How many sitcoms featured characters with their own businesses?
Arkwright had the shop, Basil had Fawlty Towers and there was the cafe in 'Allo 'Allo, but what else?
Sitcom Businessmen
Bernard Black (Black Books)
Arkwright (Open All Hours)
Tommy Saxondale (Saxondale)
Rupert Rigsby (Rising Damp - technically a business, as a landlord with no other occupation)
OFAH, Del, Boycie . .
The Gaffer
Cowboys (again Aaron!)
Rising Damp
Steptoe & Son
Robin's Nest
The Good Life (?)
Clarence
Pilgrims Rest, Heartburn Hotel
Allo Allo springs to mind.
Swiss Toni
Miranda
2point4 Children (plumber)
My Family (dentist)
Butterflies (dentist, and whatever it was Bruce Montague's character did)
Bloomers (garden centre run by David Swift)
A Fine Romance (Michael Williams was a gardener)
The Rag Trade (? think Peter Jones owned the shop)
Interesting though that there are so few shows that are really about running a business (rather than it being incidental).
Absolutely Fabulous - Deco business
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin - He owns Grot in series 2.
I'm Alan Partridge - Partridge does own Pear Tree Productions.
World Of Pub - Barry and Gary own the pub.
Nighty Night - Jill owns the beauty shop.
There are some other examples like Nabu owns the shop in Mighty Boosh series 3. Smithy is running his own little contracting business in Gavin and Stacey. I'd assume the madam character owned the house/business in Respectable.
Quote: Oldrocker @ December 13 2009, 8:21 PM GMTCowboys (again Aaron!)
Have you not received it?
Quote: Aaron @ December 14 2009, 12:03 AM GMTHave you not received it?
Ages ago! Just a way of saying how good and, by some, how neglected it is !
Hardware.
Never Mind The Quality, Feel The Width.
Fun At The Funeral Parlour. (Possibly - not seen it yet.)
One Foot In The Grave. (Victor spends a while as a window cleaner, IIRC?)
Yes, Prime Minister ... well, sort of!
Not On Your Nellie.
Nearest & Dearest.
Birds Of A Feather.
Odd Man Out.
Me & My Girl.
Never The Twain.
Desmond's.
After Henry.
Beast.
Father, Dear Father and Two's Company were both about writers, so at least self-employed, if not a business proper?
Quote: Oldrocker @ December 14 2009, 12:08 AM GMTAges ago! Just a way of saying how good and, by some, how neglected it is !
Was going to say...!
(Still, Royal Mail, wouldn't be surprised.)
Father Ted.
Has to be a business selling communion wafers etc !
Quote: Griff @ December 13 2009, 11:21 PM GMTRespectable
Oh, and I suppose Popetown too!
Quote: Oldrocker @ December 14 2009, 12:23 AM GMTFather Ted.
Has to be a business selling communion wafers etc !
If that counts, Bless Me, Father must too.
Ooh, and Potter - although the business does get sold in S01E01, the whole character is based around his being a businessman.
Quote: Aaron @ December 14 2009, 12:26 AM GMT
Oh, and I suppose Popetown too!
If that counts, Bless Me, Father must too.
Ooh, and Potter - although the business does get sold in S01E01, the whole character is based around his being a businessman.
'You must have heard of me? Potter mints the hotter mints.'
Odd Man Out