Sitcoms for grown-ups

Sitcoms come in all shapes and sizes - and there is something for everyone. There are kids sitcoms, family sitcoms - which have a large section of the market and then there are sitcoms that certainly aren't for children - but are still quite immature in tone and are probably pitched at a younger audience.

Watching "Sensitive Skin" recently made me think of the 'grown-up' sitcom, something that can require a little more time, provoke a little more thought and be a little gentler or edgier than family fare.

What are BCG users' favourite sitcoms for grown-ups?

I think that Absolute Power is a pretty good candidate for this.

How about "Love Soup"?

Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister?

The rarely seen Coming Of Old Age?

Quote: shaggy292 @ May 12 2011, 8:33 AM BST

The rarely seen Coming Of Old Age?

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But on that - "Getting On".

Quote: shaggy292 @ May 12 2011, 8:33 AM BST

The rarely seen Coming Of Old Age?

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It's called The Old Guys!

Quote: Aaron @ May 12 2011, 12:33 PM BST

It's called The Old Guys!

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But I don't know if that show is that grown-up!

The Thick of It is unlikely to be recommended on Fearne Cotton's radio show.
Rebecca Front appeared on The One Show the other day and the only thing the two presenters could come up with is that "there is a lot of swearing."

Well I'd have to put a word in for Carla Lane here, for this thread. An acquired taste in sitcom land for sure, but what she has done is provide a bit more depth to the often shallow, one dimensional studio sitcom. With Butterflies, And Mother Makes Five and Solo in particular, she focused on adult relationships; a preoccupation of many females, perhaps, but it did give the artform a grownup feel it had lacked before.

Then there's The Good Life, a high quality sitcom which was clearly aimed at a slightly older, married, middling type audience. And others like As Time Goes By, Fresh Fields, May To December and few other other middling, relationship based sitcoms. And To The Manor Born.

In short, most grown up sitcoms seem to me to have been aimed at couples or women, so they do have their uses, as it's brought a much needed depth that is too often missing in sitcoms.

I'd just like to point out that Carla Lane had nothing to do with ...And Mother Makes Five! Wendy Craig wrote it herself.

Blimey did she? It probably was the Wendy Craig factor that made me think of CL. Wasn't bad if I remember, which I don't really, not very clearly. Not as good as Butterflies though.

Quote: Aaron @ May 12 2011, 10:14 PM BST

I'd just like to point out that Carla Lane had nothing to do with ...And Mother Makes Five! Wendy Craig wrote it herself.

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Stunned me as well - I never knew she'd written sitcom. Turns out she did pen some episodes, under a pseudonym, though it's stretching it to say she "wrote it herself". The creators and other writers might disagree.

Quote: Badge @ May 12 2011, 10:48 PM BST

Stunned me as well - I never knew she'd written sitcom. Turns out she did pen some episodes, under a pseudonym, though it's stretching it to say she "wrote it herself". The creators and other writers might disagree.

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Ok, perhaps a slight exaggeration, but she wrote half of the episodes of ...And Mother Makes Five (single-handed, I believe), which is a fair number for someone considered just an actress!

No, fair play to her. Anyway, getting a bit off topic, perhaps.