Comments on: Video Chronology of The History of British TV Comedy

Video Chronology of The History of British TV Comedy

Foci for Analysis — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:38:57 -0800

By: nicolin

nicolin — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:55:04 -0800

Fantastic ! thanks a lot.

By: RokkitNite

RokkitNite — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:55:12 -0800

My goodness.

By: badrolemodel

badrolemodel — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:58:40 -0800

Wow, but ... On. The. Buses ?

By: EndsOfInvention

EndsOfInvention — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:09:29 -0800

Plus the obligatory "Spaced isn't noteworthy but Smack The Pony is???" ;)

By: Phire

Phire — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:15:35 -0800

Holy hell.

By: farishta

farishta — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:18:23 -0800

Great post, an amazing collection. I just moved to the UK a few months ago and have been amazed by British comedy. Here's another favorite: the satirical dateline-style "Brass Eye," which was taken off the air for an amazing special called "Paedogeddon," linked here in three parts.

By: Mael Oui

Mael Oui — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:22:17 -0800

Best FPP ever! You're a God. End of story! (Also, if anyone's interested, you can easily watch all six episodes of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace on YouTube, and here's the BBC's playlist of Mighty Boosh clips.. just in case anyone wanted to check them out!)

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:23:57 -0800

Chris Morris is a genius.

By: Chunder

Chunder — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:24:35 -0800

What about Coupling? Man Stroke Woman? Great set of links, though - a good way to get an introduction to stuff that I wouldn't necessarily sit down to watch an episode of on TV, and therefore don't know what I'm missing out on...

By: Xere

Xere — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:28:20 -0800

I always enjoyed Goodness Gracious Me. See here: Going out for an English, Arranged Shag, Rehabilitation, World War II.

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:30:54 -0800

Oh, and French and Saunders doing Björk — classic.

By: andraste

andraste — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:31:41 -0800

You missed The Goodies! (Goodies at 6; Doctor Who at 6:30. Best hour of TV EVER. My childhood was the richer for it.)

By: crossoverman

crossoverman — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:32:01 -0800

Wow. That's the most YouTube links in a FPP ever! Still just YouTube links though.

By: andraste

andraste — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:34:26 -0800

And after all, The Goodies is a show at which someone quite literally died laughing.

By: RokkitNite

RokkitNite — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:35:36 -0800

Wow. That's the most YouTube links in a FPP ever! Still just YouTube links though. That's like standing on the mezzanine inside Scrooge McDuck's Money Bin, casting a couple of bored glances around then sniffing: 'Still just dollars though.'

By: Gratishades

Gratishades — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:38:13 -0800

Good golly, that is a lot of work and good show(s) (though it pre-empts a good few more in depth FPPs and will be the source of a few cries of 'Double' in the future I suspect).

By: roofus

roofus — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:50:57 -0800

The 1980's is missing Alas Smith and Jones, The Lenny Henry Show, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, and Jeeves and Wooster.

By: Chunder

Chunder — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:53:10 -0800

The Drop the Dead Donkey clips have been well selected - the stuff on that show was so topical that they were making fun of current events that had happened that week; I bet that time hasn't been very kind to some of the sketches now that they're out of context. The phrase "a nice cup of coffee and a lobotomy, and everything will be fine" is still appropriate, though :)

By: vbfg

vbfg — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:10:00 -0800

I grew up listening to Dad's tapes of Hancock radio shows. Obviously contemporaries of the show didn't have the same trouble I have in watching it when translated to TV, cos at the time it was the biggest show on TV just as it was on the radio. Painful to watch for me though. Even with later series where they aired on TV first and then radio versions were done later (like The Blood Doner, The Radio Ham, etc), the TV versions seem stilted and unfunny compared to the radio version.

By: vbfg

vbfg — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:13:46 -0800

btw, no Likely Lads clips but there are a few Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? clips knocking about.

