TV Home Forum

New show suggestions

New UK show suggestions (September 2020)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
Brekkie posted:
I think their tastes are rather more current than that.


Classic comedy never dies. Like Fawlty Towers - FT was remade in the States as Amanda's in the 1980s and then another one called Payne in the 1990s, both of which didn't last more than half a season each, though John Cleese apparently liked Payne.
JA
james-2001
Apparently Cheers was sort-of inspired by Fawlty Towers in early development, where they considered setting it in a hotel until they realised most of it ended up in the bar, so made it about a bar instead.
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
james-2001 posted:
Apparently Cheers was sort-of inspired by Fawlty Towers in early development, where they considered setting it in a hotel until they realised most of it ended up in the bar, so made it about a bar instead.


I can believe it. Fawlty Towers apparently inspired Father Ted as well it says here.
And yet originally FT wasn't critically well received well in the first place. It took a while to get going. And now its regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.
JA
Jamesypoo
Neil Jones posted:
james-2001 posted:
Apparently Cheers was sort-of inspired by Fawlty Towers in early development, where they considered setting it in a hotel until they realised most of it ended up in the bar, so made it about a bar instead.


I can believe it. Fawlty Towers apparently inspired Father Ted as well it says here.
And yet originally FT wasn't critically well received well in the first place. It took a while to get going. And now its regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.

To which FT are you referring?
JAS84 and bilky asko gave kudos
AN
all new Phil
Neil Jones posted:
james-2001 posted:
Apparently Cheers was sort-of inspired by Fawlty Towers in early development, where they considered setting it in a hotel until they realised most of it ended up in the bar, so made it about a bar instead.


I can believe it. Fawlty Towers apparently inspired Father Ted as well it says here.
And yet originally FT wasn't critically well received well in the first place. It took a while to get going. And now its regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time.

The first series certainly isn’t a patch on the second and third. I suppose you often see that though as the second series onwards builds on what was popular about the first. Gavin and Stacey I thought was similar - characters like Nessa and Doris were a lot more exaggerated as the show developed.
VM
VMPhil
There often seems to be a sweet spot in the history of a show’s run, where the characters and storylines have been developed and are consistent, but before everything turns into a caricature.
TI
TIGHazard
Inspector Sands posted:
TIGHazard posted:

Father Ted (Irish cast and crew, but made for Channel 4)

<pedant>Irish cast and writers, but otherwise British. It was made at The London Studios

Definitely worth a watch, its a modern classic.



True. It's just that I've had enough arguments online when I've actually said that, and I didn't want to bring that onto the forum.
WR
WouldRatherBeBritish
TIGHazard posted:
The Inbetweeners (stars the same actor as Adam from the Inbetweeners)

Father Ted (Irish cast and crew, but made for Channel 4)

An Idiot Abroad

Most Americans I have seen online like our panel shows such as Have I Got News For You, Mock the Week, QI, 8 out of 10 Cats, Etc. They are essentially comedy game shows but the points don't matter.

The Thick of It is the original British version of Veep.


Thank you, I will check these out!
WR
WouldRatherBeBritish
Jamesypoo posted:
If you like Veep I'm surprised you haven't seen The Thick Of It, the UK original. Another vote for Derry Girls here too - another 90s-set comedy was Beautiful People but that may be a bit niche for some. Fleabag is a bit marmite but goes down well with the critics etc.


I haven't even heard of The Thick of It, but I will be sure to check it out, as well as Derry Girls. Thanks!
NL
Ne1L C
WouldRatherBeBritish posted:
Jamesypoo posted:
If you like Veep I'm surprised you haven't seen The Thick Of It, the UK original. Another vote for Derry Girls here too - another 90s-set comedy was Beautiful People but that may be a bit niche for some. Fleabag is a bit marmite but goes down well with the critics etc.


I haven't even heard of The Thick of It, but I will be sure to check it out, as well as Derry Girls. Thanks!


Can I just give you a heads up. The first series of The Thick Of It starred Chris Langham who was later jailed. I'll leave you to investigate why if you wish. I'm not being a negative ninny but I feel its important you know .
CO
commseng
I'm not sure why that would change your enjoyment of any programme if you didn't know that fact.
He was also in the first series of Not the Nine O'Clock News, and had a very good Radio 4 comedy series as well (People Like Us).
The comedy writing is good - should that one actor has been jailed mean that the material needs to be binned?
DA
davidhorman
commseng posted:
and had a very good Radio 4 comedy series as well (People Like Us).


Which was also later a TV series. I still remember the bloke faxing some blank paper over to the other office Very Happy

He also wrote for The Muppets back in the late 70s.
Last edited by davidhorman on 13 September 2020 6:42pm

Newer posts