Can't say I've ever heard of it... who did it 'star' ?

Oh hang on, it was that awful Emma Thompson show was it? God, that was crap... bloody hell Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Fri Mar 31 13:05:03 BST 2000:

Yes, THAT one. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Rob S on Fri Mar 31 18:02:07 BST 2000:

Not that I can remember much about it... didn't remember laughing at all though Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By John! on Fri Mar 31 20:35:09 BST 2000:

Holding the Baby.
Babes in the Wood.
Friends.

The list goes on. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Suiii on Fri Mar 31 21:06:38 BST 2000:

Game On
anything with Hale and Pace
that new 'Wolf' thing on BBC1
11 OCS
Payne

I really could go on all day! Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Rob S on Fri Mar 31 22:22:59 BST 2000:

Yes, actually, I revise my opinion on "Thompson"... I was in shock at remember such a series from long ago. Clearly there are much, much worse around....

Rock with Laughter anyone? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Suiii on Fri Mar 31 22:47:52 BST 2000:

still trying to erase that from my memory banks. i have a feeling that the Ali G show may be entering the ranks of 'worst ever' Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By John! on Fri Mar 31 23:37:39 BST 2000:

Oh, Suiii, you and your scrotum-like imagination!

All shrivelled and hanging, like.

My Hero?
The Brighton Belles?
The Peter Principle? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Beccy on Sat Apr 1 00:03:21 BST 2000:

Thompson was fantastic, I don't care what anyone says.
I agree however with the majority of other bad programmes listed - though can I offer a feeble voice in favour of the pilot of The Peter Principle. I remember nothing about it other than being in severe hysterics. Wish I could remember it though so I can decide whether I should be proud or ashamed of that memory. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Rob S on Sat Apr 1 00:16:42 BST 2000:

I still can't remember laughing at Thompson though... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Gee on Sat Apr 1 02:17:54 BST 2000:

Thompson was and is awful. I just can't see it, I can see any talent there.

That thing on BBC1 staring the Redgrave daughter (something to do with lawyers), now that was shit. Cat Nip for the middle classes. A programme for pensioners to fog in and out of consciousness to, a real delight for the senile. Better than 4 Mogadon. A laxative for the brain.

"Babes In The Wood", yes they were certainly wooden.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Sat Apr 1 08:14:49 BST 2000:

Now I remember, there was a sketch show on ITV in the mid-80s called 'The Funny Side', and that was even denounced by its own cast...but isn't that a bit 'plebby' to be acknowledged by this website?

Sorry for the last bit...had to be said, though...


Anyway, 'Thompson' was still worse than 'The Funny Side'...so there... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Simon H on Sat Apr 1 14:26:50 BST 2000:

"Mind Your Language" (LWT, early 80s, starring Barry Evans, Zara Nutley and virtually a multi-ethnic cast in sensitively written roles. I also recall an episode where Arthur Mullard made a guest appearance as a fat old man in a pub who piled hundreds of 1p and 2p on beermats for a hobby. Fantastic theme tune though!)

"Not With A Bang" (LWT, late 80s, starring Ronald Pickup and another nerdy guy from Citizen Smith)

"Lame Ducks" (BBC2, mid 80s, starring John Duttine and a nerdy guy from Citizen Smith and Alexei Sayle's Stuff)

"Hilary" (BBC2, early 80s, starring Marti Caine and Philip Madoc)

"That's My Boy" (Yorkshire, mid 80s, starring Molly Sugden and Harold Goodwin)

WORST OF ALL:
"Duty Free" (Yorkshire, mid 80s, starring Keith Barron, Gwen Taylor and Joanna von Geisengham - I think that's how she spelt it, what a bloody stupid name!) Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Simon H on Sat Apr 1 14:29:29 BST 2000:

Apologies for the anomalies in that last note. I re-arranged the order of my nominations, hence the oddness of my comments about "another nerdy guy from Citizen Smith" before I'd mentioned the "nerdy guy from Citizen Smith and Alexei Sayle's stuff"....... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Gee on Sun Apr 2 04:21:32 BST 2000:

"Up The Elephant And Round The Castle" with Jim Davidson.

"Only When I Laugh". They must have spent five years in hospital. If only I laughed.

"The Thin Blue Line" by Ben Elton. "Carry on Constable" with some black actors and Ann Summer's stuff.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mr Ree on Sun Apr 2 13:03:27 BST 2000:

'Not With A Bang' - also starred Stephen Rea (The Crying Game)

'Lame Ducks' - also starred Lorraine Chase and Shaun Scott (Deakin from The Bill, although not surprisingly Lame Ducks is omitted from the progs he appeared in previously on The Bill's website!)

For me, 'Chalk' (BBC) was one of the worst (note John Wells didn't appear in the second series, replaced by Duncan Preston, although I understand he was ill at the time and died a while later)

'That's Love' (TVS, late-80s, Diana Hardcastle, Jimmy Mulville) was mediocre to start off with, and just got desperate towards the end. Tony Slattery's arse was recruited in the last series (which did nothing for the ratings) and after it had finished, Jimmy Mulville stuck to running Hatrick Productions and is now rarely seen on screen.

'Haggard' (YTV, late-80s, Keith Barron) came from the team that brought you Duty Free ... and it showed.

That's it for now. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Gee on Sun Apr 2 16:02:57 BST 2000:

Yeah I'd forgot about some of those Mr Ree, Haggard. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Sun Apr 2 17:23:56 BST 2000:

Some 80's rubbish:

'Full House' ITV sitcom;
'Set Of Six' Channel 4 feature for the irrespressibly useless Roland Rivron;
'Home To Roost' ITV (Ch4 exhumed it in the late 90s and actually called it a 'comedy classic' - THAT's how much they've changed since the 80s).


'Thompson' still tops all of 'em, though. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Gee on Sun Apr 2 21:00:27 BST 2000:

Thompson must win, surely. She's famous, she married celebrity, she became a 'sex symbol' and yet, no repeat of this ground-breaking comedy. Why? It is too bloody awful, too bloody revealing (talent-wise.) Our Emma must feel like she's got a body buried in her garden. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Líam on Mon Apr 3 09:14:31 BST 2000:

So Haunt Me?
Oh! Doctor Beeching? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By The Editors on Mon Apr 3 16:35:00 BST 2000:

It's very true that the 1995 pilot of 'The Peter Principle' was actually excellent. (The best joke was the shot of Peter reading Tim Rice's autobiography which bore the title 'A Portion Of Rice'.)

The worst comedy series ever? We take 'worst' to mean offensive (hosted by people who should know better) rather than bland shows that kinda know their place. To that end, it has to be 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks'.

mikescottisunwell@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon Apr 3 17:25:25 BST 2000:

I wouldn't class NMTB as comedy; it goes in the same bin as 'The Word'. ie late night space filler Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By mk on Tue Apr 4 21:08:28 BST 2000:

up till this point i agree that all the above shows are/were complete crap.
but
HOW DARE YOU DIS NMTBC !!!
This is an excellent program that should continue forever.
late night space filler? at 9.30?
why's it on in "the comedy zone" if its not comedy huh? huh?
and dont compare it to that bag-of-shite tasteless, unfunny, offensive, boring, annoying-accent presentered "the word" either or I'll come round and smash your windows.
;) Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Wed Apr 5 08:47:02 BST 2000:

Oh all right then , NMTB is great. Happy now? Comedy is dead, anyway. So that particular corpse doesn't have to be amusing. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Richard Herring on Wed Apr 5 12:05:37 BST 2000:

I saw a That's My Boy box set available for sale in the USA last year. Those yanks do take their Are you being served? obsession a bit far.
My choice is the 11 o clock show. And I am right Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Wed Apr 5 12:36:07 BST 2000:

Richard Hering, I would agree you are right, but you never answered my question in the L&h guestbook (about the Ben Elton sketch mentioned in 'Edit News', this site).

Please answer, I have to know. What did you think of 'Thompson'? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Richard Herring on Thu Apr 6 11:25:49 BST 2000:

I can't remember why we called the BE character Eltham Geoffries. But I don't think it was because of the historian connection (in fact I'm sure it wasn't)
I can't remember much about Thompson. I only saw one or two of them. I think that at the time I was disappointed, but I'd have to see them again to be able to comment properly. There were undoubtedly worse programmes. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Rob S on Thu Apr 6 23:16:17 BST 2000:

Er Rich, your red name account works here too... and in the cakeshop etc etc Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By gerks of the fruitful trifle on Fri Apr 7 19:31:12 BST 2000:

sunnyside farm

or maybe first of the summer wine Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Simon H on Sat Apr 8 10:50:11 BST 2000:

Back in '94, during my last year at Uni, I saw a repeat of "Last of the Summer Wine" - which I had always hated, and still do in fact. Why? I hate the series because of its whimsy, its music, its laughter track - obviously a coach-load of sherry-sodden, fat old W.I. pepperpots on a freebie night out, laughing at everything in sight except something remotely amusing. The same reasons I have for hating "Keeping Up Appearances". I didn't mind the actors so much - I've always liked that trio of Brian Wilde, Peter Sallis, Bill Owen, plus Michael Aldridge and Frank Thornton, in most other things I've seen them in. But in this show, a sacred cow in the BBC's comedy pasture, they really wound me up.

But for that one night only, for some reason, it was an episode WITHOUT A LAUGHTER TRACK, with almost no f***ing RONNIE HAZLEHURT MUSIC, and shot entirely on film. (Probably late 70's/early 80's)

The story was about an elderly friend of Compo's who was seriously, terminally ill. In order to cheer him up, Foggy, Compo and Clegg climb up a ladder and kidnap him out of his bed, drag him outside and try to give him a good night out in Holmfirth (drinks, bingo, a nice walk by the canal, whatever). He's having the time of his life, but suddenly he dies, leaving them in a tricky situation. So they carry his corpse back to his house, trying to avoid anyone they know but bumping into everyone - cue some hilarious consequences! They manage to bundle him back up the ladder and into bed, and the next day his son finds him dead in bed with a smile on his face. And that was the episode.

Because there was no laughter track or music, I related to it more as a drama with a seriously black streak of humour running through it, and I really, really laughed. It was almost brilliant, in fact. very funny, moving, and surreal - yet it was also "Last of the Summer Wine". No one I know believes me, nor have they ever seen it. Has anyone else had this kind of weird revelatory experience with a show they usually hate? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mr Ree on Sat Apr 8 14:01:27 BST 2000:

I certainly do remember it: it was a Christmas special shown in the early 80s. It was also unusual because that wretched harmonica which plays the theme tune was replaced by a choir. This was also why it was a major improvement. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Suiii on Sat Apr 8 15:15:03 BST 2000:

I've got that one on tape, and yes it was much better than the usual 'old men in bath on wheels' drivel. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By mk on Tue Apr 11 20:24:29 BST 2000:

That L.O.T.S.W. certainly sounds amusing....
to refer back a couple of posts, I thought sunnyside Farm was o.k. I quite liked phil daniels manic ranting but i can see why it 'missed' with most people.

Onto the 11 o'clock show....
I'd always thought it was genarally bad and this was epitomised by daisy donovans 'Angel of Delight" bits (is she supposed to be a separate character there?) but i wasnt articulate enough to say why. The following (from the 'comment' section of the site (depending how u got here)) really sums it up for me:

Daisy Donovan interviews Glenda Jackson on tape.
Donovan's 'Angel Of Delight'
pieces involve her talking to celebrities in a plebbed-down paean to Chris Morris'
media interviews. Unbelievable - she makes a pun about Glenda frequenting Ronnie
Scotts and 'appearing in jazz-mags'. There is nothing to attach this punning to -
Jackson herself points out that 'jazz has had no part in my life at all'. The writers have
come up with the 'jazz-mag' pun and are absolutely delighted by it, yet they aren't
interviewing anybody from the jazz world so they try it out on Glenda Jackson instead.

