Not really. If Blackadder had remained at just the one series - I'd hardly rate it in my top 50 sit-coms. I thought it was dreadful. Only at Blackadder II did it become funny. Blackadder IV - for me - was actually far better than the excellent II and III.
Not really. If Blackadder had remained at just the one series - I'd hardly rate it in my top 50 sit-coms. I thought it was dreadful. Only at Blackadder II did it become funny. Blackadder IV - for me - was actually far better than the excellent II and III.
For the sake of this list, and since many others have counted it as an all-in-one, it will count as one.
What are your top 10 British sitcoms? We are currently going through sitcoms and rating episodes to get an average score for each one, obviously we can't afford everything, but we're trying to get to those that interest us.
As part of our project we'd like a general opinion on the best ones, and this site is as good as any to get that opinion.
Of those we have watched/re-watched so far... this is our top 10... if this thread gets much response, I'll add updates. If it drops like lead, I won't bother to revive it.
1. Porridge
2. Fawlty Towers
3. One Foot in the Grave
4. The Young Ones
5. Bottom
6. Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
7. The Vicar of Dibley
8. Blackadder
9. Only Fools and Horses (love this, but the average suffered because of weak episodes)
10. Open All Hours
We're currently watching Steptoe and Son... "You dirty old man!".
Didn't care for Bottom or The Young Ones they seem to be to appeal more to the student population who like toilet humour and a lot of shouting. I don't think your list is remotely accurate and OFH's should be much higher.
Didn't care for Bottom or The Young Ones they seem to be to appeal more to the student population who like toilet humour and a lot of shouting. I don't think your list is remotely accurate and OFH's should be much higher.
Accurate? It's just opinion, but I agree... I too thought OFAH would be higher. We're still working through a lot of other stuff, so others may crack into the top 10. We've only stopped tonight because the quality of the early Steptoes has made my eyes a bit sore.
You only put nine in the original list, so can you do me a favour and repost your ten, since I haven't added yours to the list I'm keeping yet anyway. Cheers.
Something could be one of your favourite foods, football teams, songs, films, sitcoms, paintings etc etc for any number of reasons, you could find it comforting, it has a particular relevance to you, it reminds you of family members whatever but that is a different judgement to what you think the best things in that category are as that relates to the quality of the particular thing.
Some of my favourite foods certainly aren't the best foods out there, my favourite football team is not one of the best teams, lots of my favourite songs are awful songs, I like some terrible films and sitcoms as well, etc.
Favourite and best are totally different.
Favourite and best are usually the same.
In matters of personal taste (e.g. music, comedy, art, etc.) there is no absolute authority on what is 'best', so saying xxxx is best is merely expressing your favourite. There may be a consensus on what is best, but that does not make it a fact.
Where it could be argued they are different is when the 'best' can be measured in some way, such as best football team could be whoever has won most league titles and other trophies. However, you will need to come up with a globally accepted way of measuring this, are league titles given a higher value than FA cup wins, for example.
How would you possibly measure the best with the subject of sitcoms?
Watching, very often overlooked
Fall and Rise Reggie Perrin
'Allo 'Allo
One Foot in the Grave
Blackadder
Rab C Nesbitt
Father Ted
Brittas Empire
Likely Lads
Hi de Hi
What is of some concern is that most of these are at least 20 years old, like most folks lists. Are British sitcoms so poor these days? Life of Riley, anyone
1) Bottom
2) Blackadder
3) dinnerladies
4) Spaced
5) Only Fools & Horses
6) Steptoe & Son
7) Red Dwarf
8) The Thick of It
9) Gimme Gimme Gimme (sorry not sorry)
10) One Foot In The Grave
On the subject of OFAH, just looking back through our episode scores, and it didn't get into its stride right away, so a few low scores early on, and then there were some ropey specials 'Royal Flush' and 'Miami Twice (both)' come to mind, and then the average was dragged down further again by the last three episodes that really shouldn't have happened.
In matters of personal taste (e.g. music, comedy, art, etc.) there is no absolute authority on what is 'best', so saying xxxx is best is merely expressing your favourite. There may be a consensus on what is best, but that does not make it a fact.
Where it could be argued they are the same is when the 'best' can be measured in some way, such as best football team could be whoever has won most league titles and other trophies. However, you will need to come up with a globally accepted way of measuring this, are league titles given a higher value than FA cup wins, for example.
How would you possibly measure the best with the subject of sitcoms?
