In every British sitcom 1975-85

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1. the chief protagonists are young marrieds who live in Surrey

― Grandpont Genie, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:30 (eighteen years ago)

2. The next door neighbours get all the funny lines

― Tom D., Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:31 (eighteen years ago)

2. A vicar comes round for tea, oblivious to a domestic crisis taking place in the kitchen.

― Billy Dods, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:33 (eighteen years ago)

3. the male protagonist's boss has no sense of humour, UNTIL.....

― Grandpont Genie, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:33 (eighteen years ago)

did this happen in allo allo?

― the next grozart, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:33 (eighteen years ago)

4. darkies who speak funny english

― Noodle Vague, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:33 (eighteen years ago)

5. A young relative comes to stay and they are a punk and everyone's appalled

― Grandpont Genie, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:34 (eighteen years ago)

bathtub on wheels

― the next grozart, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:42 (eighteen years ago)

6. Male protagonist looks like he's buggering the vicar but oh crikey, he's not...

― King Boy Pato, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:43 (eighteen years ago)

6. The closest (located) family members are embarassing/uncouth

― Mark G, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:43 (eighteen years ago)

[Removed Illegal Link]

― That one guy that quit, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:44 (eighteen years ago)

7. Scenes with postman
8. Scenes with milkman

― Tom D., Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:44 (eighteen years ago)

http://ilx.thehold.net/thread.php?msgid=102731

fuck nu-ilx

― That one guy that quit, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:44 (eighteen years ago)

9. Grouchy bastard spoiling everyone's fun

― Tom D., Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:45 (eighteen years ago)

10. old man confused by modern technology

― Noodle Vague, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:46 (eighteen years ago)

9. Scene : the kitchen

They get a letter which he opens over breakfast. The dialogue goes like this :

Him : It's from my Auntie!
Her : What, the one with the castle in Scotland?
Him : Yes! That one!
Her : Is she coming to stay? Do you remember the last time she came, and all the trouble she caused with the vicar?
Him : Hmmmm. Wait.......it says she's come into some money!

She moves round to the other side of the table to read the letter too. They turn and look at each other questioningly.

[Glissando, and cut to next scene]

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:50 (eighteen years ago)

11. character whos only purpose is to feed lines for main character's punchlines.

― Mark G, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:50 (eighteen years ago)

12. A car breaks down in a HUGE cloud of smoke, leaving helpless mini-skirted young woman NEEDING ASSISTANCE!

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:51 (eighteen years ago)

13. Even now...

People having breakfast/dinner around a dining table, but not around: All on only one side of the table.

― Mark G, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:53 (eighteen years ago)

13. Man of the house repairs to the local pub to meet next door neighbour and 'some other bloke who they work with and isn't in it very much'. They are slightly silly because they are AWAY FROM THE WOMEN. One might swear mildly.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:53 (eighteen years ago)

Don't remember any of this happening in The Young Ones.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:54 (eighteen years ago)

Or in "Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt"

― Tom D., Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:55 (eighteen years ago)

The dining table in the Young Ones? Yep.

― Mark G, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:55 (eighteen years ago)

15. Girlfriend visits. She sits on sofa watching telly with young male star. Parents sit opposite in separate armchairs KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS. Dad reads paper. Mum knits and makes banal conversation. Son tries to slide his arm along the back of the sofa around girlfriend. Just as the arm is in position mum brightly says " Would you like a cup of tea BEFORE YOU GO, love"

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:56 (eighteen years ago)

Bloke with asymmetric haircut bums around east London on ridiculous bicycle blathering on about his website and talking into a stupendously wanky mobi...

oh, wait.

― CharlieNo4, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:58 (eighteen years ago)

16. There is some kind of ridiculous relationship issue underpinning the whole thing e.g man still lives next door to ex wife who has married his best friend. Or lives with his mum next door to his divorced dad and a DOLLY BIRD. They are always doctors.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 11:58 (eighteen years ago)

16. Gratuitous use of the word 'bloody'.

― chap, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:00 (eighteen years ago)

17. The protagonist's young children say something, but their lips move at the wrong time and they sound suspiciously like a middle aged female talking in a squeaky voice.

― Michael Philip Philip Philip philip Annoyman, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:01 (eighteen years ago)

17. In pubs and restaurant scenes peripheral receptionists, waiters, other guests etc NEVER SPEAK.

It means that they haven't joined Equity and are therefore doing it for free, or at least for a sandwich.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:02 (eighteen years ago)

No, it means they have joined equity but have not been paid to speak, so they do not. On pain of death.

