Quote: lofthouse @ May 11 2011, 6:29 PM BSTOk so now I'm even more confused.
Don't bother with it. Unless you're a superfan of one of those involved (as ToddB is), you're unlikely to find it more than 'passable', even if you don't think it as objectionable as I do.
If it's a question I am for it.
Quote: Aaron @ May 11 2011, 8:07 PM BSTDon't bother with it. Unless you're a superfan of one of those involved (as ToddB is), you're unlikely to find it more than 'passable', even if you don't think it as objectionable as I do.
If you find the later work of those involved funny, you're likely to enjoy this. It's not as funny as "French and Saunders" or "Ab Fab" - but it's heading in that direction and the sense of humour, obviously, has similarities. Think of it as a cross between those shows and "The Young Ones". 
Just sat through several episodes, laughing regularly. I also watched an episode of "Open All Hours" recently and, casting no dispersions - but I laughed a lot more at "Girls On Top" - it's a good show, just a matter of taste.
It's actually quite forward for its time in creating humour based on women's issues.
Quote: ToddB @ May 12 2011, 12:56 PM BSTIt's actually quite forward for its time in creating humour based on women's issues.
Not really. See Carla Lane.
Quote: Aaron @ May 12 2011, 12:59 PM BSTNot really. See Carla Lane.
I didn't say that they were the only ones! 
They really did push the envelope though - with their dealings with women's health and sexuality et cetera.
Again, see Carla Lane. She was doing it almost 20 years before Girls On Top.
The latter was far more forthright and vulgar in how it dealt with some issues, but it wasn't some great unmentioned that you seem to be under the impression it was! Sitcoms before The Young Ones weren't just confined to gentle Terry & June fare.
Quote: Aaron @ May 13 2011, 11:52 AM BSTAgain, see Carla Lane. She was doing it almost 20 years before Girls On Top.
The latter was far more forthright and vulgar in how it dealt with some issues, but it wasn't some great unmentioned that you seem to be under the impression it was! Sitcoms before The Young Ones weren't just confined to gentle Terry & June fare.
I certainly agree that there were less gentle sitcoms before "The Young Ones". "The Goodies" and "Fawlty Towers" are among my favourites.
I am not familiar with Carla Lane's work (am researching that now - thanks!), but for many years adult themes were touched on, but only using obvious innuendo - and I think it was a sign of maturity that sitcoms moved beyond that in the eighties. Becoming more forthright was a good thing in some ways.
By the way - why is vulgar used often as a compliment when male comedians joke about their bodily functions (ie: "Bottom") but as a pejorative when women joke about theirs (ie: "Girls On Top")?
Seems a bit one sided to me!
Quote: ToddB @ May 14 2011, 2:09 AM BSTI certainly agree that there were less gentle sitcoms before "The Young Ones". "The Goodies" and "Fawlty Towers" are among my favourites.
I am not familiar with Carla Lane's work (am researching that now - thanks!), but for many years adult themes were touched on, but only using obvious innuendo - and I think it was a sign of maturity that sitcoms moved beyond that in the eighties. Becoming more forthright was a good thing in some ways.
You have a rather skewed view of British comedy. The Young Ones et al weren't groundbreaking in steering away from innuendo, farce, and other broad comic stylings, as you seem to believe.
Specifically on female-centric topics, find yourself Solo (1981) and Butterflies (1978), and - sadly it's not available on DVD, but read up on - The Liver Birds (1969). They're certainly not the only relevant pre-'alternative' shows, but are a good starting place in your comedy awakening. 
Numerous other pre-80s titles tackle social, familial, and other issues without similarities to Are You Being Served? or Carry On Camping. Naturally, in those more conservative times, you did not tend to get quite the language or brash handling of many issues that was possible from the desensitised mid-1980s onwards, but a whole range of shows from 1962's Steptoe & Son immediately dismiss any notion that "adult themes were touched on, but only using obvious innuendo".
Quote: ToddB @ May 14 2011, 2:09 AM BSTBy the way - why is vulgar used often as a compliment when male comedians joke about their bodily functions (ie: "Bottom") but as a pejorative when women joke about theirs (ie: "Girls On Top")?
Seems a bit one sided to me!
I do not use the term 'vulgar' in any other manner than describing something that is vulgar, so cannot comment. Any positive or negative connotations are inferred by the reader and his or her prejudices.
Quote: Aaron @ May 14 2011, 8:49 AM BSTYou have a rather skewed view of British comedy. The Young Ones et al weren't groundbreaking in steering away from innuendo, farce, and other broad comic stylings, as you seem to believe.
Specifically on female-centric topics, find yourself Solo (1981) and Butterflies (1978), and - sadly it's not available on DVD, but read up on - The Liver Birds (1969). They're certainly not the only relevant pre-'alternative' shows, but are a good starting place in your comedy awakening.
Numerous other pre-80s titles tackle social, familial, and other issues without similarities to Are You Being Served? or Carry On Camping. Naturally, in those more conservative times, you did not tend to get quite the language or brash handling of many issues that was possible from the desensitised mid-1980s onwards, but a whole range of shows from 1962's Steptoe & Son immediately dismiss any notion that "adult themes were touched on, but only using obvious innuendo".
Perhaps to say that they were "only" touched on was too general. As I said, I have not seen Carla Lane's work, I refer only to the mainstream of the era.
Quote: Aaron @ May 14 2011, 8:49 AM BSTI do not use the term 'vulgar' in any other manner than describing something that is vulgar, so cannot comment. Any positive or negative connotations are inferred by the reader and his or her prejudices.
In that case isn't that a bit prudish - I mean really - don't you like "Two Pints..."
Quote: ToddB @ May 14 2011, 3:16 PM BSTIn that case isn't that a bit prudish - I mean really - don't you like "Two Pints..."
Quote: Aaron @ May 14 2011, 8:49 AM BSTAny positive or negative connotations are inferred by the reader and his or her prejudices.
Well, I'm glad we got that cleared up!
"Girls On Top" is often described as a female "The Young Ones" - but is set in a much more "real-world" situation without the surrealism and cutaways.
The characters do have some similarities in their functions. To compare roughly...
Amanda (GOT) = Rik (TYO): The politically aware but often hypocritical one,
although not as over-the-top and has more control
of the household (control shared with Shelly).
Jennifer (GOT) = Neil (TYO) The vague but sometimes ingenious downtrodden
household slave.
The other two characters are a little different contain elements of different "The Young Ones" characters...
Shelly (GOT) = Mike/Vyvian (TYO) The one who usually has money, high fashion and
has control of the household (often) like Mike,
but is loud and disruptive and usually in
conflict with the Rik/Amanda character, like
Vyvian.
Candice(GOT) = Vyvian/Mike (TYO) The vulgar thief and ruffian of the house who
often disrupts the order of the others (Vyvian),
but is scheming and often operates seperately
from the other housemates(like Mike).
Of course, the various team ups and dynamics are often different and there and Lady Carlton, the landlady, is certainly different from Jerzy Balowski (from "The Young Ones") and the accommodation that she offers is much more salubrious. Life at their house is still, however, pretty bizarre and pretty anarchic!
What's most unfortunate about this series is how many people can't appreciate its humour.
