Quote: Chappers @ October 30 2011, 3:07 PM BSTThat surprises me that OFAH had only 66 yet GGG had almost half as many.
I presume it is because the series lasted so many years, but that is due to the fact there were so many Christmas specials, and there might be only one episode of Only Fools per year.
And Corrie writers John Stephenson and Julian Roach created the wonderful Brass.
Quote: Badge @ October 30 2011, 3:10 PM BSTAnd Corrie writers John Stephenson and Julian Roach created the wonderful Brass.
Ah Badge, it's rare we agree. Great show. Definitely time to re-watch.
I'm sure we agree much more often than we both think.
'Oh it's nice to see you two getting on. More tea Jack?'
'Is that all you can offer? Tea? It's your answer to everything, tea! Can't you see I need food, food for my mind . . '
'Give 'im a bit of fish Els, that's good for the brain.'
East Cheam Drama Festival, Act 3, Jack's Return Home'
Quote: Ian Wolf @ October 30 2011, 3:09 PM BSTI presume it is because the series lasted so many years, but that is due to the fact there were so many Christmas specials, and there might be only one episode of Only Fools per year.
Well, that's something that simply doesn't happen in American sitcoms or television programs in general. As I've get to know more British shows, I'm always slightly surprised to see that seasons -- sometimes more than one -- go by without episodes or with only a Christmas special.
I wonder if it's the relatively small number of offerings -- six or eight a series compared with 18 or more in the U.S. -- that make British shows so much better than most American shows?
Again, a digression. Sorry.
To get back on track, there are scores of American sitcoms with more than 100 episodes. The Simpsons (463), Ozzie & Harriet (435), My Three Sons (369) and Make Room for Daddy (336) to name a few. Except for The Simpsons, these sitcoms with the highest numbers are from the 50s and 60s.
Quote: Rose2010 @ October 30 2011, 2:12 PM BSTHaving grown up with American television, I'm accustomed to "spin-offs" but I think the examples you've cited aren't quite the same thing.... more like "continuations" from what I know.
In dinking about spin-offs, I can only tink of one American example of a sitcom "spinning off" into a drama: Mary Tyler Moore into Lou Grant. Any Britcoms result in dramas? Or is that a subject for a different thread?
I can't tink of anything else other than what's been mentioned. The closest thing I can tink of was the 'Red Dwarf' (sitcom) episode where they went to 'Coronation Street' (soap opera).
I sometimes think Coronation Sreet (soap) has the potential for sitcom spin offs around characters. 'Norris' might make a good sitcom. However part of that is the good Coronation Street writing - although the quality of the writing and storylines seem to vary a lot. However, I don't always like it when they take a character and put them in a brand new setting - as it can seem very contrived, and you miss the dynamics of the old relationships and situations. I tink we're a year behind here wth Coronation Street in New Zealand, but Graeme's character might make a potential sitcom spin-off too.
"The Army Game" that brings back some memories, A local actor Ted Lune was in it, used to watch it with my dad.
Quote: Rose2010 @ October 30 2011, 11:44 PM BSTWell, that's something that simply doesn't happen in American sitcoms or television programs in general. As I've get to know more British shows, I'm always slightly surprised to see that seasons -- sometimes more than one -- go by without episodes or with only a Christmas special.
The industries are very, very different in a number of ways. In simple terms, at the root of it, TV is in many ways more an art form here, and more of a commercial industry in the US. And there are rough 'seasons' largely in-line with the academic year, but nothing as rigid as on a US network. Series come and go all year round - at the moment there are 5 or 6 US sitcoms I watch that are now each the same number of episodes into their new season, which runs right through to May or June. Every element of that sentence is alien to the British TV market.
How many did Never The Twain get?
Quote: David Carmon @ October 31 2011, 9:48 AM BSTHow many did Never The Twain get?
67 episodes. It had 11 series but each one was only 6 episodes long bar one, which had a Christmas special as well.
67 seems low for 11 series, hate the way alot of series only have 6 episodes.
Quote: David Carmon @ October 31 2011, 10:10 AM BST67 seems low for 11 series, hate the way alot of series only have 6 episodes.
So, what's the perfect number of episodes in a series?
12.
For some shows, zero. For others, dozens. 