Everybody loves the programme ... you hate it? Page 9

Quote: Lee Henman @ May 28 2009, 10:29 AM BST

I watched two episodes of Fawlty Towers last night and umm...I'm really coming to the conclusion that it was largely-awful.
Even by seventies standards It's a terribly-cliched, old-fashioned cheesey theatrical farce with one saving grace - John Cleese. His exuberent performance saved the day, although it does seem to me his over-the-top character was borne out of desperately trying to inject life into the limp scripts.

*waits for riot to start*

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Is this a piece of your brain?

Quote: Leevil @ May 28 2009, 10:49 AM BST

Is this a piece of your brain?

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Uh?

Quote: Leevil @ May 28 2009, 10:56 AM BST

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Ah got you. That line was originally cut but Andrew Sachs convinced Cleese to reinstate it at the last moment.

Apparently when the first script was delivered to the BBC script guy he said "This is full of clichéd situations and stereotypical characters and I cannot see it as being anything other than a disaster'." He obviously wasn't taking Cleese's performing skills into account with that summary, but I'd say it's a pretty fair assessment of what was actually on the page.

Yeah, but I think you're forgetting one of the most important things about sitcoms; likable characters, or characters you love to hate. Fawlty Towers had this. Plus it was perfectly setup for farce.

Quote: Lee Henman @ May 28 2009, 11:09 AM BST

Ah got you. That line was originally cut but Andrew Sachs convinced Cleese to reinstate it at the last moment.

Apparently when the first script was delivered to the BBC script guy he said "This is full of clichéd situations and stereotypical characters and I cannot see it as being anything other than a disaster'." He obviously wasn't taking Cleese's performing skills into account with that summary, but I'd say it's a pretty fair assessment of what was actually on the page.

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You, sir, are a fool. There's infinitely more to fawlty Towers than Cleese's performance. I can think of no other show that so effectively probes the rotting carcas of an unhappy marriage, or so brilliantly skewers middle-England pretensions and the repressed nature of the English.

(And it was brilliantly funny).

Quote: Darren Pomroy @ May 28 2009, 10:28 AM BST

, that manager is the most annoying prick in the world.

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Love Murray.

Murray... present.

Quote: Lee Henman @ May 28 2009, 10:49 AM BST

You have to admit though, if it wasn't for Cleese, would the show have been so popular? Doubt it.

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His performance obviously adds a great deal, as does any great actors performance, but I doubt it would hold the place it does if it was purely down to Cleese being able to do manic well.

Can understand your opinion, Lee, but Fawlty Towers does everything. It chases Basil up a tree and then some. Some of the episodes may be weaker than others (Polly-as-Sybil and the American stand out as weak) but each episode has excellent structure. Continual ratcheting of pressure, forcing characters into desperate actions and reactions, a relentless exercise in pushing a man to breaking point. Every moment of triumph is cruelly snatched away from him. And some of the dialogue inspires envy.

The Twitchings moment where Basil refuses to introduce (yes, it's a terrible setup but what a payoff), the beating the car, Basil discovering O'reilly's ballsup, and the fire drill are as close to perfection as comedy goes.

Scales's performance is iconic. Booth is competent. Sachs brilliantly handles Manuel. Some of the minor actors were awful (the germans especially). In fact some of the weaker performances are Cleese's. The stamping on the driveway bumps, the horrendous OTT jumping up and down on a pretend insect and the "game's up. Up there on the ceiling," plus the "funny walk" doing a Hitler impression are cringeworthy moments imo. Hitler on its own would've done the job, imo.

It has strong and weak points but as a show to demonstrate to writers how to break a man through unrelenting pressure and repercussions, it's untouchable.

Quote: SlagA @ May 28 2009, 11:48 AM BST

plus the "funny walk" doing a Hitler impression are cringeworthy moments imo. Hitler on its own would've done the job, imo.

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One of THE most iconic moments in sitcom history is cringeworthy?! E Gads!

Quote: chipolata @ May 28 2009, 11:20 AM BST

You, sir, are a fool. There's infinitely more to fawlty Towers than Cleese's performance. I can think of no other show that so effectively probes the rotting carcas of an unhappy marriage, or so brilliantly skewers middle-England pretensions and the repressed nature of the English.

(And it was brilliantly funny).

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Maybe so. I just really hate convoluted plots that rely on a succession of unrealistic coincidences to carry them forward. Also I don't really think the audience ever tuned in for a comment on the repressed nature of the English. I think they tuned in to watch Basil get angry and in a flap, which Cleese did masterfully.

What can I say? It just doesn't float my boat. I know as a comedy-type I'm supposed to love Fawlty Towers, but it just don't float me boat.

Mind you I always thought Dudley Moore was funnier than Peter Cook too, which is apparently another deadly comedy sin. Oh well...

Quote: Lee Henman @ May 28 2009, 11:56 AM BST

Mind you I always thought Dudley Moore was funnier than Peter Cook too,

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A better performer, yes, but Cook was the better writer.

I love Fawlty Towers.

But does have a point. If the script wasn't by John Cleese and just sent in by a nobody off the street would it have got past first base?

Quote: Lee Henman @ May 28 2009, 11:56 AM BST

What can I say? It just doesn't float my boat.

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It's fine for something not to float your boat, but I think there's a difference between not liking something, and not liking something and then suggesting it's rubbish. I'm not massively keen on the Beatles, but I recognise they were a great band.

Quote: bigfella @ May 28 2009, 12:01 PM BST

If the script wasn't by John Cleese and just sent in by a nobody off the street would it have got past first base?

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Yes, it was a very well written show. If it wasn't, it wouldn't have worked so well.