― Mark G, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:04 (eighteen years ago)

18. Allan Cuthbertson plays bank manager/retired colonel/town clerk/headmaster/'figure of authority without a sense of humour'

http://www.cinefania.com/pics/personas/5/587.jpg

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:07 (eighteen years ago)

x-post yeah they've signed a day/week membership for equity...or whatever. But yes, they MUSTN'T speak.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:09 (eighteen years ago)

other guests etc NEVER SPEAK - still true to this day and in all shows ever for the same reasons

― Alan, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:10 (eighteen years ago)

19. Posh bloke who turns out to be a conman.

― Roz, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:12 (eighteen years ago)

do they just loop in murmur noises -- would you get pad for saying 'rhubarb rhubarb rhubard'?

― That one guy that quit, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:13 (eighteen years ago)

20. In suburban coupledom sitcoms, many things are resolved by her 'going to stay with her mother'.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:17 (eighteen years ago)

21. Receptionists are always DOLLY BIRDS or OLD FRUMPS - nothing in-between.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:19 (eighteen years ago)

22. Barmen ALWAYS polishing/cleaning glasses when talking to clientele

― Tom D., Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:20 (eighteen years ago)

23. Barman joins in conversation with the blokes, who stand at the bar even though THERE IS NO-ONE ELSE IN THE PUB.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:23 (eighteen years ago)

24. In suburban couple sitcoms SHE always scrapes the car, but never prangs it badly enough so that she can't get home.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:25 (eighteen years ago)

25. In suburban couple sitcoms there are always GOLF CLUBS in the hall.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:26 (eighteen years ago)

Only a very few of these are applicable to Fawlty Towers. Though Allan Cuthbertson did indeed appear in an episode.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:27 (eighteen years ago)

henpecked sexless man

― Alan, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:28 (eighteen years ago)

26. There are brief phone calls ("Hello....Yes....Really?...Bye!") in which the recipient apparently learns far more information than could possibly have been relayed during a call that short.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:28 (eighteen years ago)

27. There are apparently incompatible flatmates e.g. rough bird/posh girl, dolly bird/mummy's boy, jack-the-lad/nice girl.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:31 (eighteen years ago)

28. Someone gets married. The car with the groom in emits black smoke and breaks down. The best man loses the ring. The brides mother boxes their ears with her handbag.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:34 (eighteen years ago)

28. glissandos, full stop

― stevie, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:35 (eighteen years ago)

29. Mrs Suburban Sitcom is doing the washing up. She REMEMBERS SOMETHING, looks up from the dishes and stares out of the window. Cut to next scene.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:36 (eighteen years ago)

30. "a bit of the other"

― CharlieNo4, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:38 (eighteen years ago)

30. All tradesman of any sort all make inadvertant and very mild double-entendres ALL THE TIME. They also bring mud in.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:38 (eighteen years ago)

31. "how's-your-father"

― Tom D., Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:39 (eighteen years ago)

If someone knocks on a suburban front door, the person inside the house opens it straight away. Do they spend their days waiting behind the door in case someone should call? I wonder about that sometimes.

― C J, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:39 (eighteen years ago)

31. In 15 (see above) parents go to bed eventually. Couple snuggle up a bit closer on the sofa. His hand is poised near her LEG (pre 1980) or possibly vaguely near her BREAST (only after 1982). Kid sister then appears from the stairs wanting a glass of water.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:42 (eighteen years ago)

The last one didn't happen to me...more than about 50 times.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:43 (eighteen years ago)

32. The church roof either needs repairing necessitating fund-raising activities, or someone has nicked the lead off it.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:44 (eighteen years ago)

33. Hoots of audience laughter at the merest hint of a sexual innuendo.

― chap, Thursday, 15 March 2007 12:47 (eighteen years ago)

34. In suburban sitcom scenario, Mrs. Suburbs goes out in the middle of the day. There is no-one about in her leafy street apart from one woman - a middle-aged woman in a brown coat and headscarf who walks straight by. The same woman is seen in several episodes in the same coat and scarf, sometimes on the same side of the road, sometimes on the opposite side.

i.e they shot all of the brief street scenes for the series in the same morning

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 13:02 (eighteen years ago)

35. The toast catches fire.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 13:03 (eighteen years ago)

36. Northern sitcoms can be set in Liverpool or Newcastle and nowhere else.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 13:44 (eighteen years ago)

37. Protagonists' car is beige and is an Austin Maxi or Princess

― Grandpont Genie, Thursday, 15 March 2007 14:45 (eighteen years ago)

It would be very helpful for the American readers if someone would clarify how these items are different from British real life, since all we know about your lives we learned from your sitcoms, which we take as documentary fact. Do your tradesmen not speak in innuendo?

