Jobs & Education4 mins ago
They Simply Don't Make 'em Like That Anymore!
Just watched an episode of Rising Damp from the 70s. Just as funny as ever and unlike certain modern day so-called sitcoms, will still be funny 30 years hence, as will be the likes of Fawlty Towers, Steptoe+Son, Porridge, Only Fools(First 10 years), Till Death Do Us Part, Dads Army and a few others.
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due to financial and technological limitations of the time these programmes were usually only filmed in 1 location be it steptoes house or rigsbys bedsits. on the rare occasions where they did move away from this comfort zone more often than not the comedy didnt work as well which could go some way to explain why todays sitcoms dont feel the same.
there are exceptions of course with one classic scene being in fawlty towers where his car breaks down.
there are exceptions of course with one classic scene being in fawlty towers where his car breaks down.
Some of the sitcoms mentioned by paraffin went on too long, though; Dad's Army ought to have been ended when James Beck (Pte Walker) died as (IMHO) none of the episodes in the last two series were as good as their forerunners. The genius of Fawlty Towers is that they stopped it when it was still good.
Whatever happened to the Likely Lads? is a good example of that rare instance where a sequel was actually better than the original, and some of the humour was quite dark.
Whatever happened to the Likely Lads? is a good example of that rare instance where a sequel was actually better than the original, and some of the humour was quite dark.
I think the essence of all great comedy is a character trapped in their situation. It's a thread that runs through all the greats - the ones mentioned, plus Hancock, One Foot In The Grave, the link is the same. That is why they falter when the character is out of situ, the 'trapped' feeling dissipates, and the effect can be diluted.
The strength of them all is a lead character with an encyclopedia of character flaws fighting (and usually loosing) their own personal prison.
Since the formula is there - how hard can it be to replicate - Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant managed it, as did Craig Cash and Phil Mealy with the sublime Early Doors - people just don;t seem to want to raise the standard anymore, when dross like Two Pints O f Lagar drangs on for series after series.
The strength of them all is a lead character with an encyclopedia of character flaws fighting (and usually loosing) their own personal prison.
Since the formula is there - how hard can it be to replicate - Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant managed it, as did Craig Cash and Phil Mealy with the sublime Early Doors - people just don;t seem to want to raise the standard anymore, when dross like Two Pints O f Lagar drangs on for series after series.
I too am a big fan of Early Doors too (I'm sure it hasn't had a terrestrial screening yet, but it deserves one).
Just on the subject of the question, let's not forget that there were many comedies of the 1970's that haven't stood the test of time, and have vanished from our memories. There were plenty that never made it beyond the first series, or even beyond their pilot episode.
I'm sure that in thirty years time, we will be able to find the same number of good comedies from the noughties as are listed above from the 1970's that will also stand the test of time.
Just on the subject of the question, let's not forget that there were many comedies of the 1970's that haven't stood the test of time, and have vanished from our memories. There were plenty that never made it beyond the first series, or even beyond their pilot episode.
I'm sure that in thirty years time, we will be able to find the same number of good comedies from the noughties as are listed above from the 1970's that will also stand the test of time.
Great comments, guys! I totally agree that some of them do go on too long i.e. Only Fools, Dad's Army, although in the case of the latter it seemed to fail ultimately because they tried to replace James Beck but the broad Welsh character(through no fault of his) fell flat.
Yes, the excellent Early Doors, The Office and Extras have risen above some of the chaff on offer.
tonymclark: Wasn't Early Doors shown on BBC2?
Yes, the excellent Early Doors, The Office and Extras have risen above some of the chaff on offer.
tonymclark: Wasn't Early Doors shown on BBC2?
I believe it was - and they are re-running it now on BBC4 (?)
That superb series echoes another of my theories - that comedy and tragedy arer a nano-second apart, and skilled writers can skate the line between without loosing either comedic impact or pathos.
Witness Ken's reaction when he knew Debbie was meeting her 'real dad' - he went to his room and cried, and I cried with him! As a step-father myself, although that situation did not arise, I could totally empathise with how he felt. But a quick chorus of "To the regiment - I wish I was there!" in the next episode, I was howling with laughter again.
