[UK] The Great British programme discussion: Piers Morgan Memorial Pier

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The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > The TV IV > [UK] The Great British programme discussion: Piers Morgan Memorial Pier

Metrication: Dec 11, 2010; Of course you have a choice. You can decide how you say yes.

Nathan Barley.

# ? May 24, 2011 07:23

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# ? May 25, 2013 17:38

Mr. Flunchy: Mar 26, 2005

Nathan Barley is awful.

FATHER TED.

# ? May 24, 2011 08:02

Metrication: Dec 11, 2010; Of course you have a choice. You can decide how you say yes.

Mr. Flunchy posted:

Nathan Barley is awful.

FATHER TED.

# ? May 24, 2011 08:46

FreakyZoid: Nov 28, 2002

I didn't like Nathan Barley the first time around and gave up after a couple of episodes, but I've been watching it again on 4OD and it's a lot better than I remember. Also still very relevant, which is unsettling.

# ? May 24, 2011 09:09

ChuckDHead: Dec 18, 2006; Better than expected.

Mr. Flunchy posted:

FATHER TED.

Definitely Father Ted.

That said, one great thing about the best British sitcoms is how bad-natured they are compared to US ones (though things like Curb Your Enthusiasm get it).

I don't quite know if The League of Gentlemen counts as a sitcom, but if it does, then it's one of the blackest, most twistedly funny sitcoms ever. Similarly, if you can even begin to comprehend the Glasgow accents, Rab C Nesbitt is a very funny sitcom with a really gritty edge to it (though it's basically The Good Life by real Govan standards). Oh, and The Young Ones is one of the best comedies ever aired on UK TV.

# ? May 24, 2011 10:20

Rapey Joe Stalin: Jun 12, 2007; This is not the pleasure planet I was promised!

Rab C. Nesbitt is, was, shall forever be, poo poo.

# ? May 24, 2011 10:41

sebzilla: Mar 17, 2009; Kid's blasting everything in sight with that new-fangled musket.

Alan Partridge.

# ? May 24, 2011 10:53

ShaneMacGowansTeeth: May 22, 2007; Welcome benders

No love for The Brittas Empire? I still watch that even now, and it's still great

# ? May 24, 2011 10:55

ChuckDHead: Dec 18, 2006; Better than expected.

Rapey Joe Stalin posted:

Rab C. Nesbitt is, was, shall forever be, poo poo.

I think it went on too long and should never have come back, and it did have problems with staying funny when the situations were often overwhelmingly unpleasant, but Culture remains one of the funniest episodes of anything ever. There's actually a book of Rab's "autobiography", and it's unbelievably grim stuff. I would say that as far as very Scottish comedies go, The High Life is more consistently amusing, albeit much less dark.

Also I only just got into Alan Partridge a few days ago. I did not know what I was missing, it's brilliant stuff.

# ? May 24, 2011 12:37

Flatscan: Mar 27, 2001; Outlaw Journalist

FreakyZoid posted:

I didn't like Nathan Barley the first time around and gave up after a couple of episodes, but I've been watching it again on 4OD and it's a lot better than I remember. Also still very relevant, which is unsettling.

I found exactly the same thing. I think it's because when it first aired it was a bit ahead of it's time and unless you worked in the media you hadn't really run across tossers like that, now they're loving everywhere.

# ? May 24, 2011 12:41

Convex: Aug 19, 2010

I used to love Big Train back when it was first on. Some of it doesn't work at all, but when it does, it's literally some of the funniest stuff I've ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpDZDi581qA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8VAJSXsIFo

# ? May 24, 2011 12:45

ChuckDHead: Dec 18, 2006; Better than expected.

One show that I never hear getting enough attention is Stella Street. A mix of sitcom and impressionism, John Culshaw and Phil Cornwell do a wonderful job of presenting the insane scenario of a street full of (impersonated) movie stars and music icons living their take on banal suburban life. Highlights are Michael Caine narrating the show in the style of Alfie, Mick and Keith as a great comedy double-act running the corner shop, Joe Pesci being completely and terrifyingly batshit insane, and Jimmy Hill's tragically pathetic life.

# ? May 24, 2011 12:55

goatface: Dec 5, 2007

Stella Street is pretty great.

# ? May 24, 2011 12:58

jfjnpxmy: Feb 23, 2011

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/...-me/4od#3132417

Right goons, this is causing me big ol' mental problems. 36:11 of this episode of Come Dine With Me a jaunty little ska number plays, and nobody seems to know what it is, despite it being on EVERYTHING. I asked in the Ask/Tell stupid questions thread, but they're all too American to watch 4od. Anyone know what it is?

# ? May 24, 2011 13:00

Rolled Cabbage: Sep 3, 2006

Flatscan posted:

I found exactly the same thing. I think it's because when it first aired it was a bit ahead of it's time and unless you worked in the media you hadn't really run across tossers like that, now they're loving everywhere.

