British shows we have known and loved

[asnrobert]

Since the Graf Spee thread in Military Media has been virtually derailed by the discussion on British television, I'd thought I'd try to salvage it by starting a separate thread devoted to our favorite shows from our cousins "across the pond."

I've only seen one of the Blackadder episodes. It took place in the 18th century, and Blackadder was trying to rig an election in a "rotten borough" and have one of his minions (who was obsessed with turnips) elected- I think there was some money to be gained or something. Blackadder succeeds, only to have his lackey spend the money on a giant turnip!

When I was a kid growing up in New York, WOR channel 9 (out of Secaucus New Jersey) carried a bunch of British shows (At the beginning of each one they had the logo for "Thames" television). I recall coming home in the afternoon to watch the Avengers. They also had the "Oneidin Line" about sailing ships (never saw it though), various sitcoms (I think one was called "Love thy neighbor" or something like that, and of course, my favorite, the Benny Hill Show! :cool:

[Ed Rotondaro]

Since the Graf Spee thread in Military Media has been virtually derailed by the discussion on British television, I'd thought I'd try to salvage it by starting a separate thread devoted to our favorite shows from our cousins "across the pond."

I've only seen one of the Blackadder episodes. It took place in the 18th century, and Blackadder was trying to rig an election in a "rotten borough" and have one of his minions (who was obsessed with turnips) elected- I think there was some money to be gained or something. Blackadder succeeds, only to have his lackey spend the money on a giant turnip!

When I was a kid growing up in New York, WOR channel 9 (out of Secaucus New Jersey) carried a bunch of British shows (At the beginning of each one they had the logo for "Thames" television). I recall coming home in the afternoon to watch the Avengers. They also had the "Oneidin Line" about sailing ships (never saw it though), various sitcoms (I think one was called "Love thy neighbor" or something like that, and of course, my favorite, the Benny Hill Show! :cool:

Robert:

Benny Hill was hilarious and good fun.

[Mart]

Robert:

Benny Hill was hilarious and good fun.

What?!!!!! :eek:

[Smiffy]

Benny Hill fell victim of political correctness in the UK:mad:

[Kyle Holgate]

Torchwood - one show I am currently enjoying quite a bit.

Past shows from BBC - anyone remember a show called "UFO" that came out - hmm, last 70's? I thorougly enjoyed that one while it was on.

Benny Hill - yeah, the little "wishing well" short still has me chuckling and I haven't seen it in years.

[Mart]

Torchwood - one show I am currently enjoying quite a bit.

Past shows from BBC - anyone remember a show called "UFO" that came out - hmm, last 70's? I thoroughly enjoyed that one while it was on.

Benny Hill - yeah, the little "wishing well" short still has me chuckling and I haven't seen it in years.

Hi Kyle

"UFO" was an Anderson Production. They had done Fieball XL-5, Stingray, Supercar, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet etc but tried their hand (this being the first of several attempts) of producing a show with real actors. The star was a UK based favourite American - Ed Bishop. It had very much their "feel"

I loved it, though some people felt that it was difficult to tell that they weren't puppets anyway!

By the way, Benny Hill was funny and talented. He did fall foul of people criticising his very sexist comedy. What is sad is that much earlier in his career, he was a much more talented and witty writer and performer. He is now judged on the worst shows he did. He was a victim of his own folly in that sense. He also had a very strange personal life, though nobody actually says what it was. Benny lost the plot, and he is now remembered for the furore at his worst work.

A comedian who shared some of the politically incorrect aspects, but was much funnier, was Dick Emery, who I'm afraid I couldn't even start to describe. He was awful but I liked him (in-joke).

Finally there were the irrepressible Kenny Everett, Spike Milligan, and Marty Feldman (and SO SO many more) who have tended to fall off the radar. Feldman was a particularly gifted and intelligent comedian. People will rember him as Igor in "Young Frankenstein" but he was brilliant in his own right, as a writer and performer. His most famous sketch was "Just getting up to let the cat out, dear"; upon which he would get out of bed, travel to some foreign paradise, make mad passionate love to a beautiful woman, race back, and then get back into bed. Sheer delightful madness.

Then there was the great satire boom. The Frost Report, That Was The Week That Was, and the like, leading on to Monty Python on the one hand, and to Peter ("sadly I was an only twin") Cook and Dudley More.

All classics

Cheers

Martin

[Ed Rotondaro]

What?!!!!! :eek:

Martin:

While not as clever as Monty Python (but who could be?), Benny was basic simple humor and a lovable guy. Don't make me come over there! You'll have to put me up, feed me and take me to your favorite pubs. Think of the stress that would entail.:D

[Ed Rotondaro]

Hi Kyle

"UFO" was an Anderson Production. They had done Fieball XL-5, Stingray, Supercar, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet etc but tried their hand (this being the first of several attempts) of producing a show with real actors. The star was a UK based favourite American - Ed Bishop. It had very much their "feel"

I loved it, though some people felt that it was difficult to tell that they weren't puppets anyway!

