h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

before my time but tim told that red dwarf was great, i like some the amercian elcectronic ones, family guy etc

Hello nbb,

There's an h2g2 Entry on Red Dwarf here: A49204

And here's a link to the official site which has a few clips etc: http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/news/index.cfm

I was a big fan of 'Outside Edge'. It was funny and poignant which I think is a sign of great comedy.

I also loved 'Barbara' which was ridiculously silly but laugh out loud funny. I thought Gwen Taylor was great casting. It was probably very British in its humour

What's the best sitcom of all time?

I thin I would have to go for M*A*S*H which was also one of the best dramas of all time.

But some of the one's I love are:

Nightingales
Fraiser
2.4 Children (Gary Olsen RIP)
Coupling
Blackadder
Spaced
It ain't Half Hot Mum(and the rest of the Perry/Croft stable)
Goodnight Sweetheart

What are your favourite sitcom scenes?

The one in Fraiser where Niles is ironing a shirt and in total silence does a mime scene which is hilarious. It was actually one of David Hype Pierce's stage skits that was put in as the episode was running short but it was brilliant.

Which ones do you think don't work so well?

My Hero


What are the ingredients of a great sitcom?

Short concentrated logical plots even if surreal with characters that react in a consistent way, repetition & catchphrases is also something
that is important. Sitcoms need to be familiar to allow the viewer to understand the characters persona's and when they say or do something funny the viewer accepts it.

Do you think there are big differences between sitcoms that hail from different parts of the world? Does humour travel well?

Well the main difference is the US metherod and the UK(rest of world method) of writing though this is also due to the fact that the US series are over 20 episodes long and UK ones are about 6episodes.

US shows have a group of writers UK have a couple.

Also, US humour and sitcoms go for more quick fire gags and less set ups of gags and subtle gags which is why Coupling did not translate well.

Fraiser is quite a British sit-com in that it is mostly farce based with mis-understandings.

Do you think remakes are ever as good as, or better than, the original?

Not as good - but remakes of UK to US do not translate generally. The Office was a different form of the UK show which worked well I hear.

Is there a formula for a successful sitcom?

Broad one-dimensional characters that change little from week to week.
A scenario that can have many different facets.

Although sitcoms that carry on for years move away from being sit-coms and more to humourous dramas simple plots are required for a quick half hour of fun.


Do you think the Golden Age of Sitcom has passed?

The golden age of TV has gone and programmes are commissioned based on demographics to a large extent. Programmes are recommissioned based on viewings figures.

Sitcoms can take time to bed in these days they may not get a second chance.



Do you think people still want to see sitcoms?

Of course, just look at Dad's Army being repeated, the love that was shown at the passing of Mollie Sugden from 'Are You Being Served'.

People like to be amused. People will always love sitcoms...it is the commissioning editors and the need for quick returns and viewing figures and saving cash by making cheap programmes that's stopping more sitcoms being made.

I vote for "Frasier", "Scrubs" and the current "30 Rock".

My favorite episode was "Ham Radio", No 18 in season 4 of "Frasier", summary here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frasier_(season_4)

The key ingredient IMHO is the writing. Even Frasier sagged for a while until they brought back the original writers toward the end.

Oh yes, Scrubs. Forgot about that one. My newest most favourite. On a par with Fraiser and MASH...strange how I seem to like medical based comedies. Or it might be that the black humour and personal stories that can be used makes the sitcoms more than just 30minutes of laughs.

Fawlty Towers and Red Dwarf are played just for laughs.

MASH, Scrubs, Fraiser have abit more of a moral/life lesson edge to them. Or is that the difference between US amd UK sitcoms? Can't remember about Friends as I stopped watching after a fews seasons.

I just loved "Northern Exposure". That had an unusually large cast, I would think, for a sitcom. Also a considerable amount was shot outdoors. The scenery, the humour, the weird characters were a wonderful combination - just looking at those landscapes was like a breath of fresh air.

To be honest, the reason it did so well was because of the Maggie/Joel relationship where you were kept on tenterhooks - will they? Won't they?

well, I've been watching Frazier repeats on some sat channel for months now, and its making me laugh out loud every time...

Pardon me, do animated features count? If so I must insist on adding the Simpsons and the defunct Futurama in the list of best sitcoms. I also wish to include I love Lucy as I consider it a classic.

As for what makes a sitcom successful I think continued interest in the characters' development counts as well as being able to produce something unique that wasn't there the last time.

I found that "Only Fools and Horses" dragged on a bit. My 2 favourites would have to be "Fawlty Towers" and "Porridge" I think - there weren't many episodes but everyone of them was a gem.

It's hard to say but I think I'd go with Malcom in the Middle.

Does anyone remember 'Cardiac Arrest' on in the UK a few years ago. I loved it. Lots of gallows humour death and sex. It ran for a couple of series I think.

I agree that Porridge and Fawlty Towers were probably considered to be the best, but later sitcoms were equally funny. No one has yet mentioned "The Detectives", with Jasper Carrott and Robert Powell. Some of their episodes were fantastically written and absolutely hilarious.

"The Detectives" - Yes! very clever programme. The two of them brilliantly matched.

A favorite from several decades back is "Soap":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_(TV_series)

My favortie character:

Richard Mulligan as Burt Campbell and X-23 (Alien Burt) - Burt is the second husband of Mary Campbell. Burt is a contractor who later becomes sheriff. In Season one Burt suffers from mental illness and believes he can make himself invisible. He is also at one point abducted by aliens and replaced with a Burt lookalike. X-23 is the alien duplicate of Burt sent to Earth when Burt is abducted.

"Confused? You will be."

Two great US sitcoms:
* MacGyver
* Quantum Leap

Remake:
* Battlestar Galactica

Funny-because-they're-unfortunately-true:
* Family Guy
* American Dad

"Two great US sitcoms:
* MacGyver
* Quantum Leap

Remake:
* Battlestar Galactica"

I did not know they were situation comedies?!

Welllllll

If you make the distinction between sitcoms & sketch shows

For me there have only been two "real life" US sit coms:

M.A.S.H. & Fraiser

"Cartoon" there are may good ones: Southpark, American dad, Simpsons, Futurarma to name but a few.

UK there can only be one number one... Yes minister/prime minister

But there are many other realy good ones already mentioned..... Red Dwarf, Blackadder, etc.

What about Desmonds, Black Books & Father Ted..... All channel 4

Cheers.
MrC