I was confused on that point) back in the 90's. This is perhaps the most original and wonderfully done series I've seen in my entire life. Strongly recommended! While time travel isn't the newest concept of all time, the way it's handled in this series, a comedy series no less, is something I can't recall ever seeing before.

The top reviewer who reviews it on amazon.co.uk (the guy from Ohio) really reflects how I think of this series. I am ending my search for the best British comedy/sci fi series, this is it!!

AbFAb
Are you being served?
Father Ted
Young Ones
So Graham Norton
Black Books- (Very funny and smart)
Fawlty Towers-( The classic of all classics :)
Keeping up appearences
French and Saunders
One foot in the grave
Only fools and horses