Vote for the best British comedy

[Craig Tucker]

There have been a few threads recently on the subject of British comedy, so I thought I would compile this poll to see what comes out on top.

This poll may well be flawed in so far as, not all of these jems have been exported to a worldwide audience (I just don't know), particularly some of the newer stuff, but I thought I would do it anyway.

And for any non Brits, if there is anything on here you have never heard of, if you get the chance they are all well worth a viewing.

This is my selection of the cream of British sitcom, unfortunately there is only room for 10 options on a poll so I could not include all that I would of liked. Others very worthy of a mention are :

The Young Ones
Bottom
Absolutely Fabulous
The League of Gentlemen
Open All Hours
Yes Minister
Rising Damp
My Family
One Foot in the Grave
Alan Partridge
Father Ted
The Thin Blue Line

[Added]
Mr Bean
Dad's Army
Coupling
Time Gentlemen Please
Men Behaving Badly
Are You Being Served

Sorry if I have forgotton your favourite, if I have what is it ?

For me, it is the Office. Filmed documentry style, completely new and refreshing and the acting is excellent. I know it's not everyones cup of tea, and sometimes I actually find it difficult to watch, while David Brent is digging himself into yet another huge hole but that is what makes it so brilliant. I think my favourite scene has to be the dance he did on red nose day so as not to be outdone by his new boss Niel, this really does make you cringe.

[pbhalerao]

This is my selection of the cream of British sitcom, unfortunately there is only room for 10 options on a poll so I could not include all that I would of liked. Others very worthy of a mention are :

The Young Ones
Bottom
Absolutely Fabulous
The League of Gentlemen
Open All Hours
Yes Minister
Rising Damp
My Family
One Foot in the Grave
Alan Partridge
Father Ted
The Thin Blue Line

Sorry if I have forgotton your favourite, if I have what is it ?

For pure wit and sense of humour timing, you just cannot exclude Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.

Hence I did not vote.

[fakerbaker]

why oh why hasn't the series" bottom "been included in the vote although the rest are outstanding bottom would get my number 1 vote everytime.

[Craig Tucker]

Like I said, with only 10 poll options it is going to be impossible to include everybodies favourite. I think all the shows I have listed are excellent, if your favourite did not make it into the 10 poll options (not necessarily the 10 best shows), sorry.

[kenmo]

How about Mr Bean !!??

[pbhalerao]

OK. Voted for "Fawlty Towers". But not my original choice. 8)

[Craig Tucker]

How about Mr Bean !!??

Added it to the list, I knew there would be shows I would forget. I bet that won't be the only one.

[tweedledee]

What about "ripping yarns" and "Dads Army" Although I think "Yes Minister" is hard to beat.

[Craig Tucker]

I don't think ripping yarns could have been very popular over here. Put it this way I am a Brit and have never seen it. I know a lot of people like dads army but I never really found it that funny, but I will add it to the list as I know it has a large following.

[tweedledee]

Ripping yarns starred Micheal Palin from Monty Python and had that same crazy theme. Try and look at an episode. BTW, I'm British too.

[lordsmurf]

Except for Mr. Bean, I never found British comedy to be very funny. I'm not even sure where I can watch them, outside PBS and maybe BBC America. And I've never heard of some of those shows.

Call me an uncultured mut American, I guess.

[Faustus]

gotta go with black adder, next would be Python (actually more of a tie personally), then Red Dwarf.

[Craig Tucker]

Ripping yarns starred Micheal Palin from Monty Python and had that same crazy theme. Try and look at an episode. BTW, I'm British too.

I have heard of it, just never seen it. Can't be that popular over here otherwise it would be shown ad-infinitum on UK Gold

How long you been in Oz then ?

[Craig Tucker]

gotta go with black adder, next would be Python (actually more of a tie personally), then Red Dwarf.

Red Dwarf was a bit like Black Adder in so far as it got much better after the first series.

[Craig Tucker]

Call me an uncultured mut American, I guess.

You uncultured mut American

[Gees]

Craig,

This one's too hard. Can't decide. :c* I'm torn between Office, Royle Family, Pheonix Nights, Red Dwarf and then Alan P., Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, One Foot.....

I may need a day or two to think about this Toughest of all the Polls. :cD

[Craig Tucker]

It is difficult, there are some excellent shows there. I struggled to make a decision and there was really very little in it between several shows.

[clanger]

How about "Time Gentleman Please" ?
absolutely hilarious, if just a tad,well, anti everyone who's not british. (I would say racist but it's not really)
Only ever had 2 series I think (which is still more than fawlty towers !), but the first is definetly the best.
Set in a pub, revolving around the bar staff and the very dodgy regulars.... and Julie Swahala as an Aussie bar maid ! Ace !

"Aussies, born for bar work..... it's iiiiiinnnnnssssttttiiiiiiiiinnnnkkkkkkkttttt !"



currently being re-repeated on Paramount comedy I think

[disturbed1]

Benny Hill :P

[tweedledee]

Craig Tucker Wrote

How long you been in Oz then ?

Since 1972, but they have tv here, and you can buy pommie news papers. As I said, my first choice "yes Minister" then "Blackadder"

[Craig Tucker]

How about "Time Gentleman Please" ?
absolutely hilarious, if just a tad,well, anti everyone who's not british. (I would say racist but it's not really)
Only ever had 2 series I think (which is still more than fawlty towers !), but the first is definetly the best.
Set in a pub, revolving around the bar staff and the very dodgy regulars.... and Julie Swahala as an Aussie bar maid ! Ace !

"Aussies, born for bar work..... it's iiiiiinnnnnssssttttiiiiiiiiinnnnkkkkkkkttttt !"



currently being re-repeated on Paramount comedy I think

Yes, I do find that show quite funny on occasions but would not call it a classic.

[Gees]

BTW - I'm American married to an Englishman, so I'd never seen a lot of the shows until I moved here a few years back. Not many are shown in the States. The only I remember were Mr. Bean, Ab Fab, Blackadder, F. Towers, ..Being Served :cP, Red Dwarf, and of course, Monty Python.

Most are shown on PBS (Public Broadcasting) - sort of like U.S. version of BBC - commercial-free and mostly educational programs.

So, a lot of Americans will never have seen the other choices.

The only one that I don't see the humor in is Rising Damp. Never "got it". But all in your list are great. If U.S. got them all, I'm sure the opinions - and votes - would change.

[Gees]

Oh yeah - forgot - Benny Hill & Young Ones play in States too.

[AngusMacGyver]

Where's "TGPO's Life"?

[spaceman]

Where the hell is "Men behaving badly"

Oh well 2nd choice is Only fools & horses another classic.

[Craig Tucker]

Where the hell is "Men behaving badly"

Oh well 2nd choice is Only fools & horses another classic.

Told you I would forget some, added.

[Hardcoreruss]

1ST - ONLY FOOLS
2ND - MEN BEHAVING
3RD - RED DWARF

[MikeV]

Could not vote, my favorites are Benny Hill and Mr. Bean.

[pixel]

Had to vote for the Office. Pure genius.

(What about Father Ted?)

[ironwood321]

Hi,
I think "porridge" is very good this show has me in stitches.

Open all hours is quite good also.

Brittass empire was sometimes ok.

I'm not to keen on the show with the bucket woman.