― eater, Thursday, 15 March 2007 14:53 (eighteen years ago)

Yes of course.

There is no difference. This is how we live.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 14:55 (eighteen years ago)

38. Surly builders/tradesman stopping for "a quick brew" much to the consternation of the young marrieds who live in Surrey

― Tom D., Thursday, 15 March 2007 14:57 (eighteen years ago)

39. One of the tradesmen is called Bert.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 14:58 (eighteen years ago)

39. Bemused policeman removing cap to scratch head

― Tom D., Thursday, 15 March 2007 14:59 (eighteen years ago)

40. The other is called Fred.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 14:59 (eighteen years ago)

41. Bus conductors

― Tom D., Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:00 (eighteen years ago)

Irascible next-door neighbour who looks like Philip Larkin.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:02 (eighteen years ago)

41. DOLLY BIRD on bicycle is having trouble getting started on a hill. Saucy roadmenders cease trading innuendo and rush to her assistance. They give her a push - leaving big black handprint on HER BUM.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:02 (eighteen years ago)

42. russet faced shopkeeper with flat cap and overalls winks and says "You don't get many of them to the pound, love"

― Grandpont Genie, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:04 (eighteen years ago)

The irascible next door neighbour is played by Richard Wattis :

http://movieimage.nate.com/images/people_images/p_00044838.gif

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:04 (eighteen years ago)

43. Hanky-panky outdoors between YOUNG COUPLE is ALWAYS observed by two shocked old ladies with their shopping baskets.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:05 (eighteen years ago)

(Re: Bert and Fred, UK life) At a conference, a colleague and I went to meet friends. "We're just off to meet Steve and Darren, the lads from [company name]" we said to a US co-worker, who responded with "Wow, in British films girls are always going off to meet lads called Steve and Darren. It's like Mike Leigh." So you see, we do live like this, always. Everything you see on screen is true.)

― Anna, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:07 (eighteen years ago)

44. Or it is observed by a vicar who is passing on a bicycle. He wobbles hugely and maybe crashes into a ditch.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:07 (eighteen years ago)

x-post Anna is correct.

Beryl is the living proof that we are in one giant sitcom here.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:08 (eighteen years ago)

42. the kids. actors in early 30's playing would-be teens with bay city rollers hair, flared polyester pants and a VW van on the drive. dad actor is 13 years older.

― pisces, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:11 (eighteen years ago)

IIRC, the would-be teens were usually played by Robert Lindsay.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:15 (eighteen years ago)

I want to come visit! I'll have to practice my Texas accent and my wheeling and dealing.

― Paul Eater, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:17 (eighteen years ago)

I for one would watch a sitcom where the irascible neighbour was played by Philip Larkin. What's a glissando?

― accentmonkey, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:17 (eighteen years ago)

actors in early 30's playing would-be teens with bay city rollers hair, flared polyester pants and a VW van on the drive. dad actor is 13 years older

http://www.retrosellers.com/images/263503.jpg

― Tom D., Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:17 (eighteen years ago)

Comedy foreigners/ethnic minority "characters" who always get the better of the show's main protagonist.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 15 March 2007 15:17 (eighteen years ago)

"I..."
"Don't say another word, I know exactly why you're here.."
"..but.."
"Missus Gerbil told me all about it."
"she did?..."
"And my answer is, I do!"
"oh"

cue massive hysteric misunderstanding for twenty minutes.

― Ste, Thursday, 15 March 2007 16:32 (eighteen years ago)

43. Suburban middle-class couple are sitting up in bed reading. One or both of them are wearing reading glasses, which they never need when they are reading DOWNSTAIRS or OUTSIDE.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 16:37 (eighteen years ago)

44. Suburban middle-class couple are sitting up in bed reading. She turns out her light and snuggles up. She says 'are you tired'? He harumphs and continues reading. She says 'do you remember when we used to...'. He harumphs, but puts book down, just as he's turning out his light (obviously all bed action requires lights to be extinguished first) there's a huge crash of breaking glass outside. It is :

a) Son coming home drunk.
b) Neighbour coming home drunk.
c) A comedy drunk played by Arthur English
d) A burglar

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 16:44 (eighteen years ago)

I think Dr C has a phial of Harold Snoad's DNA hooked up to his computer.