They genuinely do think this is clever - Daisy Donovan continues to insert strained
giggly schoolboy puns - 'lick Mrs Thatcher', 'front bottom', etc - into the interview.
Glenda Jackson doesn't notice - ha ha, isn't Glenda stupid? Nope. Neither is she
deserving of such tedious intrusion. She isn't your average media whore, doesn't
deserve to be 'taken down a peg or two' or in any need of exposing as a stupid or
brainless celebrity. The reason she doesn't pick up on the rubbish puns is that she
doesn't normally choose to keep the company of sniggering nine-year-olds. Also, since
the puns are so strained, they render what Daisy Donovan is saying practically
gibberish most of the time anyway.

anyone know who penned this cutting damnation? was it you Rob? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Paul and Matty on Tue Apr 11 23:22:32 BST 2000:

Worst series - "Bottle Boys" Hilarious
Robin Asquith vehicle about a bunch of workshy milkmen. Asquith himself denounces this flagrent dairy error.
Also "Odd Man Out" hilarious John Innman
vehicle set in seaside rock factory, at
the end of each episode John Inman, as
himself, would sit in an armchair reading
fan letters into camera. May all concerned
burn. - Paul

My least favorite comedy thing is French and Saunders in ANYTHING AT ALL . THEY ARE RUBBISH. No arguments. - Matty

I remember Thompson.
I recall a tortureous Romeo and Juliet
"sketch" with Branagh. Also the opening
credits where Emma does a hot shoe shuffle which culminates in her forming a human T next to the word 'hompson.
'ateful.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By clarky cat on Wed Apr 12 10:37:12 BST 2000:

thank GOD someone else out there actually REALISES the sheer shiteness of F&S. EVERY WEEK they do a limp parody of a film which is supposed to be funny for no reason other than F&S are playing the film roles. thats it. no jokes, not even many in-jokes. just french playing julia roberts to saunders's hugh grant or whatever. did you see the Christmas Titanic one a couple of years back? the ONE gag was calling Leonardo diCaprio Leonardo DA VINCI. oh WELL DONE. 10 million people somehow found this funny.

the worst sitcom is So Haunt Me and always will be. some things there are no excuse for.

the worst sketch show is the fetid We Know Where You Live, a late night Channel 5 dirge featuring a bunch of nobody twats that forgot not only the punchlines but the set up too. kind of a zen thing, except i don't think thats what they planned.

on a similar level, big train could be a contender, mainly because it had such a weight of talent behind it but still didn't work. who'd have thought morris, eldon, heap, etc could have fucked up so badly? not to mention linehan, matthews... oh hang on yeah, hippies. forgot. though big train was redeemed by its second episode. the evil hypnotist and the morris-narrated jockeys/prince bits were genius.

i just have one question. nightingales: unfunny arse or misunderstood existentialism? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By clarky cat on Wed Apr 12 10:42:07 BST 2000:

oh and lets not forget Plaza Patrol: move over, The Boys In Blue - cannon&ball have a brand new variety of shite Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By clarky cat on Wed Apr 12 10:45:43 BST 2000:

oh and lets not forget Plaza Patrol. Move over, The Boys In Blue - Cannon&Ball have a whole new brand of shite. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By JOHNNY BANANA on Wed Apr 12 13:31:10 BST 2000:

THANKS FOR OPENING THIS BIT I HAVE ALOT TO SAY ABOUT SHITE COMEDY

BBC:
CRY WOLF: (STUPID,STUPID,STUPID)
THE PETER PRINCAPLE: (AS IF A BANK WOULD EVER BE LIKE THAT)
BEAST: (SAD PATHETIC LOSERS IN A VETS)
CHALK: (STUPID GITS WITH NO EDUCATION)
BIG TRAIN: (BIG CRAP)
AND SOME OTHERS THAT ARE SO CRAP I DIDN'T EVEN WATCH THEM LONG ENOUGH TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WERE

ITV:
BABES IN THE WOOD BY CARLTON (NO SUPRISE): (WHICH WAS ABOUT A BUNCH OF SLAPPERS AND SOME BLOKE FROM BRUSH STROKES) SAM JANUS WAS CORRECT TO LEAVE THIS
DOCTOR WILLABY BY ?: (AN IDEA THAT DIDN'T WORK EVEN IF IT HAD JOANNA LUMLEY)
YOU'VE BEEN FRAMED BY LWT: (THE ONLY THING I LAUGH AT IS THE FAT HIPPO WHO PRESENTS IT IN GOD AWFUL CLOTHES)
BLIND DATE BY LWT:(I KNOW ITS NOT A COMEDY BUT IT IS UTTER SHIT DON'T PUT THIS ON ANYMORE LWT
CASTING COUCH BY GRANADA:(THIS SHOW DIDN'T LET THE PANEL ANSWER JUST LET MEL & POO FUCK AROUND LIKE STUPID TARTS)

CHANNEL 4:
JAM: (NEVER WATCHED IT BUT DON'T WANT TO)
SEX IN THE CITY: (NEVER EVER FOUND THIS FUNNY & ALL THE WOMEN ARE DOGS)

CHANNEL 5:
WE KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE: (OH FUCK I'M MOVING)


I KNOW I'M GOING ON A BIT BUT FUCK IT COMEDY IS SHIT BRING BACK ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bent Halo on Thu Apr 13 00:48:56 BST 2000:

Simon H mentioned "Not With a Bang"(Yorkshire) which was made in 1991, aired 92. Truly excreble. I remember receiving a tape of it 5 years ago when researching on "Survivors"(BBC 1975-77). A series it cribs from relentlessly. Only watched it once.

A couple of reasonable moments save it though. "Honey For Tea" was far worse. I exaggerate not that I still have terrible flashes of the Thompson credits from childhood which have invaded my dreams frequently. Wouldn't mind another look. She embargoed it herself from BBC, I heard. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bent Halo on Thu Apr 13 01:03:40 BST 2000:

Received tape last week of "Frank's Fantastic Shed Show" by Frank Sidebottom. A pilot(92), airing again with five more in July 1992. Granada made it, the show itself being a deadening experience. It reveals itself far too quickly like all his stuff, but more to the point has anyone worked out his appeal beneath this. The comic in desperation?

It is one of the worst shows I've seen. Marc Riley crops up in the fourth show as a bin-man.Doesn't speak. Caroline Aherne debuts Mrs Merton in a few episodes and Pop Will Eat Itself trash a few monitors. Mark Radcliffe is a regular, but desperately short on ideas. Painful viewing.

Incidentally,can anyone help with identifying some John Cooper Clarke clips? He did six stints on 16 Up which I'm only feintly aware of. Anyone know broadcast years or channel? 1981-82 dates on clips.

Also, JCC crops up on a show called 'Kazuki's Karaoke Club' whilst in the grips of heroin. What is this show?! Charlie Parsons produced it in Summer 1989, shortly before The Word started so it must be Granada. Marc Riley's in the audience too. No idea beyond that, other than the show is disorientating nonsense. I'm told it may be The Frank Chickens, a novelty Japanese act of the time.(Help...) Basically a Kurosawa stage show set in Pontins ballroom. Piercingly over-lit aswell. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Thu Apr 13 09:55:42 BST 2000:

Now I remember... 'Morris Minor's Marvellous Motors'. This was on BBC1 when Mary Whitehouse Experience was on R1, and David Baddiel always used to work in a dig against it into each show. He was quite right to.

Not the worst, however... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Dick Dastardly on Thu Apr 13 20:09:25 BST 2000:

As a child of the 70s I fondly remember ATV and their quite consistently awful attempts at comedy shows. Two spring to mind - 'Astronauts' written by Graeme Garden and Bill Oddie about a British Space mission - relied all to heavily on toilet humour and four letter words. It was canned after about 3 weeks I think. Similarly something called 'Can we get on now, please?' set in a court-room with one character uttering the catch phrase 'Can we get on now, please?' all the time in a silly voice. Not surprisingly, it was soon dead and buried. ATV were pioneers of the canned laughter track, much of their risible output intended to be dumped on the American market, no doubt. Make no mistake, Britain has been churning out TV excrement for generations now. Our last large scale manufacturing industry?! Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Vindictive, Edinburgh on Sat Apr 15 06:24:45 BST 2000:

I don't know if anyone remembers pro-celebrity snooker on ITV in the early eighties. This was a doubles match show, where A-list comedy stars like Bill Maynard and Roger DeCourcey would spend thirty seconds getting a break of 3, before Steve Davis or Doug Mountjoy would step in and spend the next half hour getting a break of 140. A concept not exactly thought through one feels.

Also

How about NEWMAN & BADDIEL IN PIECES, pretentious self important wank, tedious 'running gags' ie the same joke repeated over and over again. "This is our Sgt. Pepper" said Rob Newman at the time. Prepare the firing squad!!

Naked Video and the even more atrocious follow up Pulp Video. Lets do another Not The Nine O'Clock News fifteen years after its sell by date, performed by dim Glaswegian twats who's range only covers playing dim Glaswegian twats. Oh, and Helen Lederer for posh relief. Satire for halfwits. Thank god Chris Morris sent these people into comedy oblivion.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jase on Sun Apr 16 04:12:30 BST 2000:

Hey, I actually quite liked Franks Fantastic Shed Show! Frank Sidebottom is completely crap, but surely that's the point? Anyway, this was made by Yorkshire not Granada, wasn't it? I know it was a spin-off from James Whale, anyway. Remember Mr Methane?

500 Bus Stops. Now *there's* a crap programme.

But the worst "comedy" programme really has to be a toss up between "Joker's Wild" and "In Loving Memory", both by Yorkshire Television. JW because it was utterly unfunny, and had Arthur Askey in it (this is going back a long way!) who is possibly the most unfunny comedian ever to draw breath. And does anyone remember a programme with some American in it and an old fool called "Sissy". I remember this turgid piece of crap from when I was a kid, but can't remember the name. Any ideas? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Anonymous on Mon Apr 17 12:43:19 BST 2000:

There was that Radio TipTop show on R1 that was fucking awful, actually so bad you couldn't tell where the jokes were MEANT to be. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By RB on Mon Apr 17 12:59:25 BST 2000:

Talking of the truly dreadful, what about And Churchill Said to Me, or whatever it was. The Frankie Howerd vehicle just shown on BBC2, although it was made in the early 80s and never shown then.
Was it never shown because it was so crap?
It is not, however, in the league of crapness won by Thompson.

However, I did like Emma Thompson in Alfresco. Is that because I was so young and impressionable when it was on?
Seems odd that Granada never made more of that show. It was the first real programme for Thompson, Fry and Laurie, Ben Elton (as a performer), Robbie Coltrane and Siobhan Redman (or Redmond?).
It's like a list of the comedy establishment now. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By The Editors on Mon Apr 17 16:00:29 BST 2000:

'Morris Minor's Marvellous Motors' was written by Tony Haase, the man who stormed out of the swimming pool in his trunks on 'The Day Today'. His name was used for the David Schneider character in 'Knowing Me Knowing You' and 'I'm Alan Partridge', and the HIGNFY team once did a parody of him called 'Toby Haamer', despite the fact that nobody knew who he was.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Simone on Tue Apr 18 01:02:19 BST 2000:

Let's not forget Eddie Izzard's 'Cows'. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Tue Apr 18 08:37:05 BST 2000:

'Morris Minor' was written by Tony HAWKS. Tony Haase did that sitcom on BBC2, around 1990, set in a police station, which I remember being OK. 'Morning Sarge' I think it was called. He was indeed the man in the swimming pool in 'Day Today', but nothing to do with MMMM. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Líam on Tue Apr 18 13:23:45 BST 2000:

So Haunt Me!
OH! Doctor Beeching
2.4 Children

All in that cosy Sunday/Wednesday slot and all crap. Sure you giggle, sure you may find them vaguely amusing, but theyr'e crap.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Simon H on Thu Apr 20 15:30:28 BST 2000:

>And does anyone remember a programme with some American in it and an old fool called "Sissy". I remember this turgid piece of crap from when I was a kid, but can't remember the name. Any ideas?

Are you talking about the LWT sitcom of the early 80's, the name of which escapes me, that starred Elaine Strich - it was a vehicle for her, and I think Patrick Cargill might have been it, or William Franklin... She was a brassy American actress who lived in a posh apartment and every episode was set in that room.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mike J on Thu Apr 20 15:57:19 BST 2000:

A series so poor I believe it was pulled mid-run, was a mid-80s Brian Wilde vehicle about a Neighborhood Watch scheme. Can't recall the title.

For some reason, this tiny gob of comedic phlegm looms disproportionately large in my memory (though, obviously not to the extent of remembering what it was bloody called). As a result everything Wilde was ever involved in has been tainted. Imagine watching "Reggie Perrin" or "Rising Damp" and only being able to see the lead character as "that bloke from 'Tripper's Day'". Not good. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mike on Thu Apr 20 16:45:27 BST 2000:

Yes, you're right - I got Morris Minor's Marvellous Motors confused with Mornin' Sarge. Sorry. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Thu Apr 20 16:57:19 BST 2000:

The 'Neighbourhood Watch' sitcom was 'Wyatt's Watchdogs' from 1990. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Thu Apr 20 17:04:19 BST 2000:

'Mornin' Sarge' was quite good, I remember - miles better than 'Thin Blue Line', though I think no one much liked it, so it only had 1 series. How about a re-appraisal by SOTCAA? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By A.N.SMITH on Thu Apr 20 17:27:32 BST 2000:

I remember a comedy show in seventies that was crap, but was double crap because it was called Its Cold Outside, Sadie. Jesus.And let us not forget the one joke sit-com with Stephen Blakey lewis and Pat Coombes set in Spain(I think) Called Dont Drink the Water! What else?SLINGERS DAY The follow up to TRIPPERS DAY with Brucie taking over from Leonard Rossiter.GOODBYE MRS NOAH(?) with Mollie Sugden going to the moon or something.FRESH FIELDS,FRENCH FIELDS,THE LIVER BIRDS (90s versh),LIFE BEGINS AT FORTY,DONT WAIT UP,(Dont worry Havers I rarely did)BIRDS OF A BLEEDIN,FEVVER,WHATEVER HE WANTS(Terrible tenth rate Kevin Eldon copyist bobbins on Carlton)HAYWIRE(What a waste of comedy talent in that bunch of shambles)SEE YA LATER FOLKS Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By A.N.SMITH on Thu Apr 20 17:27:32 BST 2000:

I remember a comedy show in seventies that was crap, but was double crap because it was called Its Cold Outside, Sadie. Jesus.And let us not forget the one joke sit-com with Stephen Blakey lewis and Pat Coombes set in Spain(I think) Called Dont Drink the Water! What else?SLINGERS DAY The follow up to TRIPPERS DAY with Brucie taking over from Leonard Rossiter.GOODBYE MRS NOAH(?) with Mollie Sugden going to the moon or something.FRESH FIELDS,FRENCH FIELDS,THE LIVER BIRDS (90s versh),LIFE BEGINS AT FORTY,DONT WAIT UP,(Dont worry Havers I rarely did)BIRDS OF A BLEEDIN,FEVVER,WHATEVER HE WANTS(Terrible tenth rate Kevin Eldon copyist bobbins on Carlton)HAYWIRE(What a waste of comedy talent in that bunch of shambles)SEE YA LATER FOLKS Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By The Editors on Thu Apr 20 18:04:07 BST 2000:

Re: Mornin' Sarge.

We remember the pilot - as part of 'Comic Asides' wasn't it?

