Where is the Love for the Britcoms? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Lurker · 11-26-2005, 11:22 AM

I have been noticing that this particular section of Sitcoms Online is a lot slower that I figured it would be.

There has to be more folks than me that love a lot of the British Comedies.

It seems wierd that a show I never even heard of (So Raven???) gets 100 x the posts than the whole Britcom section.

/rant mode

Pentimento · 11-26-2005, 12:16 PM

I love Britcoms, as well as Britdrams (and if it isn't a word, it should be). I've always found them more entertaining than most of the stuff on American TV (particularly the shows on the main networks), and I tend to watch BBC America more than any other one channel, but I've found this is apparently not the best place for a lively discussion of British TV. As for the popularity of Raven here, I'd attribute that to the fact that most of the regular posters are younger. There are plenty of other sites more heavily populated with older folks, but it's been my experience that they're generally not as friendly (and not nearly as forgiving of improper grammar, misspellings, typos, unique opinions, etc...). There may not be as much here for me to talk about, but at least I don't get flamed on a daily basis, so I've stayed.

So, what are your favorite Britcoms?

TJL · 11-26-2005, 12:50 PM

I have alot of love for Britcoms. "BlackAdder" is one of my all time favorite shows. I also think "Spaced" is one of the funniest shows I have seen in a long time. "Coupling" is good too.

friendsfan77 · 11-26-2005, 04:06 PM

I have a ton of love for the Britcoms as well. The UK version of Coupling is a lot better than the US version, I thought the US one sucked majorly. I haven't seen as many dramas as they haven't aired much in the locals I've lived. The only two I've seen are All Creatures Great and Small (great theme music I think, btw) and Ballykissangel. I just think a lot of the people who post regularly aren't here as much now as before.

Lurker · 11-26-2005, 04:20 PM

My favorites are:

Coupling (brit version)
Red Dwarf
Monty Python (in small doses)
Are you beeing served?

I even started to get into Green Wing, but we never got to see more than the one season on BBC America.

bry · 11-26-2005, 06:33 PM

i love them too, but i never get to see them because i don't have my local channels to get PBS from. and please, don't insult my intelligence to tell me to watch BBC America (these days). they show nothing worth watching except benny hill.
i like:
as time goes by (got the dvd set)
benny hill
are you being served?
butterflies (got the dvd's that have been released so far...)
french fields
blackadder
falty towers

monthy python is too stupid to give it the time of day. it is not funny.

Pentimento · 11-26-2005, 06:37 PM

I also love "Coupling", but I didn't like it as much after Jeff left. I agree that the US version was horrible, maybe because they tried to recreate it verbatim (except squeezed into 21-22 minutes instead of the original 30), but I actually like the US version of "The Office" almost as much as the original. I don't think Americanizing it has made it worse, just different.

Two of my other favorites are "The Vicar of Dibley" and "As Time Goes By". I tried to get into "Green Wing" but the camera work made my head hurt.

As for dramas, I like the mysteries the most: "Prime Suspect", "Murder in Mind", "Wire in the Blood", "Silent Witness", "Helen West", "Waking the Dead", "Sea of Souls", and probably several others I'm forgetting at the moment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

I have alot of love for Britcoms. "BlackAdder" is one of my all time favorite shows. I also think "Spaced" is one of the funniest shows I have seen in a long time. "Coupling" is good too.

I've never seen "Spaced". I remember you mentioned it being on Trio a while back - and I think you said it was by the people who did "Shaun of the Dead" which I liked - but unfortunately it was right after DirecTV decided to drop Trio so I didn't get to see it.

I'll watch anything with Rowan Atkinson, but for some reason I've always preferred "Mr. Bean" and "The Thin Blue Line" to any of the "Blackadder" series. I'm not sure why.

TJL · 11-26-2005, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pentimento

I actually like the US version of "The Office" almost as much as the original. I don't think Americanizing it has made it worse, just different.

I forgot to mention "The Office." A brilliantly funny show.