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 15 March 2007 16:47 (eighteen years ago)

45. Family have to look after an ANIMAL for the weekend, most likely be a large dog or a goat. It GETS LOOSE, eats something vital like a will or some money and brings mud in.

If a goat, it butts a policeman or vicar or old matron up the BUM.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 16:49 (eighteen years ago)

Accentmonkey : a glissando is that harp arpeggio sound that is used as music to signify moving from one scene to another. Most often used in radio, when you can't SEE when the scene has changed. On the radio you also fade-in the voices of the next scene, just after the glissando.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 16:52 (eighteen years ago)

46. i was going to say 'ladders' but thought better of it but that picture bears me out. there are always ladders. ladders and buckets. buckets either precariously placed at the top of ladders or waiting to be stepped in at the bottom.

47. that and two glaziers carrying a huge sheet of glass across the road.

― koogs, Thursday, 15 March 2007 16:53 (eighteen years ago)

46. Male protagonist has mid life crisis and comes downstairs amid much fanfare wearing ludicrous approximation of current fashion, inc baseball cap and tight trousers, and has portable stereo balanced on shoulder. Wife dissolves into fits of laughter.

― Grandpont Genie, Thursday, 15 March 2007 16:53 (eighteen years ago)

(1982-85 variation: dresses like "that Boy George fella off the telly")

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 15 March 2007 16:57 (eighteen years ago)

It's all about ladders and bums and bringing mud in really isn't it? I feel all tearful and patriotic.

― Anna, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

49. Male protagonists are invited to party where they're slow to realise that all the other guests are men too. One of the guests drops something and our male lead has to decide whether to bend down and pick it up. Hello ducky!

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:03 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah me too Anna, I want to banter with cheeky tradesmen, put newspaper down to keep mud out and watch dolly birds totter past on high heels.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:07 (eighteen years ago)

OH MAN I MISSED THESE THREADS

/srsly

― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:08 (eighteen years ago)

50. Young man with leather jacket = A TOUGH. May have motorbike. NOT a suitable boyfriend for girl in 15, 31 ibid

Older man in leather jacket = UNTRUSTWORTHY SORT. Or A QUEER.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:11 (eighteen years ago)

51. The Boss and his wife are coming for dinner. The Boss is called Gerald and drives a Jag XJ6 or Rover 2000. Boss's wife is mousy and ugly and doesn't speak. The cooking goes wrong and is ruined. Protagonist insults Boss's wife, thereby buggering up impending promotion. Protagonist attempts to make amends by telling funny story, but realises too late that it will reveal Boss's affair with big-titted secretary.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:18 (eighteen years ago)

51 continued. They leave in a huff, but the Jag won't start.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:20 (eighteen years ago)

Comedy foreigners/ethnic minority "characters" who always get the better of the show's main protagonist.

I wondered how far removed from the truth Them Next Door was.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:22 (eighteen years ago)

52. Attractive neighbour of suburban couple is holding a step-ladder for a tradesman, who somehow falls on top of her. At that moment Mr. Suburban Couple comes in from next door to borrow something (note : without knocking) and sees tradesman atop neighbour. He lets out a filthy chuckle and his expression says 'I've been wanting to do that for YEARS!'.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

53. Main suburban house AND the house next door have the exact same toaster and kettle. If we ever see into anyone else's house you'll see them there too. The props department only brought one of each.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:26 (eighteen years ago)

In every office / factory / school / hospital there will be a caretaker wearing a brown jacket like this:
http://www.tvheaven.ca/aybs17.JPG

― Nasty, Brutish & Short, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:34 (eighteen years ago)

54. Michael Robbins will appear as an insolent milkman or window-cleaner.

He may swear.

http://hpbimg.onthebusesfanclub.co.uk/Arthur%20web.jif

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:35 (eighteen years ago)

x-post That's Arthur English!

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:35 (eighteen years ago)

I wondered how far removed from the truth Them Next Door was.

