Best British Sitcom?

[The Norm]

So ... What's the best British Sitcom?

[Damon_3388]

IMO, The Young Ones, Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Stella Street, I'm Alan Partridge, The Office, Blackadder and Mr Bean are all better than the options presented in the poll.

[The Norm]

IMO, The Young Ones, Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Stella Street, I'm Alan Partridge, The Office, Blackadder and Mr Bean are all better than the options presented in the poll.

If you're going to be difficult, then just vote 'Other'.

[___ccroo___]

Absolutely Fabulous, Fawlty Towers, Are You Being Served, Some Mothers Do Ave Em and Love Thy Neighbour are my favourites.

[Damon_3388]

If you're going to be difficult, then just vote 'Other'.

I did vote 'Other', and presented my 'Other' choices in doing so.

To be honest, I've never even heard of Peep Show and Ideal.

[alfy!]

What a crap poll. I'd probably go The Office, but it is difficult.

[Oakland Raider]

Absolutely Fabulous, Fawlty Towers, Are You Being Served, Some Mothers Do Ave Em and Love Thy Neighbour are my favourites.
Would have to go with 'Other' also. Good list.

[omit]

other: spaced, mighty boosh, the office, black books, fawlty towers, yes minister, blackadder and coupling

[krisholio14]

No one likes your shows norm :p

[flashmanvc]

Father Ted, hands down. Watch the two parter "Kicking Bishop Brennan up the Arse" and hold onto your sides.

"Hello Len".

Flash

[Lemma]

The Office or Blackadder.

[JUBJUB]

Father Ted,Drop The Dead Donkey and Mr Bean

[Shell]

Yeah sorry crap poll.

My top 3: Fawlty Towers, Young Ones, The Office.

Chalk up another vote for "other"!

[Shell]

Also Vicar of Dibley goes pretty good too.

Best show on that list for me would be Extras tho.

[likka]

Could the OP and poll choices be any more clueless?

Fawlty Towers... Blackadder... The Office.

[The Sultan]

Black Adder

[SunKing]

Other

Fawlty Towers is the best

Others I like - The Young Ones (close 2nd),Some Mothers Do Ave Em,The Goodies,On The Buses.

[RustyHawk]

Other

Blackadder 4, Fawlty towers, Yes Minister/Pm

Vicar of Dibley

The comedy of Penelope Keith in the 'Good life' and 'to the manor born'
The Brittas Empire, 'Keeping up Appearances' with the bucket woman, George & Mildred

Birds of a feather, 'On the Buses' with Reg Varney
RED DWARF

The doctors like 'Doctor in the House' and another one. 'Robins Nest',

'One foot in the grave', 'Open all hours'

Allo Allo, 'Please Sir' and 'The young ones'

[krisholio14]

Worst. Poll. Ever.

I'm always partial to The Goodies myself :D

2J6uUMeAVW8

[sherb]

For me, you can add Dad's Army, Man About The House and the two comedies by the brilliant Ronnie Barker - Porridge and Open All Hours.

[Shell]

Other

Fawlty Towers is the best

Others I like - The Young Ones (close 2nd),Some Mothers Do Ave Em,The Goodies,On The Buses.

It's amazing how Fawlty Towers never gets old; no matter how many times you watch it over. Truly a classic. :thumbsu:

As for the Young Ones; I actually saw a live show with Rik Mayall aaaand dam cant remember the other guys name, but it was a live show of their other show "Bottom"- in London. (which deserves a mention as well- pretty extreme, gross out comedy- but still funny). Anyway, they went into their characters of Rick and Viveyen during the show. Freaken hilarious. :thumbsu:

[Plugger35]

Left out most of the best ones from this poll, going to be a lot of votes for other I'd imagine.

My favourites would be Fawlty Towers, The Young Ones, Bottom, Blackadder, The Office, Mighty Boosh and League of Gentlemen.

It's amazing how Fawlty Towers never gets old; no matter how many times you watch it over. Truly a classic. :thumbsu:

As for the Young Ones; I actually saw a live show with Rik Mayall aaaand dam cant remember the other guys name, but it was a live show of their other show "Bottom"- in London. (which deserves a mention as well- pretty extreme, gross out comedy- but still funny). Anyway, they went into their characters of Rick and Viveyen during the show. Freaken hilarious. :thumbsu:

Adrian Edmondson is the other guy, who played Vivian in the Young Ones. I actually preferred Bottom to the Young Ones, hilarious show.