By the way, Benny Hill was funny and talented. He did fall foul of people criticising his very sexist comedy. What is sad is that much earlier in his career, he was a much more talented and witty writer and performer. He is now judged on the worst shows he did. He was a victim of his own folly in that sense. He also had a very strange personal life, though nobody actually says what it was. Benny lost the plot, and he is now remembered for the furore at his worst work.

A comedian who shared some of the politically incorrect aspects, but was much funnier, was Dick Emery, who I'm afraid I couldn't even start to describe. He was awful but I liked him (in-joke).

Finally there were the irrepressible Kenny Everett, Spike Milligan, and Marty Feldman (and SO SO many more) who have tended to fall off the radar. Feldman was a particularly gifted and intelligent comedian. People will rember him as Igor in "Young Frankenstein" but he was brilliant in his own right, as a writer and performer. His most famous sketch was "Just getting up to let the cat out, dear"; upon which he would get out of bed, travel to some foreign paradise, make mad passionate love to a beautiful woman, race back, and then get back into bed. Sheer delightful madness.

Then there was the great satire boom. The Frost Report, That Was The Week That Was, and the like, leading on to Monty Python on the one hand, and to Peter ("sadly I was an only twin") Cook and Dudley More.

All classics

Cheers

Martin

Martin:

Don't forget "The Two Ronnies". Excellent stuff.

[Smiffy]

Did "Only Fools and Horses" ever get shown in the USA? I sent some videos of the show to friends in Minnesota and then spent several weeks of my life explaining it all by e-mail. Probably too much slang in the dialogue for it to travel well.

My Minnesotan friends love "One Foot in the Grave" and "Fawlty Towers".

One of the strangest experiences of my life was sitting in a bar in a remote village in Northern Finland and watching an episode of "Coronation Street" that had been dubbed into Swedish.

[john964]

Did "Only Fools and Horses" ever get shown in the USA? I sent some videos of the show to friends in Minnesota and then spent several weeks of my life explaining it all by e-mail. Probably too much slang in the dialogue for it to travel well.

My Minnesotan friends love "One Foot in the Grave" and "Fawlty Towers".

One of the strangest experiences of my life was sitting in a bar in a remote village in Northern Finland and watching an episode of "Coronation Street" that had been dubbed into Swedish.
Try sitting in a Paris airport lounge as you try to watch Jerry Lewis in The Nutty Professor dubed in French.

[Smiffy]

Try sitting in a Paris airport lounge as you try to watch Jerry Lewis in The Nutty Professor dubed in French.

I saw "Far From The Madding Crowd" in French, I have trouble understanding Hardy in English and my French isn't great.

I once spent a day and a half sharing a sleeping car compartment on a Finnish train with two other guys. One was Finnish and spoke Finnish and Swedish, the other was a Flemish Belgian who spoke some Swedish and French, while I speak a little French. Conversation was rather slow, we nearly missed a breakfast stop because it took the Finn so long, via the Belgian, to explain to me why we had stopped.

Back on topic, another great British comedy show that may not have made it across the Atlantic is "Phoenix Nights", or am I wrong?

[asnrobert]

I remember watching UFO in the early 70's as a kid. I loved that show. I also remember watching Captain Scarlet.

[asnrobert]

My Minnesotan friends love "One Foot in the Grave" and "Fawlty Towers".



One of my favorite Fawlty Tower episodes is where Basil is running the hotel while his wife is in the hospital (with an ingrown toenail, I think). He gets a concussion while putting up a moose head and against medical advice insists on returning to the hotel. The hotel has some German guests, and he tells everyone "Don't mention the war" so of course he can't stop mentioning it- "So that will be two eggs mayonaise, a prawn Goebbels, a Herman Goering and four Colditz salads" - and before passing out does a Hitler imitation complete with goosestep.

[Smiffy]

One of my favorite Fawlty Tower episodes is where Basil is running the hotel while his wife is in the hospital (with an ingrown toenail, I think). He gets a concussion while putting up a moose head and against medical advice insists on returning to the hotel. The hotel has some German guests, and he tells everyone "Don't mention the war" so of course he can't stop mentioning it- "So that will be two eggs mayonaise, a prawn Goebbels, a Herman Goering and four Colditz salads" - and before passing out does a Hitler imitation complete with goosestep.

The classic line from that episode is when Basil apologises for mentioning the war but finishes with, "But you started it." To which the German replies, "No we didn't."

"Yes you did, you invaded Poland!!"

[Mart]

Martin:

While not as clever as Monty Python (but who could be?), Benny was basic simple humor and a lovable guy. Don't make me come over there! You'll have to put me up, feed me and take me to your favorite pubs. Think of the stress that would entail.:D

Stress? Stress? You don't know what stress is. If you met ME, THEN you'd know what stress is! You'd be back on the plane before you could say "I've just met a complete mad-man!" :rolleyes:

As for watching dubbed films, I once watched "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", in a small cinema while I was living in France. The film was shown with the original soundtrack in English language, and then had French subtitles. Imagine the scene where King Arthur goes up to the castle and meets the French soldiers who "speak with silly French accents", and who "will fart in your general direction". Then imagine that subtitled into French. The theatre was in uproar with laughter.

