[TV] UKCC24 - Quarter Final Three - Only Fools & Horses vs The Fast Show

[Triggaaar]

64 episodes speak for themselves

Any comedy show to have this longevity must have been pretty good

Oh good lord no. Only Fools was more than pretty good, but episode count is not a great barometer. There were 295 episodes of Last of the Summer Wine. Watch them all, I f***ing dare you. Fawlty was excellent despite only 12 episodes (although I think the short run should count against it a bit).

There is of course a difference between something truly great, and something decent that appeals to the masses.

 

[kojak]

Is the right answer.

I remember the young fool (of OFAH), Rodney was it (?) in Butterflies. Nice middle class lad in an elegant wistful sit com. Then....he's putting on an absurd accent and pattern of faux working class speech in OFAH. What? That was enough to have me reaching for the off button. It harked back, in my mind, to one of the worst 3 ever tv sit coms, 'The Dustbin Men' which was moronically offensive and offensively moronic.

In contrast the Fast Show is heaven, genius and pure joy.

I'll accept that the 'falling through the bar' scene is funny, and the batman and Robin scene is iconic, but......

I suspect the outcome of this poll will reflect social class and politics. To test this, how many middle class 'lefties' went for OFAH, and how many working class Tories went for the Fast Show? Prove me wrong, kidz.

Oh good lord no. Only Fools was more than pretty good, but episode count is not a great barometer. There were 295 episodes of Last of the Summer Wine. Watch them all, I f***ing dare you. Fawlty was far excellent despite only 12 episodes (although I think the short run should count against it a bit).

There is of course a difference between something truly great, and something decent that appeals to the masses.

Actually yes,your right

 

[kojak]

Is the right answer.

I remember the young fool (of OFAH), Rodney was it (?) in Butterflies. Nice middle class lad in an elegant wistful sit com. Then....he's putting on an absurd accent and pattern of faux working class speech in OFAH. What? That was enough to have me reaching for the off button. It harked back, in my mind, to one of the worst 3 ever tv sit coms, 'The Dustbin Men' which was moronically offensive and offensively moronic.

In contrast the Fast Show is heaven, genius and pure joy.

I'll accept that the 'falling through the bar' scene is funny, and the batman and Robin scene is iconic, but......

I suspect the outcome of this poll will reflect social class and politics. To test this, how many middle class 'lefties' went for OFAH, and how many working class Tories went for the Fast Show? Prove me wrong, kidz.

We all know nsc is full of plastic Harold Wilson's

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

We all know nsc is full of plastic Harold Wilson's

Harold Wilson's what?

Gannex overcoat?

 

[The Clamp]

OFAH had its moments, for certain. Triggers’ broom etc.

But overall? Too broad for me. And just reeks of Saturday night in front of the telly with my parents when I was too young to go out and before internet / devices in bedrooms. Stifling.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Fast Show for me

 

[jcdenton08]

I love both of these. But if I had to sit and watch a series of one I’d choose OFAH - so I’ve voted on that basis. Two brilliant shows though.

 

[Weststander]

OFAH was very good in the 80’s, but I wouldn’t watch it again. More subtle/clever than at first glance eg mocking of stereotypes and bitter/sweet relationships. My favourite episode was the seaside coach trip.

But the Fast Show is heavenly, it ticks all my comedy boxes, imho Whitehouse is a genius (with Milligan and Cooper), I still love it now.

 

[jcdenton08]

Another connection between these two is OFAH being Paul Whitehouse’s favourite comedy. He wrote the stage musical adaptation and starred as Grandad in the West End (and is doing it on tour later this year).

 

[Mellotron]

Last call for votes.

Blackadder vs The Office up shortly.

 

[Brian Fantana]

Common sense seems to be prevailing, thankfully.

 

[Simster]

Common sense seems to be prevailing, thankfully.

All aboard the Bland Express.

 

[Mellotron]

I know it's a bit of a generational thing, but I really don't get a certain demographic's obsession with OFAH.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

All aboard the Bland Express.

It's a sad day for comedy

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I loved The Fast Show, but looking back it was basically the same episode every week. The jokes didn't change

 

[Pavilionaire]

I loved The Fast Show, I loved the catchphrases but - apart from the odd Ted & Ralph sketch - I don't think they pushed themselves very hard. It could have been better.

For me, OFAH - on the other hand - was beautifully crafted and the Delboy / Rodney relationship of older brother / younger bother was wonderful.

For me the scene in the lift where Del tells Rodney he lost his baby is right up there with the falling through the bar and the chandelier scenes. Their ability to juxtapose pathos and humour was second to none.

 

[Badger]

I loved The Fast Show, but looking back it was basically the same episode every week. The jokes didn't change

I have voted for The Fast Show but I see where you're coming from. The one-off clips which have been posted here have all made me chuckle. However, I watched a few full episodes a couple of years ago and I was getting a bit bored by some of the characters and their catchphrases after a while.

 

[Brian Fantana]

For me the scene in the lift where Del tells Rodney he lost his baby is right up there with the falling through the bar and the chandelier scenes. Their ability to juxtapose pathos and humour was second to none.

This is the key for me. The ability to go from a moment like that in the lift to Grandad using coffee as gravy within a matter of lines is something I don't think many, if any, sitcom writers have ever managed to accomplish so skilfully.

Nearly 25 million people tuned in to that episode, IIRC.

 

[martin tyler]

Vote doesn’t surprise me at the moment. OFAH was iconic ran for a long time and appealed to the masses. Most working class relate to the story and its characters and it had its own iconic moments. Time on our hands was one of the most watched programs in British TV history. Should have been left there IMHO but overall is a brilliant program and comedy.
I enjoyed the fast show thought it was a good comedy but not as good as it should have been. I often flick past it if I want to watch a comedy.
If I had the choice I’d watch OFAH all day long out of these was enough to sway my vote there.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Time on our hands was one of the most watched programs in British TV history. Should have been left there IMHO but overall is a brilliant program and comedy.

The way people go on about this you'd think it'd gone on for about 5 series after that "final" episode. There were only 3 more christmas specials between 2001 and 2003.