Recommend me some British sitcoms

Dean wrote: Brit Sci-Fi The first two are unmissable: Life On Mars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y7bFFllzSI (very excellent - with John Sims aka the recent Master from Doctor Who as a modern copper who goes back in time to the 70s)

Interesting - I didn't know this was originally BBC (apparently there's been an American adaptation done)

Logan wrote: Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister was one of my favourites.  Though moving off-topic, one of my favourite "mini-series" (serial) was also about the rise of someone to Prime Minister: The House of Cards Trilogy.  Brilliant drama.

Kotro wrote: Logan wrote: Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister was one of my favourites.  Though moving off-topic, one of my favourite "mini-series" (serial) was also about the rise of someone to Prime Minister: The House of Cards Trilogy.  Brilliant drama.   Hmm, I missed suggesting Yes Minister - absolutely mandatory. Despite being more of a drama, House of Cards will probably get some smiles if you have a dry and dark humour and fondness for the machiavellic - Francis Urquhart (the late great Ian Richardson) is the most perfect negative hero ever!   Although, funny enough, Yes Minister is probably the most realistic of the two...

Yes Minister/ Yes, Prime Minister is a brilliant satire.  The people who wrote it were insiders, and it is actually very educational and very funny.  I've been hoping to see another satire like that.  We had a terrible Canadian show which was cancelled called "Rideau Hall" which is about the Governor General which was a terrible farce.  And then in the US the short lived (probably due to 9/11) "That's My Bush" by the guys from South Park lacked that knowing satirical edge (just a silly, but fun parody).

The House of Cards Trilogy really tickled by Shakespearean bone.  It's one of the few shows I've bought on DVD (that and the made-for-TV Decalog from Poland).  It's wonderful.  Francis Urquhart is a delicious villian and his wife who is the sort of Lady MacBeth character.  And the character of Tim Stamper is so creepy.  I wasn't so impressed with the final installment "The Final Cut".

Dean wrote: Logan wrote: In sci-fi-ish Brit TV, my favourites were The Prisoner, and a wonderful mini-series (serial) called First Born (Gor-Saga) which no one I've come across seems to know. My first reaction was Gor!?  ... as in John Norman's Chronicles of Gor !? I'm sure I would have remembered that  ... looking it up on the imdb - I half remember it, there was another one called Chimera around the same time which was pretty similar as I recall.

I've discussed this show at another forum before and got the same reactions about The Chronicles of Gor (which I have read) and Chimera (aka Monkey Boy) which I enjoyed, but prefer First Born.  Maureen Duffy wrote Gor Saga, which First Born was based on, and Chimera was by Stephen Gallagher.   As I described it then (some spoilers):

First Born is a BBC made in three 45 minute parts show about a human-gorilla hybrid who is raised by the scientist who created him -- he doesn't realise that he's half gorilla (shoulda guessed with a name like Gor). You could say it's part soap opera too; he has a fling with his human half-sister (not realising that she is a blood relative -- they were raised in the same family) who gets pregnant. I found the story very moving. It was based on a novel called Gor's Saga. One of the more interesting elements is how they play-up the religiosity of the hybrid, and his pacifism.


Edited by Logan - April 01 2009 at 13:25

For those who need a crash course in Scots humour and language try these:
       Still Game
       Only an excuse
       Rab C Nesbitt
       Scotch and Wry (with the world famous the Reverend I.M. Jolly).

Seek out and enjoy...if you don't understand the language nae luck.

Edited by visitor2035 - April 01 2009 at 17:01

Well my favorites have all been names already, Coupling, The Office, Fawlty Towers, Father Ted, Yes Minister, Yes Prime Minister....

 ^ Eastenders is a disturbing little show, don't care for it   ..not a sitcom per se but Posh Nosh is wonderfully strange and funny

The best one hasn't been mentioned yet:

Jam

It's very subtle and dark humour.  I really enjoy it.  There are likely to be clips on YouTube and Google Video.

Also try The Day Today.  It is also written by Chris Morris (and Armando Iannucci who has written some excellent comedy).  They only made 6 episodes though.

Brass Eye is another one of Chris Morris' weird and dark comedy series but I find this a bit close to the mark sometimes.

He also wrote Nathan Barley but I have not personally seen it.

Chris Morris has also co-written with Father Ted and The IT Crowd writer Graham Linehan.  He also is also a cast member of The IT Crowd.

You may find much of his work a bit weird though.

Sorry Jim, I don't find The League of Gentleman remotely funny.  I've not laughed once.

Others:

Although you didn't understand The Young Ones, try The Comic Strip Presents... or maybe French and Saunders.

Avoid Little Britain.  Sorry, it's pure bilge.

Absolute Power I also found rather amusing but not many people seem to have seen it.  It stars Stephen Fry and John Bird.  I actually used to listen to the Radio 4 series as well.

It needs more attention, in my opinion.  Very good satire.


Edited by James - April 09 2009 at 05:04

I also forgot to mention Lead Balloon.

Another much forgotten comedy that's also now on Dave.  Good stuff!

James wrote: Sorry Jim, I don't find The League of Gentleman remotely funny.  I've not laughed once.

Not even when the awesome Creme Brulee and the hapless Les are featured!

'We nearly supported Smokie once...I sent 'em our demo...Didn't hear anything back'

'Voooodoo Laaaaydeeee....You do...vooodoo'

What!!!!More Red Dwarf!!!!
Great I've been missing it, its been ages.