My favourite scene from Bottom.

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[Ryz]

Red Dwarf, Goodies and all Gervais related media.

[Shell]

Adrian Edmondson is the other guy, who played Vivian in the Young Ones. I actually preferred Bottom to the Young Ones, hilarious show.
]

Grrr, cant believe I forgot his name. I had "Christopher Ryan" in my head for some reason... that was Mike in TYO wasnt he.

And yeah while I liked Bottom, I just think its a little patchy in some places. Some eps were pretty weak. And the characters in TYO is just so much better- and I must say am more "fond of". :o. I mean how can anyone NOT be fond of poor ol Neil. :D

[Plugger35]

Grrr, cant believe I forgot his name. I had "Christopher Ryan" in my head for some reason... that was Mike in TYO wasnt he.

And yeah while I liked Bottom, I just think its a little patchy in some places. Some eps were pretty weak. And the characters in TYO is just so much better- and I must say am more "fond of". :o. I mean how can anyone NOT be fond of poor ol Neil. :D

I actually preferred the characters in Bottom. Rik Mayall was pretty similar in Bottom to his role in The Young Ones but Adrian Edmondson was a lot funnier as Eddie in Bottom than he was as Vivian imo. Brilliant comedy duo, would have loved to have seen their live show.

[Papa G]

Loved the Young Ones back in the 80's, but saw an episode recently and thought it had dated quite terribly.

People that list Extras and then also shit like Some Mothers Do ave em or Allo Allo obviously do not do irony.

[JimDocker]

The Office.
Extras.
Till Death us do Part.
Red Dwarf.
Porridge.
Black Adder apart from the first series.

Agree with PapaG on The young Ones. It has dated more than most and I think it is unwatchable now, whereas I loved it as a teenager when it came out.

Then I disagree with PapaG on Some Mothers do ave em. It is not a sophisticated comedy, but I still find it funny when I watch it.

[Shell]

I actually preferred the characters in Bottom. Rik Mayall was pretty similar in Bottom to his role in The Young Ones but Adrian Edmondson was a lot funnier as Eddie in Bottom than he was as Vivian imo. Brilliant comedy duo, would have loved to have seen their live show.

blasphemy!!!!! :eek:

(Sorry he was my absolute fav character on TYO. :p)

Yeah the live show was really cool. I wanted to hang around after the show, see if I could meet them, but I went alone to the show, so didnt really wanna be hanging around in a part of London I didnt know by myself.


Anyway as for TYO, some fav moments:
- when Neil paints himself white to deflect the bomb blast
- Vivyen eating the TV (and then claims; "no- its a toaster!!")
- Rik playing Monopoly with the changed Chance and Community chest cards
- Neil peeing on Lord Snots head.
- "Hands up who likes me???"
- "Cornflakes.... cornflakes, cornflakes, cornflakes, cornflakes..."
- When they had a party and the police come in after 3 seconds to turn the music down.
- When Rik tried to commit suicide by taking a whole lot of laxatives.

[SunKing]

- When they had a party and the police come in after 3 seconds to turn the music down.


Classic scene! Remember it well it was Dare by The Human League and IIRC the cops came in a smashed the record player.

One of my favorite scenes is in the final ep where they are playing cricket in the house:D

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[The Norm]

No one likes your shows norm :p

I'm aware. It was an attempt to educate the masses.

[Archimedes]

As highlighted by the thread there are many British shows that are fantastic. However as I can only pick one, Peep Show is my all time favourite. In fact it is my all time favourite show in general, not just British. If anyone hasn't seen it, I highly recommend it.

[The Norm]

As highlighted by the thread there are many British shows that are fantastic. However as I can only pick one, Peep Show is my all time favourite. In fact it is my all time favourite show in general, not just British. If anyone hasn't seen it, I highly recommend it.

Yes! It was all worthwhile ...

Peep and Sopranos are probably equal for my fave all-time show, but Peep certainly has the most original style that I've seen in a television show ... yet is somehow so relateable.

