John Cleese: British comedy's golden age is over! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 05-06-2009, 10:31 PM

John Cleese: British comedy's golden age is over
By Martin Smith on May 6, 09 02:21 PM

THE golden age of British TV comedy has passed, John Cleese said today.

The 69-year-old was reunited with the cast of Fawlty Towers - Connie Booth, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs - to unveil two documentaries about the making of the classic 70s sitcom.

Not quite everyone agrees though...

Asked what he thought of modern British comedy the former Monty Python star said: "I don't think the writers work as hard as they used to, and I think they may lack experience because I don't think the writing is as good as it used to be.

"But I do proudly say that in the 60s, 70s and 80s we did have the least bad television in the world, and that's quite a claim. I think the main problem now is it's run on the basis of money."

Cleese reveals in the 30th anniversary documentary Fawlty Towers: Re-opened that the BBC originally dismissed the idea of the sitcom as "dire".

Speaking at a press launch in London today the actor, who starred as erratic hotel owner Basil Fawlty in the sitcom he co-wrote with his then wife Connie Booth, confirmed that producers could not see the programme appealing to viewers.

Cleese said: "There is a famous note which I have a copy of, I think it's framed.

"What happened was, Connie and I wrote that first episode and we sent it in to Jimmy Gilbert.

"And first of all the fellow whose job it was to assess the quality of the writing said, and I can quote it fairly accurately, 'This is full of cliched situations and stereotypical characters and I cannot see it as being anything other than a disaster'.

"And Jimmy himself said 'You're going to have to get them out of the hotel, John, you can't do the whole thing in the hotel'.

"Whereas, of course, it's in the hotel that the whole pressure cooker builds up."

The 69-year-old Monty Python star, who now lives in California, also claimed he had to support himself by appearing in commercials due to the low wage the BBC paid him for making Fawlty Towers.

Cleese said: "I have to thank the advertising industry for making this possible. Connie and I used to spend six weeks writing each episode and we didn't make a lot of money out of it.

"This will amuse you but in 1975 when I did Fawlty Towers for the first time we made six shows. Well, it took six weeks to make each show, so that's 36 weeks, one week to film them - 37 weeks - and six weeks to actually tape them in the studio so that's 43 weeks' work, for which I was paid for writing and performing and filming, £6,000.

"So that meant that I was able to subsidise my writing time by doing commercials.

"If it hadn't been for the commercials, I wouldn't have been able to afford to spend so much time on the script."

http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/p...omedys-go.html

Marvo301 · 05-06-2009, 10:41 PM

Well if anyone would know about British Comedy it would be John Cleese. On the other hand he does seem to be a bit of a bitter old man these days so maybe we should take what he says with a grain of salt.

Arthur Rudge · 05-10-2009, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Well if anyone would know about British Comedy it would be John Cleese. On the other hand he does seem to be a bit of a bitter old man these days so maybe we should take what he says with a grain of salt.

I'd say John Cleese was absolutely spot on actually.Name one new classic sitcom around in the last five years and you will struggle.ITV have all but given up with sitcoms whilst in their heyday they were awash with many top notch sitcoms easpecially in the 1970's.The BBC are soldiering on but are so short of ideas they have resorted to a remake of The Rise And Fall Of Reggie Perrin.Sorry but sitcoms like My Family just don't rock my boat at all and whilst Only Fools And Horses spin-off The Green Green Grass Of hHome is watchable it doesn't enter into the classic category.Best sitcom in recent years I'd say being Still Game but I wouldn't label it a classic either.

John Cleese knows what he is talking about and I fully agree with his comments.

Retro4Life · 05-11-2009, 07:32 PM

Not only do I agree with him, but I'd extend his theory to include American television as well.

05-06-2009, 10:31 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	John Cleese: British comedy's golden age is over! John Cleese: British comedy's golden age is over By Martin Smith on May 6, 09 02:21 PM THE golden age of British TV comedy has passed, John Cleese said today. The 69-year-old was reunited with the cast of Fawlty Towers - Connie Booth, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs - to unveil two documentaries about the making of the classic 70s sitcom. Not quite everyone agrees though... Asked what he thought of modern British comedy the former Monty Python star said: "I don't think the writers work as hard as they used to, and I think they may lack experience because I don't think the writing is as good as it used to be. "But I do proudly say that in the 60s, 70s and 80s we did have the least bad television in the world, and that's quite a claim. I think the main problem now is it's run on the basis of money." Cleese reveals in the 30th anniversary documentary Fawlty Towers: Re-opened that the BBC originally dismissed the idea of the sitcom as "dire". Speaking at a press launch in London today the actor, who starred as erratic hotel owner Basil Fawlty in the sitcom he co-wrote with his then wife Connie Booth, confirmed that producers could not see the programme appealing to viewers. Cleese said: "There is a famous note which I have a copy of, I think it's framed. "What happened was, Connie and I wrote that first episode and we sent it in to Jimmy Gilbert. "And first of all the fellow whose job it was to assess the quality of the writing said, and I can quote it fairly accurately, 'This is full of cliched situations and stereotypical characters and I cannot see it as being anything other than a disaster'. "And Jimmy himself said 'You're going to have to get them out of the hotel, John, you can't do the whole thing in the hotel'. "Whereas, of course, it's in the hotel that the whole pressure cooker builds up." The 69-year-old Monty Python star, who now lives in California, also claimed he had to support himself by appearing in commercials due to the low wage the BBC paid him for making Fawlty Towers. Cleese said: "I have to thank the advertising industry for making this possible. Connie and I used to spend six weeks writing each episode and we didn't make a lot of money out of it. "This will amuse you but in 1975 when I did Fawlty Towers for the first time we made six shows. Well, it took six weeks to make each show, so that's 36 weeks, one week to film them - 37 weeks - and six weeks to actually tape them in the studio so that's 43 weeks' work, for which I was paid for writing and performing and filming, £6,000. "So that meant that I was able to subsidise my writing time by doing commercials. "If it hadn't been for the commercials, I wouldn't have been able to afford to spend so much time on the script." http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/p...omedys-go.html
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

05-06-2009, 10:41 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Well if anyone would know about British Comedy it would be John Cleese. On the other hand he does seem to be a bit of a bitter old man these days so maybe we should take what he says with a grain of salt.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

05-11-2009, 07:32 PM	#4
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Not only do I agree with him, but I'd extend his theory to include American television as well.