Have you got them on vid, Jon? An appraisal may well take place. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Fri Apr 21 09:49:15 BST 2000:

Mornin' Sarge - sorry,I don't have it on video. I remember it definitely went to a full series. There was one episode where Lee Cornes was a former grass worried that the gangster he sent down would come after him after getting parole. However it turned out that said gangster had become a literary intellectual as a result of doing a degree in prison, and was furious at being released, so he wanted to commit a token crime to get sent inside again. The episode ended in a stand off, with one of the policemen warning him: 'Think about it. You don't know what could happen. You could end up at a prison where they're all doing engineering degrees.' Well, I liked it anyway, it was in that vein pretty much. Can't you just ask the BBC to lend you the footage, or something? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Simon H on Fri Apr 21 10:08:44 BST 2000:

Several of my least favourite series ever were produced/directed by Harold Snoad - "Don't Wait Up" and "Keeping Up Appearances" are two of them. (He also did "Ever Decreasing Circles" I think, although I didn't mind that so much, as I remember it being quite well written and very well acted. Penelope Wilton is fabulous and Peter Egan's usually pretty good.)

I've always associated Snoad with the sherry-sodden W.I. laughter tracks, and performers such as Patricia Routledge being encouraged to go way over the top in playing for laughs. I can think of nothing worse than her staggering round at the climax of some dismal "Keeping Up Appearances" in a billowing floral frock, after some disaster in which she has been showered in water or covered in mud or something similar, and the laughter trackers going mad with hysteria. Pass me the persian slippers, my toes are curling... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bent Halo on Sat Apr 22 00:14:04 BST 2000:

Re:A.N.Smith 20/4/00

That 'Come Back Mrs Noah' guide in full, if you care.

13/12/77 pilot
17/07/78 In Orbit
24/07/78 To The Rescue
31/07/78 Who Goes Home?
07/08/78 The Housing Problem
14/08/78 The Last Chance

One season. Sounds familiar? The worrying thing is people have written serious articles on this in certain quarters. A harmless activity, but having seen the show I do wonder.

It is awful. But it reinstated my faith in human folly.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin Lewis on Sat Apr 22 01:10:04 BST 2000:

Richard Herring's choice of The 11 O'Clock Show is understandable, and spot on. Not only does it rip off everyone from Chris Morris to Lee & Herring themselves, it seems to base most of its 'humour' (and rarely have inverted commas been so necessary) on Iain Lee's inability to distinguish between jokes and his tiresome wank fantasies. (Do you see? I just wrote the word 'wank' - geddit?).

There are so many other bad comedies around (dotcomedy springs to mind straight away - but also the following:

Never The Twain
(posh bloke versus Welshman who hate each other - ran for what felt like 26 years. This is the sort of Thames programming we can expect to be replicated by Pearson, I fear)

Rory Bremner Who Else?
(Have you noticed that despite the numerous BAFTAs it mysteriously picks up, no-one you meet in the real world actually finds it funny? At all.)

Game On
(Astonishing, really. To think that Andrew Davies, who wrote the wonderful Very Peculiar Practice, could be involved in something as unspeakably lame as this.)

Gimme Gimme Gimme
(The show that BBC2 appear to be pinning their hopes on for the new millennium. Kathy Burke is spreading her talents terribly thinly these days - my word, Love Honour & Obey looks like another quality British film, doesn't it?)

Never Mind The Buzzcocks

(Clearly, TalkBack feel it's worth running the Gail Porter episode three times in one year - of course she's not very good, but are the likes of Lamarr and Jupitus that much better? I remember a documentary about school bullying on TV a few years ago in which Jupitus pretty much admitted that most of his act was a vengeful attempt to make up for the fact that he'd been bullied as a kid. Does that excuse his thinly-veiled misogyny? Hmmm....

There are loads of other contenders, frankly. Suddenly, Thompson is just a bit dull rather than the worst thing ever made.

Having said all that (and at some length, I'm afraid), why doesn't anyone point out crap dramas on TV in the same way? I shall set the ball rolling by nominating Dirty Work with Neil Pearson and almost anything ever written by Lynda LaPlante (particularly that one about the net).

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Pink Moon on Sun Apr 23 19:57:10 BST 2000:

There was an a pilot on ITV a few years back for a series that thankfully never got made. I don't remember the title but it was like "It ain't half hot mum", but even less funny. The humour was really very bad, sub-Carry On type gags. It had a cast of soldiers that I think were australian. Most of the jokes concerned a group of nurses who were really (teehee) strippers in disguise. Hilarity ensued. Or not. I actually was at the age when those sort of jokes seem hilarious, but this program didn't raise a single laugh.

Honey for Tea is really the bottom of the barrel in of sitcoms. I'm actually embarrased to live in a country that produced something like this.

I will stand up and defend 2.4 children. The first few series were really quite interesting, with lots of strange things happening. Unfortunately in recent years the program has lost whatever edge it had and is now just a audience-pleasing prime time sitcom. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Liam on Wed Apr 26 08:47:43 BST 2000:

you can't defend 2.4 children, at all, ever.

I will stand up for "the high life", cos that was excellent, IMHO Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Beccy on Thu Apr 27 16:27:08 BST 2000:

Well I like Lynda LaPlante drams - ok so someimes they've over the top, but I still find them enjoyable- anyone spother as the murder suspect housemaid in Bergerac last week?
Anyway, might I add my name to the list of Buzzcocks haters. And They Think It's All Over is equally as appalling.
I've a soft spot for 2.4 Children - I think some episodes are really very good- and I don't care if it's accused of being too popularist or whatever, I always found the idea of finding yourself in Shirley Bassey's costume store rather amusing. Sorry if that makes me sad, but there we are.
The nurses/stripper thing had a Sawahla girl in it I think, and posibly also Nadim. But yes, it was bad.
No one ever rates Outside Edge very highly - 1st series I'm referring to. This was sublime in my opinion, though it's actually best to watch all episodes in one go as, being adapted from the play, it has a through-line that is less noticeable when watched in instalments. And because of its origins, I think it also resulted in more depth both in plot and characters than sitcoms generally have.
Being on ITV however, nothing was ever expected from it and the tiny audience was criminal. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Thu Apr 27 17:04:56 BST 2000:

>Well I like Lynda LaPlante drams - ok so someimes they've over the top, but I still find them enjoyable- anyone spother as the murder suspect housemaid in Bergerac last week?

I'd forgotten she used to be an actress! Actually, I did think the first Prime Suspect was pretty good.

>Anyway, might I add my name to the list of Buzzcocks haters. And They Think It's All Over is equally as appalling.

I think the reason is "They're extremely cheap". I read an interview with Nick Hancock about three years ago when he said he was stopping doing TTIAA while it was still "fresh". Christ.

>I've a soft spot for 2.4 Children - I think some episodes are really very good.

I seem to remember the early ones were ok (if basically Roseanne with more money), but then Andrew Marshall tried to be a bit more ambitious (no bad thing) but left out the jokes. I recall a particularly painful Prisoner pastiche.

>No one ever rates Outside Edge very highly - 1st series I'm referring to. This was sublime in my opinion, though it's actually best to watch all episodes in one go as, being adapted from the play, it has a through-line that is less noticeable when watched in instalments.

Never saw this but you're not the first person to recommend it. Was Timothy Spall in it?

Actually, speaking of him, he was in a sitcom a few years ago which (I think) was called Nice Day At The Office which also starred Brookside's Nicola Stephenson, Anna Massey, and the always terrible John Sessions. It was really poor - can anyone be less constructive about a particular sitcom than that?
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By zaber on Thu Apr 27 23:17:01 BST 2000:

Why has nobody mentioned "Days Like These", which was literally laugh free.

And it came back from the dead, like an uncle Jimmy who you buried a year ago, his
rotting, feculent cadaver now knocking at your door. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Beccy on Fri Apr 28 01:49:07 BST 2000:

Justin, wasn't Nice Day at the Office the Andrew Marshall/David Renwick thing. Or was that something about nurses. Ahh, just loked that up - it was Health and Efficiency. Not great. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Beccy on Fri Apr 28 01:52:36 BST 2000:

Ha ha, I'm sure that Shirley Bassey episode that amused me was the same one as the 'terribly Prisoner pastiche' ah well :o)

I remember Lynda LaPlante saying she was was fed up of playing prostitutes (she trained at RADA!) which is why she took to writing. That first Prime Suspect really was superb, and brought the fabulous Helen Mirren to my attention. I will always be greatful to her for that, and would defend her at every opportunity. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Líam on Fri Apr 28 08:40:38 BST 2000:

No, I think's that's only you love ;0) Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Pink Moon on Fri Apr 28 15:06:34 BST 2000:

I haven't forgiven Lynda la Plante for writing Killer Net, which could just be the worst thing that's ever on been on TV ever. I don't say this lightly, it was that bad. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By george - gjrcanderson@hotmail.com on Fri Apr 28 20:49:55 BST 2000:

Hmm, so many travesties of broadcasting exhumed from their grave, hard to think of any to add, but I have noticed that: Sorry! (BBC) has been missed. (The title apologising for the sheer awfulness of this tat).

It was not funny. It is not a classic. Neither was: Allo' Allo' (BBC, again). Dodgy foreign accents borrowed from 1960's ITC action shows, it ran for longer than the war, and wore-out the Beeb's 33rpm laughter album.

Oh, and there was the one-series-only: Laugh? I nearly paid my licence fee. (BBC, yet again!) This was the forerunner to Naked Video. Oddly enough, it is a show that Robbie Coltraine has omitted from his CV.
Too embarassing perhaps?

george

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Sat Apr 29 09:41:40 BST 2000:

Re: 'Allo 'Allo
The thing that always annoyed were the people who made it defended it against allegations of bad taste by saying that it was a send-up of 'all those terrible programmes about the resistance eg. Secret Army'. This annoyed me because (1) 'Secret Army' etc. were long gone before AA started, so it was a bad target (2) AA was nothing like 'Secret Army' and (3) 'Secret Army' was actually a good series, I remember, though I was only about 5 when they did the last episode, so I can't be completely sure. The real issue, though, is that AA was billed as mainstream entertainment but it was in far worse taste than anything the vilified alternative comics/writers offered in the 80s.
'Comrade Dad' and 'A Word In Your Era' were duds as well. And what about 'John Sessions On The Spot', several instalments of which were so bad even JS couldn't stand them? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Sat Apr 29 09:49:46 BST 2000:

Yes, I remember 'Laugh???I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee' bacause I thought it would be like 'A Kick Up The Eighties', but it was rubbish. Mind you, I saw a bit of a repeat of AKUTE a while ago and it didn't seem half as funny as I thought it was when I was 9 or however old...apart from Kevin Turvey, who remains a work of genius. Why can't modern comedians invent proper characters like him, who say funny monologues in character, rather than just 1-D idiots who ask silly questions to celebrities? You know who I mean, all of them. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sat Apr 29 10:09:25 BST 2000:

>Justin, wasn't Nice Day at the Office the Andrew Marshall/David Renwick thing.

Beccy, I've now found out that Nice Day At The Office was written by Richard Turner and Paul Shearer (the latter of whom now does that Courts advert which rips off The Day Today, but was also the bloke who was usually the straight man in the Fast Show Suits You sketches).

Or was that something about nurses. Ahh, just loked that up - it was Health and Efficiency. Not great.

Andrew Marshall (2.4 Children) wrote that - but in fairness he collaborated with David Renwick on a couple of series that I remember being pretty good. There was Hot Metal, a mid-80s series for LWT about tabloid newspapers which boasted a cast of Robert Hardy, Richard Wilson, Geoffrey Palmer and John Gordon Sinclair. I think it was funny - has anyone seen a repeat of it since 1988? Oh and the theme tune was by Alan Price ("Just buy your Papers!!!").

The other Renwick Marshall project was a curious Richard Briers vehicle called If You See God, Tell Him (BBC1, about 1993ish) about a man who has a 30-second attention span and can only respond to TV ads. Amusing in parts, but received very uneasily by the mainstream BBC1 audience, the humour was about the bleakest I've ever seen before the arrival of Jam. Deserves a repeat, though, and certainly should have been covered in that lazy Briers documentary the other week.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Louise on Sat Apr 29 14:59:32 BST 2000:

You all display very impressive memories for terrible 80s sitcoms, but I'm surprised nobody has mentioned "After Henry" in which Prunella Scales got inside my head and pissed on my mental shrine to Sybil Fawlty. And what about "Butterflies"? But at the end of the day it's got to be "Up the Elephant and Round the Castle". I need to go and have a shower now.

Louise Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By zaber on Sat Apr 29 23:04:30 BST 2000:

Or Home James.

Or Andy Capp (which just sprung into my mynd). Had James Bolam in it, no? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Sorrel on Sat Apr 29 23:40:11 BST 2000:

What was that dreadful thing set in an advertising agency. It went out in the late seventies on ITV and starred Liza Goddard and (possibly) the Alderton bloke who did Yes, Honestly with her. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sun Apr 30 13:45:18 BST 2000:

>What was that dreadful thing set in an advertising agency.

You may be thinking of something called Watch This Space.

It went out in the late seventies on ITV

If it is Watch This Space, it was on BBC1, early 80s.

and starred Liza Goddard and (possibly) the Alderton bloke who did Yes, Honestly with her.

Liza Goddard definitely in it - don't know about Alderton, but also in it were the towering talents of Christopher Biggins
and Gillian Taylforth (later both in the sub-Crackerjack quiz On Safari). You may wonder how I know this - well so do I. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Sorrel on Sun Apr 30 23:38:14 BST 2000:

RE; Watch this space. Yes I remember now, Chris Biggins was in it. Thanks,now I can sleep easy.

