I want to start a discussion on one of the finest British sitcoms I've ever seen. Add to that one of the most underrated British sitcom of all time. Nightingales first broadcast on Tuesday 27th February 1990 (the night I was born) was shown on Channel Four, it only ran for two series. I love the feel of the sitcom and the characters, what do other people think?
I bought this on DVD last year and really liked it. The end theme tune was great and the surreal humour was cool too.
Think the second series was stronger.
I really enjoyed it as well. Robert Lindsay, James Ellis, David Threlfall. Great stuff. Perhaps Lindsay's only decent sitcom.
I liked it. 
Quote: greensville @ April 21 2009, 5:19 PM BSTI bought this on DVD last year and really liked it. The end theme tune was great and the surreal humour was cool too.
Think the second series was stronger.
I love the theme tune which is 'A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square' sung by Robert Lindsay.
And I prefer the first series slightly, I think there's a more of humdrum atmosphere, although the last episode (Someone To Watch Over Me) is brilliant, what a way to end a series, certainly not usual sitcom ending is it?
Who wrote it?
Quote: Yellows 586 @ April 21 2009, 5:22 PM BSTI really enjoyed it as well. Robert Lindsay, James Ellis, David Threlfall. Great stuff. Perhaps Lindsay's only decent sitcom.
I wouldn't go that far referring to Robert Lindsay only decent sitcom (Citizen Smith, My Family). And the cast make it great, if it was just sitcom actors then it would have been played differently, I like the fact like Steptoe and Son it's played like a theatre play.
Quote: Yellows 586 @ April 21 2009, 5:27 PM BSTWho wrote it?
Paul Makin who also wrote 7 episodes of Goodnight Sweetheart.
Quote: James Cotter @ April 21 2009, 5:29 PM BSTI wouldn't go that far referring to Robert Lindsay only decent sitcom (Citizen Smith, My Family). And the cast make it great, if it was just sitcom actors then it would have been played differently, I like the fact like Steptoe and Son it's played like a theatre play.
I watched Citizen Smith and had fond memories of it. They repeated it the 1990s and I thought it was pretty bad. My Family I will pass on commenting.
The lost art of the TV sitcom as a play. You could put Albert and Harold Steptoe in a room arguing between themselves for hours and it would still be watchable.
Quote: Yellows 586 @ April 21 2009, 5:34 PM BSTI watched Citizen Smith and had fond memories of it. They repeated it the 1990s and I thought it was pretty bad. My Family I will pass on commenting.
The lost art of the TV sitcom as a play. You could put Albert and Harold Steptoe in a room arguing between themselves for hours and it would still be watchable.
I quite agree with what you said about the lost art of the TV sitcom as a play. I think it's one of the most basic ideas to come up with all though it's not easy to pull off unless you have actual actors playing the roles, the characters are 3D not 2D and you've got a writer who can understand you don't have to force feed the audience with pointless gags but play the scene naturalistically.
See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/860490/Nightingales-The-Complete-Series/Product.html]
[h=473616]
Another series I've had for years, but for some reason just never got around to watching more than a couple of episodes of. Have heard only good things though.
Looks like I wrote our existing guide to it: https://www.comedy.co.uk/sitcoms/nightingales.shtml
Me, and I suspect Mister J, absolutely loved it. Art and sitcom don't always blend, sometimes they do.
I liked it.
Oh yeah, I remember it now.
I have vague memories of being very young and watching it on TV in bed. I suppose I must have liked it because I think I watched several, but can't remember anything apart from that they were security guards sat about in a big empty space.
Didn't they have a little dance that they all used to do?
