It has been a while since I have posted on here. Now I am a bit less busy than I was so I think it is high time for a bit of blogging.
I may (or perhaps may not) have mentioned on this blog last summer that there was a film crew on my university campus, filming a new sitcom called… Campus. Anyway, after months of waiting, Campus has finally arrived on the small screen. You can see the first two episodes on 4oD here. Since I walked through a few scenes during filming, there is a chance that I may feature in an episode. Please let me know if you spot me!
I have to admit, since I came up with the idea for this list, I have been torn as to which order my top two British sitcoms would be in. Whilst it was very close, I have finally made up my mind.
Number two – Blackadder
As a series, Blackadder is set across six centuries of British History. The first series depicts the end of the Middle Ages, the fourth (and final) series depicts the trenches of the First World War. Along the way we get the chance to visit a number of other notable periods in history, including the Elizabethan era and the Regency period. Despite the vast timescale over which this sitcom is set, the two central characters (Edmund Blackadder and Baldrick) remain the same. As the series progress, these two characters represent the descendants of the ones that have gone before. In each series, Edmond Blackadder is a member of the ruling class and associates himself with some very notable figures in British history. From the second series onwards (which is when I started watching), his sole focus is to improve his own lot in life. To do this he will use any means, no matter how deceitful or cowardly. Baldrick on the other hand is Blackadder’s servant. Whilst Blackadder is clever and cunning, Baldrick is incredibly stupid (the roles are somewhat reversed in the first series). Also accompanying Blackadder in each series is an aristocrat whose pomposity far outweighs their intelligence.
I think perhaps that of all the British sitcoms on this list, Blackadder is the one that would get onto most other people’s top ten list. The reason for this is that unlike many of the sitcoms I have listed, Blackadder has an almost universal appeal. The star of the show is of course Blackadder himself and it is from him that most of the laughs (usually via some desperate attempt to gain riches or avoid death) come. A wealth of remarkable supporting characters including Queen Elizabeth I, Melchett and Lord Flashheart make this a truly complete comedy package.
At number three is a cult comedy that I have loved since I was about twelve years old.
Number three – Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is set on a mining spaceship in deep space 3,000,000 years in the future. The main character is Dave Lister who, due to a radiation accident on board the spaceship (from which he was protected), is the last remaining human in the universe. Accompanying Lister is a bunch of eccentric misfits. Arnold Rimmer was responsible for the radiation accident that killed the rest of the crew; including himself. Rimmer was resurrected as a hologram by the ship’s onboard computer (Holly) to keep Lister sane. This is despite the fact both men despise each other. Cat is a humanoid that, over 3,ooo,ooo years, has evolved from the cat that Listed illegally stowed onto the spaceship. Kryten is a mechanoid who is rescued by the crew in Series Two from a crashed spaceship upon which he served. Finally is Kristine Kochanski, a navigation officer originally killed in the radiation accident who was found in an alternative dimension in Series Seven.
Like all good comedies, Red Dwarf is all about the main characters and the relationships between them. What really makes Red Dwarf stand out from other British comedies however, are the unique situations in which the crew often find themselves. The science fiction setting (which is taken very seriously by the show) allows Red Dwarf to explore such themes as time travel, artificial realities and parallel universes. Perhaps the only real criticism that I can level at Red Dwarf are the inconsistencies between series, with the Eighth Series perhaps not as funny as the rest. I am pleased to hear that recently, another series (the first full series since the Eighth Series in 1999) has recently been announced for 2012.
Straight in at number four is the oldest entry in my list.
Number four – Fawlty Towers
Inspired by an incredibly rude hotel owner, the main character is Basil Fawlty. Basil is a snob, regarding himself to belong to the upper class of British society. Thus, whilst he pampers to the every whim of the hotels more discernible guests, he is very rude to just about everyone else. Sybil Fawlty is Basil’s wife. Being the only person Basil is afraid of, it is often up to her to keep him under control. In stark contrast to her husband, Sybil is good at dealing with customers and at making sure things get done around the hotel. The other two main characters are Polly the maid and Manual the waiter (from Barcelona!).
First made over 35 years ago, Fawlty Towers is the oldest sitcom on my list. It is also the shortest, lasting just 12 episodes (six hours). Sure, it has aged and of course, I wish there had been more of it. However, despite its age and brevity, Fawlty Towers remains a classic to this day. Most importantly, it is still as funny as it ever was. I have perhaps watched each episode more times than any other sitcom. That has got to say something.