Re; Bad comedy, lets not forget those USA shows which were OK / really good until the British got hold of them (or vice versa)

eg: Whose The Boss ? - with Tony Danza (ex Taxi ) and Jessica Tandy (ex Soap)
Good

The Upper Hand - with a McGann and Honor Blackman
Cr *p

Or The R+F of Reginald Perrin
V. Good

Reggie - with another ex Soap actor
Apalling


Any other suggestions?

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Anonymous on Sun Apr 30 23:45:33 BST 2000:

Of course I meant F+R of Reginald Perrin. I'm not completely stupid. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Louise on Mon May 1 10:34:45 BST 2000:

>Re; Bad comedy, lets not forget those USA shows which were OK / really good until the British got hold of them (or vice versa)

Ooo, what about "Cosby", One Foot in the Grave with all the darkness removed and added gurning?

And "Sean's Show", the It's Gary Shandling's Show rip off which was never quite funny. With added gurning.

Louise Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Mon May 1 11:10:51 BST 2000:

>>Re; Bad comedy, lets not forget those USA shows which were OK / really good until the British got hold of them (or vice versa)
>
>
>How about Brighton Belles - a Golden Girls adaptation so unbelievably appalling that even Carlton (quality company) didn't dare screen more than five episodes. Wendy Craig was in it, and Sheila Hancock.

The American remake of Dear John (with Judd Hirsch) wasn't too bad, though. Not brilliant, but then the original was just ok as well.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon May 1 15:09:29 BST 2000:

Yes Justin, 'Hot Metal' was fairly good. Another terrible 80s sitcom I remember seeing was about a cartoonist who had 2 rebellious daughters or something, I don't know the name because I would only see the end of it in the early evening after coming home from school. It seemed a bit dated, I think it may have been a repeat from the 70s.

I remember once seeing an issue of 'Right to Reply' focussing on programming policy, in which someone from an ITV firm said that in the 70s there was a sitcom called 'The Wackers' (I think that's what he said) which had to be pulled mid-run because 'we'd mis-judged public taste' or something - obviously it was shit, but is anyone reading this old enoughto remember? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon May 1 15:14:19 BST 2000:

Carla Lane's crimes deserve a strand to themselves, but the first and last few series of 'Bread' were rubbish, in fact the studio audience hardly laughed at the 1st series. It did go OK for a bit and it annoyed me that the papers seemed to think it was a comedy classic when the 1st series had been so crap (I now realise this was because of its pro-Thatcher politics), anyway us doubters won because no one talks about it nowadays. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mr Ree on Mon May 1 18:54:19 BST 2000:

Cartoonist and two rebellious daughters - this was called Keep It In The Family and was very much in the After Henry/Never The Twain mould of Thames 'sitcoms'. Robert Gillespie was in the lead role, I think.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Sorrel on Mon May 1 22:29:55 BST 2000:

>Cartoonist and two rebellious daughters - this was called Keep It In The Family and was very much in the After Henry/Never The Twain mould of Thames 'sitcoms'. Robert Gillespie was in the lead role, I think.
>

Sorry, but I actually quite liked this at the time. Don't ask why 'cos I can't remember much about it now. Also there was an American version of this as well which went out post midnight. Now it was bad.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Mon May 1 22:32:16 BST 2000:

>>Cartoonist and two rebellious daughters - this was called Keep It In The Family and was very much in the After Henry/Never The Twain mould of Thames 'sitcoms'. Robert Gillespie was in the lead role, I think.
>>
>
>Sorry, but I actually quite liked this at the time. Don't ask why 'cos I can't remember much about it now. Also there was an American version of this as well which went out post midnight. Now it was bad.
>
> It was called Too Close For Comfort, and starred Ted Knight, an actor best known for his role as news anchor Ted Baxter on the rather superb Mary Tyler Moore Show during the 1970s. But you're right - TCFC was rubbish.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By george - gjrcanderson@hotmail.com on Mon May 1 23:07:29 BST 2000:

RE: Good USA shows - ruined in UK remakes.

Other Gary Shandling Show clones have been Bob Mills' poor effort on C4, and the recent Bob Martin on ITV.

Incidentally, do they call them comedy-dramas to protect themselves if no-one laughs (it then becomes a drama)?

PS: Advoid the C4 forum this evening(01.05) it is running notoriously slow, and some of the threads are very dis-jointed.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Sean! Becket here.... on Tue May 2 00:15:35 BST 2000:

Sean's Show was nothing like Garry Shandling. I think you've been on the coleslaw again.

I'll just turn down the Jazz. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By johnny banana on Tue May 2 09:56:35 BST 2000:

anything made by CARLTON Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By clarky cat on Tue May 2 10:16:10 BST 2000:

>RE: Good USA shows - ruined in UK remakes.
>
>Other Gary Shandling Show clones have been Bob Mills' poor effort on C4, and the recent Bob Martin on ITV.

YES - cos bob cunting mills writes it. oh larry, larry, where are you when we need you? if barrymore can do anything 1/100th as inspired as david duchovny's cameo in the final Larry Sanders i'll probably instantly explode
>
>Incidentally, do they call them comedy-dramas to protect themselves if no-one laughs (it then becomes a drama)?
>
>PS: Advoid the C4 forum this evening(01.05) it is running notoriously slow, and some of the threads are very dis-jointed.
>

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By clarky cat on Tue May 2 10:18:36 BST 2000:

>
>The other Renwick Marshall project was a curious Richard Briers vehicle called If You See God, Tell Him (BBC1, about 1993ish) about a man who has a 30-second attention span and can only respond to TV ads. Amusing in parts, but received very uneasily by the mainstream BBC1 audience, the humour was about the bleakest I've ever seen before the arrival of Jam. Deserves a repeat, though, and certainly should have been covered in that lazy Briers documentary the other week.

What a series that was. thank goodness someone else remembers this work of genius. makes the blacker/darker bits of One Foot In The Grave look like the Chuckle Brothers. Think the Beeb got scared cos of all the complaints over a scene where a bunch of kids were using a bird as a football, a duck I think it was. all good family fun. Had Ade Edmondson and Paul Merton in there too, I seem to remember

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Pink Moon on Tue May 2 11:07:31 BST 2000:

Wasn't one episode of If you see god tell him pulled off the air at the last minute? I think it was around the time of the James Bulger case, and the episode showed some kids being arrested by police. So it was unexpectedly replaced with an episode of "Keeping Up Appearances." Uuurgh. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Louise on Tue May 2 17:38:17 BST 2000:

>Sean's Show was nothing like Garry Shandling. I think you've been on the coleslaw again.
>
WHAT????

1."This is the theme to Garry's show, the opening theme to Garry's show..."

"It's Seany's Show, do-do-do-do, it's Seany's Show...."

2.Walking from set to set with a wry glance at the camera/audience.

3.Mentioning the length of show/poor script/fact that other characters are just actors/poor set/ad. break.

4.Only the host can do any of the above - the other actors never break character.

5.Beginning with a monologue straight to camera.

6.Loads more rip-offs I can't be bothered to type. What do you want? It's been years since I've seen either of them. And that sock still isn't dry.

Louise

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Thu May 4 20:35:12 BST 2000:

>Wasn't one episode of If you see god tell him pulled off the air at the last minute?

It was postponed by a week, yes indeed.

I think it was around the time of the James Bulger case, and the episode showed some kids being arrested by police.

It was episode three of four, and I think it was pulled because Jon Venables and Robert Thompson's sentencing for James Bulger's murder had been announced just that evening.

I think they obviously thought that because there were kids hanging round a shopping centre (the only thing in common with the case), that was obviously cause for postponement. Another example of the nanny state in practice at the BBC.

Anyway, If You See God was ace, and UK Gold should be searching for the tapes right away, if they've any sense.


Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Thu May 4 20:43:38 BST 2000:

>>Re; Bad comedy, lets not forget those USA shows which were OK / really good until the British got hold of them (or vice versa)
>
>Ooo, what about "Cosby", One Foot in the Grave with all the darkness removed and added gurning?

Louise - did you know that apparently, CBS in the States pretty much forced the producers to ensure that Bill Cosby's character couldn't be unemployed for too long. Thereby missing the whole point of the original...
>
>And "Sean's Show", the It's Gary Shandling's Show rip off which was never quite funny. With added gurning.
>
It's true, isn't it? If it weren't for Reeves & Mortimer and (possibly, though I'm sticking my neck out here) the first couple of Last Resort seasons, Channel X (Jonathan Ross's production company) would have nothing but rubbish in their archives (Sean's Show, Jo Brand's series with quite good stand up, terrible sketches and abysmal production values, Saturday Zoo which apart from Calf and Shuttleworth isn't nearly as good as you remember it - I found one on tape a couple of weeks ago, and it was an utter shambles).

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mogwai on Fri May 5 01:28:46 BST 2000:

Late entry for this coveted title: a one-series abomination from around 1981 entitled "I'm Sorry, I'm A Stranger Here Myself". It was set in an Indian-run corner shop, in those days still a novelty - and that really is about all I can tell you, as it passed straight through me like an infected kebab...

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mike J on Fri May 5 11:17:01 BST 2000:

[If You See God, Tell Him]
>What a series that was. thank goodness someone else remembers this work of genius. makes the blacker/darker bits of One Foot In The Grave look like the Chuckle Brothers. Think the Beeb got scared cos of all the complaints over a scene where a bunch of kids were using a bird as a football, a duck I think it was. all good family fun. Had Ade Edmondson and Paul Merton in there too, I seem to remember

Yes, extraordinary stuff. Wasn't it written years before OFITG, and only commissioned as a series after the Beeb decided everything Renwick/Marshall did was obviously touched by the hand of BAFTA, and they could do what they liked? Which, in this case, meant having family favourite Briers 'operating' on some dead relative (his wife?) in a garden shed in the final show. My memory of it is very hazy (I was staying in a company hostel back then and had to watch such things - 'The Man From Auntie', series 2 and 'The Day Today' included - on a communal telly in the bar). It never was repeated, was it?
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Alan on Fri May 5 14:41:01 BST 2000:

Although the writing was cheerily jaundiced, and the idea was superb, 'If You See God' was hampered by being very slow paced and Adrian Edmondson being a bit shit in it. I watched it again only last month and then recorded over it. It's more notable for the fact that it got made and broadcast than for any innate hilarity. (Briers is excellent, but then that goes without saying, doesn't it?)

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bingo on Mon May 8 00:29:34 BST 2000:

Whose Line Is It Anyway? And even worse than that, Whose Line Is It Anyway? spin-offs. To list a few of the guilty:

S&M

Josie

Tall Tales with John Sessions

P's & Q's

The Big One

Call My Bluff (Sandi Toksvig version)

Paul Merton - The Series

If I ruled the world

Greg Proops stand up routines

Posh twats without any material wanking off to their mates on a quiet night at your local comedy club. "1940's pornography" "chainsaw movies" are the suggestions thrown at them, and how we laugh at the consequences.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Master Sledge on Mon May 8 13:09:52 BST 2000:

What's all that about?? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bingo on Tue May 9 01:06:59 BST 2000:

The worst comedy series ever. Pardon me for sticking to the point, posh wank. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By TVOD on Tue May 9 07:23:50 BST 2000:

The worst comedy series ever just has to be Midlands Today. Even the studio audience doesn't laugh. And they're still making it.
The best is Animal Hospital. All those animals in pain! It makes me chortle just to think about it. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Anonymous on Tue May 9 07:26:19 BST 2000:

Midlands Today doesn't have a studio audience, because it's written & directed by Chris Morris, Linehan&Matthews, and Simon Pegg. It was their first attempt to do 'Big Train' Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mogwai on Tue May 9 11:14:13 BST 2000:

A few years ago the Beeb proudly trumpeted their latest 'comedy sensation'. They'd got a team together specifically to do a new sketch show for BBC1 (as opposed to nurturing it like a little garden on BBC2 beforehand), and the thing ran for six weeks. I wish I could remember what this thing was called so I could give it the critical drubbing it deserved here, but suffice to say that it was about as funny as root canal work. One sketch in the much-hyped first show stands out, as it featured all five? six? performers in alien costumes singing a wacky song about recycling, and how we really should do more of it, or otherwise we're going to pollute other planets too, etc etc etc. Jesus God it was awful. Of course the series died a death and has never been seen again, but if anyone else can remember it then do we know (a) what it was called and (b) has anyone involved gone on to do anything better? (And how embarrassed would they be to have all this dredged up again...?) Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Tue May 9 11:26:10 BST 2000:

Are you sure you're not thinking of 'Comedy Nation', which was on late on BBC2? That was shite. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mogwai on Tue May 9 14:18:51 BST 2000:

No, 'Comedy Nation' was only on a couple of years ago. It was a valiant but, agreed, shite attempt to throw together a sketch show featuring the 'cream' of contemporary comedy talent. Which apparently meant everyone who had been writing for 'Week Ending' when it was scrapped. The only highlights were Kevin Eldon's 'Pygmy Shrew' sketch (at least I'm pretty sure it was Kevin Eldon) and the first appearances of Sacha Baron-Cohen's 'Borat'. The rest of it confirmed all of SOTCAA's fears about lazy, smell-the-writers'-meeting comedy. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By george on Thu May 11 21:16:11 BST 2000:

Actually, I've just realised that some of the *new* and *Exclusive* comedy transmitted on UK Play is utter trash.

Sheesh, what took me so long to realise this? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Fri May 12 11:38:45 BST 2000:

A big word for 'TV Squash' (ITV, early 90s), a spin-off from 'Aspel', in which a team of performers would make fun of other TV shows. Hilarious idea... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bent Halo on Fri May 12 22:16:46 BST 2000:

Thank God the Lynda La Plante discussion died down. Sorry, but I taped 'Widows' for a mate off UK Gold. Two seasons. Evil.

