Liz and Doug's Big List o' Great British TV Comedy
My husband and I have been watching TV together for years now. We consider ourselves connoisseurs of British comedy. Here are some gems worth watching - the fun thing about Brit Com is the longer you watch, the more you start seeing the same people popping back up over and over.
(most of these are on Netflix - hooray accessibility!)
(most of these are on Netflix - hooray accessibility!)
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- StarsRonnie BarkerBrian WildeFulton MackayThe prison life of Fletcher, a criminal serving a five-year sentence, as he strives to bide his time, keep his record clean, and refuses to be ground down by the prison system.I'll save you Americans some confusion: 'porridge' is slang for prison time.
You'll see Ronnie Barker later in 'Open All Hours.'
Recognize the name 'Beckinsale'? Sure you do. That's Kate's father - he died when she was little. - StarsJohn CleesePrunella ScalesAndrew SachsHotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.Start here. All British comedy flows from John Cleese.
- StarsRichard BriersFelicity KendalPenelope KeithTom Good quits the rat race, and with wife Barbara turns the garden of their Surbiton house into a smallholding. Their neighbours, snobbish Margo Leadbetter and her conventional husband Jerry, feel variously amused, offended and impressed.
- StarsRonnie BarkerDavid JasonLynda BaronArkwright is a miserly and eccentric shopkeeper with a stammer, who longs to marry his lifelong love Nurse Gladys. He runs a small-town grocery store along with his errand boy and nephew, Granville, and a particularly dangerous till.Think 'Fawlty Towers' only in a grocery store.
- CreatorPeter SpenceStarsPenelope KeithPeter BowlesAngela ThorneFollowing her husband's passing, Audrey fforbes-Hamilton is forced to sell her stately home. While she comes to terms with her downward mobility, she decides to show the new owner a thing or two about "nobility".
- StarsJudi DenchMichael WilliamsSusan PenhaligonPerplexed and unmarried Laura and sweet but inept Mike form an unlikely union after meeting. Despite differences and lack of chemistry, an undefinable connection keeps the stubborn Laura and grinning Mike together.Judi Dench. That's all I need to say.
- CreatorJohn SullivanStarsDavid JasonNicholas LyndhurstRoger Lloyd PackComedy that follows two brothers from London's rough Peckham estate as they wheel and deal through a number of dodgy deals and search for the big score that'll make them millionaires.David Jason from 'Open All Hours' returns as Mr. Anything-to-make-a-Buck Del Boy.
- CreatorRichard CurtisStarsRowan AtkinsonBrian BlessedElspet GrayIn the Middle Ages, Prince Edmund the Black Adder constantly schemes and endeavors to seize the crown from his father and brother.This picture is just for the first series, but watch them ALL.
Edmund (the incomparable Rowan Atkinson - forget the wishy washy Mr Bean, he's at his best being SNARKY!!) starts off pretty weaky and wobbly, but as the generations progress (we are follow Black Adders through the generations) he becomes a master of the mean and the sarcastic. - StarsRik MayallAdrian EdmondsonNigel PlanerThe crazy and sometimes surreal comedic adventures of four very different students in Thatcher's Britain.Doug's addition to the list. Not sure I would really endorse it.
- StarsPaul EddingtonNigel HawthorneDerek FowldsJames Hacker was propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of politics - Number 10.Doug's pick. I haven't watched it.
- StarsStephen FryHugh LaurieDeborah NortonComedians Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie perform a variety of comedy skits and the occasional musical number.This one is a bit hit or miss - sometimes the comedy is a little too British. This features Hugh Laurie (of course, our favorite Dr House) and Stephen Fry - together previously in Black Adder - doing sketch comedy.
- CreatorRob GrantDoug NaylorStarsChris BarrieCraig CharlesDanny John-JulesThe adventures of the last human alive and his friends, stranded three million years into deep space on the mining ship Red Dwarf.I take for granted that everyone who has seen any british comedy has seen this one, but I thought I'd list it just incase. I fell in love with this one when I was probably in middle school and PBS was still the ONLY way to get my brit com fix.
- StarsGraham CrowdenStephanie ColeDaniel HillAn unusual alliance develops between Diana Trent, a cynical retired photojournalist and Tom Ballard, a former accountant, while staying at the Bayview Retirement Home.
- StarsJudi DenchGeoffrey PalmerMoira BrookerThe Korean War, and a long lost letter, separate the lives of young lovers Jean Pargetter and Lionel Hardcastle, whose paths cross again by happenstance.See #6
- StarsKarl HowmanGeraldine McEwanTony SelbyThe son of Death and Springtime is sent to collect the acerbic and reclusive Miss Farnaby. He joins the staff in her manor house, becomes her personal servant, and endeavors to help her enjoy life during her three month extension.Death's son take a holiday.
- StarsJennifer SaundersJoanna LumleyJulia SawalhaThe wild misadventures of Edina "Eddy" Monsoon and her best friend Patsy Stone, who live in a nearly constant haze of drugged, drunken selfishness.
- CreatorSimon NyeStarsMartin ClunesCaroline QuentinLeslie AshTwo early thirties best friends live together while having completely different personalities. While their girlfriends try to help them take on more responsibilities the boys seldom respond well and usually end up drinking together.Young Martin Clunes from Doc Martin!
Another show America stole and tried to make its own. It wasn't an awful failure, but this one is still far superior. - StarsLenny HenryRoger GriffithsCaroline Lee-JohnsonFamous chef Gareth Blackstock struggles with dividing time between wife Janice and the restaurant. It's a good thing he can let off steam with his remarks.This one is Doug's pick. Think 'Fawlty Towers' only with a cook.
- StarsDawn FrenchJames FleetTrevor PeacockA boisterous female minister comes to serve in an eccentrically conservative village's church.'Father Ted' only a chick.
- StarsDermot MorganArdal O'HanlonFrank KellyThree misfit priests and their housekeeper live on Craggy Island, not the peaceful and quiet part of Ireland that it seems to be.'Vicar of Dibley' only a guy.
:-) - StarsSimon PeggJessica HynesJulia DeakinFriends Tim and Daisy, 20-something North Londoners with uncertain futures, must pretend to be a couple to live in the only apartment they can afford.
- StarsJack DavenportGina BellmanSarah AlexanderSix best friends talk about all aspects of sex and relationships on their never-ending quest to find true love.They tried to Americanize this one: abysmal failure.
- CreatorDylan MoranStarsDylan MoranBill BaileyTamsin GreigBernard Black runs a book shop, though his customer service skills leave something to be desired. He hires Manny as an employee. Fran runs the shop next door. Between the three of them many adventures ensue.Think 'Fawlty Towers' only in a bookstore.
- StarsHugh LaurieAnna ChancellorSheila HancockPaul Slippery (Hugh Laurie), a forty-something doctor, lives with his wife Estelle and three sex-obsessed sons Rory, Daniel and Edwin in the west London suburb of Putney. On top of coping with family pressures and a mid-life crisis, Paul discovers his unusual ability to hear other peoples' inner thoughts.Picture this: an alternate universe where 'House' is nice, settled down and has a family.
- CreatorJesse ArmstrongSam BainAndrew O'ConnorStarsDavid MitchellRobert WebbMatt KingMark and Jez are a couple of twenty-something roommates who have nothing in common - except for the fact that their lives are anything but normal. Mayhem ensues as the pair strive to cope with day-to-day life.Mitchell and Webb sit - com. These guys do all manner of hilarious sketch comedy, but I'll give this one my highest endorsement since it has a plot.