[TV] Fawlty Towers

[jcdenton08]

On my annual rewatch. 12 episodes of perfection, just masterful. Unsurpassed.

I love all kinds of British comedy, new and old, but there’s something very special about Fawlty Towers.

No matter how many times I’ve seen them, no other show makes me truly belly laugh like this.

 

[AmexRuislip]

On my annual rewatch. 12 episodes of perfection, just masterful. Unsurpassed.

I love all kinds of British comedy, new and old, but there’s something very special about Fawlty Towers.

No matter how many times I’ve seen them, no other show makes me truly belly laugh like this.

Que?

 

[Is it PotG?]

Up there, right up there.

Several 'short lived' such as The Office and Detectorists shifted ahead imho but as per usual it's subjective.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

 

[Nottseagull]

"I did once but I think I got away with it"

This near half-century old scene is so famous that you don't even have to explain what Basil is referring to!

 

[Redinpeace]

Major Gowen is my all time favourite,

MG “I must have been keen on her as I took her to see India“

Basil looks up “India?“

MG “At the Oval”.

 

[Peacehaven Wild Kids]

Indeed, excellent and I’m due a binge watch.

I recently completed three series of Father Ted and still enjoyed it immensely

 

[Weststander]

First watched at the time, many times since, it’s incredible.

Aside from the more obvious great scenes eg the brash American/Waldorf Salad and the spoilt brat, some cute other back stories …. the Major queuing up at the bar for 6pm every single day “That time already”, the pointless steps up/steps down upstairs (this really is a thing from conversions … we’ve seen it in old hotels). The dinner club night is great … lower middle class guests treated as third rate citizens, also faux Lord Melbury, the snobbery.

A fantastic take on Britain, especially pre 80’s where accent, schooling, who you knew, meant everything.

 

[jcdenton08]

Indeed, excellent and I’m due a binge watch.

I recently completed three series of Father Ted and still enjoyed it immensely

Another brilliant show of nothing but great episodes. Right up there

 

[Nottseagull]

Basil looks up “India?“

He had Google in the 1970s?

 

[dolphins]

If you enjoy the series, check out the play - it's very well done. It will be touring but no Brighton stop-off, unfortunately.

 

[jcdenton08]

If you enjoy the series, check out the play - it's very well done. It will be touring but no Brighton stop-off, unfortunately.
View attachment 198570

Seen it - it’s brilliant

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Many, many favourite scenes. Had them on audio cassette tapes.

"He thinks "Boff" is a locale. Some zone, some province in equatorial Torquay"

"Never 'ad it, Mr. Fawlty"

"An ice bucket for your ginger beer?!"

etc etc

 

[Redinpeace]

Waldorf Salad

I much prefer the Ritz salad ,

Mr Hamilton “What I’m saying is that this is the shoddiest crumbiest worst run hotel in the whole of Western Europe“

Major G “No….. I won’t have that……..there’s a place in Eastbourne“

 

[Withdean South Stand]

The last time I watched an episode I was really disappointed and I think it's badly dated now and I didn't find it funny at all. I used to thoroughly enjoy re-watching it and found it hilarious for many, many years. Maybe I've been put off by John Cleese as a person in the last few years, but really I think that my tastes have changed.

What I have been enjoying lately is Rising Damp - I was never really into it back in the day, but I was watching that the other night and it really tickled me. Maybe there's something wrong with my brain.

 

[Redinpeace]

“Have you got a choc ice?” one for the completists

All twelve episodes are pure gold.

 

[Notters]

First watched at the time, many times since, it’s incredible.

Aside from the more obvious great scenes eg the brash American/Waldorf Salad and the spoilt brat, some cute other back stories …. the Major queuing up at the bar for 6pm every single day “That time already”, the pointless steps up/steps down upstairs (this really is a thing from conversions … we’ve seen it in old hotels). The dinner club night is great … lower middle class guests treated as third rate citizens, also faux Lord Melbury, the snobbery.

A fantastic take on Britain, especially pre 80’s where accent, schooling, who you knew, meant everything.

Always wondered what this was about!

 

[jcdenton08]

“Have you got a choc ice?” one for the completists

All twelve episodes are pure gold.

Roger - The Anniversary.

Again, just brilliant writing. To write a meta character as an audience surrogate was just another masterstroke.

“Man-well!”

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

On my annual rewatch. 12 episodes of perfection, just masterful. Unsurpassed.

I love all kinds of British comedy, new and old, but there’s something very special about Fawlty Towers.

No matter how many times I’ve seen them, no other show makes me truly belly laugh like this.

Some of it is cringeworthy now.
Especially the Germans episode.

 

[Redinpeace]

Rising Damp

RD is another classic.

Steptoe and Son is another brilliantly written show, divided we stand where they split the house down the middle or pot black where Harold leans in through the window to play his shot is genius.