'After Henry' was just another irritatingly gentle comedy from ITV. An excuse not to try. All I remember is one episode where they kept referring to a video of 'On Golden Pond'. Whether this was product placement or a genuine excitement about the possibility of VCRs to entertain desperate, ageing women is unknown.

'Seans Show' was scarily like 'Garry Shandling', but never Worst Comedy ever. The first show was terrific, but the last few were indulgent rubbish.

What was that show with Anton Rodgers on an exercise bike smiling at some hag of a co-star. This was the title-sequence, not the premise.

If You See God, Tell Him. Absoloutely great Autumn 1993 comedy-drama which the BBC panicked over, hence the postponement of episode four, not three. Bleak before it was even fashionable to bleak. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bent Halo on Fri May 12 22:19:44 BST 2000:

Sorry, remebered the title of that Anton Rodgers nonsense. 'Fresh Fields' was the offending show.

Anyone else care to condemn it?
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Alan on Sat May 13 00:51:32 BST 2000:

Didn't the BBC just show the pilot of 'If You See God' again? Scheduled for last night, I think. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Sat May 13 06:49:22 BST 2000:

I was about to say that the Anton Rodgers thing was 'May to December', but you corrected me. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Pink Moon on Sat May 13 20:45:14 BST 2000:

>Didn't the BBC just show the pilot of 'If You See God' again? Scheduled for last night, I think.

No. That was "Waiting for God".

Oh yeah, that channel four series set in a video shop and starring Tommy Tiernen was pretty dire.

Christ! What about "It's Ulrika", the reeves & mortimer scripted pilot for a show featuring Ulrika Johnsson? It's enough to make your eyes bleed.


Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Richard Osman on Sat May 13 22:23:04 BST 2000:

how about that utter piece of shit 'Boyz Unlimited'? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sun May 14 08:36:14 BST 2000:

>how about that utter piece of shit 'Boyz Unlimited'?

Aah, but are you the "real" Richard Osman, who, let's face it, wrote it? Is this a spot of disowning here? If so, good on you.

You're right though - can't remember it being much cop (but then I think I only saw episode one).

It's Ulrika, incidentally - shocking. Sometimes people (and I'm talking about R&M here) can erroneously believe that they can do anything....

Incidentally, don't know if we're allowing radio shows into this topic, but I heard a truly terrible and twee (aren't they all...After Henry for one?) Simon Brett sitcom on Wednesday or Thursday on Radio 4. It was all awfully nice, was another waste of Prunella Scales, and featured Arabella Weir yet again proving that she was the least versatile member of The Fast Show team - here she played Scales' daughter who believed that all men were really thick. Hilarious! It was set in a publishing house who were going to publish an autobiography by a footballer - inevitably when the footballer's character emerged: hey guess what, he was stupid! (Wouldn't it have just been a tad funnier if they'd made him really articulate and intelligent instead? Oops sorry, that means writing a character rather than some bloke unconvincingly saying the same two phrases over and over again. He did not actually rip off Monty Python's "I'm opening a boutique Brian", but it was pretty much the same sort of thing. Anyway, studio audience were exhumed for the day and appeared to find it all funny, but I didn't.

Think it was called Smelling Of Rosie (main character: Rosie. Good grief). Is anyone ever going to realise that these sitcoms (with no real jokes in it, just idle banter heard on a bus - have they ever met any real people in their lives???) should be put out to grass. Radio 4 put this out - for thinking people everywhere...Quite.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Sun May 14 17:27:20 BST 2000:

Justin's last message reminds me that in the early 80s ther was a sitcom on BBC1 called 'Rosie' about a pair of country policemen... I remember thinking it was funny, but I had no real sense of humour in those days, so that proves nothing. Anyone got an opinion on it? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sun May 14 20:02:51 BST 2000:

>Justin's last message reminds me that in the early 80s ther was a sitcom on BBC1 called 'Rosie' about a pair of country policemen... I remember thinking it was funny, but I had no real sense of humour in those days, so that proves nothing. Anyone got an opinion on it?

Well, it was called "Rosie", written by Roy (Last Of The Summer Wine/Keeping Up Appearances) Clarke so you may have made up your mind already, but it was shown on BBC1, probably about late 70s I'd have said, and it starred an actor called Paul Greenwood. God knows whatever happened to him. Can't really remember if it was funny - are UK Gold interested in exhuming it, I wonder?

Mind you, just because it was the 70s doesn't mean it won't have aged gracefully. I say this because tonight I have been watching the Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin 1st series (gloriously unedited, unlike the botched version released in 1983 and edited by David Nobbs, Jim Franklin and (it would seem) a knife and fork). Anyway, is this one of the best comedy series ever made? I think it is, you know...

Subject: I hate Jack Docherty
Posted By No. on Sun May 14 20:13:09 BST 2000:

My vote for worst comedy prog. is 'mr don and mr george' I think.
Followed by that crappy-but-not-so-crappy-as-mr-don-and-mr-george Docherty vehicle in an advertising agency which i cant remember even though i have a vague feeling it finished only a few months ago.
And Red Dwarf, obviously. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon May 15 11:25:48 BST 2000:

The ad agency sitcom was called 'The Creatives', but it was much worse than 'don&george', which I thought was intermittently OK. Strange that Docherty&Hunter are so useless away from the 'Absolutely' team, as are all the otherrs come to think of it. How much do you think Gordon Kennedy got paid for all those series with Russ Abbott? I'd have needed a million to do it.

'Boyz unlimited' seemed Ok, though I only saw a little bit. At least it wasn't the unbearably naff 'Young Person's Guide to being a Rockstar'. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Ken on Mon May 15 22:47:32 BST 2000:

No, Boys Unlimited was drivel. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Tue May 16 08:20:58 BST 2000:

>No, Boys Unlimited was drivel.

Ah. That clears that up, then.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Adam on Tue May 16 09:24:20 BST 2000:

What about 2 recent offenders:
Duck Patrol and All Along the Watchtower

Thompson was shit, but surely any and every episode of Last of the Summer Wine must rank up there. Oh and anything Hale and Pace have ever done. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Alan on Tue May 16 12:11:34 BST 2000:

Apparently even their PE lessons were shit. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Richard Bell on Wed May 17 13:48:15 BST 2000:

>Game On
No this is very good
>anything with Hale and Pace
Some of their stuff was good

>11 OCS
You're right there
>Payne

Is that that yank version of Fawlty Towers? It is REALLY bad. The tension between Sybil and Basil ( I forget what they call them in this one) just doesn't exist.

Vicar of Dibley is pretty poor, and I'm not a big fan of Ab Fab either.

I used to hate Friends and hate the fact that everybody else loved it, but I think the show is great now.

The New Jack Dee show isn't bad, but I wish they'd get rid of that animated character (Hugh Dennis - Or is it Steve Punt?)

His Channel 4 stand-up a few years ago was very good, as was that palladium (?) show he did a few years ago that was shown on Channel 5.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Cardinal Biggles on Wed May 17 21:31:33 BST 2000:

Grace Under Fire.

Or was that sit-com and therefore not "right" for this thread? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By fizz on Wed May 17 23:12:28 BST 2000:

>>anything with Hale and Pace
>Some of their stuff was good.


I must have missed that episode. What happened in it?
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Beccy on Fri May 19 00:03:43 BST 2000:

I remember If You See God, but can't remember what I thought of it.
I can however remember adoring The Big One - Mike McShane and Sandi Toksvig. I'd like to see it today to see if maybe I just had very poor taste when I was younger, but I remember finding it very funny. But then, I liked the early years of Whose Line - pre the US contingent - God - does Colin Mochrie REALLY think he's funny? It's so obvious that Ryan Styles has to help him through all the sketches. Anyhow, I did like it when John Sessions, Tony Slattery, Chris Langham, Jonathan Pryce(!!), Josie Lawrence, Sandi Toksvig etc made up the team and when the audience actually knew what a theatre style was, rather than the lame cry of 'comedy' that became the norm later on. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By subbes on Fri May 19 00:07:13 BST 2000:

But any episode of Who's Line... is funnier than the ones with Drew Carey on.

IMHO. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Gee on Sat May 20 22:12:02 BST 2000:

"Coupling" should be finding a place here real soon. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sat May 20 23:19:37 BST 2000:

>"Coupling" should be finding a place here real soon.

OK, I've just watched episode two and I didn't actually laugh once, which obviously means it's failed as a comedy. But I thought Steven Moffatt's writing was quite sparky and clever, and perhaps it should have been a drama instead. It was certainly a damn sight better than that Hearts & Bones thing that the BBC seems inexplicably proud of at the moment. Maybe the insufferable cackling studio audience killed Couplings stone dead, or maybe it's the actors (Gina Bellman was really irritating, I must admit). But worst comedy series EVER? Just because it wasn't very funny doesn't mean it's worthless.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Sun May 21 17:25:02 BST 2000:

Quite so. I never laughed during 'The World At War', but does that make it rubbish? Well.... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sun May 21 18:35:43 BST 2000:

>Quite so. I never laughed during 'The World At War', but does that make it rubbish? Well....

Hmmm...ok point taken. But at least it didn't fall into the trap of most Brit 'sex comedies' (hello Game On) - just being supposedly rude with nothing to back it up with. Maybe I'm just being contrary because Alison Graham gave it a kicking, but it's a billion times wittier than anything she's ever thought up in her entire life.

Also Gimme Gimme Gimme is still far far far worse.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon May 22 08:27:54 BST 2000:

Jonathan Harvey, writer of GGG, wrote an episode of 'Murder Most Horrid' that was actually really good, though it didn't have a studio audience. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Sweaty Palms on Mon May 22 09:56:11 BST 2000:

Another thought-

Has anyone mentioned Keeping Up Appearances.

I accidentally watched 5 mins of it and surely that must rank as one of the all time festering sores of a show Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By RB on Mon May 22 11:55:16 BST 2000:

>Maybe the insufferable cackling studio audience killed Couplings stone dead


That's exactly the problem with Coupling. If there was no laughter, it would be much funnier. It's much more obtrusive on this than other sitcoms. Not as bad as watching M*A*S*H on Sky, with laughter track. Ugh! Subject: Haywire + Pirates
Posted By No on Tue May 23 11:06:37 BST 2000:

I've just been having this conversation with some friends - I was reminded of 'Haywire', a BBC2 sketch show which was dread ful (no, worse even than 'Bruiser'); And 'Pirates', CH4 vehicle for Craig Charles, which was exceptionally bad. Has anybody mentioned these?
Coupling is nothing compared to these two - just vaguely embarrassing, instead of being toe-curlingly unwatchable.
Sorry if this is a bit off the point. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Pink Moon on Tue May 23 13:34:16 BST 2000:

>I've just been having this conversation with some friends - I was reminded of 'Haywire', a BBC2 sketch show which was dread ful (no, worse even than 'Bruiser'); And 'Pirates', CH4 vehicle for Craig Charles, which was exceptionally bad. Has anybody mentioned these?
>Coupling is nothing compared to these two - just vaguely embarrassing, instead of being toe-curlingly unwatchable.
>Sorry if this is a bit off the point.

That Craig Charles series you remember was called "Captain Butler".
"Pirates" is a kid's TV show which is actually very funny, unlike Craig Charles.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mr Ree on Thu May 25 20:02:30 BST 2000:

> OK, I've just watched episode two and I didn't actually laugh once, which obviously means it's failed as a comedy. But I thought Steven Moffatt's
writing was quite sparky and clever, and perhaps it should have been a drama instead. It was certainly a damn sight better than that Hearts &
Bones thing that the BBC seems inexplicably proud of at the moment ...

Why do you think United Productions had Hearts & Bones turned away from the Network Centre (apart from the bias towards Carlton and Granada, of course)? The BBC are just a little desperate presently ... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Alex on Sun May 28 21:44:15 BST 2000:

There was an ITV show many years ago that starred Brian Glover. The highlight of the comedy on this show was the Mother's catchphrase: "That's right, son, you're not wrong." For the life of me, I can't remember what it was called, but it was bloody awful. It was worse than Thompson.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon May 29 13:35:44 BST 2000:

Nothing has or ever will be worse than Thompson... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By george gjrcanderson@hotmail.com on Mon May 29 21:02:33 BST 2000:

I just saw Coupling for the first time, and realised it was a cheap, shoddy rip-off of Friends. (Incidentally, My Perfect World is already heading towards equal obscurity).
Will broadcasters ever learn NOT to copy US sitcoms?

Oh, and I've noticed that all the critics that used to call Ab Fab a great show are amazingly quiet. Maybe they have finally realised that Jennifer Saunders is a talentless prat with the writing ability of a goldfish, and the acting of a child throwing a tantrum in its cot, just like when I first saw her in Girls on Top (and that's the nicest repeatable thing I'll say about her). Ab Fab also included another Ms Lumley comeback, Ms Swalihaha looking wooden and mean, Granma Whitfield whose track record includes the News Huddlines and Terry & June, and the ever atrocious Jane Horrocks (another I did well thanks to dad). Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Hamburger3 on Wed May 31 20:53:17 BST 2000:

Hmm ......