By: kcds

kcds — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:21:55 -0800

Great list! I've lived in the States almost half my life, and, especially since moving away, I've always felt that British TV comedies were just so much more inventive, daring and clever than anything you'd see on US TV - especially when you consider that these were all "network" shows and not cable. It just makes me laugh when people here in the US trot out the old stereotype of the British being reserved or prudish. "Wardrobe malfunction" LOL. I'd like to nominate "Three of a Kind" ('81-'83) - fast-paced sketch-based comedy with a regular cast and recurring characters that presaged "The Fast Show" (aka "Brilliant" as it is titled on BBC America) launched Tracy Ullman's career (and to a lesser extent, Lenny Henry's), so in a sense you could say ... no Three of a Kind, no Tracy Ullman Show, and therefore .... no Simpsons!

By: mattoxic

mattoxic — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:32:53 -0800

I thank you for reminding me of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin No The Mighty Boosh ? Serious omission. Here is some of their early radio work

By: mattoxic

mattoxic — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:40:29 -0800

Man about the house?

By: maxwelton

maxwelton — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:50:46 -0800

Who was the comedian missing half a finger again? Why can I never remember his name? Problem with this FPP: I have work to do. Today I learned in May I will be spending $2000 on a crown. Given that, I suspect my clients won't be able to pay to have me watch more than 50% of the links.

By: Phanx

Phanx — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:55:53 -0800

Who was the comedian missing half a finger again? Dave Allen?

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:02:11 -0800

I'm saddened by the lack of Mighty Boosh but heartened by the inclusion of Vic Reeves. Any comedy show that initially makes you go "what? The? Fuck?", and then slowly grows on you until you're a raving fan who won't talk about anything else is not properly British. Here's Old Greg.

By: seanmpuckett

seanmpuckett — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:11:47 -0800

Good night, thank you, and may your god go with you.

By: zerobyproxy

zerobyproxy — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:36:45 -0800

Thank you! A couple cold nights on the road will be a little better after checking out these links. Here is a bit more Peep Show. One of the funniest shows out there. mathowie--this deserves a gold star for posting.

By: not_on_display

not_on_display — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:37:43 -0800

Am I at the end of the list yet? (Theme to Benny Hill is playing in my head.)

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:38:42 -0800

Great Googly Moogly. Between this, the Atlantic archives, and the Avante Garde site, I will never get anything done for the rest of my life. And since I've been having myself a Black Books marathon and would like to share: Bill Bailey does Kraftwerk in his particular way.

By: monkeyJuice

monkeyJuice — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 04:49:44 -0800

Llll arrr ruh duh

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:05:07 -0800

No Naked Video... from which came the immortal Rab C Nesbitt

By: fatfrank

fatfrank — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:06:53 -0800

My two pence: Early doors, once of the finest character comedies this country has ever produced. You Tube search Sorry, I'm at work so don't have time to select individual clips, but try going in episode order. Background: BBC Early doors site Wikipedia

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:13:22 -0800

And another Scottish sketch show that spawned a great sitcom was Chewin' The Fat which spawned Still Game. There's loads of both on You Tube

By: FidelDonson

FidelDonson — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:14:01 -0800

This is too much

By: mattoxic

mattoxic — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:15:54 -0800

I remember as a kid watching Dave Allen late on friday nights with my dad andy ounger brother. My mum was a faily committed catholic refused to sit and watch- she ddn't make a big deal of it, but would busy herself doing things. She'd always be in the room when Dave delivered a punchline, and always laughed along with us- but importantly, like a good catholic, she wan't watching.

By: FidelDonson

FidelDonson — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:16:40 -0800

I was just recently stumbled across Bad New. A precursor to The Young Ones i think.

By: FidelDonson

FidelDonson — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:17:19 -0800

* thats 'Bad News'

By: Summer

Summer — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:48:15 -0800

I think 'Bad News' is post-Young Ones. I remember watching it and thinking it wasn't as good as the Young Ones anyway.

By: i_cola

i_cola — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:48:52 -0800

Also, check out the comedy on Radio 4 & Radio 7. The Listen Again section is on demand. A lot of the comedy that ends up on TV starts on Radio 4 & Radio 7 repeats classics from the archives. (Bleak Expectations is a current personal favourite.) Other things to add: Keeping Up Appearances?!?!? Bloody hell...but the on locations are filmed in my birth town. The Goodies were crap when they went to ITV. In reverse, I'd recommend the UKians to check out 30 Rock (Ch5), My Name is Earl (Ch4), The Sarah Silverman Show (Paramount), Robot Chicken & Boondocks (Bravo/Adult Swim slot). I certainly wouldn't recommend getting them via bittorrent if you can't find them via your TV.

