But can PBS please stop running AYBS now? Please?? It's not like the BBC stopped making TV shows in the 70's. How about Heartbeat instead? Anything, please. Just no more Are You Being Served. I totally got served, thanks. I'm good now. posted by GuyZero at 2:20 PM on July 1, 2009 [11 favorites]
Oh, sadness!
Are You Being Served was my favorite TV show growing up. Sure, I watched Full House and Family Matters like everyone else, but it was the cheeky double entendres and mesmerizing theme song of this strange aquarium-like world (nothing exists outside the store!) that really made me smile.
Mrs. Slocombe, and her pussy, will be missed. posted by ocherdraco at 2:23 PM on July 1, 2009
My Mom loved her in AYBS and so did I.
RIP Mrs. Sugden. posted by darkstar at 2:27 PM on July 1, 2009
May she never have to deal with obstropulous people again.
With Wendy Richards' departure in February, the Ladies' Department is now unattended.
. posted by Heretic at 2:48 PM on July 1, 2009
They're dropping like flies.
Mollie Sugden came from the fantastic era of British comedy that gave us Carry On and a raft of double entendre driven comedy. Sadly missed.
Mollie Sugden got to the pearly gates and asked for a halo, so St Peter gave her one. Boom-boom!
You wouldn't be able to make pussy jokes on a US primetime sitcom, would you? I wonder if that's simply because of US prudery, or if it's because "pussy" almost exclusively refers to female genitalia in the US, whereas in the UK it's still quite widely used to refer to a cat. posted by yoink at 2:59 PM on July 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
Are You Being Served was my favourite show when I was quite young. I'm genuinely sad that we have now lost Mollie Sugden, Wendy Richard and John Inman. posted by sueinnyc at 2:59 PM on July 1, 2009
You wouldn't be able to make pussy jokes on a US primetime sitcom, would you? I wonder if that's simply because of US prudery, or if it's because "pussy" almost exclusively refers to female genitalia in the US, whereas in the UK it's still quite widely used to refer to a cat.
The English comedian David Baddiel once joked that when AYBS was first shown, Mrs Slocombe seemed to be taking chiefly about her cat, with a faint entendre about her vagina. Whereas now, she appears to be unabashedly talking abut her vagina, with the slight possibility it might actually be about her cat ... posted by outlier at 3:10 PM on July 1, 2009 [10 favorites]
There was a techno remix of AYBS' theme song? Man, I'd love to hear that. posted by boo_radley at 3:17 PM on July 1, 2009 [3 favorites]
Mrs. Slocombe is one of the namesakes of a fabulous local ice cream shop: Humphrey Slocombe. I would recommend that anyone within traveling distance should go have a cone there in her memory. posted by gingerbeer at 3:37 PM on July 1, 2009
Are You Being Served was my favourite show when I was quite young. I'm genuinely sad that we have now lost Mollie Sugden, Wendy Richard and John Inman.
Inman is always confused in my mind with Kenneth Williams, perhaps not unreasonably given the Carry On films were cranking out in parallel with Are You Being Served?
If you wanted to provide definitions of "camp" or "double entendre" you would need only show episodes of AYBS. posted by rodgerd at 3:42 PM on July 1, 2009 [2 favorites]
So this is what everyone else felt like earlier in the week when Michael Jackson died... posted by greekphilosophy at 3:55 PM on July 1, 2009 [12 favorites]
I remember my parents letting me watch that show at a very young age and I somehow got it all. Between Mollie and John Inman, it was everything I needed to make my Sunday afternoon be filled with laughter.
"...going down." posted by deezil at 4:45 PM on July 1, 2009
And yes, btw, I'm surprised at the number of people who watched AYBS as children. I think it's probably because there just wasn't anything else on PBS Sunday afternoon besides New Yankee Workshop.
I'd much rather see endless repeats of AYBS than the draggy and unfunny "Last of the Summer Wine," which is all they show on the public TV stations in Nashville. posted by blucevalo at 5:30 PM on July 1, 2009 [2 favorites]
"I do hope you're not labouring under the misapprehension that I was in the pub boozing, I merely popped in to buy a packet of crisops."
