best british comedy

[Reply #80 on:]

I have to say, that my fave comedy of recent years has been Spaced...  Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson rule.

Also, Black Books.. Dylan Moran is great as Neurotic introvert Bernard Black...

"What's this?"
"Pizza.. I was going to warm it and eat it later, everybody does that!"
"And what are these?"
"...Wasps..."

[Reply #81 on:]

Bill Bailey is good too!!

[Reply #82 on:]

*Sees Father Ted on list and explodes.*

[Reply #83 on:]

In fairness, there were british writers involved.

Doesn't stop me from just ordering the whole series on DVD though!!
BAM!! 

[Reply #84 on:]

And Dylan Moran was born in ipswitch....

[Reply #85 on:]

Why the hell is crap like Father Ted and Dinnerladies on the poll, and Only Fools and Horses, and The League of Gentlemen not?!
Although with what you've got on the poll I couldn't choose between Mr Bean, Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, or Blackadder. Ab Fab's great too, but that's the only one I could rule out slightly.

[Reply #86 on:]

I've only seen a few when my parents or whoever watch BBC, but I have to say Monty Python was funny for its time, occasionally makes me laugh and Mr. Bean was pretty good as well.  I'll go with Monty Python cause it changed comedies, I think.  That's what people say.

[Reply #87 on:]

The opening credits are genius. The shot of John Clease (I think it was Clease) swimming ashore, crawling up the beach, standing up totally out of breath, only to say "It's"
Cut to another scene "Monty Pythons Flying Circus".

[Reply #88 on:]

It was Michael Palin...

[Reply #89 on:]

Monty Python rules, and the Holy Grail 2 DVD set comes out here in August. Another must get DVD.

I've seen a set with every Monty Python episode, but it was a bit pricey...

[Reply #90 on:]

How can you make me chose?

[Reply #91 on:]

There's been loads of great British comedies, like Only Fools and Horses, the Young Ones, Dad's Army, and Men Behaving Badly.

But they pale in comparison to the legendary slice of British history that is Dinnerladies... 

[Reply #92 on:]

I think it's spelt dinnerladies actually.  And what about some more classics like Hancock's Half Hour, The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin, Porridge, Steptoe And Son, Citizen Smith, Rising Damp, and Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?

British comedy does go beyond the last twenty years plus anything with John Cleese.

[Reply #93 on:]

mmmmm true....and if we are including sketch shows then 'The Fast Show' is the best by miles....Paul Whitehouse is far far funnier than Harry Enfield(not that that was only the list either...but i found it a bit unfunny after a while)

Also....has anyone seen 15 stores high??? its got sean lock in it....seen the second half opf 2 episode and is was really good.

[Reply #94 on:]

Monty Pyton.  The yardstick against which all ohter British comedies must, invariably, be judged against in the American media.  Plus, it has more gaurenteed laughs per episode then most people do all morning.

[Reply #95 on:]

Depends what you like, as always.  If you like irreverent sketches and cartoons then you'll laugh.  If not... you won't

[Reply #96 on:]

i was just watching ripping yarns with michael palin, there are only six episodes and they arent all funny but tere are a couple of hilarious ones.

[Reply #97 on:]

I voted for how can you make me choose? But my favourites are probaly Blackadder, Red Dwarf and Monty Python.

[Reply #98 on:]

i voted for Blackadder

[Reply #99 on:]

WOAH! This is one OLD thread! I just wanted to be the one to say it!

I choose Fawlty Towers because I love John Cleese insane over-acting.

[Reply #100 on:]

So many good shows on that list. Blackadder, Mr Bean, Fawlty Towers and Dinnerladies are all brilliant, as is Only Fools and Horses (which is being repeated regularly here in the UK). It's pretty difficult to choose and there hasn't been much in recent years that could match them. Goodness Gracious Me was great as well, before the same cast began The Kumars at No42, which simply isn't as good.

'Superman? Of course he's Indian! In what other country can you run faster than a speeding train?'

[Reply #101 on:]

Dinnerladies was a great one, i'm glad i caught a few repeats when they aired it a few weeks ago.

[Reply #102 on:]

'Always leave 'em wanting more' should be the motto of all British sitcoms. As soon as one becomes popular, it should be cancelled. Because bitter experience has shown me that the more popular a Britcom gets, the less funny it becomes...