By: afx237vi

afx237vi — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:17:54 -0800

Great post, but whenever I see Americans discussing British comedy I am always amazed that utter shite like Keeping Up Appearances crops up. I mean, it has one joke and only one joke. And that joke is not funny. Out of the latest stuff, I'd recommend Gavin & Stacey. Funniest sitcom I've seen for years.

By: vbfg

vbfg — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:18:55 -0800

Bad News was part of Comic Strip Presents..., which was very early Channel 4. In fact the Famous Five one might even have been opening night Channel 4, unless my memory is letting me down. Ever so slightly post Young Ones, but only just. I remember them doing a catchy little piano number about a girl called Imogen and "all the people". I'm sure I'd heard it before.

By: kcds

kcds — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:30:06 -0800

"Bad News" was the low-budget, British "Spinal Tap". Thanks for reminding me of "The Comic Strip Presents ..." - yes, "Five Go Mad In Dorset" which was, if I recall correctly, followed by "Five Go Mad On Mescaline". Favo(u)rite memory from one of the two - exterior shot of a tent at night, figure of Dawn French silhouetted on the fabric, clearly she is seated, I think with her knees drawn up, whereupon Timmy the dog enters the shot, snuffles around Dawn French's nethers which elicits from Ms. French the response "Oh, Timmy, you're so licky ..."

By: jadepearl

jadepearl — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:34:51 -0800

Curse, bless you now! I had WORK to do and a crappy meeting to attend but now...it will be spent watching all these clips and whatever anyone else is vetting for as great shows. I think I will send this FPP to as many people as possible to bring the workplace productivity to a standstill. In these times of "we are doomed!" how could you bring down the productivity of the world economy like this? Oh the manatee.

By: afx237vi

afx237vi — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:46:39 -0800

Also missing from the list is Rab C Nesbitt (88-99), about an unemployed, alcoholic Glaswegian and his bizarre, dysfunctional family. Probably one of the bleakest, most depressing sitcoms ever shown on British TV. Good luck with the accents -- Lottery Numbers, City of Culture, Fitba

By: Gungho

Gungho — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:54:49 -0800

Did I miss it? The Kumars at # 42 appeared on BBC America, so I assume it was also on BBC

By: the sobsister

the sobsister — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:04:45 -0800

No When The Whistle Blows? Why, that show introduced Americans to catchphrase comedy!

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:17:57 -0800

There's the post-Python Palin Ripping Yarns... Here's the first part of Golden Gorden. Eight One! Eight Bloody One!

By: Pastabagel

Pastabagel — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:22:00 -0800

Yeah yeah British TV is so great. But do you guys have According to Jim? (men are so stupid! lol!) Did you guys have Home Improvement? (clumsy oaf! men are so stupid! lol) What about Growing Pains? (cute puppy! men are so stupid! LOL) Or Who's the Boss? (men are so stupid, but successful women are cold and asexual! lol!) Yeah, that's what I thought. Call me when your shows get a network-approved moral message ten minutes before the closing credits. Dude, no Coupling? "You have the eyes of ten women...not in a jar or anything, I'm not accusing you!"

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:25:14 -0800

A cursory examination of the first part of this list reveals that most sketch comedy in late twentieth century America - particularly Saturday Night Live, Laugh In, and the like - is an embarrassing regurgitation of British comedic structure. Anyone who thinks "Coupling" was a British ripoff of "Friends" completely fail to see the dynamic between the expression of comedic talent in these two countries (Besides, we tried to turn Coupling into Friends and failed miserably-God that was embarrassing). Thanks UK! The world would be a hell of a lot less funny without ya!

By: GhostintheMachine

GhostintheMachine — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:25:17 -0800

Great! Super!

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:29:03 -0800

Oh. Right. No Coupling YouTube linkage. We'll fix that.

By: vbfg

vbfg — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:35:08 -0800

"Bad News" was the low-budget, British "Spinal Tap". If Spinal Tap were doing a cover of Bohemian Rhapsody they'd never "skip the bollocks and go straight for the rocking bit".

