6. The Thin Blue Line
A follow-up in many ways to the Blackadder seasons, 'The Thin Blue Line' told the story of an imcompetent police force in Gasforth headed by Raymond Fowler, played excellently by Rowan Atkinson, who is oblivious to the needs of his long-term partner and the idiosyncrasies of his fellow officers.
Though only running for two series and twelve episodes it could have been so much more but that's possibly why it is so solid as, like 'Fawlty Towers' it came to a conclusion in its prime.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Phil's Top 14 Comedy Series - Part Eight
7. Keeping Up Appearances
"The Boo-kay residence, lady of the house speaking."
Featuring the house proud Hyacinth Bucket, her down-trodden husband Richard and their connected family of upper class and lower class relatives.
Telling the story of her exploits in trying to keep up appearances over five series, it spawned numerous catchphrases and was perfect sunday afternoon viewing.
"The Boo-kay residence, lady of the house speaking."
Featuring the house proud Hyacinth Bucket, her down-trodden husband Richard and their connected family of upper class and lower class relatives.
Telling the story of her exploits in trying to keep up appearances over five series, it spawned numerous catchphrases and was perfect sunday afternoon viewing.
Phil's Top 14 Comedy Series - Part Seven
8. Goodnight Sweetheart
Starring 'Only Fools and Horses' actor Nicholas Lyndhurst, 'Goodnight Sweetheart' tells the story of Gary Sparrow who discovers a portal back to the past where he falls in love and becomes embroiled in two lives, one in the present day and one in 1940s war-torn London. Along the way he discovers an unlikely friendship with a printer, who provides him with all the forged money he could ever need,and an idiotic policeman called Reg, plus a funny collection of side-cast including a perfect impersonation of Noel Coward.
Surviving a cast change of both the leading females, the series was a great comedy drama with a heart-rending ending with some great comedy set pieces and a rolling storyline that brought its laughs.
Starring 'Only Fools and Horses' actor Nicholas Lyndhurst, 'Goodnight Sweetheart' tells the story of Gary Sparrow who discovers a portal back to the past where he falls in love and becomes embroiled in two lives, one in the present day and one in 1940s war-torn London. Along the way he discovers an unlikely friendship with a printer, who provides him with all the forged money he could ever need,and an idiotic policeman called Reg, plus a funny collection of side-cast including a perfect impersonation of Noel Coward.
Surviving a cast change of both the leading females, the series was a great comedy drama with a heart-rending ending with some great comedy set pieces and a rolling storyline that brought its laughs.
Friday, 24 February 2012
Phil's Top 14 Comedy Series - Part Six
9. You Rang M'Lord?
Though I was too young to watch some comedy highlights like Hi-De-Hi I did throughly enjoy its cast and writer successors 'Oh! Doctor Beeching', a later 90s sitcom set on a train station, but mainly the one that fell between them 'You Rang M'lord?'
Set in a 1920s home it was a comedy version of 'Upstairs Downstairs' but wasn't afraid to mix in the drama alongside the comedy. With excellent performances from the ensemble cast and a barrel of catchphrases ("I can't remember the last time...") it was a series you could watch for the jokes but also the unravelling plotlines.
Though I was too young to watch some comedy highlights like Hi-De-Hi I did throughly enjoy its cast and writer successors 'Oh! Doctor Beeching', a later 90s sitcom set on a train station, but mainly the one that fell between them 'You Rang M'lord?'
Set in a 1920s home it was a comedy version of 'Upstairs Downstairs' but wasn't afraid to mix in the drama alongside the comedy. With excellent performances from the ensemble cast and a barrel of catchphrases ("I can't remember the last time...") it was a series you could watch for the jokes but also the unravelling plotlines.
Phil's Top 14 Comedy Series - Part Five
10. Look Around You
Look Around You was a show I originally never set out to watch but happened to turn on in the middle of and immediately fell in love with.
Though the first series is arguably better than the second, both are pitch-perfect parodies of their targets. The first, a collection of 10-minute spoofs of educational videos, spawned some cracking catchphrases such as 'thanks ant, thants' and 'write that down', plus full of visual and surreal jokes.
The second series, six 'Tomorrow's World'-esque programmes, also included lots of surreal and hilarious highights even if it mis-fired in parts with its humour, but when you consider the scariest image in the world, the technological marvel that is Prince Charles' visit to the studios then you remember how good it was.
Look Around You was a show I originally never set out to watch but happened to turn on in the middle of and immediately fell in love with.
Though the first series is arguably better than the second, both are pitch-perfect parodies of their targets. The first, a collection of 10-minute spoofs of educational videos, spawned some cracking catchphrases such as 'thanks ant, thants' and 'write that down', plus full of visual and surreal jokes.
The second series, six 'Tomorrow's World'-esque programmes, also included lots of surreal and hilarious highights even if it mis-fired in parts with its humour, but when you consider the scariest image in the world, the technological marvel that is Prince Charles' visit to the studios then you remember how good it was.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Phil's Top 14 Comedy Series - Part Four
11. Lab Rats
Lab Rats was, like 'All Along The Watchtower' mentioned earlier, only commissioned for one series and though critically it was panned this remains one of my favourite modern comedy series due to its witty one-liners, surreal humour and ability to tie everything together by the end of the episode.
Starring the fantastic Chris Addison, this is a seriously under-rated sitcom full of visual jokes and eccentric plot lines, very much a modern 'One Foot In The Grave' and should have been given a second series as it truly was fun to watch.
Lab Rats was, like 'All Along The Watchtower' mentioned earlier, only commissioned for one series and though critically it was panned this remains one of my favourite modern comedy series due to its witty one-liners, surreal humour and ability to tie everything together by the end of the episode.
Starring the fantastic Chris Addison, this is a seriously under-rated sitcom full of visual jokes and eccentric plot lines, very much a modern 'One Foot In The Grave' and should have been given a second series as it truly was fun to watch.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Phil's Top 14 Comedy Series - Part Three
12. Police Squad
The six-part series that led to the hilarious Naked Gun movie trilogy, it was a masterclass in visual jokes, from the pseudo freeze-frames at the end of the episode to the opening scene where a guest star would be immediately killed off. Leslie Nielson is, as expected, fantastic and fills the role with gusto and there are so many jokes it's hard to keep track.
Particular highlights include using the set as jokes themselves and the excellent word play that would go on to be an integral part of the Naked Gun films.
The six-part series that led to the hilarious Naked Gun movie trilogy, it was a masterclass in visual jokes, from the pseudo freeze-frames at the end of the episode to the opening scene where a guest star would be immediately killed off. Leslie Nielson is, as expected, fantastic and fills the role with gusto and there are so many jokes it's hard to keep track.
Particular highlights include using the set as jokes themselves and the excellent word play that would go on to be an integral part of the Naked Gun films.
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