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Well I do know that some modernish sitcom writers (struggling with storylines) have admiited to sitting down with a few boxsets of different sitcoms and, er, borrowing a storyline or two from each one so as not to arouse too much suspicion.

The book I was reading seemed to approve of this method. Hmm, I'm afraid I don't really, BUT, there is little question that most of the fairly obvious sitcom plots have been used already, meaning that even if you or I came up with what we think is an original one, the chances are, it would already have been used somewhere.

Not sure if this is a good enough excuse to simply wade through back catalogues of sitcom storylines and cherry pick your favourites, to me that doesn't seem very creative or genuine, even if they fit your characters. I'm absolutely sure it happens though. When is Miranda on again, btw?

I watched it with my teenage son, it was the only thing we had in common at the time, we fell about laughing for half an hour then back to 'non communication' situation.

Delightful to see the guys reunited for "Comic Relief" in Richie and Eddie-esque personas.
Eddie's Dying Swan Ballet is hysterical in itself - and then Rik comes in with the frying pan...
Don't miss the interview with Ade before hand, culminating in Rik attacking him with a pie.

Bottom is easily my most watched show.

A lot of the live stuff wears thin on me now but I love it anyway. (as long as I don't marathon them) It's just exhausting for both making me laugh and groan.

But the show has lost nothing. A little impact has dwindled for me as it was pretty shocking 20 years ago or whatever and I know it all off by heart. But I love showing it to people who have never seen it.

Quote: Aaron @ March 28 2011, 9:09 PM BST

Mr Bean also wrote cards to himself.

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When it was announced in the news that Arc Royal was for sale, I immediatley thought of Richie's birthday cards.

Richieh! I wonder who this one can be from?
Eddie: That looks like the one from Sue Carpenter.
Richie:Eddie, you must be psychic! It is, it's from Sue Carpenter.
Good old Sue. Mmmmm-mmagh! Hah! I really must phone her up
more often.
Eddie: I don't think you should, Richie. They took out that injunction,
remember?

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ April 2 2011, 12:25 PM BST

Well I do know that some modernish sitcom writers (struggling with storylines) have admiited to sitting down with a few boxsets of different sitcoms and, er, borrowing a storyline or two from each one so as not to arouse too much suspicion.

The book I was reading seemed to approve of this method. Hmm, I'm afraid I don't really, BUT, there is little question that most of the fairly obvious sitcom plots have been used already, meaning that even if you or I came up with what we think is an original one, the chances are, it would already have been used somewhere.

Not sure if this is a good enough excuse to simply wade through back catalogues of sitcom storylines and cherry pick your favourites, to me that doesn't seem very creative or genuine, even if they fit your characters. I'm absolutely sure it happens though. When is Miranda on again, btw?

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I think this is called 'Plot Mining'. As far as my awareness of sitcom etiquette goes it is tolerated by some but very lightly frowned upon by others. I would agree that trying to come up with a plot that you think is totally new is somewhat tricky. Personally I do not mind this plot mining happening. The same basic story structure may be used but it is the uniqueness of the particular characters reactions that make the same plot idea work in a different way with each different sitcom.

Def.

For any fans of "Bottom" that aren't aware of it - find and watch the "The Comic Strip Presents..." episode/short film called "Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door". It features Rik and Ade in their familiar Richie and Eddie characterisations (although they are not actually named this) as proprietors of an escort agency. They basically market themselves to unsuspecting tourists, take them out for a night on the town, get them drunk and use their money to buy themselves drinks and dinner. They are utterly disgusting, absurdly violent and totally in the vein of "Bottom", although it was made first!

Good call ToddB

Mr Jolly is very funny.

A bit mental in places - but very funny and very Bottom.

And one of the few Comic Strip shows that's ACTUALLY funny!

Cos most of 'em aren't.

Quote: lofthouse @ May 3 2011, 6:24 PM BST

Good call ToddB

Mr Jolly is very funny.

A bit mental in places - but very funny and very Bottom.

And one of the few Comic Strip shows that's ACTUALLY funny!

Cos most of 'em aren't.

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I find them quite amusing, though they are not all laugh-out loud funny like "Mr. Jolly...".

I notice some earlier posters comparing "Bottom" to "Two Pints of Lager and a Pack of Crisps". I don't think they fall into the same category at all. I have not seen much of "Two Pints...", it's not my thing, but it seems like a simple, naturalistic comedy with some juvenile toilet humour and slapstick without irony or overtones.

"Bottom", on the other hand, is self-consciously juvenile and deliberately takes toilet humour and slapstick to surreal levels and lampoons the genre. Amid the grotequerie, there are absurd influences (the creators liken it to a cruder cousin of "Waiting For Godot") and tragic overtones.

Yeah, when I think about Bottom I think of anarchy and slap stick violence as much as anything, plus Bottom has comedy royalty, whereas 2 Pints has (or had) annoying ex-Hollyoaks actors.

My favourite bits were when they broke into their neighbours flat and accidentally turned his gas mains into a flame thrower, then the gas man came in and said 'no wonder your gas bill's so high', the bit with the dating agency, at the end when Rich asks Eddie to pass him the defibrilator and Eddie asks 'don't you feel well?' and Rich says 'no, you don't' and uses it on his head. And the bit with the flasher when they're camping and he un-does the zip of the tent to flash them so they do the zip up, catching him in it and the flasher runs off with the tent attached.

Those were certainly the most memorable moments for me!

I think I may have to buy this up on DVD...

I like the bit where Richie has thrown Eddie out of the flat.

Later Eddie returns, to catch an unawares Richie getting ready for some 'hand to hand combat' whilst watching Miss World on telly!

I just watched some bloopers from this - hilarious. I love how they stay in character and interract with each other and the studio audience. This must have been really fun to be at when it was filming.

My favourite ever lines in the show were when Rik was telling the Gasman (In "Gas") a story starting with "Deep in a dark forest lived a pair of trousers called Dave" Surrealism at its best!

Quote: Synaesthesia @ July 16 2011, 10:29 AM BST

My favourite ever lines in the show were when Rik was telling the Gasman (In "Gas") a story starting with "Deep in a dark forest lived a pair of trousers called Dave" Surrealism at its best!

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Hahaha brilliant! I really must watch that series again! I'm massively concerned as I loved it aged 11 I'll think it's childish now, but I'd have never picked up on that trouser line so young I'd have been enjoying them knocking 7 bells of shit out of each other too much.