By: Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:42:42 -0800

One of my personal hobbyhorse topics - I'd say you missed a select few, but otherwise excellent job. The Harry Enfield Show: Miles Cholmondely Warner Alexei Sayle's Stuff - very much a precursor to the Armanado Iannuci shows in style. The Mary Whitehouse Experience: History Today Newman And Baddiel: In pieces. Fist Of Fun : Simon Quinlank, King of Hobbies, some early appearances from the actor Kevin Eldon. This Morning With Richard Not Judy : And Then I Got Off The Bus The surreal, twisted ambient sketch show Jam. Chris Morris' least accessible show, probably. Often filmed to give a deliberately disjointed, dreamlike feel, like in Doc Cock (both clips feature Kevin Eldon ) The more or less execrable 11'O Clock Show, notable mainly for showing early appearances from Ricky Gervais (Essentially playing the role now occupied by Karl Pilkington on his podcasts ) and Ali G. Look Around You: Music 2000 - Machadaynu. Kevin Eldon again. Nathan Barley, Chris Morris and Charlie Brooker's brutal skewering of vacuous new media Idiots in London.

By: jtron

jtron — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:42:43 -0800

This is beautiful. Thank you!

By: Horace Rumpole

Horace Rumpole — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:42:49 -0800

By: asok

asok — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:04:31 -0800

By 9 o'clock I am well thumbed.

By: mwhybark

mwhybark — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:14:18 -0800

jaysus h keerist on a pogo stick! In my defense, it should be noted that at the time I was very, very drunk.

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:30:24 -0800

This post needs its own wiki. STAT!

By: Foci for Analysis

Foci for Analysis — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:31:41 -0800

I knew that I would forget something. I'd really want to reedit the post and add your suggestions, just to make it a bit more complete. Anyways, glad you liked it.

By: Summer

Summer — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:35:29 -0800

I just got Season One of Father Ted from Netflix, and was amused but not blown away. Are the later seasons better, or is this one that just isn't working for me? (If this helps you triangulate my tastes: Fawlty Towers: best show ever; Knowing Me, Knowing You: painfully hilarious; Are You Being Served: painfully unfunny; Mr. Bean: crime against humanity) If you don't like episode 1, let alone the first series, you're never going to like it. Having said that, I reacted badly against the IT Crowd when I first saw it (written by Graham Linehan who co-wrote Father Ted) but came to love it.

By: Jay Reimenschneider

Jay Reimenschneider — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:05:05 -0800

Holy crap - what a post. Nice job.

By: Alvy Ampersand

Alvy Ampersand — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:07:57 -0800

I dunno, Summer, I went back and watched the first season of Father Ted not too long ago and found the first few episodes sort of off. I love the series, but I think it took while for the humour and sensibility to really jell.

By: schoolgirl report

schoolgirl report — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:10:49 -0800

What, no Mind Your Language?

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:22:45 -0800

This Morning With Richard Not Judy : And Then I Got Off The Bus I heard that they were hated by the 'comedy establishment' for that and similar stuff... I still quote 'It's like X on acid' or even lazier 'It's like X on drugs' when they did Lazy Journalist Slags. A great show that was... all the better for being on Sunday mornings and watched through the haze of a hangover.

By: oneirodynia

oneirodynia — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:37:07 -0800

Seconding Jam, if feeling creeped out and ill at ease makes you laugh. Thanks for the list! There's a bunch of things on here I used to watch on a local's "Britcom" night, but couldn't remember the names of the shows to google.

By: Pastabagel

Pastabagel — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:46:25 -0800

I'll toss in As Time Goes By. I don't know if it qualifies as a comedy, but I'm way outside the demographic and me and my sweetie like it nonetheless.

By: chuckdarwin

chuckdarwin — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:27:10 -0800

Sorry, but no Boosh? It should be in the top ten, along with The Office. This is an old man's list.

By: ramix

ramix — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 11:17:57 -0800

I hate you! I really do! You know why? Coz you're going to get me fired today! I know it! but damn!!!! Thanks!

By: CitizenD

CitizenD — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:09:48 -0800

a bit of frye and laurie? jeeves and wooster? but otherwise.......totally awesome. thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaank you!!!