Not far

― Noodle Vague, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:36 (eighteen years ago)

55. If there's a Matron needed for a hospital scene it'll be Patsy Rowlands.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 17:37 (eighteen years ago)

THEM NEXT DOOR's bloke's voice was very like the asian character's from MIND YOUR LANGUAGE.

oh and while we're on the subject here's some CURRY AND CHIPS -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfnPWK72wBw

― pisces, Thursday, 15 March 2007 18:12 (eighteen years ago)

56. Working-class relatives arrive; make scene in front of the neighbours.

― .stet., Thursday, 15 March 2007 18:25 (eighteen years ago)

57. Theme Tune by Ronnie Hazzlehurst.

― Chuck_Tatum, Thursday, 15 March 2007 20:07 (eighteen years ago)

People having breakfast/dinner around a dining table, but not around: All on only one side of the table.

I was watching Are You Being Served the other day and there was this awkward scene where they actually non-ironically CALLED ATTENTION to this staging convention -- everyone was around the one side of the table, and then Mr. Humphreys came along and they all said "there's nowhere for you to sit, you'll just have to go to the next table." And then he spent a while comically trying to squeeze an extra chair in despite the whole near side obviously being vacant. All played entirely straight, which was odd.

(Compared to modern sitcoms, where I can remember one in which a character rearranges the living room so that the couch faces away from the audience, and then offers a long explanation for why that's totally the more sensible way to do it while all the other characters go "yeah, but it's just ... weird.")

― nabisco, Thursday, 15 March 2007 20:46 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/images/220/liverbirds_1.jpg

"If yer standin' on the corner...."

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 21:40 (eighteen years ago)

nabisco - yes that was a standing joke in AYBS. They used to do it in the canteen and in Mr. Rumbold's office.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 21:51 (eighteen years ago)

Gross confession: there is this weird and tiny part of my brain that finds every single character on Are You Being Served totally hot. Except Mr. Grace, but then his office is always full of BIRDZ in nurse outfits bending over to pick up files, so it's not like you'd notice.

― nabisco, Thursday, 15 March 2007 21:58 (eighteen years ago)

Do they all wear those high-necked blouses with jabot ties? Sweat city, man.

― Laurel, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:00 (eighteen years ago)

Even Mr. Grainger, Nabisco?

http://www.tvheaven.ca/aybs5.JPG

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:06 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.iptv.org/friends/britcom/images/AYBSKey.jpg

― nabisco, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:07 (eighteen years ago)

58. If a landlady is required, perhaps for a dirty weekend scenario, then it'll be Peggy Mount :

http://members.fortunecity.com/tylorhan/faces7/peggy_mount.jpg

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:08 (eighteen years ago)

Look at him, Dr. C! That's a man who has hard candy in his pockets!

― nabisco, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:08 (eighteen years ago)

59. Dirty weekend scenario ALWAYS involves husband + dolly bird, who go to Eastbourne. They check into the hotel, then later in the restaurant they spy the wife who is also having a dirty weekend with HIS boss/a handsome stranger/the next-door neighbour/her driving instructor.

There ALWAYS turns out to be an innocent explanation for the wife being there with the other man.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:12 (eighteen years ago)

Distinguished, maybe. Venerable, possibly. Seasoned, yes. But HOTT? Ewww!

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:13 (eighteen years ago)

Nerys Hughes looks HOTT above, though!

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:15 (eighteen years ago)

60. In Northern Sitcoms shopkeepers, chip van operators and caff owners are ALWAYS played by John Comer :

http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/images_tv/ididntknowyoucared.jpg

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:19 (eighteen years ago)

61. Cockney dolly birds are always BLONDE.

http://www.teletronic.co.uk/ugliesttvshow2.jpg

Patricia Brake : TOTAL COCKNEY HOTTNESS

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:23 (eighteen years ago)

Boss in #51 is either played by Reginald Marsh :

http://www.corrie.net/profiles/actors/marsh_reginald1.jpg

Or John Barron :

http://www.lifeinlegacy.com/2004/0710/BarronJohn.jpg

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:31 (eighteen years ago)

Were there ever any handsome men on these shows, or were all the Y chromo types doughy and unpleasantly middle-aged and muddlesome?

― Laurel, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:31 (eighteen years ago)

God Patricia Brake is HOTTNESS in that photo. She didn't look that good in 'Going Straight'.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:32 (eighteen years ago)

I'll try and find you some handsome men, Laurel.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:33 (eighteen years ago)

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/images_tv/dochouse.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/tv/comedy/doctoronthego.htm&h=176&w=120&sz=6&hl=en&start=6&tbnid=QyOUuTT2LxLPfM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=68&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drobin%2Bnedwell%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Robin Nedwell? Not really, I guess.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:36 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/images_tv/dochouse.jpg

Here he is.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:37 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/images/400/robinsnest.jpg

Richard O'Sullivan and (phwoar!) Tessa Wyatt.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:38 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.paramountcomedy.com/image_library/shows/main/112.jpg

Robin Stewart from Bless This House.