They were there all along

They're like the fedex arrow, once you've noticed them you're hosed, you can't unsee them. For what it's worth I hated the show when it first came out, it was too accurate to be funny for me. Now I think it's great.

# ? May 24, 2011 13:01

Strom Cuzewon: Jul 1, 2010

jfjnpxmy posted:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/...-me/4od#3132417

Right goons, this is causing me big ol' mental problems. 36:11 of this episode of Come Dine With Me a jaunty little ska number plays, and nobody seems to know what it is, despite it being on EVERYTHING. I asked in the Ask/Tell stupid questions thread, but they're all too American to watch 4od. Anyone know what it is?

The song is causing mental problems? The terrible visage of the WI lady, straight out of Midsomer Murders is giving me mental problems. What the hell happened the night before?

# ? May 24, 2011 13:26

TMA: Mar 27, 2002

jfjnpxmy posted:

Anyone know what it is?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdAcG24iI_w

# ? May 24, 2011 13:40

goatface: Dec 5, 2007

Just finished watching AWObMoLG.

I didn't think I could hate the financial establishment more than I already did.

# ? May 24, 2011 13:41

justcola: May 22, 2004; La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo

awobmolg was really good. Would like a soundtrack list but eh, I am patient.

Speaking of ridiculous acronyms I was talking about stewart lee the other day and my friend said 'tmwrnj' instead of 'this morning with richard not judy'. I liked it and also felt nerdy I understood 'tum-uh-wu-run-j' straight away.

# ? May 24, 2011 13:52

Local Group Bus: Jul 18, 2006; Try to suck the venom out.

ShaneMacGowansTeeth posted:

No love for The Brittas Empire? I still watch that even now, and it's still great

I really enjoyed the Brittas Empire but it ran too long and became really silly and all the strings started to show.

Men Behaving Badly was the same. Great first few seasons, then it just turned into either a solid funny episode or a really poo poo one and fell apart.

# ? May 24, 2011 14:25

Volcano: Apr 10, 2008

sebzilla posted:

Alan Partridge.

Yes, endlessly.

I'll also recommend Brass Eye and The Thick Of It, although you might not enjoy the latter as much if you're not familiar with British politics. Excellent swearing though.

# ? May 24, 2011 15:14

Category Fun!: Dec 2, 2008; im just trying to get you into bed

Black Books all day every day. It's impossible to find clips of it on youtube though, since Channel 4 put the official episodes on there.

# ? May 24, 2011 15:28

ShaneMacGowansTeeth: May 22, 2007; Welcome benders

Local Group Bus posted:

I really enjoyed the Brittas Empire but it ran too long and became really silly and all the strings started to show.

Men Behaving Badly was the same. Great first few seasons, then it just turned into either a solid funny episode or a really poo poo one and fell apart.

I dunno, I always appreciated that every week the leisure centre was the centre of a disaster that would be the lead story on the 6 O'Clock news, then next week be absolutely fine. And that they could then find even more silly ways to blow it up/injure people and rebuild it again.

# ? May 24, 2011 15:39

Monster w21 Faces: May 11, 2006; "What the fuck is that?"
"What the fuck is this?!"

Mr. Flunchy posted:

Nathan Barley is awful.

FATHER TED.

Knock Knock.

Whos that at the door?

Oh it's the vat of wrong you ordered.

# ? May 24, 2011 15:51

The talking apple: Oct 24, 2005

Local Group Bus posted:

I really enjoyed the Brittas Empire but it ran too long and became really silly and all the strings started to show.

Men Behaving Badly was the same. Great first few seasons, then it just turned into either a solid funny episode or a really poo poo one and fell apart.

I would say it�s the reverse for Men Behaving Badly. The first two series, which was broadcasted on ITV was relatively stale and despite a couple of moments, never reached its full potential. Only after the show moved to a post watershed slot with the BBC that the show hit its stride.

# ? May 24, 2011 15:56

Dicky B: Mar 23, 2004

Volcano posted:

I'll also recommend Brass Eye and The Thick Of It, although you might not enjoy the latter as much if you're not familiar with British politics.

I'm a big fan of the thick of it and relatively ignorant politics-wise. I find it pretty accessible.

# ? May 24, 2011 16:43

Muppetjedi: Mar 17, 2010

I recommend the first 6 series of Red Dwarf. (Maybe 7 as well).

# ? May 24, 2011 16:48

ChuckDHead: Dec 18, 2006; Better than expected.

Muppetjedi posted:

I recommend the first 6 series of Red Dwarf. (Maybe 7 as well).

Just remember: there was no Back to Earth.

Dave didn't fund it, and they certainly didn't repeat it like funding it was something to be proud of. Because it didn't happen.

# ? May 24, 2011 17:02

spincube: Jan 31, 2006

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace was sublime, even though it only ran for six episodes in Peru that one time in the eighties.

"Blood - crimson, copper-tasting blood. Blood. Blood. Blood. ... and bits of sick."