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She was part of my childhood, and I am unanimous in that. posted by biscotti at 5:57 PM on July 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
ooh, that coil version + vid was weeeird. but somewhat likeable. posted by NikitaNikita at 6:05 PM on July 1, 2009
Oh god...
This was my favorite show as a child. Just a few months ago I sat down and watched the whole series from start to end. It was just as funny and cheerful and I just LOVE it so much.
Good to see so many people paying tribute to Mollie. Her death is especially poignant for me, because I was a bridesmaid at her wedding. posted by eatyourcellphone at 7:03 PM on July 1, 2009 [8 favorites]
RIP, Mary Elizabeth Jennifer Rachel Yiddell Abergavenny Slocombe. Maybe now your erotic dreams will finally come to fruition.
I've watched AYBS? so many times I know many of the episodes--and lines--by heart. It is indeed sad to see the cast members pass on, but they live forever in this British--and American--institution.
Mollie Sugden, thanks for everything. And never, ever respond to another man's finger.
I think it's probably because there just wasn't anything else on PBS Sunday afternoon besides New Yankee Workshop.
AYBS came on Saturday evenings around ten for me. My dad introduced me to it and mentioned there were some dirty jokes, but they flew right over my head!
Still loved it. Loved her <3 posted by rubah at 7:31 PM on July 1, 2009
But can PBS please stop running AYBS now? Please??
Noooooooo!!! (Of course, they've already axed it here...and yet, for some inexplicable reason, Keeping Up Appearances lives on. Huh?) posted by Sys Rq at 8:05 PM on July 1, 2009
Aww, first John Inman and now Mollie! AYBS would have been nothing at all without them.
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I loved her cameo on Little Britain. David Walliams played Liz, who shamelessly brags nonstop about how she was a bridesmaid at Mollie Sugden's wedding.. until she happens to actually bump into Mollie Sugden, that is. Twoclips. posted by Mael Oui at 8:31 PM on July 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
I loved that show. One of the funniest bits ever was when the staff spent the night at the store. You hear an angry MEOW and then "Mr Humphries! Leave my pussy alone".
I always think of her when I talk to my cats. posted by mike3k at 8:50 PM on July 1, 2009 [1 favorite]
She was a diamond. (Though let's not forget Come Back Mrs. Noah, which was truly horrifyingly bad.)
I used to watch New Yankee Workshop with my dad, then he would leave to go do some woodworking in his shop, leaving me to develop a love for british comedy and dirty jokes and puns.
Although Mrs Slocombe was her most famous role, I'll always remember her as Jimmy Clitheroe's mother in the TV productions of The Clitheroe Kid. There's nothing weirder than a man in his 40's playing a little boy. posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:37 PM on July 1, 2009
Moms Minus will definitely be bummed about this. She loved that show, possibly more than she loves the Queen, or Jeopardy!, and she loves the Queen and Jeopardy!a lot.
The English comedian David Baddiel once joked that when AYBS was first shown, Mrs Slocombe seemed to be taking chiefly about her cat, with a faint entendre about her vagina. Whereas now, she appears to be unabashedly talking abut her vagina, with the slight possibility it might actually be about her cat ...
Could that be because the young Baddiel was not desperately familiar with the less feline interpretation? He would have been 8 hen it was first shown. Slightly interestingly, in looking up his age, imdb has Baddiel as being born in the US. posted by biffa at 2:27 AM on July 2, 2009
I never really understood how You Got Served was supposed to be a sequel to this show? posted by Pollomacho at 4:28 AM on July 2, 2009
Choice Mollie Sugden clips from AYBS and other shows. posted by blucevalo at 9:03 AM on July 2, 2009
.
I had been holding off showing this series to my kids. I thought I was kinda odd for liking it so much as a child and that maybe it wouldn't interest them. I think I will give it a shot though. posted by saucysault at 9:22 AM on July 2, 2009
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posted by dnash at 2:07 PM on July 1, 2009