Also shown : Sid James, Diana Coupland and (not as hott as I remember) Sally Geeson.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:41 (eighteen years ago)

Nigel Havers and Tony Britton

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/images/400/dontwaitup_1.jpg

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:42 (eighteen years ago)

Goodness, Robin Nedwell will certainly do.

― Laurel, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:43 (eighteen years ago)

I'm pleased!

Patricia Brake will do for me.

So that's us both sorted then.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:45 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/images_tv/follyfoot_001.jpg

NOT a sitcom, I know, but this Follyfoot picture is so wonderful that I have to show it. It also has some great 70's sitcom stalwarts in it :

Christian Rodska (far left) : an all-purpose buffoonish tough or motorbikin' boyfriend. (see #50)

Arthur English (far right) : caretaker/foreman/roadsweeper/drunk/furniture removal man (also see above)

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:49 (eighteen years ago)

Wendy Richard in Are You Being Served always struck me as the ultimate example of a "dolly bird".

― Frogman Henry, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:50 (eighteen years ago)

Gotta go for now. I need ~~to obsess about Patricia Brake~~ a beer.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:51 (eighteen years ago)

x-post Hmm kinda.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 15 March 2007 22:51 (eighteen years ago)

62. When middle-class couples go on holiday they come back, slightly embarrassed, with a sombrero and a toy donkey. This shows that they've been to SPAIN, and that they've BEEN HAVING A GOOD TIME.

There will be references to the man having got a bit tiddly and there having been a mildly embarrassing incident with a waitress.

If the plot demands that we see them departing, there will be a brief cut to footage of a plane in flight. It will always be the wrong type of plane.

If we see the middle-class couple INSIDE THE PLANE, there will be some embarrassment about drinks and the man will touch a hostess on the BUM as she bends over to serve the drinks. The plane will of course be obviously NOT FLYING as someone will walk past a window in the periphery of the shot at some point.

Later, on arrival in the resort, the man will have to carry ALL the suitcases while his wife flounces off in a huff. At least two suitcases will burst, revealing some embarrassing underwear or similar that has been taken to spice up the holiday. A bra may end up draped over the man's head.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 08:41 (eighteen years ago)

Did John Barron appear in any sitcom other than Perrin (nb: sitcom trivia - CJ stood for "Charles Jefferson").

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 16 March 2007 08:57 (eighteen years ago)

He was in Potter with Arthur Lowe as the vicar. Also All Gas and Gaiters, To The Manor Born, Terry and June (as a judge) and one episode of Yes, Minister.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 09:21 (eighteen years ago)

I didn't get where I am today without looking up IMDB!

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 16 March 2007 09:28 (eighteen years ago)

Hey, Marcello! That was from MEMORY!

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 09:39 (eighteen years ago)

Right, Memory Man, your next assignment is - Colin Gordon.

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 16 March 2007 09:41 (eighteen years ago)

He was in the prisoner wasn't he?

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 09:43 (eighteen years ago)

He certainly was (best performance of his career) but he was also in virtually every sitcom in the '60s and early '70s. He was a sort of James Joyce to Wattis' Larkin.

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 16 March 2007 09:44 (eighteen years ago)

Don't ask me any more - I'm off to work now. Meanwhile let's move from #62 to #100. Good stuff only, mind!

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 09:45 (eighteen years ago)

I still can't believe that Jack Douglas wasn't in any of these. Bloody tragedy.

― peteR, Friday, 16 March 2007 09:46 (eighteen years ago)

Laurel settling for Robin Nedwell has made my day.

― Michael Jones, Friday, 16 March 2007 10:28 (eighteen years ago)

A flustered Terry Scott helps himself to a generous measure of brandy from the decanter in his front room. If in a very agitated state he will down it in one.

― DavidM, Friday, 16 March 2007 10:53 (eighteen years ago)

The boss comes round to dinner. Things go awry.

― DavidM, Friday, 16 March 2007 11:01 (eighteen years ago)

DavidM : see #51 for boss coming round for dinner.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 11:19 (eighteen years ago)

Dr. C is the boss of this thread. Were he to come round to dinner, things would almost certainly go awry.

― chap, Friday, 16 March 2007 11:21 (eighteen years ago)

63. A car or motorbike is driven up a ramp and into the back of a furniture van. The back doors are instantly closed by Arthur English or Michael Robbins. It drives off with hapless protagonist inside.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 11:21 (eighteen years ago)

x-post : I am good at making things go awry, yes.