Season 7 is meant to be getting filmed this year ... can't wait.

Like the great astronomer suggested, check out Peep Show. It's the pick of my highly unpopular bunch.

[Damon_3388]

- When they had a party and the police come in after 3 seconds to turn the music down.

Classic scene! Remember it well it was Dare by The Human League and IIRC the cops came in a smashed the record player.

wk5pO06BdSk

Classic :D That entire episode has to be one of my favourite episodes of any television show.

Other great lines/moments from the series:


"Viva El Presidente!"
"Doctor Martens Boots"
Nozin' Aroun'
"Got any kebabs?"
"Oooh, naaah, not in that colour, y'know what I mean?"
"Coo Coo Daddy Long Legs"
"I'm a well-respected fictional character."
Dino & Dickie
"That's a laugh, eh, isn't it? What? That noise you make in the back of your throat when you hear a joke."
"I'll handle this"
"Oh, hi Mum"
"Which is why I go over people's heads. A bit like an aeroplane."
"Three: Dexy's Midnight Runners playing free, daily, in the University library."
"I won't say anything, because noone every listens to me anyway. I might as well be a Leonard Cohen record."
"God, I'm bored, I might as well be listening to Genesis!"
"Neil, are these lentils South African?"
"No! No! No! We're not watching the bloody Good Life! Bloody bloody bloody! I hate it! It's so bloody nice!"

[Qsaint]

Fawlty Towers, Black Adder ab fab and any Young Ones episode with Alexi in it

[cat on acid]

The Office and The League of Gentleman. Also seen 'How Not To Live Your Life' a couple of times which is quite funny.

[Shell]

Classic scene! Remember it well it was Dare by The Human League and IIRC the cops came in a smashed the record player.

One of my favorite scenes is in the final ep where they are playing cricket in the house:D
]

:D:thumbsu:

I had a very similar real life moment like that!!!! Well kind of... was working at a summer camp in Florida, anyway all the counsellors went to Key West for the weekend. We got to our motel lateish (9pm) that night, and were settling into the hotel- literally had been there for like a minute, when this old lady barges into our room going "YOU GUYS ARE TOO LOUD, MY HUSBAND CANT SLEEP, IF YOU GUYS DONT BE QUIET I'LL COMPLAIN TO THE MANAGER".

We were stunned- and I thought of The Young Ones right away. :D

And yeah cricket, lol, when Viv runs right up to Rik and just bashes him in the head with the ball.

[Shell]

"God, I'm bored, I might as well be listening to Genesis!"
"Neil, are these lentils South African?"
"No! No! No! We're not watching the bloody Good Life! Bloody bloody bloody! I hate it! It's so bloody nice!"
[/LIST]

Must add to your list:
"Do any of you know "Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard?!?!?"
"Hum it and I'll smash ya face in".

:D:D:D

[Partridge]

It's amazing how Fawlty Towers never gets old; no matter how many times you watch it over. Truly a classic. :thumbsu:



For me, Blackadder, Yes Minister/Prime Minister (the quality never dropped), Red Dwarf (seasons 4-6), Knowing Me Knowing You, I'm Alan Partridge, Fawlty Towers, Alas Smith and Jones (early series) and Not the Nine O'Clock News. Plus others I'm sure I've forgotten.

[placebo]

1. Coupling
2. Black Books
3. IT Crowd
4. The Young Ones
5. Fawlty Towers
6. Peep Show

[Shell]

For me, Blackadder, Yes Minister/Prime Minister (the quality never dropped), Red Dwarf (seasons 4-6), Knowing Me Knowing You, I'm Alan Partridge, Fawlty Towers, Alas Smith and Jones (early series) and Not the Nine O'Clock News. Plus others I'm sure I've forgotten.

I never liked Blackadder for some reason.. dunno why. The rest of my family did tho, I remember them watching it when I was a kid.

We're very lucky we "get" British comedy imo. It goes over most Americans heads and they have to make their own versions!!!!!! As much as I like the American Office, UK Office >>>> daylight >>> Us version. :thumbsu:

[sherrinorburley]

Absolutely Fabulous, Fawlty Towers, Are You Being Served, Some Mothers Do Ave Em and Love Thy Neighbour are my favourites.
Good list cc.