1. Hale and pace - Fuckin awful
2. Friends - Contrived shite
3. Nurses - First season crap, second OK as
has David Rache (Sledge Hammer) in it
4. Ellen - Im fed up of people saying that
this programme is good. it got canned
because its shit not because of any anti
lezzers.
5. Terry and June - nuff said
6. Are you being served - not funny at all
has only one joke in it. And the spin
off show that was made.
7. Goodnight Sweetheart - weak early
evening BBC "comedy"
8. Allo Allo - eughhhh
9. Going Straight - poor mans porridge
10.All Fry and laurie stuff - nuff said
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Hamburger3 on Wed May 31 21:03:57 BST 2000:

11. Hermans Head - crap
12. Hooperman - John Ritter shite
13. Supergran - Very Poor
14. Major Dad - BBC2 afternoon american
comedy
15. My two dads - Paul Reiser and Greg Evigan
in crap comedy shocker
16. The Lenny Henry Show - i want to slash
my wrists
17. The Monkees - Not funny
18. George and Mildred - 70s weak comedy
19. Love thy Neighbour - Racist crap
20. Diffrent Strokes - Never should of been
made. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Thu Jun 1 06:55:23 BST 2000:

Corpses, when are we going to get the 'Terry And June' Edit News? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By mk on Thu Jun 1 10:16:22 BST 2000:

well, I've just read this whole thread (um, flicked through it anyway) and I've learnt that:
1) everyone has different tastes
2) some people like to slag off anything
3) theres a lot of comedy shows I've never heard of

Red Dwarf was mentioned somewhere. I like it but i can see that its not evryones cup o tea.




imho: as mentioned previously Comedy Nation has to be the least funny comedy program ever. Let me check I'm thinking of the right one: sketch show / late night / on bbc2 / couple of years ago? it had a character called "bruiser" or "Gripper" or something as a semi-reformed london gangster type in prison? also it had a weird transvestite bloke wondering around occasionally?
The people responsible for that series should never be allowed to work in comedy again, or better yet -shot.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Thu Jun 1 14:58:28 BST 2000:

He was called 'Buller' played by Ricky Grover. And it was rubbish. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Anonymous on Fri Jun 2 12:29:46 BST 2000:

Yes, I must say that at the time I wondered how some of the chancers on 'Comedy Nation' ever progressed beyond the open-mic level of the comedy business. I wouldn't pay to watch anyone perform that shit, not in a pub or a club, not anywhere. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Alan on Sat Jun 3 00:43:00 BST 2000:

My God, no-one seems to have mentioned 'On The Buses' on this thread.

Or was it just taken as read?... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Anastasia on Sat Jun 3 19:47:49 BST 2000:

Yes, enough yakking. Lists are quicker to read. Here's my bottom 10:

1 Haywire
2 The Eleven O'Clock Show
3 Honey For Tea (Felicity Kendall as American)
4 Bread
5 So Haunt Me
6 Whose Line Is it Anyway?
7 Pulp Video
8 Naked Video
9 Hancock In Australia (The man killed himself after watching it for gods sake!)
10 Hello Mum (Whatever happened to Helen Lederer?) Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Neil on Sat Jun 3 20:33:51 BST 2000:

Yes, God - ROSIE. Bloody hell: found a tape with it on about three years ago, and it was really very bad.Like a cross between THE BILL and PLAZA PATROL with Cannon & Ball. Now, there's another one - PLAZA PATROL... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Neil. on Sat Jun 3 20:45:16 BST 2000:

Some excellent targets there - I would add MULBERRY to them. HONEY FOR TEA I didn't find funny when I was ten, even - and I didn't understand enough then about the world or the human body to find Felicity Kendal exciting.
However, I do know that I would add GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME to any list of lazy, lucky, uninspired and meretricious things.
And has anybody mentioned SORRY! yet? They probably have... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sat Jun 3 21:37:25 BST 2000:

>Yes, enough yakking. Lists are quicker to read. Here's my bottom 10:
>
>1 Haywire
>2 The Eleven O'Clock Show
>3 Honey For Tea (Felicity Kendall as American)
>4 Bread
>5 So Haunt Me
>6 Whose Line Is it Anyway?
>7 Pulp Video
>8 Naked Video
>9 Hancock In Australia (The man killed himself after watching it for gods sake!)
>10 Hello Mum (Whatever happened to Helen Lederer?)

One of the best lists so far, I think - including several I'd forgotten about completely. I still remember Victor Lewis Smith's hilarious desecration of Honey For Tea in the Standard just after it came out ('94ish?). Granted, Hello Mum was a shambles, but the radio version - "In One Ear" (R4, 1984-1986) was actually rather good
and featured songs from a very young Steve "Glenn Ponder" Brown. The writing team, incidentally, featured such luminaries as ARnold Brown (who turned up on Hello Mum , I seem to remember), Docherty & Hunter, Paul Merton (when he was still Paul Martin), Geoffrey Perkins and Harry Enfield.

Helen Lederer did only have the one routine though - hello, I'm neurotic, it is ok if I say that, is it?
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By subbes on Sun Jun 4 04:20:57 BST 2000:

One word...

"Dad".

Oh, and "Waiting For God", purley because of the number of children who were lulled into getting volumes of Kafka out of the library because they thought Tom & Diana would be in it.*




*Most likely an idea stolen from Adrian Mole, i'm sure that's where i first read it, although if so, Waiting For God must be older than I thought it was. Anyway.. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sun Jun 4 08:54:38 BST 2000:

"Waiting For Godot" was by Samuel Beckett, but it still doesn't feature any characters called Tom or Diana. However, it is better than "Waiting For God". Didn't Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson do a production of the Beckett in the West End round about the time of "Bottom", incidentally? I was studying it at college and trying to imagine the additions of frying pans, injuring genitals and shouting "you bastard". Did anyone see it?

"Waiting For God" began in summer 1990 on the BBC, but Adrian Mole first book came about probably about 1982 or maybe '83.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By subbes on Sun Jun 4 14:22:51 BST 2000:

Damn, damn damn, excuse my inability to remember who wrote what, sorry.

But anyway. wiating for god, whoo. insanity's always cool, kids! Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Sun Jun 4 17:37:40 BST 2000:

Yes, Mayall/Edmondson did 'Godot' in the West End, but I think it was before 'Bottom' started. Their first ever comedy act (according to 'Didn't You Kill My Mother-in-Law?', which I read years ago) was '20th Century Coyote', who were supposed to be inspired by Beckett and... I think the 'Carry On' films were the other one.

Incidentally, the TV version of Adrian Mole was crap. And I've come to the view that the books were smug, narrow-minded crap masquerading as clever satire, as well. The only thing wrong with Mole reading famous books is that he isn't clever enough to understand them, but nobody really does at that age. So what's the point - should he just knuckle down to a boring low-paid existence? Like Sue Townsend did, before she, er, became a successful writer? Those are the questions nobody has ever asked. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Miffy on Sun Jun 4 18:23:45 BST 2000:

What was that show with David Essex and a Scottish woman and a canal boat? I think it was a sitcom or maybe a fundraisier for gypsies...Anyway anyone know what it was called? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sun Jun 4 18:43:09 BST 2000:

>What was that show with David Essex and a Scottish woman and a canal boat? I think it was a sitcom or maybe a fundraisier for gypsies...Anyway anyone know what it was called?

I've forgotten all the physics I ever learnt at school, but I can remember this - "The River" (BBC1, about 1988 or '89).

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Sun Jun 4 19:17:19 BST 2000:

I hope no-ones forgotton to mention classic Channel 4 american 6 o' clock sitcoms such as Blossom/Boy Meets World/Sister Sister etc.. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon Jun 5 07:47:43 BST 2000:

Don't you know anything about comedy? All US sitcoms are brilliant, even their version of 'Fawlty Towers' was better than ours!

I still have fond memories of that Michael J Fox-as-a-teenager (before Back To The Future) thing, 'Family Ties' I think it was called. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon Jun 5 11:04:20 BST 2000:

Now I've remembered... "Something For The Weekend"(BBC) and "Up To Something" were terrible, terrible sketch shows. But not as bad as 'Thompson'. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Mon Jun 5 17:39:48 BST 2000:

>Don't you know anything about comedy? All US sitcoms are brilliant, even their version of 'Fawlty Towers' was better than ours!
>
Aaaah, Amanda's By The Sea with Bea Arthur out of The Golden Girls, with no Basil and a Mexican waiter. Lasted three episodes.

Or do you mean the new one, Jon?


>I still have fond memories of that Michael J Fox-as-a-teenager (before Back To The Future) thing, 'Family Ties' I think it was called.

INdeed it was, thought up by the same bloke who created Spin City.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Mon Jun 5 19:50:52 BST 2000:

Bea Arthurs is the one that sounds like a bloke right?

I take back all i said before if it is Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Mon Jun 5 20:16:59 BST 2000:

I must admit, i do find Spin City a good show, which seems to be ignored as much as possible by channel 4, and hidden away in the schedules.

Also we can't forget the pinicles of American comedy: Saved By The Beel And California Dreams. Although Saved By The Bell: The New Class was shit - just because it still has Schreech and Mr Belding on, does make it anywhere near as good as the origional. Ditto for the Collage years.

God, i think i've been infected by mostalgia Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Mon Jun 5 20:19:01 BST 2000:

Or nostalgia even Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Tue Jun 6 15:16:28 BST 2000:

>Bea Arthurs is the one that sounds like a bloke right?
>
>I take back all i said before if it is

No, I think that was Rue McSomebody (surname is a guess, incidentally, not her real name).

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Tue Jun 6 18:55:49 BST 2000:

So was Bea Arthur the old one then? Does anyone know who the four golden girls were? (NOT Brighton Belles) I have a strange sudden urge (not sexual) to know there names. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Tue Jun 6 18:59:53 BST 2000:

>So was Bea Arthur the old one then? Does anyone know who the four golden girls were? (NOT Brighton Belles) I have a strange sudden urge (not sexual) to know there names.

Here we go: Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan (! inspiration struck while I was out) and Estelle Getty, who of course was in Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot (which I think the Beeb are under contract or pain of death to transmit at 7.30 every Bank Holiday for the rest of eternity).

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Tue Jun 6 19:01:08 BST 2000:

Mind you, The Golden Girls isn't the worst comedy series ever. But Brighton Belles (Wendy Craig, Sheila Hancock, Sheila Gish and....anyone?)...that's got to be a contender. Or have we been here before? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By mk on Tue Jun 6 19:30:02 BST 2000:

>Don't you know anything about comedy? All US sitcoms are brilliant, even their version of 'Fawlty Towers' was better than
ours!
>

um call me Mr. Thickee if you like but,
does the above few posts mean that you think
a) All american comedy is crap
b) All american comedy is good
c) some is good and some bad

I Quite liked Family Ties, although i was 10 years younger last time i saw it...
most american sitcoms seem to be better that ours.

The following were bad though
Sister Sister
Saved by the Bell
in fact anything Peter Engles has had anything to do with
(maybe this is cos I'm over 13)
grace under fire & hermans head were watchable as "emergency comedy"

actually i cant think of any us sitcoms that were as bad as all british 7.30 pm sitcoms of the eighties. like second chance and second time around. I didnt realise they were supposed to be funny at the time. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Tue Jun 6 20:29:12 BST 2000:

I suspect Jon was parodying those Guardian Guide type of recommendations, which fawningly praising mediocre US sitcoms like Third Rock to the skies.

Believe me, the stupidity of the American Basil-less Fawlty and late-period Roseanne (not to mention Saved By The Bell and My Two Dads) almost cancels out The Simpsons, Seinfeld and Frasier. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Tue Jun 6 21:02:16 BST 2000:

I admit saved by the bell was a load of shit, but can someone tell me what AC stood for.

See how i use this forum to answer obscure question, rather than make an intereasting comment. I do apologise.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Pink Moon on Thu Jun 8 21:06:49 BST 2000:

No-one's mentioned "The Munsters Today".
So I will.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Drucius on Thu Jun 8 22:16:11 BST 2000:

Lessee.....um, how about "Chintz" which was on the go ages ago. I think Michelle Dotrice was in it and it was utterly dreadful, with no redeeming features whatsoever Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By David Cobley on Fri Jun 9 08:51:34 BST 2000:

>Brighton Belles (Wendy Craig, Sheila Hancock, Sheila Gish and....anyone?)

Wasn't is Jean Boht (or however it is spelt - you know, Ma Boswell)
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By johnny banana on Fri Jun 9 11:08:35 BST 2000:

we know where you live some crap comedy sketch show on channel 5 repeated recently Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Richard John Evans on Fri Jun 9 11:22:55 BST 2000:

So Haunt Me was actually pretty good, because in, I think, the first episode, the husband character with the eyes was shown to be a fan of Frank Zappa...oh, hang on, actually that's a really, really bad thing, isn't it? Shit. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Richard John Evans on Fri Jun 9 12:12:29 BST 2000:

I've just remembered that Nerys used to quite like So Haunt Me.
The stupid fat cunt. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Richard John Evans on Fri Jun 9 12:18:22 BST 2000:

Actually, I don't mean that.
If you should happen to come across this, Nez,I don't really mean it obviously.
I appear to have hijacked the forum and steered it away from the very valid subject of comedy and turned it into a forum for my own bitterness and spite.
And now it seems even worse because I'm trying to weasel out of it just in case she should ever happen to come across this site, which is fairly unlikely I suppose, but perhaps not, because I don't know what circles she travels in these days...which is the point, I suppose. Oh fuck, what a shit day I'm having. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By subbes on Fri Jun 9 17:26:37 BST 2000:

*holds out box of pills*

take one. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Fri Jun 9 17:31:09 BST 2000:

>>Brighton Belles (Wendy Craig, Sheila Hancock, Sheila Gish and....anyone?)
>
>Wasn't is Jean Boht (or however it is spelt - you know, Ma Boswell)

Thanks for that (didn't think I'd ever have to say thanks to someone for writing the words Jean Boht, but I did ask, didn't I!)
>

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever: The Top Ten
Posted By Justin on Fri Jun 9 18:53:33 BST 2000:

Right - time for a recap. Here's the top ten of worst sitcoms based on "your votes" (and each name only counts once, sorry Jon, or Thompson would have been way, way, way, ahead)...