64. When suburban or city people go ino the country for the day, they have a picnic in a field where there is A BULL. The bull eats their picnic and chases them, observed by two ruddy-faced straw-chewing yokels. The yokels shake their heads sadly and continue to move hay about.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 11:25 (eighteen years ago)

Yokels generally played by Arthur English and Nosher Powell.

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 16 March 2007 11:30 (eighteen years ago)

Michael, I don't know who he is but I like his goofy face!

― Laurel, Friday, 16 March 2007 13:49 (eighteen years ago)

He was in 'Doctor On The Go', 'Doctor In The House' etc etc

http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/images_tv/doctor.jpg

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:05 (eighteen years ago)

STILL CUET

― Laurel, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:06 (eighteen years ago)

I'll just need to sound your chest, Miss Arbuthnot.

http://www.comedy-zone.net/images/tv-shows/d/doctor-at-large.jpg

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:07 (eighteen years ago)

STILL CUET??

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:16 (eighteen years ago)

Yes, the second picture was as cute as the first. He's an adorable wry monkey.

― Laurel, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:21 (eighteen years ago)

65. In family sitcom teenagers find a copy of The Joy Of Sex hidden away. It prompts a conversation which begins 'Dad, do you and Mum still....you know, do you still....'

The book belongs to Dad, who has been given it by next-door neighbour or workmate. He hopes to spice things up a bit at home, but hasn't plucked up the courage to show his wife the book yet.

OR it belongs to the next-door neighbour who has hidden it in the house temporarily.

It is likely that the book will be left lying around when the mother-in-law or a straightlaced old aunt come to visit.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:23 (eighteen years ago)

I'll try and find you some handsome men, Laurel.

Alan and Philip in Rising Damp! Alan and Philip in Rising Damp!

(I am kind of tempted to search for Rising Damp flatshare slash, but I think if I find it all that remains of my innocence and youth with wash down the drain.)

― Anna, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:26 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.leonardrossiter.com/risingdamp/11rooksby026.jpg

Alan and Phil.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:29 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.leonardrossiter.com/risingdamp/11rooksby000.jpg

Rigsby

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:30 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.leonardrossiter.com/risingdamp/13charisma007.jpg

The best Risgby photo ever.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:32 (eighteen years ago)

Those are completely fabulous smiling eye crinkles, but the teeth, the teeth really have to be done by.

― Laurel, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:33 (eighteen years ago)

image]http://www.leonardrossiter.com/risingdamp/14night006.jpg[/image]

And my favourite actress ever, the incomparable, the magnificent, Frances De La Tour, as Miss Jones.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:35 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.leonardrossiter.com/risingdamp/14night006.jpg

Here she is.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:36 (eighteen years ago)

Classic pub conversation: What was the 2nd-best ITV sitcom ever? Cos there's a Federer-like gulf after #1.

Laurel: I just like to image an alternative universe in which an adult you & Nedwell hooked up sometime in the '70s. It's a vision of a better world, somehow.

― Michael Jones, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:53 (eighteen years ago)

I have had to revise my general feeling of dread re: Francis De La Tour since The History Boys.

― Chuck_Tatum, Friday, 16 March 2007 14:53 (eighteen years ago)

She was FANTASTIC in the History Boys!

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 15:23 (eighteen years ago)

Thirded.

― peteR, Friday, 16 March 2007 15:30 (eighteen years ago)

Happy to oblige, Mike Steady!

― Laurel, Friday, 16 March 2007 15:31 (eighteen years ago)

Alright fact fans - what's the conncetion between the other Dr. in the white coat in the picture with Mr. Nedwell above, and Nigel Havers/Tony Britton.

― Dr.C, Friday, 16 March 2007 15:34 (eighteen years ago)

Did Barry Evans and Nedwell live together in Doctor in the House, a la the divorced father/son arrangement in Don't Wait Up?

― Michael Jones, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:16 (eighteen years ago)

They're both seven degrees away from Kevin Bacon?

― peteR, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:18 (eighteen years ago)

(I just looked up Barry Evans on Wikipedia - what a sad end to his life).

― Michael Jones, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:19 (eighteen years ago)

Alan and Philip in Rising Damp! Alan and Philip in Rising Damp!

It's true, Richard Beckinsale was very cute. Poor him. It's funny how Ralph Fiennes is looking more and more like Leonard Rossiter these days.