Other - Is Kenny Everett sitcom?

Either way, sit on this

rX03hgf_LcM

[Truckosaurus]

Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, Mr Bean, Ab Fab, The Goodies, Yes Minister, Red Dwarf, The Young Ones, The Good Life, Dad's Army, Til Death Us Do Part, god I could go on forever.

Another for 'Other'

EDIT: Oh and Ripping Yarns, hideously underrated.

[Bazzar]

Dumbest poll ever. Having said that "Other" was hilarious.

[Swans120]

Fawlty Towers and The Office.

Not anywhere near the best, but a fairly new one, Gavin and Stacey, is really good. I'm really liking that atm.

[Father Jack]

It can't be Father Ted. It ain't British.

[hirdy_is_champ]

Keeping Up Appearences is my favourite. "The Bouquet residence, lady of the house speaking!"

[Bomber Bears]

Peep Show definately deserves to be talked up with the best British sitcoms. Absolute pisser.
I must be one of the only people around who didnt particularly enjoy the Office.

Other good shows are of course Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, Young Ones (Fav Ep probably either Bambi or the absolutely hilarious Sick), Coupling, Inbetweeners, I quite enjoyed the Thin Blue Line as well.

[Bazzar]

Latley, it would be Pulling, by a mile. Funny as all ****

[mellowyellow]

I agree that this poll is shit, shit, shit.

So many great choices and you gave those options :o

[Bomber Bears]

Have you watched peep show? It is brilliant, great show.

Can't comment on the rest (although im not at all a fan of Gervaise) but Peep Show is a worthy candidate

[Toothpick Vic]

I'm actually gonna come out in defence of the OP.. Purely because I think that Extras and Men Behaving Badly are very very good comedies. MBB in particular I think was extremely underrated in it's time..

Im not very familiar with the other 2 in the poll so I'd have to go back to what's already been said a million times before (for good reason) - Fawlty Towers, The Office, Black Adder, Mr Bean....

Any love for the Brittas Empire??

[Andre]

Well one thing is absolutely clear from the responses
British Comedy >>>>>> American/Australian 'comedy'

And I'm another Other. Yes (Prime) Minister, The Young Ones, To the Manor Born, Man about the House, Robins Nest, The Good Life, Red Dwarf, Goodies, Dad's Army, Mr. Bean.

How can Australia be full of so many of British descent yet be so shit at comedy compared to the British? :confused:

[wce_all_da_way]

Spaced. A damn shame it didn't last that long.

[Plugger35]

Well one thing is absolutely clear from the responses
British Comedy >>>>>> American/Australian 'comedy'

And I'm another Other. Yes (Prime) Minister, The Young Ones, To the Manor Born, Man about the House, Robins Nest, The Good Life, Red Dwarf, Goodies, Dad's Army, Mr. Bean.

How can Australia be full of so many of British descent yet be so shit at comedy compared to the British? :confused:

Yeah it's hard to think of many decent Australian sitcoms. The fact that Hey Dad was one of our most successful, long running sitcoms says a lot about the standards here.

[Bomber Bears]

Spaced was pretty damn good.

There are some good American sitcoms, few and far between granted. Arrested Development is sensational though, and Seinfeld, Curb even Scrubs are decent shows (although scrubs went downhill after baout the 4th season). They make up for it with their cartoon like the Simpsons, Futurama, South Park

[lenny&carl]

Father Ted for me, even if it's Irish.

[TheStinger]

The Young Ones.

That is all.





Neil, your bed's on fire.....

[Shell]

The Young Ones.

That is all.





Neil, your bed's on fire.....

:D:thumbsu:

Cornflakes!!!!!!! Cornflakes... cornflakes cornflakes CORNFLAKES.

Man havent watched that show in a while, me think its time to whack it in the ol DVD player again. :thumbsu:

[AsianWithAFro]

Red Dwarf or The Young Ones

[Spudregus_87]

Inbetweeners, Skins or The Office

Apologies for not being accustomed some of the earlier British sitcoms.

[Howard Littlejohn]

MBB was great. Tony is one of my role models.