Now we are into the top half of my list. At number five is a the programme voted Britain’s Best Sitcom in 2004.
Number five – Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses follows the ups and (more often) downs of two brothers living on a council flat in London. Del Boy is the older of the two brothers. He is a quick-witted market trader who is always living on the edge of the law. Despite his frequent excursions into petty crime, Del’s underdog status makes him a likeable character. Rodney is the younger of the two brothers and was raised by Del from an early age. Due to his lack of common sense and naivety, Rodney often finds himself drawn into Del’s many ill-fated schemes. During the first four series, Del and Rodney were joined by Grandad. The actor playing Grandad however died during the filming of the fourth series. From then onwards, Uncle Albert accompanied the two brothers.
Whilst Only Fools and Horses started off slowly, latter series achieved very high ratings, peaking at 24.3 million viewers (over one-third of the UK population). The show’s popularity is reflected in it being voted as Britain’s Best Sitcom. It also features what is often regarded as one of the funniest moments on British TV (below). If all that wasn’t enough, Only Fools and Horses is credited for making popular a number of words. These include cushty, lovely jubbly (both are expressions of approval) and plonker (a light-hearted insult meaning wally).
You can buy all seven series of Only Fools and Horseshere.
At number six is the only sitcom on my list that is still being made.
Number six – Peep Show
Peep Show follows the lives of two men who live together in a flat. Mark Corrigan is a loan manager at a credit firm, Jeremy Usbourne is a failed and deluded musician. Whilst both Mark and Jeremy could not be more different in terms of personality, with each pitying the other for being so pathetic, they do (in a strange sense) rely on each other. Jeremy needs Mark for money and a roof, Marks needs Jeremy to maintain some semblance or normality.
To date, there have been seven series (and counting) of peep show. Despite the quantity, there is still quality here. Indeed, unlike most British comedies, the fact that Peep Show has run for so long has allowed the plot and the characters to develop over time. Another unique feature of the show is the point-of-view camera angles often employed. This is far from a gimmick however. It allows the two main characters to share their thoughts with the viewer. Therefore, whilst the various situations Mark and Jeremy get themselves into seem absurd from the outside, from their perspective, they often seem only too real.
You can watch all seven series of Peep Show on 4oD or on the official YouTube channel.
Today I continue the list of my top ten British sitcoms with a real oldie.
Number seven – Yes Minister
Yes Minister is set almost entirely within the office of Jim Hacker, a minster of the British government. Jim Hacker is minster for the Department for Administrative Affairs, a fictional department that exists, it seems, solely to deal with the work created by others. Jim Hacker is a career politician in every sense. Whilst his actions may at first appear to be motivated by his duty to serve the public, like any politician, it is votes that Jim craves the most. Helping (or more accurately, hindering) Jim Hacker at every step is Sir Humphrey Appleby. Whilst Sir Humphrey’s role is to implement the policies of Jim Hacker, it is so often the other way round. Just as Jim Hacker strives to introduce popular (vote winning) reforms, Sir Humphrey Appleby wishes things to remain the same as they have always been. The third main character in the series is Bernard Woolley, Jim Hacker’s Principal Private Secretary. Bernard is caught in the middle of the ongoing conflict between Jim and Sir Humphrey.
Being one of the older entries on this list, it is remarkable how well Yes Minister has aged. Indeed, nearly all of the themes of the show are still relevent in today’s politics. Another thing that I like about the series is the fact that the vast majority of it is set in one office. This, like no other comedy on this list, brings the focus to the three main characters and in particular, the constant political struggle between Jim and Sir Humphrey. This is a clip from my favourite episode The Compassionate Society, where Jim is outraged to discover a newly built hospital has no patients.
You can buy the complete series of Yes Minster (plus its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister) from Amazon.co.uk.
Today I continue the list of my top ten British sitcoms with a modern classic.
Number eight – The Office
Set in the less than glamorous Slough Trading Estate, The Office is a fictional documentary about the employees of Wernham Hogg Paper Company. The star of The Office is David Brent, a general manager at Wernham Hogg who considers himself to be a talented comic, musician and philosophical thinker. In reality, he is none of these. Much of the programme revolves around David Brent’s misguided and often cringeworthy attempts to get what he most wants in life… attention and recognition. Other characters include Gareth Keenan (a man who attempts to compensate for his many flaws by always trying to be something he is not), Tim Canterbury (a likeable character whose purpose in the show is to highlight his colleagues’ shocking behaviour) and Dawn Tinsley (a down to earth secretary who, with her engagement to Lee, faces an unfufiling life ahead).
