UK TV from the past

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

I think Ricky Gervais will be remembered as one of the greats. David Brent is up there with Del Boy and Basil Fawlty imo.

Del and Basil certainly both stand the test of time mate, that's true. I would also include Blackadder - probably not to everyone's taste, but I do love all the four series including the Christmas special they made called 'Blackadders Christmas Carol'.

Blackadder and Not The Nine O'Clock News are I think the only two comedies I've seen Rowan Atkinson in that I actually enjoyed. I have never liked his Mr. Bean character right from the word go, even though I gather it was a popular show in some countries. It just wasn't for me.

But others like the ones you mentioned, to which I'd also add Open All Hours, Last Of The Summer Wine (up until about the early 90's), and Yes Minister are just great comedies in my opinion.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by CV19

Del and Basil certainly both stand the test of time mate, that's true. I would also include Blackadder - probably not to everyone's taste, but I do love all the four series including the Christmas special they made called 'Blackadders Christmas Carol'.

Blackadder and Not The Nine O'Clock News are I think the only two comedies I've seen Rowan Atkinson in that I actually enjoyed. I have never liked his Mr. Bean character right from the word go, even though I gather it was a popular show in some countries. It just wasn't for me.

But others like the ones you mentioned, to which I'd also add Open All Hours, Last Of The Summer Wine (up until about the early 90's), and Yes Minister are just great comedies in my opinion.

Last Of The Summer Wine was just too slow paced for me but my late uncle loved it. I like my humour snappy like Obly Fools and The Office.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

Last Of The Summer Wine was just too slow paced for me but my late uncle loved it. I like my humour snappy like Obly Fools and The Office.

Oh definitely, for me Only Fools closely followed by Fawlty are the two best for me. I only began watching Summer Wine in the early 80's right up to about the early/mid 90's when the original characters gradually started disappearing. The 'replacements' just somehow weren't as funny for me. As I recall, it was on a Sunday evening, and my weekend's viewing finished with Spitting Image which was on round about 10 o'clock-ish.

[thecooldud]

Whodunnit? is rather wonderful.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by thecooldud

Whodunnit? is rather wonderful.

Had to google that one, and IMDB says Jon Pertwee hosted it. Is this the one you mean? I've never watched it, but it sounds interesting for sure.

[thecooldud]

Yes, I just discovered it this year. Ran for six seasons, the first hosted by Edward Woodward and the rest Pertwee. It's really different and fun.

[CV19]

I see it's available on DVD from Network. I may very well try this, so thank you for mentioning it here.

[CrockettandTubbs]

Originally Posted by thecooldud

Whodunnit? is rather wonderful.

Was it a sort of live action Cluedo?

May get the dvd, too - and watch it with Clue (Tim Curry, Christopher Lloyd, etc).

Anyone remember The Adventure Game?

[Show spoiler]

[thecooldud]

Mm... sort of. The format includes a play where someone gets killed, and then a celebrity panel has to try and work out whodunnit, and are even allowed to interview the suspects (even when they're from the 1800s lol!).

[Martoto]

The Day Today is now 25 years old. Which means I'm considerably older.

[CompleteCount]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

Was it a sort of live action Cluedo?

Speaking of such things, my wife loved a 2003 BBC show called "The Murder Game", and she's only person she knows that remembers the damn thing, let alone watched it!

[HotRats]

Been watching the DVD of If You See God Tell Him. Made in 1993 this is very dark comedy with Richard Briers superbly cast as a man with a brain injury that leaves him believing adverts are true, Ade Edmondson is very good too in a less silly role than usual. Unpopular at the time of broadcast and never repeated, it was far ahead of its time in its bleakness. Marshall and Renwick (Whoops Apocalypse, Hot Metal, One Foot In The Grave, Jonathan Creek, Love Soup) had plenty of room for attacks on privatisation (the title is a play on the British Gas sale slogan If You See Sid Tell Him) but its main focus is that most socially destructive of professions, advertising. The DVD is OOP and quite pricey but this sitcom deserves its place as one of the earliest examples of the now commonplace darker sitcoms.