I'm not saying it can be measured, I'm saying it's a different opinion than 'favourite sitcoms.'
As I said, 'favourites' may come about for a number of different reasons whereas 'best' relates specifically to the quality.
You only put nine in the original list, so can you do me a favour and repost your ten, since I haven't added yours to the list I'm keeping yet anyway. Cheers.
Did I? I'm getting old! I'll add Rab C Nesbitt then.
Are you being serious? Any number of factors. Originality. How well the comedy element is written. How well any dramatic elements are written. How well it is acted.
The same criteria they use when handing out many awards I'd assume.
Comments
Haha, oh yeah I didn't notice that. The Blackadder error was more glaring to me!
Chance in a Million
Sykes
Get Some In
Please Sir
The Squrrels
Barbara
Game On
The Ritz
My Wife Next Door
Blackadder
Black Books
Red Dwarf
Porridge
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads
Yes Minister/Prime Minister
Dads Army
Bottom
Father Ted
'Allo 'Allo
Left off Marion and Geoff as I'm not sure it meets the sit com criteria, if I'm allowed it I'll have it at number 1 though.
Not in my book, as only Blackadder 2 is a true comedy classic.
3 and 4 were far inferior.
And in case any fans of 4 are upset by that;
'DARLING'
There you go. That should make you laugh for a minute or two and cheer you up.
Father Ted
IT Crowd
Gimme Gimme Gimme
House of Fools
Red Dwarf
Reginald Perrin
Dear John
Likely Lads
Steptoe and Son
They are different series of the same show though. Not separate shows.
I'll see your Blackadder 2 and raise you Blackadder 3 as being the better series...... A man's comedy preferences are his own private kingdom.....
That's me, I'm just so indecisive
Only Fools and Horses.
One Foot in the Grave.
Porridge
Red Dwarf
Steptoe and Son
Fawlty Towers
Blackadder
Father Ted
Dads Army
Some Mothers Do Ave Em
For the sake of this list, and since many others have counted it as an all-in-one, it will count as one.
YAY! Someone else remembers this excellent series!
Didn't care for Bottom or The Young Ones they seem to be to appeal more to the student population who like toilet humour and a lot of shouting. I don't think your list is remotely accurate and OFH's should be much higher.
In that case I can add two more to my list!
Please Sir
Porridge
Accurate? It's just opinion, but I agree... I too thought OFAH would be higher. We're still working through a lot of other stuff, so others may crack into the top 10. We've only stopped tonight because the quality of the early Steptoes has made my eyes a bit sore.
You only put nine in the original list, so can you do me a favour and repost your ten, since I haven't added yours to the list I'm keeping yet anyway. Cheers.
Favourite and best are usually the same.
In matters of personal taste (e.g. music, comedy, art, etc.) there is no absolute authority on what is 'best', so saying xxxx is best is merely expressing your favourite. There may be a consensus on what is best, but that does not make it a fact.
Where it could be argued they are different is when the 'best' can be measured in some way, such as best football team could be whoever has won most league titles and other trophies. However, you will need to come up with a globally accepted way of measuring this, are league titles given a higher value than FA cup wins, for example.
How would you possibly measure the best with the subject of sitcoms?
And on that subject, I forgot about 'Barbra' add that to mine please! Omitting Keeping Up... if I need to stick to 10.
Watching, very often overlooked
Fall and Rise Reggie Perrin
'Allo 'Allo
One Foot in the Grave
Blackadder
Rab C Nesbitt
Father Ted
Brittas Empire
Likely Lads
Hi de Hi
What is of some concern is that most of these are at least 20 years old, like most folks lists. Are British sitcoms so poor these days? Life of Riley, anyone
2) Blackadder
3) dinnerladies
4) Spaced
5) Only Fools & Horses
6) Steptoe & Son
7) Red Dwarf
8) The Thick of It
9) Gimme Gimme Gimme (sorry not sorry)
10) One Foot In The Grave
I'm not saying it can be measured, I'm saying it's a different opinion than 'favourite sitcoms.'
As I said, 'favourites' may come about for a number of different reasons whereas 'best' relates specifically to the quality.
Did I? I'm getting old! I'll add Rab C Nesbitt then.
Thanks!
So how do you assess the quality of a sitcom?
Are you being serious? Any number of factors. Originality. How well the comedy element is written. How well any dramatic elements are written. How well it is acted.
The same criteria they use when handing out many awards I'd assume.