The Goodies (almost 40 years on, come eps are being repeated on ABC2), Red Dwarf, The Office, Coupling, Ab Fab, The Yong Ones, Fawlty Towers, Spaced, Yes Minister - all smegging brilliant.
Quite a few others have been really good as well, but for me not quite with those ones.

[Wallaby]

Red Dwarf
Goodies
Only fools and Horses
Father Ted
Blackadder
vicar of Dibley
Porridge
Dads Army
Steptoe and Son
The Good life
Yes Minister/ Prime Minister
Alan Partridge

There's a lot out there - most can be found on the 'net. It's a personal thing. Fer example, I can't stand Fawlty Towers.

Overall, not just for laughs, but also for being a cultural icon, ground-breaking and incredibly popular at the time - I'll say Dad's Army.

My personal favorite is probably Vicar of Dibley.

[Jim Boy]

No love for The New Statesman?

[Warsaw]

Err no love for the Thick of It?

ElNlIfwlF-w

In the Loop was a spinoff from it.

[Jim Boy]

Err no love for the Thick of It?

ElNlIfwlF-w

In the Loop was a spinoff from it.


Great show and that was a great episode. Have just finished watching 'Rev' which uses the actor who played 'the F**ker' in a very different role.


One of the great things about Brit sitcoms against american is that they usually know when to stop. The Young Ones and Fawlty towers went out on top of the game while MASH started brilliantly before enduring a long death sinking in sentimental mire. There are exceptions both ways, Arrested Development thankfully did not push on for a fourth series and Last of The Summer Wine finally bit the dust after 31 series just 1 week ago.

[Jim Boy]

How can Australia be full of so many of British descent yet be so shit at comedy compared to the British? :confused:
Probably less than 1 in 6 brit sitcoms actually make it from pilot to being 'export quality' series, so we really only see the cream of the crop. Sitcoms are expensive to make so when a commercial channel attempts it, they usually do so with an unhealthy amount of conservatism. The ABC are usually much more willing to be risky. Kingswood Country is arguably the best show that commercial tv has created, while abc has had a much better strike rate with shows like Mother and Son, The Fast Lane, The Games and Frontline.

Another factor in the brits favour is radio. Shows like The mighty boosh, absolute power and flight of the conchordes all evolved on BBC radio 4 before a more polished tv product was launched.

[Noddy Holder]

Lol@ the poll.

Some Mothers Do Ave em and Fawlty Towers my facvourite by far.

[danielcan]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/legacy/

[jallyward]

Pee show is just awesome. I have enjoyed all funny comedy stuffs of this show and there i would like to choose Pee.

[wce_all_da_way]

Err no love for the Thick of It?

ElNlIfwlF-w

In the Loop was a spinoff from it.

Yeah The Thick Of It is an amazing show, I watched every episode within a few days after seeing In The Loop. Seriously funny.

[DivideandMultiply]

Darkplace, Peepshow, The Thick of it, Spaced and Teachers (season 1) are some of my more modern favs.

Whilst not a sitcom, Look Around You is awesome.:thumbsu:

cBcrTucxiRc

[Lach72]

1. Coupling
2. Black Books
3. IT Crowd
4. The Young Ones
5. Fawlty Towers
6. Peep Show

vKGK2fplV_w
Quality stuff :thumbsu:

[ThePezDispenser]

IMO, The Young Ones, Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Stella Street, I'm Alan Partridge, The Office, Blackadder and Mr Bean are all better than the options presented in the poll.

He has missed out on a few there.

[psychobrown]

Many already mentioned + The Thin Blue Line

[Father Jack]

The Mighty Boosh has to be up there.

[Plugger35]

The Mighty Boosh is the best British Sitcom since Embarrassing Bodies.

One of my favourite Mighty Boosh scenes of all time.

f8Wc_IguFeI

[Father Jack]

*language and concept may offend

ovliyZS-yyM

[melaniej]

Other.


Although Extras is brilliant and I love the Office. Ricky Gervais is amazing.
Much love for Black Books, IT Crowd, The Inbetweeners, The Mighty Boosh and Red Dwarf too! So many choices.

[MagpieScouser]

have to be man about the house,paula wilcox does it for me as crissy