[Martoto]

Originally Posted by HotRats

Been watching the DVD of If You See God Tell Him. Made in 1993 this is very dark comedy with Richard Briers superbly cast as a man with a brain injury that leaves him believing adverts are true, Ade Edmondson is very good too in a less silly role than usual. Unpopular at the time of broadcast and never repeated, it was far ahead of its time in its bleakness. Marshall and Renwick (Whoops Apocalypse, Hot Metal, One Foot In The Grave, Jonathan Creek, Love Soup) had plenty of room for attacks on privatisation (the title is a play on the British Gas sale slogan If You See Sid Tell Him) but its main focus is that most socially destructive of professions, advertising. The DVD is OOP and quite pricey but this sitcom deserves its place as one of the earliest examples of the now commonplace darker sitcoms.

I remember it well. Only managed one episode when it was on. Probably due to the squirm factor, I imagine. (almost always takes me few goes at most kinds of humour). Mind you. Nick Hancock was in it so it didn't stand much of a chance.

And I remember the backlash and complaints of insensitivity towards people with brain injury or dementia.

[HotRats]

Been watching Murder Most Horrid. Most of the episodes hold up well and Overkill, Murder At Tea Time and Confessions Of A Murderer (directed by Edgar Wright) are excellent. Must rewatch Roger & Val Have Just Got In

[dublinbluray108]

I just heard some sad news today that Irish comedian Brendan Grace, who played Fr Fintan Stack in Father Ted, has died aged 68.



He died from a short illness which related to pneumonia at the Galway Clinic. He was also being treated for lung cancer for a short period of time.

RIP Brendan Grace.

[tob]

Sad news he was a funny man and a proud irish man R.I.P.

[HotRats]

Been watching Dr Terrible's House Of Horrible. Steve Coogan's affectionate tribute to horror has aged very well, can't believe it's coming up to 18 years since it was first shown. Pity there was only one series, I'd love to see him do a new series or a film. DVD is cheap, extras are decent

Dr Terrible's House Of Horrible trailer (Steve Coogan, 2001) - YouTube

[OceanBlue]

Thought it best to ask in this thread, instead of starting a separate thread. Can anyone here remember a one-off medieval comedy show (possibly shown on the BBC) starring Tim Vine? Of what I saw of it, it was like Airplane!, a parody. Think it was on for half an hour.

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by HotRats

Been watching the DVD of If You See God Tell Him. Made in 1993 this is very dark comedy with Richard Briers superbly cast as a man with a brain injury that leaves him believing adverts are true, Ade Edmondson is very good too in a less silly role than usual. Unpopular at the time of broadcast and never repeated, it was far ahead of its time in its bleakness. Marshall and Renwick (Whoops Apocalypse, Hot Metal, One Foot In The Grave, Jonathan Creek, Love Soup) had plenty of room for attacks on privatisation (the title is a play on the British Gas sale slogan If You See Sid Tell Him) but its main focus is that most socially destructive of professions, advertising. The DVD is OOP and quite pricey but this sitcom deserves its place as one of the earliest examples of the now commonplace darker sitcoms.

Loved that show. Very bleak and cruel at times coupled with, as pointed out by Mortoto, a very high squirm factor. The second episode with it's rolling misunderstanding re an old flame, a prostitute and a wedding with an utterly oblivious Richard Briers at the centre of the inevitable mess might be my favourite of the four episodes.

Snapped it up as soon as I heard 2Entertain had put it out on DVD as with many of their less mainstream releases I (correctly it seems) had a feeling it weren't going to be in print for long.

[OceanBlue]

It was either last year or the year before, when I caught an episode or two of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace on a channel (possibly Channel 4).

Of what I've seen of this series or mini-series, I enjoyed it. I find Richard Ayoade annoying on The Crystal Maze, but I found him entertaining on this series or mini-series.