As it is, though....

joint 1 Thompson/11 O'Clock Show (6 votes each)
3 So Haunt Me (5)
4 Honey For Tea (4)
5 Brighton Belles/Not With A Bang/Never Mind The Buzzcocks/Keeping Up Appearances/We Know Where You Live/2.4 Children/Haywire/Comedy Nation/Hale & Pace
(all 3 votes each)
Etc...

I think the joint winners are extremely deserving though! Let's hope that's as low as comedy can ever get.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Fri Jun 9 19:03:39 BST 2000:

The 'voting system' is unfair on Thompson's merits as the worst ever. I mean, that's why I kept going on about it.

I trust this counts as a 'vote' in the next round... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Fri Jun 9 19:08:40 BST 2000:

>The 'voting system' is unfair on Thompson's merits as the worst ever. I mean, that's why I kept going on about it.
>
>I trust this counts as a 'vote' in the next round...

Maybe we could get the BBC to repeat it for 'kitsch' value. Yeah, bung it on UK Play - no-one's watching that anyway!
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Fri Jun 9 23:22:30 BST 2000:

Perhaps it could change it's name to UKThompson - "Our new 24 hour digital service reflecting the nation's cultural requirements for upper-class woman making fools of themselves" Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Pink Moon on Tue Jun 13 00:02:32 BST 2000:

How about "The Lisa Maxwell Show"? Thankfully, due to some strange psychological defence mechanism I've forgotten most of it, although it occasionally it returns to me in flashbacks. The only thing that really sticks in my mind is a sketch from the first episode, in which she was a waitress serving roast duckling to a vegetarian. Yes, we're talking sophisticated comedy here.
Incidentally, I watched "Event Horizon" earlier on for the second time, and it still seemed quite scary, but not as scary as "The Munsters Today". Someone should be shot for that one. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Beccy on Tue Jun 13 00:36:51 BST 2000:

>What was that show with David Essex and a Scottish woman and a canal boat?
>I think it was a sitcom or maybe a fundraisier for gypsies...Anyway anyone know what it was called?

Justin, this was 'The River' and the scottish girl was Katy Murphy. You may remember her from 'Spatz' that pathetic kids show set in a burger bar and they were on...rollerskates?!

I like Thompson -from an ironic perspective it is hilarious, seeing what was basically the Renaissance Theatre company arsing around. It lost a lot through production. When ET first met with the producer or someone she improvised some sketches that were apparently hilarious but totally unbroadcastable. It was the compromise that was partly responsible for its failure on television.

And there are FAR worse programmes. The worst crime for a comedy series I think is being just plain dull or boring. Ok, I accept people might not have found Thompson funny, but I wouldn't call it boring. I guess that's in part due to the now famous people who made up the cast and it's amusing to see their past attempts before fame hit them. But for boring sitcoms I'd go along with 'Honey For Tea' and
even worse I think - I found it completely unwatchable - 'Next of Kin'. It is the only thing I actually call painful to watch. Though I expect that is largely becasue I've just avoided other 'painful' programmes altogether.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By ribbit on Fri Jun 16 12:23:39 BST 2000:

The series that Emma Thompson did with Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Paul Shearer, Siobhan Redmond and Ben Elton (There's Nothing To Worry about and Alfresco with a slightly altered cast) were fantastic, but I'm only able to say this having watched videos of these shows. I can't comment on Thompson, as I don't remember it. I think, however, that people sometimes dismiss comedy series from the past too quickly, relying on what can be extremely hazy and unreliable memories. It's best to check your facts first. Just a thought. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Al on Wed Jun 21 17:41:07 BST 2000:

has anyone mentioned Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em yet? Cos that was fucking APPALLING. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Wed Jun 21 17:51:52 BST 2000:

>has anyone mentioned Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em yet? Cos that was fucking APPALLING.

First mention! Incidentally, on another of Gaby Roslin's rubbish TV nostalgia programmes researched by chimps and idiots, they had the grown-up Jessica Spencer as a guest. The interview went something like this:

[Long clip from Some Mothers. Both original and audience watching the clip in need of hospitalisation. Luckily, Gaby Roslin's here to save their sides with appalling Colin Bostock-Smith asides laughingly termed "additional material".]

GR: So that was you there?

Actress: That's right.

GR: So what was it like working with Michael Crawford?

Actress: [laughs politely] Well, I was only six months old at the time, so I don't really remember.

GR: Thanks for coming on the show!

APPLAUSE.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Wed Jun 21 19:36:49 BST 2000:

Chimps AND idiots eh? Surely that can't have been a BBC production.

Anyway, you can't slag of SMD'A'E. That's against BBC regulations - no slagging off shows designated as classic.

Although i can't say i've ever watched it. Looks to shit to me. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Al on Wed Jun 21 20:02:36 BST 2000:

PJ

It is. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Thu Jun 22 15:26:35 BST 2000:

Re: "Some Mothers Do Have 'Em" (is that the right punctuation?)

What I remember is that for a long while repeats/tribute shows would always mention the 'classic' bit where Michael Crawford falls out of the back of the removal van, lands in a barrel of tar, and emerges covered in the stuff. I don't think they show that anymore... political correctness gone mad, etc.

Oh, some of it was alright. 'The Young Ones' had a lot of the Crawford stuff of having walls falling through etc, going for the same kind of slapstick. What's wrong with that? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Thu Jun 22 16:23:26 BST 2000:

>Re: "Some Mothers Do Have 'Em" (is that the right punctuation?)
>
>What I remember is that for a long while repeats/tribute shows would always mention the 'classic' bit where Michael Crawford falls out of the back of the removal van, lands in a barrel of tar, and emerges covered in the stuff. I don't think they show that anymore... political correctness gone mad, etc.

But they do! I happened to see that one (the first show of the final series, about 78ish) on BBC2 about six months ago, and all you describe was present and correct. Most of the rest of it was about Frank and Betty moving house (guess what? it fell apart as they left!)

I always wondered how the hell Jessica ever got conceived - now there's an episode we were spared. And why didn't they do "Frank becomes a surgeon for the day - with a predictably grisly but hilarious outcome".

Could have run for years. But it didn't.

Oh - while I remember - did Raymond Allen write anything else? I don't think he did.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Al on Thu Jun 22 16:34:09 BST 2000:

Actually I really hate slapstick - the Young Ones was funny because it was surreal. SMDAE was just stupid - and I really hate the way it's become a 'classic' - but ultimately, I guess my dislike of it is jut a personal thing - I don't object to it on socio-political grounds or anything (!) Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By george on Mon Jun 26 21:04:25 BST 2000:

Up Rising

('nuff said) Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Al on Mon Jun 26 21:49:43 BST 2000:

Up Rising - this *does* look bloody terrible - has it been on yet? The trailer was bad
enough and if that's the best bits... oh dear.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Prisoner #93A234 Simon Adebisi on Fri Jun 30 19:15:43 BST 2000:

Four words- 'Sex and the City'.

Actually, I'll start a new strand... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mike on Mon Jul 3 17:17:23 BST 2000:

No, no, no, it's "Oh, Dr Beeching!" by a country mile. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Paul on Tue Jul 4 09:32:17 BST 2000:

I'd have to add 'Grace and Favour'; 'The Legacy of Reginald Perrin'; 'First of the Summer Wine' and almost everything from the pen of Carla Lane. And 'The Thin Blue Line'.

Oh and 'The Les Dennis Laughter Show'. And 'The Les Dennis and Dustin Gee Laughter Show'. And 'The Baldy Man'. 'Let Them Eat Cake'. And 'Thompson' again. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Anonymous on Tue Jul 4 11:39:27 BST 2000:

Re: 'The Les Dennis and Dustin Gee Laughter Show'.

No, you're wrong. It was just called 'The Laughter Show'. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Anonymous on Tue Jul 4 13:40:17 BST 2000:

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Paul on Tue Jul 4 13:41:07 BST 2000:

So Les Dennis gets his name in the titles once his partner snuffs it? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Tue Jul 4 16:19:55 BST 2000:

On that occasion, yes. I don't know if this is a general rule, however.

I feel that the extreme measures needed to test the hypothesis are not justified by the expected contribution to human knowledge. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Yes, Mr Bronson on Tue Jul 4 17:42:20 BST 2000:

>So Les Dennis gets his name in the titles once his partner snuffs it?

Amanda Holden? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Paul on Wed Jul 5 11:51:16 BST 2000:

I guess that with the title 'The Les Dennis Laughter Show' at least 50% of the advertised content was actually there. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Sun Jul 9 12:18:37 BST 2000:

I started this strand, and now it's the longest running one! Huzzah!

And why should it ever end... I gave 'A Many Splintered Thing' a chance, but now I think it's terrible. Not as bad as 'Thompson', mind, but still meriting a mention round here.

'Absolutely Fabulous' was mostly overrated, I thought. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sun Jul 9 16:51:30 BST 2000:

>'Absolutely Fabulous' was mostly overrated, I thought.

The Provence one in the first series is quite good. But most of it is incredibly overrated - especially the second series which is almost literally three hours of shouting and cameos by 60s girl singers. Not good enough. Series three was a bit better, but still not worthy of however many BAFTAs and International Emmys it earned.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Alan on Mon Jul 10 12:39:36 BST 2000:

Lame Ducks
Colin's Sandwich

And someone a few weeks back gave it a mention but it's worth exhuming it again just to give it another beating, even if neither of us can remember its name: Perry & Croft's last gasp, a pilot that thankfully remains uncommissioned to this day, about a truckload of soldiers stuck in a brothel in a North African desert town in the middle of WWII, with unhilarious consequences. Managed to be even less funny than the synopsis promised.

What made it worse was that a fawning documentary on Perry & Croft was shown at the same time, listing their many successes - Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Hi-De-Hi, etc etc - which only served to highlight the fact that not only had they not developed AT ALL beyond that lot, but that in the intervening years they had completely forgotten how to write jokes. The pilot (whatever it was called) was facile shite which made 'Never The Twain' look like 'Fawlty Towers'. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By george gjrcanderson@hotmail.com on Wed Jul 12 14:03:44 BST 2000:

Well said Alan. With Croft & Perry it was usually time-warped humour, and a case of flogging the dead horse.

I still think that Up Rising is the worst of the current batch. I always try to be kind to new shows, give them time to settle, etc; but this still is awful. Another good one for Anton Rodgers after the dismal *Fresh Fields* and the it's got unfunny stereotypical foreigners *French Fields*

Nice to see ITV keeping up it's bad record in comedy, whilst over at the BBC *TV to Go* was the sort of pitiful rubbish we've come to expect in the summer schedules. (NOTE: it also got a pasting from the critics). Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Barney Sloane on Wed Jul 12 15:06:48 BST 2000:

Plaza Patrol with Cannon and Ball. That was pretty bad. Also a Nick Hancock-scripted sitcom about window blind salesmen entitled (you guessed it) Blind Men. And Clive Anderson's Notes and Queries. Utter shite, all. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Matty on Thu Jul 13 15:27:01 BST 2000:

There's so many to choose from... Chalk? That was pretty bloody awful. This new thing with James Bolam doesn't look much cop either. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mark on Sat Jul 15 23:21:26 BST 2000:

Most stuff written by Carla Lane, esp Bread -why was that deemed so funny? All she does is to get characters to be philosophical around the family dinner table - rubbish. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Miffy on Sun Jul 16 20:05:57 BST 2000:

>Most stuff written by Carla Lane, esp Bread -why was that deemed so funny? All she does is to get characters to be philosophical around the family dinner table - rubbish.

I was recently watching the repeats of Bread and I agree with you. The characters don't even interact with each other. It's like one says 'My life is a meaningless struggle to overcome my working class roots' and another character just cuts in with 'I never wanted to be rich, just happy' or some bollocks like that, then they sit in silence and contemplate it and then one leaves the room. Comedy? Pah.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mark on Sun Jul 16 20:29:04 BST 2000:

Oi, leave Jane Horrocks alone! Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Al on Sun Jul 16 23:47:44 BST 2000:

>Oi, leave Jane Horrocks alone!

Who mentioned Jane Horrocks? And what *are* they trying to do to her?
BTW someone has mentioned The Good Life in the best comedy series thread at the bottom. Let's mention it here - where it belongs.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Fri Jul 21 09:33:09 BST 2000:

I can't believe this strand - the first one I started - has fallen into the Old Topics bin. Can I just keep it going by saying how bad 'Thompson' was, yet again?

Considering the title, this strand should never come to an end... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Pod on Fri Jul 21 14:46:04 BST 2000:

There's a whole mine a digital channels with shit 'comedy' series which will never get onto a terrestrial tv...

Bally Dung Radio (puppet comedy with the people who did Zig & Zag)..utter shite
Phil Kay touring on a bus (can't remember what it's called)
Richard Herring on holiday in Fuji (probably won't be shown for a while now...could this be what inspired the revolution there?)

as for terrestrial...

Did anyone see Brucies opening gags/dance routines on the recent Palladium shite? That has got to take some sort of biscuit (a soggy one I would suggest).

And I'll finish with Some Mothers do 'ave 'em...still after all these years...just annoys the shit out of me.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Fri Jul 21 16:58:47 BST 2000:

>There's a whole mine a digital channels with shit 'comedy' series which will never get onto a terrestrial tv...
>
>Bally Dung Radio (puppet comedy with the people who did Zig & Zag)..utter shite
>Phil Kay touring on a bus (can't remember what it's called)
>Richard Herring on holiday in Fuji (probably won't be shown for a while now...could this be what inspired the revolution there?)
>
Strangely, these are all from UKPlay - which does make the shittest shows ever - Joe's Pop Shop, which looks like it had been filmed live during a saturday morning Kods show - and a thousand other crappy 3-videos in 15 minutes shows. Only things worth watching that were made by Play are Mark and Lard show's and Vic Reeves examines. I think that's it. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Miffy on Fri Jul 21 17:41:11 BST 2000:

>Strangely, these are all from UKPlay - which does make the shittest shows ever - Joe's Pop Shop, which looks like it had been filmed live during a saturday morning Kods show - and a thousand other crappy 3-videos in 15 minutes shows. Only things worth watching that were made by Play are Mark and Lard show's and Vic Reeves examines. I think that's it.

