Thread: Is there a funnier TV show than Fawlty Towers?

Faulty Towers is good, in particular the one with "Stubbs", the builder.

These are probably just as good:
Open all hours - "It's me, Ark, ark, ark , Arkwright"
Black books
Mother and Son
Keeping up appearances

Most English comedies

Wadda yathink?

Godwin

Was at a conference last week run by a German company. One (German) speaker tried to lighten things up with a couple of jokes, to thin laughter. Then he apologised, saying that Germans don't have a sense of humour. Everyone roared. (OK, you had to be there)

Reminds me of an episode of Root into Europe. Henry Root is in a steam room with a heap of Germans. He's heard they don't have a sense of humour but he reckons they just haven't heard any decent jokes, so he starts telling some. The Germans don't even crack a smile. Then one of them says something in German and they all crack up laughing.

Well, it's funny in context....

I agree that the best of British comedy is hard to beat, but I am surprised that no-one has mentioned Seinfeld. Unlike Fawlty Towers, which comprises only 12 episodes, Seinfeld kept up a consistently high standard for nine seasons. I am not sure how many episodes that represents, but it must be close to 200. Seinfeld seems to have added a number of memorable words and phrases to the language - master of your domain, sponge-worthy, serenity now, shrinkage, soup nazi, and vegetable lasagna spring to mind.

Rocker

get smart wasn't a pom show

OK, apart from Seinfeld, Get Smart and The Simpsons, what have the yanks ever done for comedy?

Originally Posted by silentC

OK, apart from Seinfeld, Get Smart and The Simpsons, what have the yanks ever done for comedy?

American comedy:

George Carlin
Bill Maher
Jon Stewart
Kevin James

George Carlin and Kevin James do regular stand-up gigs that they played on Comedy Central (is that on cable here?), and they are fantastic. Jon Stewart (The Daily Show) and Bill Maher do spoof journalism and interviews. The Daily Show have an excellent team. Jon Stewart did a brief stint on SBS, but don't know if it still plays. Don't know if the others have appeared much on ozzie tv. Carlin and Stewart have books out that I've seen here. During the election of George W and 9/11 Carlin and Stewart help me keep what little sanity I have left.

Here are some of George Carlin's predictions for the future:

• Man will learn to control the weather with a large hammer.
• All knowledge in the world will be contained on a single, tiny silicon chip which someone will misplace.
• The human body will develop fins and gills, and beach property will inscrease tenfold in value.

These quotes are from When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, which is worth the price just for his pieces on UFOs and the Two Commandments.

Yes, what have the Yanks ever done for comedy?

The aquaduct ?

Originally Posted by silentC

Yes, what have the Yanks ever done for comedy?

Er...ok...I know: had to be there!

I must admit that I do like Frasier, apart from that 'The Plank' is still up the top somewhere (not Seppo I know).
And Dinner for One is good for a change, which I think is German.

Originally Posted by silentC

Yes, what have the Yanks ever done for comedy?

George W Bush

I'm also a big fan of Black Books, Father Ted, Black adder, Red dwarf et al, and South Park and the Simpsons (Seinfeld gives me smirks and find Friends tiresome). South Park is a bit too much for my 9 yr old, But John Cleese and Andrew Sachs are a cut above.

Got the DVD collection at home .. always thought there were more episodes made.. Kingswood Country comes a close second

Fawlty Towers is NOT VERY FUNNY after you have watched it 37 times. DAMHIK!

There is still something to be said for visualisation as not all can be viewed - I cut my teeth on The Goon Show (even met Spike Milligan a few times), and this still remains top of the heap for me.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by Trav

What about South Park? Can't go past the 'respect my authortaaaah' episode. Or perhaps the Simpsons?

But I do like the other mentioned.

Not sure about Aunty Jack - before my time perhaps.

Trav

I hope you're not serious That's venemous pole-cat's **** if ever i've seen it