Comedy WARS: Porridge vs. Fawlty Towers

[Mellotron]

Should be fairly one-sided...

vs.

 

[Bladders]

It would have made life a lot easier if you had put these heavyweights up early against stuff like Brush Strokes and Robins Nest!

 

[Mellotron]

It would have made life a lot easier if you had put these heavyweights up early against stuff like Brush Strokes and Robins Nest!

I only initially was gonna do Office vs Partridge, now I'm just doing Quarters, Semis and Final. Perhaps we should do a proper Comedy World Cup...

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

Brush Strokes and Robins Nest!

i'll go for, erm............................. my gun!

 

[Mellotron]

Cor blimey Porridge making a fight of it! I'm a fan of both but I thought it would be a walkover for Cleese and co.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Fawlty Towers relied too much on Cleese whereas Porridge had several really good comic actors.

 

[brakespear]

Not a fan of Porridge (despite Barker's comedy genius) so it has to be Fawlty.

 

[Trigger]

Porridge, absolute classic.

 

[happypig]

I think Porridge has aged better

 

[Biscuit]

Porridge is superb, but I've gone for Fawlty Towers - by a whisker.

 

[beorhthelm]

Fawlty. however, i had to deep analyse this, Porridge is the better craft but not sure i could all out individual episodes. Fawlty gave us the Germans and siberian hamsters.

 

[The Large One]

I don't think Porridge has aged as badly as Fawlty Towers.

The majority of FT's comedy relied on Cleese's manic behaviour and Sach's stereotyping.

There was a bit more thought that went into Porridge - and I'm a fan of Clement/La Frenais.

 

[Mellotron]

Whilst I agree FT is quite straightforward, I can't think of another comedy in history with writing this tight and PERFECT.

 

[Hiney]

Fawlty

Every

Time

 

[Pavilionaire]

Porridge for me. A brilliant 'father-son' relationship between Fletcher and Godber with the Fletcher / McKay duelling an added bonus.

 

[Paskman]

Another tough call but lines like this mean only one winner, especially as I saw this episode whilst staying in a Torquay Hotel on a 6th Form field trip:

Mrs Richards:- "When I pay for a room with a view, I expect to see the sea."
Fawlty: "You CAN see the sea! It's over there, between the land and the sky!"
MR:- "Well, it's just not good enough!"
F:- "Well, may I ask what madam was expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom? Sydney Opera House? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain?"
MR:- "I expect a discount"
F:- "Why? Because Krakatoa isnt erupting at the moment??"

 

[Hillian1]

Simply cannot decide so I will abstain.

 

[Box of Frogs]

Cleese. No, Barker. No, Cleese. Doh - can't decide!!

I'll go for..........

 

[halbpro]

Went Porridge, think it's a bit cleverer at points. Fawlty is very, very good though.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Really tough one to call.
FT probably edges it on writing. Porridge for the depth of the character performances.

I have gone for Porridge purely based on Ronnie Barker's assured comic acting over Cleese's manic performance.