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BBC comedy?

(90 Posts)
Jane10 Sun 10-Mar-19 09:10:20

I've been wondering why the BBC can provide such good radio comedies yet such dire TV ones. Warren is awful, Mrs Brown's Boys is a 70s throwback, Fleabag is not only not funny but actively offensive etc etc.
QI and the various comedy panel shows are good but the sit coms? Just no.
Somehow Channel 4 does them well. From the early days of Cheers and the incomparable Frasier to Father Ted and the IT crowd they provide comedy gold. Currently Derry Girls is excellent. Amazing to find such fun against a sectarian background. Of course it's the characters that do it!
Come on BBC what's wrong with you?

Aepgirl Sun 10-Mar-19 12:49:28

The only TV comedies that I find funny are the re-runs of Dad’s Army - no offensive language and just good old-fashioned humour.

So many of the so-called comedies are just dire, and I have no idea why Martin Clunes should want to be involved in Warren.

Magrithea Sun 10-Mar-19 12:53:16

OO, thanks NanKate for the heads up about the latest Charles Paris - I love Bill Nighy and that series!

FountainPen Sun 10-Mar-19 12:58:58

Another vote for Fleabag. Both comic and sad with brilliantly drawn characters. Also love Upstart Crow for its clever script and acting and WILTY especially when Bob Mortimer is on.

Luckygirl Sun 10-Mar-19 13:05:26

Never watched Fleabag - I'll have to do a catch-up on it.

Marilla Sun 10-Mar-19 13:32:58

Radio 4 comedies range from being dire to mildly amusing. The six thirty slot in the evening can be embarrassingly awful.

BBC TV comedies are usually dated and farcical.
There are only so many times you can watch repeats of The Good Life, Dad’s Army and other similar programmes. American shows are so superior now with slick scripts and great acting.

Maccyt1955 Sun 10-Mar-19 13:35:18

Agree with Dragonfly46.
I love Lee Mack...and Not Going Out always makes me laugh. Good old fashioned situation comedy.
He is also very clever and quick witted.
I think Warren is actually really offensive.
Ghastly old fashioned stereotypes consisting of a nasty misogynistic man and his stupid wife, who is too dim to protect her sons from his abuse. Why Martin Clunes accepted the role I don’t know.
I do love the new Alan Partridge though.
Steve Coogan is a genius.

Marilla Sun 10-Mar-19 13:35:37

The cute Irish priest was the best thing about Fleabag.

Maccyt1955 Sun 10-Mar-19 13:37:15

And oh yes...Upstart Crow is brilliant.

phoenix Sun 10-Mar-19 13:53:29

Mr P and I are great fans of "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue"

When Humph died, wondered how it would fare, but Jack Dee does a very good job.

humptydumpty Sun 10-Mar-19 14:00:42

What about Just a Minute and Sorry I haven't a clue? love them..

gulligranny Sun 10-Mar-19 14:29:14

The last TV comedy that actually made us laugh out loud was "W1A". Before that, we did love "Outnumbered", particularly the early episodes where the children were not necessarily scripted...

Jane10 Sun 10-Mar-19 14:35:31

In Fleabag it felt like she had a list of offensive/unpleasant topics that don't usually crop up in comedies and talked about them using the same formula of directly talking to a viewer as Miranda. I never found Miranda funny in the first place and at least she didn't go on about anal sex or burst into the toilet where someone was having a miscarriage for example. Funny? Not even slightly.

M0nica Sun 10-Mar-19 14:58:16

W1A was brilliant. DD, who worked for the BBC for nearly 10 years, couldn't watch it as she said it was too close to what working for the BBC was really like.

KatyK Sun 10-Mar-19 15:03:43

No Miranda wasn't funny (in my opinion).

Craicon Sun 10-Mar-19 15:04:17

@GrannyIris5. Another vote for Still Game here.
We only discovered it by accident whilst living in England via a dvd gift from a friend. Thankfully, we can get BBC Scotland on satellite so I’m glad they brought it back but sad that this is the last ever series.
Channel 4 has been instrumental in developing good writing talent too. Father Ted was brilliant. Such a tragedy when Dermot Morgan died so young as he was brilliant in it and it was a formula that could have gone on much longer, I think.

sarahellenwhitney Sun 10-Mar-19 15:06:09

'Men behaving Badly'.What a classic was that one.
I enjoyed Martin Clunes in his recent portrayal of a cop on the trail of a killer however apart from that, comedy, like MBHB is really what he excels in.

RosieLeah Sun 10-Mar-19 15:24:31

I think the programmes reflect the audience. If a certain type of comedy attracts a large audience, the programme makers will assume that it's what people want and continue in the same vein. Just as travel programmes are obviously popular, because there are so many being made. If audience numbers drop, that sort of programme will no longer be made.

NanKate Sun 10-Mar-19 15:26:10

Round the Horn and Beyond our Ken really made me laugh especially Jules and Sandy but I suspect the PC brigade would say it was homophobic now, which I don’t think it was. I never realised some of the phrases such ‘it’s good to varda your old eek’ (it’s good to see you) was part of gay language in the 1960s.

I loved Hinge and Bracket too. My trans cousin who knew one of the actors had his/her voice on her answerphone.

Jane10 Sun 10-Mar-19 15:46:03

Oh Hinge and Bracket! The dear ladies. They were terrific.

grammargran Sun 10-Mar-19 15:55:27

There’s obviously something wrong with me - love Warren, very disappointed with Alan Partridge. Love Would I Lie To You? HIGNFY, Upstart Crow, Outnumbered, Derry Girls. The radio shows were the best though, Beyond Our Ken, Round The Horn, Take It From Here, who can ever forget Eth and the gormless Ron??

Eloethan Sun 10-Mar-19 16:15:22

I really like Fleabag, even though I find some of the humour too graphic for my own taste, ditto Catastrophe. I just think they are such original comedies and the actors are so good. I started to watch the Derry Girls at the beginning of the last series but didn't really get into it. I think I'll give it another go.

I don't like Mrs Brown's Boys and didn't like Monty Python or The Goons.

Some of the old comedies that I used to like are rather disappointing to me now.

There was a comedy programme on R4 that used to make me howl with laughter - I think it was called Craig something's diary. I also like the News Quiz - especially the newspaper items sent in by listeners.

It all goes to show we are all different and what amuses one person won't amuse another.

Juliette Sun 10-Mar-19 16:17:10

Two Doors Down is quite funny, I think it may be BBC Scotland too. I’ve binge watched the first series of Fleabag and did enjoy it, DH, not so much, he doesn’t like ladies who swear.
My all time favourites are The Royale Family and the other one with Craig Cash in (so good I’ve forgotten it’s name!)
Open Door I think.
Dinner Ladies is a classic, like others I could watch it over and over. I always wonder if Urmstongran knows Sue, played by Kate Robbins.

grammargran Sun 10-Mar-19 16:35:42

Yep, loved Two Doors Down as well - poor put upon Beth with the neighbour from hell, Cathy .....

Annaram1 Sun 10-Mar-19 16:40:08

Oh yes! The Royale Family!!! Hilarious! Remember the Christmas edition where the turkey was still frozen? And all they got were carrots!

sharon103 Sun 10-Mar-19 17:02:57

I loved the Royale Family and Early Doors with Craig Cash. I watched the first of Warren and thought it was alright. I put Derry Girls on last week but couldn't understand what they were sayingconfused so changed channels. Love anything with Lee Mack. There's nothing in comedy worth watching these days. I used to love George and Mildred, Open all Hours, Rising Damp, On the Buses, In Loving Memory, Hi De-Hi.