I like the US version too. It's not as good as the original, but it definatly was a better remake than the US version of "Coupling." What a stinker that was.

The Chauffeur · 11-27-2005, 01:45 AM

I love :
As Time Goes By
The Vicar of Dibley (Dawn French is an awesome comedianne)
Fawlty Towers
Absolutely Fabulous
The Office
Keeping Up Appearances
All Creatures Great and Small
geez far too many to name

I think british television was my first memorable exposure to television, but it wasn't comedy, oddly enough it was Hammer House of Horrors

Superstar · 11-27-2005, 04:24 AM

The Vicar of Dibley is and always will be my fave Britcom

MrWarmth · 11-27-2005, 07:46 AM

Does Benny Hill qualify as a Britcom? I grew up watching THAT clown! Some really imaginative sketches! And the Hill's Angels were Dynamite! Especially the French girl. A couple of quick pats on the head for anybody who loves Benny!

Lurker · 11-27-2005, 11:05 AM

I like Benny in small doses. The problem for me is his songs. His accent and the fact that the humor is topical/british makes them hard to understand.

I actully turn on the closed caption sometimes to see what he is saying.

It isnt that I don't understand the english accent... I lived in England for 2 years, but I don't understand his dialect very well.

Pentimento · 11-27-2005, 12:19 PM

How could I have forgotten "Keeping Up Appearances"? That's another favorite of mine. Every time Hyacinth has to correct someone on the proper pronunciation of Bucket... Well, that never gets old.

I know what you mean, Lurker, about the dialects. I've had to turn on the closed captioning for parts of series five of "Prime Suspect" which is set in Manchester, and "Sea of Souls" which is set in Glasgow, Scotland. It makes me wonder if they ever have trouble with some of our American dialects.

As for Benny Hill, I couldn't stand him when I was a kid. I just thought he was stupid and not at all funny, but I saw part of an episode recently and found myself laughing. It surprised me.

friendsfan77 · 11-27-2005, 02:35 PM

Some of my favorites are:

Are You Being Served?
May to December (I'm still waiting for the day when this show comes to my PBS station)
As Time Goes By
Keeping Up Appearances
The Vicar of Dibley
My Hero
Coupling

Does anyone know why Richard Coyle left Coupling?

robyrob · 11-27-2005, 04:33 PM

As Time Goes By
The Vicar of Dibley
French & Saunders
Fawlty Towers
Absolutely Fabulous
The Office
Keeping Up Appearances
Coupling
Red Dwarf
Monty Python
Benny Hill
Mr Bean
The Thin Blue Line
the Young Ones
My Family
Father Ted

i can't take the US version of the Office at ALL.

