Fawlty Towers to Return?

[paranoid marvin]

I'm trying to think of the last time I saw a new British sitcom that I found genuinely funny. Other than Man vs Bee (which doesn't really count), I think the last one was probably Father Ted almost 30 years ago. Maybe I'm showing my age, but the likes of Porridge, Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, Red Dwarf and my favourite Yes Prime/Minister have never been matched, never mind surpassed.

In fact I've just thought of one, Toast of London, from 2013.

 

[Dave]

What We Do in the Shadows. The Toast series in California is good too.

 

[Venusian Broon]

Off the top of my head, Spaced, Black Books, The IT Crowd - all old of course, but I stopped watching trad TV years ago.

 

[Vince W]

You never know how they might tamper with your food if you wind them up the wrong way.

Trouser food!

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

I'm trying to think of the last time I saw a new British sitcom that I found genuinely funny

Not laugh out loud funny, but I thought Ghosts (the UK original) was all right

 

[Swank]

I can't agree with that, at least not within the context of entertainment, or art, which is what we are discussing here. Comparisons are naturally and always going to be made with the original.

So you don't like Raiders any more because of Crystal Skull?

A US based Fawlty Towers is doomed. I've had minimal experience travelling near Americans, but the ones I've come in contact with expect a high level of service and general politeness. Basil Fawlty's antics would never be tolerated in the US and US audiences would look at it like "WTF? Why is this guy in business?" rather than find any humour in it.

I think my countrymen can tell the difference between madcap comedy and reality.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Here's the pilot of a US version of Fawlty Towers

Apparently there were three!

 

[Dave]

So you don't like Raiders any more because of Crystal Skull?

I liked Crystal Skull, but I understand what you mean. Alien and Aliens are not less respected because of Alien: Resurrection. However, the career decisions of the cast might be brought into question.

Not to get bogged down in semantics, but you mentioned "revival". This is not a "revival" nor any kind of "remake". This might be a sequel, but it won't be the same thing at all. The original was TV series of 12 episodes, and Cleese said catagorically said there would be no more episodes. From what has been said by others, there won't be any more. It's a completely different thing that is being made now. Some kind of old man shouting at the sun on a tropical island instead.

 

[Matteo]

Much may have changed, except for standards in the hospitality sector.

My recent overnight stay at a xxxxxxx xxx didn't live up, either to the adverts on TV, or the emails I received telling me how they were looking forward to welcoming me. On this rare occassion, we did give them the always requested "feedback," but I somehow doubt that I'd ever stay again. It was very cheap but if staff don't want to work on a Bank Holiday, they'd be better just to close for the day.

You stayed in an X-rated place .

I thought this was a family-friendly forum...

 

[Swank]

Not to get bogged down in semantics, but you mentioned "revival". This is not a "revival" nor any kind of "remake".

Not to bog you down, but what word should I have used to correctly refer to a series that "revives" a character and universe from a previous series?

 

[Swank]

What We Do in the Shadows. The Toast series in California is good too.

What We Do is UK? I thought it was a US spinoff of a NZ film.

 

[Dave]

Not to bog you down, but what word should I have used to correctly refer to a series that "revives" a character and universe from a previous series?

I've never heard that term applied to TV before. In theatre it means a new production of an old closed show or play, generally with a different cast and director. As I said, semantics, but what I meant is I didn't quite understand what you meant by it, so my apologies if I've misunderstood you. My main point was that comparisons are bound to be made with the original, whatever this new thing actually is. As for what it is exactly, I don't know, and as I've suggested, I think they are being deliberately vague about it just to boost its publicity.

What We Do is UK? I thought it was a US spinoff of a NZ film.

Sorry, I did make a mistake there. I didn't see that he had asked for British made sitcoms. I was just thinking of sitcoms currently on British TV.
I thought it was a Canadian production anyway, set in New York, but with a partly British cast, and a spin-off from a NZ film. I could be equally wrong there because I haven't bothered to look it up.

You must realise that you come across in your posts as rather combative, which I'm sure is not your intention, and although you've toned it down recently, you may want to reflect on that. Just because I don't kappen to agree with you doesn't make your own view less valid. If you want to nitpick all the mistakes that I've made here then there are many more to find yet.

 

[Swank]

You must realise that you come across in your posts as rather combative and although you've toned it down recently you may want to reflect on that. Just because I don't kappen to agree with you doesn't make your own view less valid. If you want to nitpick all the mistakes that I've made here then there are many more to find yet.

That's interesting. You corrected my word choice, so then I asked you just as politely what word I should have used. I thought we were using equally direct language.

And I was not put out by you correcting me. My request for the right term was out of interest, since you appeared to have something in mind. Not nitpicking.

Also thought you knew something about What We Do In The Shadows production that I hadn't heard. Thank you for the correction about the Canadian production - I only knew that it was associated with FX. Again, not put out about the correction.

Sorry.

How would you recommend I request information going forward? I keep thinking I'm using the language as those around me do, and then find out otherwise.

 

[Swank]

I've never heard that term applied to TV before.

This is the way I have heard the term applied before. Again, not nit picking - just clarifying. The recent examples in the US was the return of Roseanne, X-Files, That 70s (90s) Show, Will and Grace and the commentary program Firing Line.

List of television series revivals - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I recently used an old expression in a way that was unfamiliar to a moderator and was told I was being rude. But I was using the expression in a way that Wikipedia also offers, so I'm getting kind of wary of my ability to communicate clearly around moderators, here.

Perhaps I have just worn out my welcome in the past so that some of you assume I'm attempting to insult? I was not attempting to insult either of you. Or really anyone.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I think the proper word is actually "cash in". I did actually double check to see if John Cleese had divorced again. I've noticed that happen a few times among celebs - suddenly returning to acting again, to try and get some income back after the settlement.

 

[Swank]

I think the proper word is actually "cash in". I did actually double check to see if John Cleese had divorced again. I've noticed that happen a few times among celebs - suddenly returning to acting again, to try and get some income back after the settlement.

Robert Deniro is living that nightmare. Deniro/dinero.

 

[Dave]

@Swank Sorry, I have very bad backache today which is obviously making me very grumpy. However, one suggestion in future would be multi-quoting in a single post so that it doesn't seem like you're hounding me when I get the notifications of replies. There is obviously some differences between American and English usage I was not aware about with TV "Revivals" so I guess I was wrong there.

 

[Swank]

@Swank Sorry, I have very bad backache today which is obviously making me very grumpy. However, one suggestion in future would be multi-quoting in a single post so that it doesn't seem like you're hounding me when I get the notifications of replies. There is obviously some differences between American and English usage I was not aware about with TV "Revivals" so I guess I was wrong there.

I posted different ideas at different times, and did not want to cause confusion by editing a post that you might have been simultaneously replying to. And, the edit feature here times out, so I have lost material I've written to that.

I think I ought to just post less. Hope your headache clears.

 

[Astro Pen]

Here's the pilot of a US version of Fawlty Towers

Apparently there were three!

Those banal efforts just go to show the uniqueness of Cleese's venom.

 

[paranoid marvin]

Here's the pilot of a US version of Fawlty Towers

Apparently there were three!

Uk to US sitcoms don't seem to have a very good success rate. I've not seen it, but The Office must be the most successful transfer?

I wonder if anyone has even attempted to do a US to UK sitcom?