I thought Either/Or was good. But that Dave Saint show is dismal. Incidentally UKPlay have a 'comedy' tent at the Leeds & Reading festival and one of the acts is your friend and mine (well okay, just Danny Wallace's friend then): Ross Noble.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Fri Jul 21 21:23:16 BST 2000:

Yeah, Either/Or is/was good, as is FuturTV - even though i don't really get chance to watch these things.

But the rest is shite. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Sun Jul 23 19:35:21 BST 2000:

Head On Comedy - despite it featuring the usually reliable Bill Bailey. And Barry Cryer at least told some jokes on Thursday night's one. But the rest of it.... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Alan on Mon Jul 24 09:16:33 BST 2000:

Didn't UKPlay also make the Chris Moyles ("Forgive me!" "No!" etc) Show? And is that - God forbid - still running? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Pod on Mon Jul 24 09:40:20 BST 2000:

Yes UKPlay are responsible for the Chris Moyles Show. But presumably Moyles is responsible himself, for (cross referenceing to the thread about Irony) 'Comedy Dave'.

Has anyone mentioned 'Never the Twain' (Windsor Davies and Donald Sinden, as rival antiques dealers...it almost writes itself)...or the One with Nigel Havers and Tony Britton as GPs? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon Jul 24 11:23:19 BST 2000:

"[T]he One with Nigel Havers and Tony Britton as GPs... "


That'll be 'Don't Wait Up'. Yep, I think we've had that one. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Pod on Mon Jul 24 15:00:59 BST 2000:

Don't Wait Up...that's the bugger.

What about Tony Slattery vehicle, Just A Gigolo? Utter shite...as I recall Slattery falls into a job as a gigolo, and is mocked by his slacker flat mate (possibly a young care taker from Grange Hill?)...obviously hilarity ensued.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Huw on Wed Jul 26 15:17:47 BST 2000:

Remember that crap 70s thing on ITV a couple of years ago? "Days Like These" I think it was called. I went to a filming of one episode. We walked out halfway through.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mogwai on Wed Jul 26 23:10:06 BST 2000:

"Days Like These" was ITV Head of Comedy (or was he just Carlton? Can one of the TV company watchers on this site help me out?) David Liddiment's pride and joy. Not only did it get hyped to the skies but he personally gave interviews about how great it was. It deservedly sank without trace. The whole episode proves what everyone already suspected about the people who end up running comedy... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Kass on Wed Jul 26 23:53:14 BST 2000:

Has anyone mentioned 'Faith in the Future' or 'As Time Goes By' (Oooh!! Back next week!) yet? And what about that thing with the woman from 'Watching' (no, not the Big Breakfast!) where she's a nurse? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Al on Thu Jul 27 00:49:04 BST 2000:

Surgical Spirit? Now that *was* a bad programme... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Alan on Thu Jul 27 09:23:54 BST 2000:

>'Surgical Spirit'

Without Victoria Wood's patronage, Duncan Preston would have starved to death years ago. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Tue Aug 1 11:14:14 BST 2000:

We've been through this before, I simply will not permit this strand to die... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By McGinty on Thu Aug 3 03:10:32 BST 2000:

Quite right, John. Has anyone mentioned Helen Lederer's CV yet? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mogwai on Thu Aug 3 11:29:52 BST 2000:

They have. Far more than it warrants, actually. Anyway, she appears to have departed the visual media scene (or might have ended up fronting some kind of daytime dreck on a cheap digital channel, which amounts to much the same thing), so let's at least be grateful for that. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Thu Aug 3 12:24:04 BST 2000:

Some of her bits on 'In One Ear' were good... though it was a radio series, which sort of proves your point... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Ailie on Fri Aug 4 14:25:56 BST 2000:

To pick up on an earlier point:

>Only things worth watching that were made by Play are Mark and Lard show's and Vic Reeves examines. I think that's it.


I'd dispute that.
The Vic Reeves thing is absolutely terrible and *I* really like Vic.
The show just didn't cut it without Bob and it was a really weird format for a show anyway...
It just wasn't particularly funny.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Mogwai on Sat Aug 5 00:20:37 BST 2000:

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Vic Reeves is likeable enough and he makes a good front man, but he'd be NOTHING without that cuddly comic genius Bob. Vic is the chauffeur but Bob's the mechanic.

Discuss. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Anonymous on Sun Aug 6 17:47:49 BST 2000:

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Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Ailie on Mon Aug 7 11:32:42 BST 2000:

Absolutely.

Bob is the brains of the operation whereas Vic is the clown.

But I love them both!
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon Aug 7 13:30:30 BST 2000:

But could a 3rd person join the double act to make it 50% better? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By An onymo us on Mon Aug 7 17:17:17 BST 2000:

... or 33%? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By DAVID LOWE DLOWE@CATLOVER.COM on Wed Aug 9 12:45:13 BST 2000:

SO MUCH DROSS TO CHOOSE FROM...
HOW ABOUT BREAD (PLEASE TELL US CARLA, WHICH EPISODE THE JOKE'S IN)..

OR PERFECT WORLD (EVEN THOUGH THE VERY GOOD NINA WADIA IS IN IT)

OR THE LAST 5 SERIES OF LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE (JUST PUT THE CLICHE'S IN A DIFFERENT ORDER EACH WEEK). Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bent Halo on Fri Aug 11 04:19:21 BST 2000:

There was a third guy with R&M, very early on, but it's been erased from history.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Kipster on Fri Aug 11 10:05:39 BST 2000:

>There was a third guy with R&M, very early on, but it's been erased from history.

Dr Alan King (and his amazing flying rabbits)...?

without wishing to gratuitously plug my own site - but it is relevant - theres a transcript of a fairly bitter article concerning their collaboration at http://www.kippnet.inuk.com/alanking.htm
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bent Halo on Fri Aug 11 10:11:09 BST 2000:

That's the one, Kip. I met him once, back in dingy Darlington. Bitter, like you say.

Good to see you're around, btw. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Kipster on Fri Aug 11 10:32:05 BST 2000:

>Good to see you're around, btw.

i am always watching.... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bent Halo on Fri Aug 11 10:34:28 BST 2000:

You cheeky scamp. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Kipster on Fri Aug 11 10:52:13 BST 2000:

>You cheeky scamp.

*grins* Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By TJ on Fri Aug 11 13:43:15 BST 2000:

It's not been made yet, but I'd like to be the first person to slate Ricky Gervaise's forthcoming show.

Same goes for Philllllll Jupitus, if anyone's ever stupid enough to offer him a series. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Al on Sun Aug 20 22:29:03 BST 2000:

I'm with Jon on this. Don't let this thread die!!!
On The Buses anyone? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By PJ on Mon Aug 21 00:40:36 BST 2000:

But this thread's mission to become the longest running strand appears out of reach while that one above is still around (and shows no sign of ever leaving). What can we do about it? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon Aug 21 11:35:33 BST 2000:

We could breed a hybrid strand "Worst local TV comedy programmes ever".

Ther was that show taking a wry, sideways look at the week's news in the Lake District... disaater. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Anonymous on Mon Aug 21 12:48:34 BST 2000:

Krull Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Al on Mon Aug 21 16:53:38 BST 2000:

Yes, Krull wasn't very funny. But then it was a swords and sorcery adventure movie in the early 80s mode. And wasn't Lysette Anthony in it? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Mon Aug 21 17:28:51 BST 2000:

Yes, and she was also in '3 up 2 down', a bad 80s sitcom repeated yesterday morning. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Lord Lopper on Thu Aug 24 12:59:44 BST 2000:

Yes I saw that, god that was pants wasn't it.

So many to choose from though.
Anyone remember a sitcom from the early eighties with Lorraine Chase married to someone who had rather hilariously joined the SDP.

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Thu Aug 24 13:15:59 BST 2000:

"The Other Half". Oh, there's been worse... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Thu Aug 24 15:19:50 BST 2000:

>"The Other Half". Oh, there's been worse...

Jon - it was actually the prole-friendly title "The Other Arf".

It's a contender, no question.

Have we had "L For Lester" yet?

Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By george on Fri Aug 25 00:58:48 BST 2000:

Further nominations . . . . . . . . . .

John! in *Comedy shows that went off the boil* mentioned *Babes in the Wood*, with that Karl bloke from the loo cleaner ads - and *Brush Strokes*...
...A 1980's sitcom (definetely ITV) with Bruce Forsyth as a supermarket owner - Name along with other details of the show forgotten - but know that it was broadcast (one series only ?)

Oh, and finally....(for now)...

...*Cows* by Eddie 'I'm bonkers' Izzard. A hyped highlight of the Xmas and New Year schedules on C4.........oops, do I see dung? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By george (self-correcting) on Fri Aug 25 01:00:45 BST 2000:

>...*Cows* by Eddie 'I'm bonkers' Izzard. A hyped highlight of the Xmas and New Year schedules on C4.........oops, do I see dung?

>>> Yes, I know that *Cows* was only a pilot and not a full series, before someone says so... Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Al on Sat Aug 26 00:39:37 BST 2000:

The Forsyth thing was Slinger's Day, which began life with Leonard Rossiter and was called Tripper's Day. It was crap. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By tim_e on Mon Aug 28 22:21:31 BST 2000:

>The Forsyth thing was Slinger's Day, which began life with Leonard Rossiter and was called Tripper's Day. It was crap.

And, frankly, an insult to Leonard Rossiter's memory. I only vaguely remember it, was there a vaguely Brittas-esque collection of staff? Even if it was crap I suspect Rossiter would have made it worth watching. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Danny Wallace on Tue Aug 29 12:43:53 BST 2000:

Doogie Howser MD Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bean Is A Carrot on Tue Aug 29 13:54:51 BST 2000:

No one mentioned You Must Be The Husband.

Or that crappy thing about the cartoonist and his wife and their daughters that lived in the flat above them. That was shit!

Hey Dad is the worst though. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Tue Aug 29 14:17:37 BST 2000:

I mentioned the one about the cartoonist, a couple of months ago. I asked what it was called, and got the answer "Keep It In The Family".

But not the other 2. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Angelmouse on Tue Aug 29 21:25:54 BST 2000:

Comedy Nation

but not my bits....obviously Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Justin on Tue Aug 29 22:07:20 BST 2000:

>No one mentioned You Must Be The Husband.

Managed to get Tim Brooke Taylor and Sheila Steafel into a sitcom, but then made the mistake of getting Colin Bostock-Smith to write it. Oops. (Theme tune was Dave Brubeck's Take Five, arranged - inevitably - by Ronnie Hazlehurst.)
>
>Hey Dad is the worst though.

Do you mean Dad with George Cole? Only saw it once, and it was rubbish.
Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Wed Aug 30 09:02:07 BST 2000:

"Comedy Nation
but not my bits....obviously"

Well, I dunno - which bits were they? Did you perform them as well? Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Angelmouse on Wed Aug 30 10:40:32 BST 2000:

>"Comedy Nation
>but not my bits....obviously"
>
>Well, I dunno - which bits were they? Did you perform them as well?

Some sketches about two office girls on their fag break discussing the nature of free will and consciousness (they were played by Melanie Hudson and Vicki Pepperdine), a thing about a birdwatcher accidentally killing the rare bird he's watching, an Aleister Crowley-esque character called Joshua Galapagos - the Most Evil Man in the World (submitted the week before Lee & Herring did a similar thing on TMWRNJ), and a truly, truly awful sketch in the first episode about a freakshow.

I wasn't in any of the sketches as stringent broadcasting regulations prevent the showing of my ugly face.

Comedy Nation. What can I say? It's a shame it had no budget. And a (for the main part) dodgy cast. I was very isolated from the production process. Just sent in material. It wasn't very good, but I liked the way a couple of my bits were done.

But on the whole it stank like a dead shark's nappy. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Wed Aug 30 10:53:41 BST 2000:

If it's any consolation, it looked that way to someone not involved in creating it as well. So your judgement is sound. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Bean Is A Carrot on Wed Aug 30 11:18:21 BST 2000:

>>No one mentioned You Must Be The Husband.
>
>Managed to get Tim Brooke Taylor and Sheila Steafel into a sitcom, but then made the mistake of getting Colin Bostock-Smith to write it. Oops. (Theme tune was Dave Brubeck's Take Five, arranged - inevitably - by Ronnie Hazlehurst.)

I liked the theme tune, liked the stars (except for Diane Keene), hated the writing and hated all the characters. Not that it matters, it was YEARS ago.

>>Hey Dad is the worst though.
>
>Do you mean Dad with George Cole? Only saw it once, and it was rubbish.

No I mean Hey Dad, rubbish Australian sitcom that went on for 8 years longer than it should have. It ran for 8 years incidentally.

Haven't seen Dad with George Cole, mind you, everything he's done except Minder and a few Ealing comedies has sucked. Although that thing where he was a local councillor and hairdresser was tolerable. Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Sall on Wed Aug 30 22:05:29 BST 2000:

What was that early Saturday evening thing about unemployed Liverpudlians done inna Bread stylee? Can't remember the name, but I know it sucked the big one Subject: Re: Worst comedy series ever
Posted By Jon on Thu Aug 31 09:20:00 BST 2000:

That would be Help!, written by Liverpudlian art teacher Joe Boyle, who has not written anything else for television, I understand.

The show featured one of the McGanns, not the really famous one though. Also, it had tedious dream sequences, which proved that you can be innovative without being any good.