By: infidelpants

infidelpants — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:29:26 -0800

Don't forget the Two Ronnies' Mastermind sketch.

By: Abiezer

Abiezer — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:37:32 -0800

Tommy Cooper.

By: Mintyblonde

Mintyblonde — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:46:25 -0800

I heard that they were hated by the 'comedy establishment' for that and similar stuff... I still quote 'It's like X on acid' or even lazier 'It's like X on drugs' when they did Lazy Journalist Slags. A great show that was... all the better for being on Sunday mornings and watched through the haze of a hangover. Try getting through 'The Kurious Orange' on a pill - sorry X for American readers - comedown and try to remain sane....don't start me on Rod Hull.....

By: ClanvidHorse

ClanvidHorse — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:24:26 -0800

Stella Street: The truly bizarre world of Hollywood A-listers living in a side street in Surbition. Joe Pesci to Michael Caine: "What the fuck's mulch? You're going on like a fuckin' garden gnome. I'm trying to bury a stiff here and you're giving me all this rosebed shit, you mulch fuck." Jack Nicholson tries to buy Shreddies at Mick and Keef's corner shop: "Keith, you are so fucking out of it anything looks like a fuckin' pack of Shreddies at this time of day, huh" Joe Pesci blows up over some groceries: "You fish-stick selling fuck"

By: Tenuki

Tenuki — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:24:52 -0800

If you like Coupling you may also like Joking Apart(episode one part 1,2,3,) also written by Steven Moffat I saw it once on PBS years ago and recently rediscovered it.

By: redteam

redteam — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:49:39 -0800

WTF, man, I had things to do today! This is a very timely post for me as I was just looking for something like this on Netflix yesterday. I remember seeing a documentary about the history of British comedy on Bravo (the American cable TV channel) in 1997 or so. Does anyone remember this? I've been looking for a skit that was on it for years. It had two gentlemen in suits sitting at the bar in a pub. One is talking to the other one like he's making a real serious point but his speech is complete jibberish. When he's done speaking, the other man responds with "Now that's a lot of nonsense and you know it." Has anyone ever seen this? This documentary is also where I found out about the first episode of the second season of The Young Ones, which is the funniest thing I have ever seen. You know, the one where they go on University Challenge.

By: enjoytroy

enjoytroy — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:12:28 -0800

Many thanks for this - a keeper for sure. I was just talking about The Thin Blue Line yesterday.

By: Mr Bismarck

Mr Bismarck — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:58:48 -0800

All Hens on D'egg! Fabulous post Foci. I'm still amazed at how TMWRNJ managed to get on TV on a Sunday morning. I wish the Beeb would release it on DVD.

By: Mael Oui

Mael Oui — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:31:46 -0800

This documentary is also where I found out about the first episode of the second season of The Young Ones, which is the funniest thing I have ever seen. You know, the one where they go on University Challenge. Bambi! That actually was the best episode of the Young Ones! For these mammoth YouTube posts that some of you have made (though, I think this is the most extensive, impressive one I've ever seen).. is this something that you meticulously work on for weeks or do you actually knock it off in just a day or two?

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:14:09 -0800

Huh. I guess I never seen Spaced. I mean I thought I did. I'd be like in my head, "Spaced? That's that thing with that guy Simon Pegg who did Shaun of the Dead yeah that was cool. I think I remember seeing that years ago." And I thought it was like Shaun of the Dead only.. about space aliens. You know. Like, Sci-fi. But I just saw the first episode of the first season, thanks to this thread. It's not like that at all. Huh. I should go hunt down the DVDs now...

By: Pronoiac

Pronoiac — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:52:10 -0800

Oh yes you should see Spaced. I'm having a go at a wiki page.

By: Grrlscout

Grrlscout — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:28:43 -0800

Sorry, all you Booshers, but a handful of brilliant moments aside, you can't be serious that it's on a par with Brass Eye, Harry Enfield or Not the Nine O'Clock News! Really shocked Enfield & Brass Eye not on that original list. Am cringing as I say this, but what about Shameless and Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps?

By: EndsOfInvention

EndsOfInvention — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:48:31 -0800

So you think Boosh isn't good enough, but then nominate... Two Pints and a Packet of Crisps...??