[e] And I thought they cancelled Red Dwarf after they'd taken the 'last human with an evolved cat, dead crewmate and a senile computer fumbling their way through the Universe' genre as fas as it could go?

# ? May 24, 2011 17:11

Gram-O-Phone: Mar 9, 2007; Oh, play that thing!

spincube posted:

[e] And I thought they cancelled Red Dwarf after they'd taken the 'last human with an evolved cat, dead crewmate and a senile computer fumbling their way through the Universe' genre as fas as it could go?

http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/2011...warf-confirmed/

I guess they found a way to take it even further! I won't deny, I am tentatively looking forward to it in the hope of it not being completely awful.

# ? May 24, 2011 17:40

ChuckDHead: Dec 18, 2006; Better than expected.

spincube posted:

[e] And I thought they cancelled Red Dwarf after they'd taken the 'last human with an evolved cat, dead crewmate and a senile computer fumbling their way through the Universe' genre as fas as it could go?

Ah, one of those series 1 and 2 purists, eh?

# ? May 24, 2011 17:41

Z-Magic: Feb 19, 2011; They talk about the people and the proletariat, I talk about the suckers and the mugs - it's the same thing. They have their five-year plans, so have I.

If you liked Psychoville I'd recommend Funland (created by Jeremy Dyson).

# ? May 24, 2011 17:49

Leyburn: Aug 31, 2001

Back to Earth was funnier than Nathan Barley.

# ? May 24, 2011 17:49

Junkenstein: Oct 22, 2003; Do you see?

How do you want me? is a better Dylan Moran vehicle than Black Books IMHO.

# ? May 24, 2011 18:17

justcola: May 22, 2004; La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo

For a good primer on UK comedy I'd start off with the alt comedy poo poo in the 80s. There was stuff before of importance but the 80s are when it kicked off a bit. The Young Ones, Blackadder, Yes Minister, Bottom and all the Comic Strips were pretty good. There's the lighter stuff that you might dig, like Vicar of Dibley and Only Fools and Horses though I was never really a fan of that. A lot of the comedy actors in Comic Strip presents were a big part of 80s and 90s comedy though there's other stuff like Absolutely Fabulous, Red Dwarf and One Foot In The Grave that's worth watching at least one episode of to see if you'd like it.

In the 90s the more alt-alt comedy started cropping up with stuff like Vic Reeves Big Night Out, Alan Partridge, The Day Today and Brass Eye. Quite a biggish slice of comedy in the 90s that hasn't really aged well is The Fast Show which one could see as the foetus of poo poo like Catherine Tate Show or Little Britain, which I loving hate but you may like. The Fast Show had it's moments, as did Goodness Gracious Me. Another sketch show I dug was Big Train, though I haven't seen it since. Big Train and Blue Jam are good companions and there's always Father Ted although I never got the chance to watch it as my mum hates Irish accents.

That brings us, ish, to the 00s where there's a whole slew of comedy although the big ones are Peep Show, The IT Crowd, Garth Marengis Darkplace, Nighty Night, Black Books and maybe Nathan Barley.

Older things would be Derek And Clive Get The Horn, Fawlty Towers, Some Mothers Do Ave Em and maybe Morecambe And Wise. And there's always a tv show called 'comedy connections' that maps all this poo poo out anyway GAWD.

Saying all that though my favourite thing would probably be Catterick

# ? May 24, 2011 19:01

Category Fun!: Dec 2, 2008; im just trying to get you into bed

Personally I think Red Dwarf is really, really bad. It occasionally had good moments and I liked it alot when I was younger for some reason, but I can't watch it now. It certainly didn't help when they tried to make it more serialized and have an overarching story, since that just underlined how flimsy the whole thing was.

# ? May 24, 2011 19:04

SeanBeansShako: Nov 20, 2009; 19th Century War is often harder on the aggressor than it is on the defender however, I also know that it doesn't necessarily turn you into a sad, depressed sack of Republican tears for the rest of your life.

Despite the hilarious datedness now I still enjoy The Young Ones and Filthy, Rich and Catflap.

Also some episodes of Bottom.

Also, I Rapey Joe Stalin Only Fools. I just don't find the funny.

# ? May 24, 2011 19:05

Mr. Squishy: Mar 22, 2010; A country where you can always get richer.

justcola posted:

Saying all that though my favourite thing would probably be Catterick

Seconding this one, Catterick really is something very special. Reece Shearsmith is so good at playing psychos. Also, it's the only (?) Vic and Bob things which doesn't use incredibly shoddy production as a joke, so looks nice for a change.

# ? May 24, 2011 19:09

Pablo Bluth: Sep 7, 2007; I've made a huge mistake.

We must start keepinga proper list of recommended programmes, rather than trying to remember everything each time it gets asked.

# ? May 24, 2011 19:10

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# ? May 25, 2013 17:38

Flatscan: Mar 27, 2001; Outlaw Journalist

Don't forget the root of all British comedy: Seinfeld.

# ? May 24, 2011 19:15

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