Anything more than three seasons/18 episodes is asking for trouble! Look at Last Of The Summer Wine if you want proof!

[Reply #103 on:]

The fact that as I write this Ab Fab has zero votes fills me incomprehensible joy.

Monty Python all the way.

[Reply #104 on:]

Yeah, I hate Ab Fab too. It's not. Funny. Tough choice, but I vote Father Ted, although my favourite ever is probably Black Books, which makes me laugh more than anything I've ever seen. Also, how does Mr. Bean have 6 votes? Yarg.

[Reply #105 on:]

1. Ab Fab is hilarious. Fools.
2. Also, is this your unsubtle way of waking me from the dead? I have email reply to this topic- I can't believe people are still writing in it! I have worth! Hurray, I'm helping!

[Reply #106 on:]

Dinner ladies is a comedy you say? Well that is news to me.

Well from the rest on the list.....oh I cant pick to much goodness!

[Reply #107 on:]

There's so much stuff left off that list, and so much great stuff on it that I just can't choose. While Monty Python was great, there are so many other great comedies it's unfair to give it top place because it was 'the first'. If there's anything on there I'm not so fond of its Dinnerladies, and maybe Mr Bean and Ab Fab (Ab Fab started good, but the joke's wearing thin now).

Notable exceptions from the list:
The Young Ones
Bottom
The League of Gentlemen
The Vicar of Dibley
The Fast Show
The Detectives...  etc.

And Father Ted rocks. 'Nuff said.

[Reply #108 on:]

Well.. i got season 1 and 2 of Red Dwarf and i was all week laughting without stop and still i have 6 seasons to discover..

cant wait the movie.

[Reply #109 on:]

Red Dwarf (White Hole is my all time favourite episode).
Closely followed by Blackadder.
Followed by Fawlty Towers.

[Reply #110 on:]

Monty Python.. to say any other is a sacralige to the great comic gods.... Mel Brooks,Larry,Curly,Moe,Shemp and the great one, Charlie Chaplin (peace be upon him)

[Reply #111 on:]

Monty Phyton is still a classic but I have also liked the shows of Benny Hill and Marty Feldman

[Reply #112 on:]

benny hill was my favorite back in the day....now it's coupling

[Reply #113 on:]

Am I the only one who remembers Alexei Sayle's Stuff?

Maybe I'm just the only one who liked it.   

[Reply #114 on:]

I'm a big Alexei Sayle fan. or I was back when he was a comedian. Sean Lock's recent show 15 Storeys was great great stuff. I'd also like voice my support for Spaced, League of Gents, I'm Alan Partridge and Black Books.

Ab Fab, dinnerladies, Mr Bean and Red Dwarf all blow mightily and for whoever mentioned Coupling I'm sorry to have to say that it's one of the worst sit-coms I've ever seen, even next to the appalling 2 Pints...

[Reply #115 on:]

 

Originally posted by David A:
Am I the only one who remembers Alexei Sayle's Stuff?

Maybe I'm just the only one who liked it.   

<singing>

Who's the leader of the gang that's great for you and me?

A-L-E-X-E-I,
S-A-Y-L-E,

Who's an ugly bastard, and as fat as he can be?

A-L-E-X-E-I,
S-A-Y-L-E,

Alexei Sayleee, Alexei Say-leee, we love to hear him swear on the TV-E-E-E,

Ev'rybody give three cheers,
except the BBC,

A-L-E-X-E-I,
S-A-Y-L-E,

Alexei Sayleee, Alexei Say-leee. <Alexei prances on stage>

<little girl in chorus> "Who's that fat bastard?"

</singing>

Gone but not forgotten. 

[Reply #116 on:]

From the list it is difficult to choose from Blackadder, Father Ted, Monty Python and Red Dwarf....

I'd go for Blackadder in the end though (with Monty Python a close second).

I have a cunning plan......

[Reply #117 on:]

My favorite British comedy is "Dinner for One". Its interesting that this one was never a success in the UK but it is a cult classic at the New Years Eve in Germany.

[Reply #118 on:]

A very hard poll.

I chose Blackadder because it generates the loudest laughs.

[Reply #119 on:]

So glad I'm not the one dredging up this thread! Still, even though I have not seen a lot of these I will vote for the one I liked among the ones I have. Which would be Absolutely Fabulous. First time my mother and I actually liked the same program no less. Was just a trip.