11-26-2005, 11:22 AM	#1
Lurker Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 11, 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 127	Where is the Love for the Britcoms? I have been noticing that this particular section of Sitcoms Online is a lot slower that I figured it would be. There has to be more folks than me that love a lot of the British Comedies. It seems wierd that a show I never even heard of (So Raven???) gets 100 x the posts than the whole Britcom section. /rant mode
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11-26-2005, 12:50 PM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I have alot of love for Britcoms. "BlackAdder" is one of my all time favorite shows. I also think "Spaced" is one of the funniest shows I have seen in a long time. "Coupling" is good too.
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11-26-2005, 06:33 PM	#6
bry Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 21, 2003 Location: n.c. Posts: 819	i love them too, but i never get to see them because i don't have my local channels to get PBS from. and please, don't insult my intelligence to tell me to watch BBC America (these days). they show nothing worth watching except benny hill. i like: as time goes by (got the dvd set) benny hill are you being served? butterflies (got the dvd's that have been released so far...) french fields blackadder falty towers monthy python is too stupid to give it the time of day. it is not funny.
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11-27-2005, 01:45 AM	#9
The Chauffeur Good Evening... Senior Member Join Date: Jan 24, 2005 Location: Under the sun Posts: 2,866	I love : As Time Goes By The Vicar of Dibley (Dawn French is an awesome comedianne) Fawlty Towers Absolutely Fabulous The Office Keeping Up Appearances All Creatures Great and Small geez far too many to name I think british television was my first memorable exposure to television, but it wasn't comedy, oddly enough it was Hammer House of Horrors
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11-27-2005, 04:33 PM	#15
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,194	As Time Goes By The Vicar of Dibley French & Saunders Fawlty Towers Absolutely Fabulous The Office Keeping Up Appearances Coupling Red Dwarf Monty Python Benny Hill Mr Bean The Thin Blue Line the Young Ones My Family Father Ted i can't take the US version of the Office at ALL.
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11-26-2005, 12:16 PM	#2
Pentimento Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 16, 2004 Location: The Big Valley Posts: 606	I love Britcoms, as well as Britdrams (and if it isn't a word, it should be). I've always found them more entertaining than most of the stuff on American TV (particularly the shows on the main networks), and I tend to watch BBC America more than any other one channel, but I've found this is apparently not the best place for a lively discussion of British TV. As for the popularity of Raven here, I'd attribute that to the fact that most of the regular posters are younger. There are plenty of other sites more heavily populated with older folks, but it's been my experience that they're generally not as friendly (and not nearly as forgiving of improper grammar, misspellings, typos, unique opinions, etc...). There may not be as much here for me to talk about, but at least I don't get flamed on a daily basis, so I've stayed. So, what are your favorite Britcoms?

11-26-2005, 04:06 PM	#4
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	I have a ton of love for the Britcoms as well. The UK version of Coupling is a lot better than the US version, I thought the US one sucked majorly. I haven't seen as many dramas as they haven't aired much in the locals I've lived. The only two I've seen are All Creatures Great and Small (great theme music I think, btw) and Ballykissangel. I just think a lot of the people who post regularly aren't here as much now as before.

11-26-2005, 04:20 PM	#5
Lurker Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 11, 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 127	My favorites are: Coupling (brit version) Red Dwarf Monty Python (in small doses) Are you beeing served? I even started to get into Green Wing, but we never got to see more than the one season on BBC America.

11-27-2005, 04:24 AM	#10
Superstar Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 08, 2003 Posts: 63,316	The Vicar of Dibley is and always will be my fave Britcom

11-27-2005, 07:46 AM	#11
MrWarmth Comedian Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 24, 2005 Location: Atlantic City Posts: 207	Does Benny Hill qualify as a Britcom? I grew up watching THAT clown! Some really imaginative sketches! And the Hill's Angels were Dynamite! Especially the French girl. A couple of quick pats on the head for anybody who loves Benny!

11-27-2005, 11:05 AM	#12
Lurker Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 11, 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 127	I like Benny in small doses. The problem for me is his songs. His accent and the fact that the humor is topical/british makes them hard to understand. I actully turn on the closed caption sometimes to see what he is saying. It isnt that I don't understand the english accent... I lived in England for 2 years, but I don't understand his dialect very well.

11-27-2005, 12:19 PM	#13
Pentimento Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 16, 2004 Location: The Big Valley Posts: 606	How could I have forgotten "Keeping Up Appearances"? That's another favorite of mine. Every time Hyacinth has to correct someone on the proper pronunciation of Bucket... Well, that never gets old. I know what you mean, Lurker, about the dialects. I've had to turn on the closed captioning for parts of series five of "Prime Suspect" which is set in Manchester, and "Sea of Souls" which is set in Glasgow, Scotland. It makes me wonder if they ever have trouble with some of our American dialects. As for Benny Hill, I couldn't stand him when I was a kid. I just thought he was stupid and not at all funny, but I saw part of an episode recently and found myself laughing. It surprised me.

11-27-2005, 02:35 PM	#14
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	Some of my favorites are: Are You Being Served? May to December (I'm still waiting for the day when this show comes to my PBS station) As Time Goes By Keeping Up Appearances The Vicar of Dibley My Hero Coupling Does anyone know why Richard Coyle left Coupling?