Martin :)

[Ed Rotondaro]

One of my favorite Fawlty Tower episodes is where Basil is running the hotel while his wife is in the hospital (with an ingrown toenail, I think). He gets a concussion while putting up a moose head and against medical advice insists on returning to the hotel. The hotel has some German guests, and he tells everyone "Don't mention the war" so of course he can't stop mentioning it- "So that will be two eggs mayonaise, a prawn Goebbels, a Herman Goering and four Colditz salads" - and before passing out does a Hitler imitation complete with goosestep.

Robert:

That was probably along with the episode on hotel inspectors, one of the funniest Fawlty Towers ever!

[Ed Rotondaro]

Stress? Stress? You don't know what stress is. If you met ME, THEN you'd know what stress is! You'd be back on the plane before you could say "I've just met a complete mad-man!" :rolleyes:

As for watching dubbed films, I once watched "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", in a small cinema while I was living in France. The film was shown with the original soundtrack in English language, and then had French subtitles. Imagine the scene where King Arthur goes up to the castle and meets the French soldiers who "speak with silly French accents", and who "will fart in your general direction". Then imagine that subtitled into French. The theatre was in uproar with laughter.

Martin :)

Martin:

If weren't for good ale or whisky my stress level would explode me. Just ask Chris. I have "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" on DVD (Christmas present from my wife's brother). My kids have watched part of it and think its funny as hell. You have to start them early I say. God Bless the French, they make good wine and are good for a laugh.

[asnrobert]

Anone here familiar with the Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan?

"I am not a number, I am a free man!'

[tony_glazebrook]

Anone here familiar with the Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan?

"I am not a number, I am a free man!'


Robert - great, great show! I am a Patrick McGoohan fan and recently bought (at quite big expense) the complete set of his Dangerman episodes. I am still looking for the Prisoner - it was on sale in a bookshop a while ago and then dissapeared.

[Mart]

Anone here familiar with the Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan?

"I am not a number, I am a free man!'

I liked the series but I thought it did begin to drag. Like most people, and I won't give it away, the ending of the series was a disappointment. In the meantime - look out for the bubbly things! :)

Martin

PS. I AM a number. Well - I'm certainly not a free man - at least not simultaneously!

[asnrobert]

Robert - great, great show! I am a Patrick McGoohan fan and recently bought (at quite big expense) the complete set of his Dangerman episodes. I am still looking for the Prisoner - it was on sale in a bookshop a while ago and then dissapeared.

I bought the A&E boxed set of the Prisoner which wasn't cheap either- about $75 USD.
Danger Man was broadcast as Secret Agent in the US (I vaguely remember a couple episodes as a kid- had a friend who had a Secret Agent lunchbox).

[asnrobert]

I liked the series but I thought it did begin to drag. Like most people, and I won't give it away, the ending of the series was a disappointment. In the meantime - look out for the bubbly things! :)

Martin

PS. I AM a number. Well - I'm certainly not a free man - at least not simultaneously!

I thought the ending was rather weird. According to the booklet that came with the set, McGoohan originally only wanted to make 7 episodes.

[Campy]

So many.... I didn't even know "Fireball XL-5" was British!!! Watched that religiously as a kid. I remember a comedian by the name of David Allen, very deadpan, low key but very funny. Since I work with the elderly, "Waiting for God", was fun to watch. Didn't really get into "UFO" maybe because they always pronounced it "You-fo". Many, many more. I'm told we generally got their best shows, and missed out on the likes of "Oh, no, It's Selwin Froggit" (not sure of the spelling).

Frank

[tony_glazebrook]

I bought the A&E boxed set of the Prisoner which wasn't cheap either- about $75 USD.
Danger Man was broadcast as Secret Agent in the US (I vaguely remember a couple episodes as a kid- had a friend who had a Secret Agent lunchbox).

I didn't know about the change of title to Secret Agent Dangerman sounds better to me. One thing I discovered watching Dangerman - from the extra bits on the DVD - McGoohan was at that time the highest paid british TV star. I wonder if he was ever considered as a James Bond? I still think Sean Connery is easily the best, but IMO McGoohan would have added much needed tautness to the series of films that had Roger Moore .

[Rick]

Interesting that no ones mentioned Dr Who ;)

[john964]

Interesting that no ones mentioned Dr Who ;)

I did awile back in another forum along with shows like Red Dwarf, Absoutly Fabulous, Are You Being Served, Are You Being Served Again, Alleo Alleo, Dads Army, Danger UXB, Monty Pyton's Flying Circus, Blackadder I, II, III, & IV, Rumpol of the Bailey, and several others.

[asnrobert]

I didn't know about the change of title to Secret Agent Dangerman sounds better to me. One thing I discovered watching Dangerman - from the extra bits on the DVD - McGoohan was at that time the highest paid british TV star. I wonder if he was ever considered as a James Bond? I still think Sean Connery is easily the best, but IMO McGoohan would have added much needed tautness to the series of films that had Roger Moore .

I recall reading somewhere that he was offered the part of Bond, but turned it down. In doing Danger Man, he wanted a character that preferred to use brain before brawn, and I guess he considered the Bond character as conflicting with that.