Five From The Top: May 2013

This week’s post is five from the top Brit sit com's. A sit-com is defined as a comedy with reoccurring characters in a common environment.

My love for sit-com's spawns back to several times; starting when I used to spend with my Grandfather watching “Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em” and “On The Buses” on a Sunday afternoon. Then spending Thursday evenings with my father watching “Only Fools And Horses”, and watching “Two Pints Of Lager and a Packet Of Crisps” to ensure I had something to talk to everyone in school the following day about.

Brit-Sit-Com’s are usually aimed at the working class, allowing the mass majority of the UK to choose to tune into week after week. Whereas the American-Sit-Com is generally aimed at the middle to upper class, predominantly those with College education. Both, as always, have exceptions to the rules.

I feel Brit-Sit-Com’s offer a distinct light heartedness and, at the same time, a real true grit. There is something about them that every single person can find within the programme. Be it a character, a story line, the setting, the situation or even the background characters. There is something that allows a familiarity and creates a connection making you want to tune in week after week.

I, as I am sure many others, have grown up anxiously awaiting the next episode of one series while watching the ones my parents grew up with all in one go. Thanks to TV repeats, we are now allowed to tune into random episodes and series from past generations to ensure future generations can also grow up loving our past great comedies.

Like always I have restrictions, but this time there is only one restriction which is “They must have 2 series or more” only because I am narrowing it down from Sit-Com to Brit-Sit-Com as a category.

#5 - Some Mothers Do 'Av 'Em: http://youtu.be/lFLpwRMS00g

As in my previous blog I have already said this is a personal list and how better to start than the best Sunday afternoon comedy ever created.

Michael Crawford plays Frank Spencer a disaster-prone klutz who goes from job to job. No matter what he does, he always seems to do something wrong to get himself fired. The only thing he has going for him is his long-suffering wife Betty (played by Michele Dotrice).

The fascinating thing about this programme is that Crawford does all his own stunts. And none are more spectacular as the roller skating sketch, especially when you realise this guy is actually an unbelievably talented and balanced dancer, so to do what he did is even more enjoyable to watch.

I wouldn’t think there are many actors out there now willing to do what he did – not that the production company would allow their star asset to do something as risky as this – I just don’t think there are any comedy actors left that can carry the role Crawford perfected. His voice and demeanor suits his character, just as Sylvester Stallone suited Rocky.

If you enjoy slap stick comedy, I highly suggest watching Frank Spencer’s highlight moments.

#4 - Fawlty Towers: http://youtu.be/tcliR8kAbzc

If you have every worked in a job where customers demand satisfaction you can relate to this sit-com 100%. A high-strung man overwhelmed by every customer’s sheer stupidity. His rants are what we would love to be able to say if there were not repercussions.

Basil Fawlty, played by the brilliant and legendary John Cleese, is a man on the breaking point living on the verge of a complete meltdown. His short fuse and bluntness is a mirror of most people in the working class who deal with the middle and upper class of society.

As well as the educated rants that Basil let’s off, there is a slapstick relationship between Basil and Manuel (played by the fabulous Andrew Sachs) which gives a different comedy release. Instead of just the Basil way of comedy, it gives the basic Neanderthal comedy that everyone can relate to. In addition, Sybil (played by the charismatic Prunella Scales) allows all women to have an attachment to the programme.

Prior to this there are not many, if at all any, comedy’s or drama’s in the UK where women are in charge. Even though Basil goes around claiming he is the owner it is obvious from the get-go of episode one that Sybil is defiantly the one in control of the facility.

Every reoccurring character that interacts with Basil adds to the story and fuel’s the comedy. When people say “they don’t make them like they used to” there was never a better sit-com this could apply to. A privately owned B&B/hotel just scraping by, with a man at the helm but a woman in control. With the slapstick comedy and insulting humour Cleese and Co. give to the screen it feels more like a family than a work place. There really will never be nothing like this ever again. It really is a shame they only did two series, however is there nothing better than going out on the top of your game?

#3 - The Royle Family: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1iYKzXdPfs&feature=share&list=RD028KdtgoSCXpU

“A working class family sat around in a living room watching TV” – probably the most boring concept for a TV show let alone a Sit-Com. However, somehow this does work.

Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston undoubtedly have the best on screen chemistry in BBC history. The whole family has one of the best-created casts that Brit-Sit-Com has ever seen. Jim Royle, is portrayed by Tomlinson as a lazy, rude and obnoxious husband who is married to the slave driven and unappreciated Barbara. They have two children; the push over Anthony “Lerch” played by Ralf Little and the Queen of the house, the laziest, dirtiest and most uneducated woman the TV world has ever seen Denise played by co-creator Caroline Aherne. And the final main character is Denise’s long suffering simple minded oaf Dave Best played by Co-Creator Craig Cash.