If you watch all the episodes of 'One Foot In The Grave' you will hear one - and only one ever - reference to the Meldrews' child who died in infancy. Perfect pathos encapsulated - this is the genius of top comedy writing - into tragedy, and out again, without leaving any traces.
That superb series echoes another of my theories - that comedy and tragedy arer a nano-second apart, and skilled writers can skate the line between without loosing either comedic impact or pathos.
Witness Ken's reaction when he knew Debbie was meeting her 'real dad' - he went to his room and cried, and I cried with him! As a step-father myself, although that situation did not arise, I could totally empathise with how he felt. But a quick chorus of "To the regiment - I wish I was there!" in the next episode, I was howling with laughter again.
If you watch all the episodes of 'One Foot In The Grave' you will hear one - and only one ever - reference to the Meldrews' child who died in infancy. Perfect pathos encapsulated - this is the genius of top comedy writing - into tragedy, and out again, without leaving any traces.
Spot on, andy-h: My sentiments exactly re the pathos factor. All the best sitcoms have had that little "lump-in-the throat" moment, only to be followed immediately be another side-splitting line restoring the comedic attraction.
For example, Steptoe, Only Fools, even Extras and the Royle Family had such moments.
I well remember the Early Doors episode you refer to - great acting by a very underrated actor, John Henshaw. He is equally as good at whatever genre of acting he undertakes.
For example, Steptoe, Only Fools, even Extras and the Royle Family had such moments.
I well remember the Early Doors episode you refer to - great acting by a very underrated actor, John Henshaw. He is equally as good at whatever genre of acting he undertakes.
I may well have watched Early Doors on BBC2 as well, but have just forgotten. I think it is one of those comedies that pass a lot of people by.
But then we all have our own taste in comedy. I can't find anything funny in "My Family" (if that is what the one that Robert Lindsey is in is called), but I have friends who love the show.
Each to their own.
But then we all have our own taste in comedy. I can't find anything funny in "My Family" (if that is what the one that Robert Lindsey is in is called), but I have friends who love the show.
Each to their own.
tonymc: Early Doors is set in a pub oop North (Manchester, I think?). Written by two of its stars, Craig Cash and Tony Mealy, there's also Ken the landlord, the miserable old git in the corner who usually buys about one pint a day, a teletubbies married couple(she's called Joan) , not forgetting the two useless cops who always come in by the back door, drink copious amounts of booze, snort dope, and go back on duty! Ring any bells?
I agree with you about My Family - a waste of "Wolfie Smith's" talents.
I agree with you about My Family - a waste of "Wolfie Smith's" talents.
I loathe all the 'Kensington' comedies - they are so much a product of the Tristrams who write and commission them - and they have nothing in common with anyone north of Muwell Hill - which is 99% of the audiences!
That dross with Nicholas Lyndhurst and Celia Imrie is another example - can't remember the name of it, but it was very similar (ly dreadful!)
That dross with Nicholas Lyndhurst and Celia Imrie is another example - can't remember the name of it, but it was very similar (ly dreadful!)
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I too am a great fan of Early Doors. Its a shame it didn't get the recognition that it deserved.
You are right, taking the characters out of their home turf Often doesn't work. The Green Green Grass is an example. The writer is the same, the main characters are the same, but it doesn't work in the same way as Only Fools always did.
For me, it also illustrates the need for characters that you can like or empathise with. Again using Green Green Grass as an example I find the yokel characters irritating. For the same reason I never liked The Office Ricky Gervaise's character just made me cringe.
Has anyone seen Outnumbered. The last series was much better than the first. The script is sharper and the actos have settled nicely into their roles.
You are right, taking the characters out of their home turf Often doesn't work. The Green Green Grass is an example. The writer is the same, the main characters are the same, but it doesn't work in the same way as Only Fools always did.
For me, it also illustrates the need for characters that you can like or empathise with. Again using Green Green Grass as an example I find the yokel characters irritating. For the same reason I never liked The Office Ricky Gervaise's character just made me cringe.
Has anyone seen Outnumbered. The last series was much better than the first. The script is sharper and the actos have settled nicely into their roles.
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