[Humour] Comedy's that have aged well and those that haven't

[jcdenton08]

That was crap to start with.

Mind the pedestrian, Richard!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Fawlty Towers is the best sitcom of all time. It has aged absolutely fine, so well in fact it’s just extended in the West End before it goes on what will be a sell-out tour. Same as Only Fools and Horses.

There is a lot of people wanting comfort and nostalgia and couldn’t give two shits if social norms mean you’re not allowed to laugh at things that upset some people nowadays.

There’s a reason why Dad’s Army, Only Fools, Fawlty Towers et al are still loved today, and trash like Up The Elephant isn’t.

That’s because Up the Elephant was racist garbage then, and is racist garbage now. Not a case of aging badly, but audiences hopefully growing out of it. The fault of the audience not the material.

I think nostalgia can cover a multitude of shortcomings, though.

Different genre, I love Inspector Morse because it was on when I was visiting Oxford for work, and I love a crime thrilla, and the characters are great, and it takes me back to an exciting time in my life..... but...

Morse's chauvenism did grate when I watched the series all the way through again, the last time (my dear). Perhaps I'll never bother with it again. Sad, but so it goes.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

I loved Butterflies. More than a comedy, a take on life, teenage sons, suburbia.

I was about to write that I don't remember anything ever actually happening in Butterflies, but then I realised that as I was about 6 when I last saw any of it I probably wasn't best placed to judge.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

I still watch and enjoy: Only Fools, Fawlty Towers, Porridge, Father Ted and Gavin And Stacey.

I used to but don’t now watch: The Young Ones, Two Pints, The Office or Brush Strokes (although I do still listen to Dexy’s Midnight Runners)

 

[Weststander]

That was crap to start with.

Along with George & Mildred, A Fine Romance. I thought Just Good Friends was shite.

From a time with one TV in the house, you had to watch what your parents chose.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

How hasn't the Good Life aged well?

Richard Briers and Paul Eddington are dead.

 

[jcdenton08]

I think nostalgia can cover a multitude of shortcomings, though.

Different genre, I love Inspector Morse because it was on when I was visiting Oxford for work, and I love a crime thrilla, and the characters are great, and it takes me back to an exciting time in my life..... but...

Morse's chauvenism did grate when I watched the series all the way through again, the last time (my dear). Perhaps I'll never bother with it again. Sad, but so it goes.

I’m not put off by such things, such as the example you’ve given there. That’s the character, in the setting, in the period. Morse is meant to be a grumpy bastard, he’s the same in the books.

It seems pretty arbitrary what people are deciding has/hasn’t aged well, and perhaps it’s them and their worldview which has changed rather than the programme.

I never could stand Little Britain, which I found malicious and offensive at the time. Yet people are now deciding it “hasn’t aged well”.

All the examples I’ve given of oldies, and I’ll added Reginald Perrin and Yes, Minister to those, are shows which document the time without going out of their way to be offensive and spiteful like, say, Curry and Chips.

 

[Weststander]

I think nostalgia can cover a multitude of shortcomings, though.

Different genre, I love Inspector Morse because it was on when I was visiting Oxford for work, and I love a crime thrilla, and the characters are great, and it takes me back to an exciting time in my life..... but...

Morse's chauvenism did grate when I watched the series all the way through again, the last time (my dear). Perhaps I'll never bother with it again. Sad, but so it goes.

Have you ever watched the Jeremy Brett Sherlock’s again?

 

[Peteinblack]

Fawlty Towers is the best sitcom of all time. It has aged absolutely fine, so well in fact it’s just extended in the West End before it goes on what will be a sell-out tour. Same as Only Fools and Horses.

There is a lot of people wanting comfort and nostalgia and couldn’t give two shits if social norms mean you’re not allowed to laugh at things that upset some people nowadays.

There’s a reason why Dad’s Army, Only Fools, Fawlty Towers et al are still loved today, and trash like Up The Elephant isn’t.

That’s because Up the Elephant was racist garbage then, and is racist garbage now. Not a case of aging badly, but audiences hopefully growing out of it. The fault of the audience not the material.

Agree!

 

[Driver8]

I watched an episode of the Likely Lads last week and it certainly hasn’t aged well! I’m not sure the suggestion that dating a “coloured” nurse would lead to picking sugar cane would go down well today .

 

[Peteinblack]

Have you ever watched the Jeremy Brett Sherlock’s again?

The only one I ever watch - Brett was THE Sherlock Holmes for me!

 

[jimhigham]

Literally just been rewatching Vic Reeves Big Night Out. Seems to have aged OK. I still LOLd at Milli Vanilla trying to create negative gravity in their tights but then perhaps that's just me.

 

[zefarelly]

The Good Life is brilliant and anybody ("down with the kids" or otherwise) who thinks otherwise can f*** right off.

Zef jr loved it when he was younger ( still does I think) he was born nearly 30 years after it was first sired . . . If you have a brain and vague knowledge of modern history, say, at a level your dog would understand, you would get the generational difference. And should find it amusing. most of the funniest bits are timeless. ITV is there for a reason I guess.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Have you ever watched the Jeremy Brett Sherlock’s again?

You don't mean there are other Sherlock Holmes do you?

I'm not having that.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I still watch and enjoy: Only Fools, Fawlty Towers, Porridge, Father Ted and Gavin And Stacey.

I used to but don’t now watch: The Young Ones, Two Pints, The Office or Brush Strokes (although I do still listen to Dexy’s Midnight Runners)

Father Ted yes
Young Ones No

More yeses:
Bottom
Brass Eye
The Day Today
Dave Allen (the grey haired version)
Jam
Reggie Perrin (all series)

More Nos
Filthy Rich and Catflap (poor writing, daughter)
Are you being Served
Steptoe
On the buses

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Literally just been rewatching Vic Reeves Big Night Out. Seems to have aged OK. I still LOLd at Milli Vanilla trying to create negative gravity in their tights but then perhaps that's just me.

I've watched that relatively recently (for the first time in my case). It's probably fair to say that there aren't too many time-specific contemporary references in it.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I’m not put off by such things, such as the example you’ve given there. That’s the character, in the setting, in the period. Morse is meant to be a grumpy bastard, he’s the same in the books.

It seems pretty arbitrary what people are deciding has/hasn’t aged well, and perhaps it’s them and their worldview which has changed rather than the programme.

I never could stand Little Britain, which I found malicious and offensive at the time. Yet people are now deciding it “hasn’t aged well”.

All the examples I’ve given of oldies, and I’ll added Reginald Perrin and Yes, Minister to those, are shows which document the time without going out of their way to be offensive and spiteful like, say, Curry and Chips.

All I said was Morse's chauvinism grates (my dear). Grumpy, I embrace.

 

[zefarelly]

Aged Well Fawlty Towers
Badly-Open All Hours

Open all hours was old when it was first aired . . . . How can have possibly aged either way? Ronnie Barker was a timeless comedy genius.

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

 

[Weststander]

You don't mean there are other Sherlock Holmes do you?

I'm not having that.

Long before my time (honest) there were Basil Rathbone movies. Also brilliant, without the all pervasive opioid darkness.