The cast play’s their roles well and the secondary characters integrated seamlessly into the story of each episode. What does the Royle Family really offer other than neighbours popping round unannounced and people watching TV? Well, simply, it is the reality factor. The Royle Family was really the first of the reality programmes. I am sure if you stuck a camera in most 2.4 children households you would see an episode of the Royle family. Probably not as rude, but quite likely very similar. I think this adds to the comedy, with that “Cringe” factor that it seems all too familiar to the viewer.

What I really love about this Sit-com is that it is not afraid of itself, most comedies shy away from seriousness and even fear that it is becoming stale. But Royle Family has never and will never fear this. The Christmas Episode “The Queen Of Sheba” is the pinnacle of this (I cry every time). Even though this is a Christmas special, it did this in the regular 3 series, when Denise got married and when she gave birth are the two that really stick out. Royle family is a true grit comedy without boundaries of normality.

#2 - Spaced: http://youtu.be/7sqSQ5Vu8vM

2 single 20 something’s pretend to be a couple to live in a flat. Enter strange flat mates, clingy landlady’s and awkward relationships.

A sheer geek-fest from the then unknown; Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright. This TV series spawned “Shaun of the Dead”, “Hot Fuzz” and the soon to be released “The World’s End”

A TV series filled with film references, “Star Wars” theories, unique camera work and quality stories can only lead to an enjoyable watch. The youngest of my top five is something I grew into not up with. I can see how so many people vote other Sit-coms higher than my number 2, but I feel it has a lot to give. If they ever came back to do a 3^rd series it think it would be welcomed back with open arms and; it would be welcomed by a new audience consisting of people that were too young for it when it first came out and people who turned away from it the first time round. But mostly it would be welcomed by the fans that have long awaited a third series since 2001.

Even though this is a series that is deep in film and comic book references, there is no need to have seen them all or indeed get them all to find this a charming programme entertaining and funny. It is a great comedy to watch with friends, because there are a lot of one-liners you can use in your group. And if you watch on your own you will be highly entertained.

#1 - Only Fools And Horses: http://youtu.be/rgO3CLVrn1U and 10 minutes of pure genius http://youtu.be/Tdwho_2yDaY

Consistently voted the best British Sit-com of all time, it is undoubtedly a timeless classic that still appeals to all ages and generations.

Only Fools and Horses at the core is a story about working class men in the UK during the 1980’s. But around the core you will find that it really is about family. I guess this is why it has attached itself to millions of views in 30+ years.

Del Boy (David Jason) looks after his naïve younger brother Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) after the passing of their mother. Also, living with them is their Granddad (Lennard Pearce) who is slower than the average person. But after his sad passing in real life it was always going to be hard to find someone to replace the great man. Yet they found someone who is as equally backward and probably more catastrophic in Uncle Albert (Buster Merryfield).

Over the original 7 series running from 1981 to 1991 Del Boy and Rodney suffer through highs and lows of their jobs as well as their life with gaining and loosing relationships. Every sub character within their world helps add to not only the comedy the programme is built on, but the drama the programme offers through the trials and tribulations each character travels.

When the series ended in 1991 the BBC said that they would not go back for another series, but would allow Only Fools to have Christmas and one off specials. So Only Fool’s created a unique way to run a series by doing solely through Christmas specials over consecutive years, only The Royle Family has done this since.

!991, 1992 and 1993 had Christmas day specials that were viewed by increasing figures from 14.5 million viewers to 20.1 million viewers. Then, for me, the highlight occurred. In 1996 a 3 episode special was released in which a high of 24.3 million viewers in which finally the Trotters had their big win. This climax was welcomed by the viewers, the episode met with critical acclaim and has since been gelled to the hearts of fans of the sitcom for life.

Since the turn of the millennium the boys came back for three episode in 2001, 2002 and 2003, sadly with declining figures. But Only Fools and Horses will be loved by millions and will still impress the growing generations for years to come.

For me the best part about the sit-com is no matter what episode you view, whether you know the characters or not you can enjoy each episode and find the comedy funny. This is what makes Only Fools and Horses so special. It is a comedy, a drama and a form of escape for every viewer and it is watchable time after time and never gets old.

So, you have read my five from the top, what are your top five? Please feel free to leave a comment below here are a few more that you may like:

Open All Hours, Are You Being Served, Green Wing, Porridge, ‘Allo ‘allo, Blackadder, Vicar of Dibley, The Office, The Young Ones, Bottom, The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin,

Phoenix Nights, Birds of A Feather, The League of Gentlemen, 2.4 children, The Brittas Empire, Gimme Gimme Gimme, The Inbetweeners, The I.T Crowd.

This Blog was sponsored by “Super Arcade Theatre” and “Me + You = Geek” Both of which I have made guest appearances, so please feel free to watch, listen and subscribe to the best gaming show on youtube.com network and geeking podcast of all time.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SuperArcadeTheatre

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I will return with my five from the top Football managers in ode to the Great Sir Alex Ferguson’s announcement to retire.

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