― accentmonkey, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:24 (eighteen years ago)

(I just looked up Barry Evans on Wikipedia - what a sad end to his life).

Getting pushed down a hill by Janine?

― Nasty, Brutish & Short, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:36 (eighteen years ago)

Disambiguate! Disambiguate!

― Michael Jones, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:38 (eighteen years ago)

I agree, it was kind of tragic...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40803000/jpg/_40803523_janinepush_300.jpg

― Nasty, Brutish & Short, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:40 (eighteen years ago)

Take that, statue of Lenin!

― accentmonkey, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:41 (eighteen years ago)

I remember a docu bit on Barry Evans, he'd become the original White Van Man.

― Mark G, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:42 (eighteen years ago)

Sorry to interrupt but Mike Mike I sent you an email, can you see if you got it?

― Sarah, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:45 (eighteen years ago)

That particular Barry died last night while chasing cars.

― Marcello Carlin, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:52 (eighteen years ago)

The answer is that the other Doctor is played by George Layton (also of It Ain't Half Hot Mum) who wrote 'Don't Wait Up'.

― Dr.C, Monday, 19 March 2007 09:30 (eighteen years ago)

D'oh! I should've got that.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:00 (eighteen years ago)

Rigsby and Miss Jones get it AWN in the film version..... canon?

― JTS, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 09:06 (eighteen years ago)

Does anyone remember a short film with Frances De La Tour and Tim Healy running a motorway cafe? Around 2001-ish?

― JTS, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 09:08 (eighteen years ago)

Sadly, no!

― Dr.C, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 09:19 (eighteen years ago)

It wasn't made between 1975-85, so no wonder we don't remember it!

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 09:22 (eighteen years ago)

However, Eric Sykes' The Plank was made in the sixties, and I can still recall that star-studded cavalcade of mirth!

― Marcello Carlin, Tuesday, 20 March 2007 09:27 (eighteen years ago)

seven years pass...

I've been watching Mind Your Language on Youtube and I'm curious what Jamila Massey is actually saying in the bits where she is speaking Urdu. I'm assuming that neither Vince Powell or Stuart Allen actually spoke Urdu themselves, so did they just give her a general idea of what her character was meant to be saying and let her translate? Is she even speaking Urdu?

I think I remember on a couple of occasions when they showed bits of Mind Your Language on clip-shows. amongst the talking heads there being ppl who were the children of 1st generation immigrants talking about how their parents loved the show- to be clear I don't mention this to defend Mind Your Language, which is terrible, but I was wondering how it was received at the time by immigrants to the UK? I guess it would have been one of the few populist programmes concerned with immigration, rather than earnest documentaries and dramas etc?

― soref, Friday, 26 December 2014 18:06 (eleven years ago)

Vince Powell and Stuart Allen were also responsable for Bottle Boys, the 2nd and final series of which aired in 1985, which feels appropriate re: the thread title, Bottle Boys feels like the last gasp of this kind of show, although Powell did write Slinger's Day the next year, which I've never seen.

― soref, Friday, 26 December 2014 18:13 (eleven years ago)

I think I remember on a couple of occasions when they showed bits of Mind Your Language on clip-shows. amongst the talking heads there being ppl who were the children of 1st generation immigrants talking about how their parents loved the show

Ha, my Dad emailed our family with Youtube links to this show last year, commenting "Most hilarious. Very tatefully humorous. Realistic indeed. thumbs up for its creator!" What little I saw was dud.

― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 26 December 2014 18:43 (eleven years ago)

Various international television shows based on the premise of Mind Your Language have followed the original series. Among them are What a Country! (US), Zabaan Sambhalke (India and Pakistan), Second Chance! (Nigeria), Jami'ar Albarkawa (In Hausa language, Nigeria), Raja Kaduwa! (Sri Lanka) and Classmates (Kenya).

most of these are on youtube as well, What a Country! is mainly crap, but does have Don Knotts in it so isn't totally worthless, the others went over my head for the most part.

I watched a bit of Slinger's Day and is totally this kind of show, despite having been broadcast 1986-7, I wonder if there are any later examples that aren't at least theoretically ironic

― soref, Friday, 26 December 2014 19:02 (eleven years ago)

I remember on a clip show Shappi Khorsandi said she and all the immigrant kids at her school loved it.
Stephen K Amos thought the show was an abomination and every ethnic minority involved was a sell out.

― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 26 December 2014 19:16 (eleven years ago)

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