The fact that there were only ever fourteen episodes of The Office make it the second shortest running sitcom on this list. What it lacks in length however, it makes up for in originality and polish. Also, more than any other sitcom on this list, The Office divides people between those that love it and those that hate it. I understand that there may be a lack of in-your-face comedy (or arguably a lack of anything). However, in my opinion, the bland setting and subtly of the humor make the whole thing more meaningful and funny.
Here is a clip from one of the best episodes “Training”. In this episode, David Brent continually tries to divert attention away from the training instructor and onto himself by any means necessary.
You can buy the complete series of The Office for just £8 from Amazon.co.uk. Also, if you enjoy The Office, you may also like Extras; another sitcom by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.
Last week, I started off my list counting down my top ten British sitcoms with The Vicar of Dibley. Today, I continue the list with another religious themed comedy.
Number nine – Father Ted
Father Ted follows the adventures of three priests of the Roman Catholic Church: Father Ted Crilly, Father Dougal McGuire and Father Jack Hackett. All three priests live together, with their housekeeper Mrs Doyle, in a house on Craggy Island. Their assignment to this extremely isolated island off the coast of Ireland is the result of past misdemeanors committed by the three priests; Ted’s involving money, Dougal’s involving something only refered to as the “Blackrock Incident” and Jack’s involving women and booze.
While Father Ted may at first seem to be along the same lines as the Vicar of Dibley, the two programmes could not be more different. Whilst the Vicar of Dibley is a feel good comedy with wide appeal, Father Ted’s cast of seriously flawed characters and often disturbed plots has earned it a cult following. My favourite episode is ‘A Song for Europe’ in which Ted and Dougal enter a song into ‘Eurosong 96′. Here is a clip from that episode:
You can watch full episodes of Father Ted on the 4oD channel on YouTube here or on 4oD here. I’m not sure if these can be viewed outside of the UK. You can also purchase the Father Ted collection at Amazon.co.uk.
Working in postgraduate accommodation at my university, I often get asked to recommend different aspects of British culture. One of the first things I will recommend is British comedy. To my constant dismay however, most of the international students have only ever heard of American comedies like Friends. Whilst I enjoy these too, I think there is something unique and special about British sitcoms. For this reason, I wanted to share with you my top ten British sitcoms. I will list one every Monday (starting with my tenth favourite) for the next ten weeks.
Number ten – The Vicar of Dibley
I kick off this list at number ten with a programme I have known and watched for many many years. The Vicar of Dibley is set in a traditional rural village. In the first episode, the vicar of the church dies in the middle of the service. This leads to the recruitment of a new vicar, Geraldine Granger.
Upon her arrival, the councillor of the village, David Horton, is outraged that they have been assigned a woman as their vicar. Traditionally, The Church of England only appointed men as vicars. This sets the tone for the constant struggle between these two characters. This conflict is heightened by Geraldine’s fun-loving attitude to being a vicar which clashes with David’s traditional conservative values.
What really makes the programme special however is the wide assortment of crazy characters that inhabit the village, from Letitia “parsnip brownies” Cropley to Owen “flatulence” Newitt. It is this mix of characters that make the regular parish meetings one of the highlights of the show. Despite the characters’ rather annoying habits, Geraldine does her best to help them out… often to her own detriment. In my favourite episode ‘The Christmas Lunch Incident’ she accepts three different Christmas lunch invitations due to not having the heart to reject anyone.
The Vicar of Dibley is a great feel good comedy suitable for just about anyone. I think however, that because of this, it can lack the cutting edge that prevents it being higher on my top ten list.
You can purchase every episode ever made for under £15 from Amazon.co.uk.
I may (or perhaps may not) have mentioned on this blog last summer that there was a film crew on my university campus, filming a new sitcom called… Campus. Anyway, after months of waiting, Campus has finally arrived on the small screen. You can see the first two episodes on 4oD here. Since I walked through a few scenes during filming, there is a chance that I may feature in an episode. Please let me know if you spot me!