By: Summer

Summer — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:38:30 -0800

The Mighty Boosh is definitely on a par with Spaced and the IT Crowd, disappointing though the third series totally was. Howard: Women would swoon when Tommy shuffled into a room. It was a different aesthetic then. None of your fashionable androgeny in Tommy's day. He was a man's man. I mean, look at you, the feather cut, the pointy features, the jeans. Vince: I'm contemporary. Howard: Exactly. Put you in the '50s, you'd be immediately imprisoned for being a witch. The thing about the Boosh is that it's habit forming.

By: Summer

Summer — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:02:27 -0800

OH, and the other thing about the Mighty Boosh is it looks and sounds brilliant.

By: jackiemcghee

jackiemcghee — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:08:57 -0800

Bad News came before Spinal Tap. It's just something worth remembering...

By: chuckdarwin

chuckdarwin — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:19:47 -0800

My favourite show is actually Sensitive Skin.

By: Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:15:37 -0800

Boosh, especially the first series, has some of the best double-act banter I've ever seen. It is also to be heavily commended for striking away from the dry, cringe-comedy Office and Peep Show mode, by being deliriously, unashamedly surreal and colourful. Of course, Flight Of The Conchords, which I regard as an honourary British Comedy (it's completely NZ/US, but it deserves its place in the canon ) has done a brilliant job of synthesizing what makes both types of comedy so enjoyable.

By: Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:17:02 -0800

Oh, and EndsOfInvention - yes. Two Pints does nothing for me, other than getting me into a frothing state of mouth-foaming annoyance at its continued existence.

By: ZachsMind

ZachsMind — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:55:12 -0800

PastaBagel: "I'll toss in As Time Goes By..." I'd definitely second the motion of including As Time Goes By in this list. Not not that one. The other one. Tho far from surreal or hip or any of those other things, it's delightful, and Dame Judi Dench is hot! Tho perhaps not 'timeless' It certainly deals with themes and concepts that most everyone can understand. Generation gaps. Estrangement. Long lost love. The simple pleasures of life far outweighing the melodrama that most people embrace and wallow. The story of a man and woman who met during a war, fall in love, and then due to circumstance are separated for decades only to happen into one another's lives why its simply beautiful - like roses and waterfalls and rainbows are beautiful. The laughs aren't as mile-a-minute as The Two Ronnies but the meat on the bone is far juicier. The writing of As Time Goes By is impeccable. The characters are heartwarming. It's great fun. If this series didn't invent the phrase romantic comedy, they reinvented it, or perhaps made the phrase obsolete. Admittedly, the older one gets, the more they're going to appreciate As Time Goes By, so if you're a big fan of British comedy, and too young to understand and appreciate why it sucks to have a friendly kiss with a lady friend and then suddenly realize you have to go pee... Well, let's just say with this television series you have something to look forward to.

By: quin

quin — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:21:12 -0800

The Young Ones at 31? Spaced at 66!? I demand a recount! And no Hyperdrive? Actually, I agree with a lot of the inclusions here, just not necessarily the order.

By: Pronoiac

Pronoiac — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:42:36 -0800

EndsOfInvention: Plus the obligatory "Spaced isn't noteworthy but Smack The Pony is???" ;) It's in there. Surprisingly, right above Smack the Pony. blue_beetle: This post needs its own wiki. STAT! Done. Er, wait, you meant wiki page, right? quin: Actually, I agree with a lot of the inclusions here, just not necessarily the order. It's in chronological order! Yeah, it's kind of hard to work on editing that page without getting horribly sidetracked.

By: Pronoiac

Pronoiac — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:38:33 -0800

Oh, wait, you meant Spaced didn't get a star. Yeah, that's just wrong.

By: Rumple

Rumple — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:51:50 -0800

I knew there was something missing here, and it's the Mary Whitehouse Experience, especially the History Today sketches by Newman and Baddiel, which for some completely unfathomable reason I find hilarious. That's You, that is. 1; 2, 3; 4. Thanks for the great post.

By: Rumple

Rumple — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:08:53 -0800

The order for those History today links should be 2,3,4 then link 1 is the three episodes from the 2nd season.