It's like New Years Eve. I've stayed up especially so I can put this thread on at midnight. Forty years ago today (28th February), the first episode of On The Buses was broadcast. It is one of my all time favourite sitcoms. Happy 40th Anniversery.
On The Buses - Happy 40th Anniversary
I remember on another site someone was saying how good On The Buses was.
Another member of the site gave a link to the top 50 sitcoms on here to show that it didn't even feature.
I had a look through to see if I could find another great sitcom that wasn't on the list but it was a struggle.
The best I could think of was Citizen Smith.
Yes, they are the two best sitcoms without doubt that didn't feature on the great 50 list. Citizen Smith is actually my second favourite sitcom ever, whereas On The Buses is my third. My favourite being Dad's Army.
The trouble with those lists is that they largely reflect only what's in peoples' minds. At the time of the BBC's top 50, On The Buses had - I think - a few episodes available on obscure VHS, but not DVD, and no repeats, so it wouldn't have been at the front of peoples' consciousness, if they'd even seen it at all.
A great example was the top 50 sketches Channel 4 did a few years ago, where Little Britain's Andy & Lou at the swimming pool was voted as the #1 best sketch ever.
Funny the first time I saw it, but how can it even compare to Morecambe and Wise's Breakfast Sketch?
Well precisely. A cheap gag about one guy doing something whilst another guy tells someone it's like the one thing he definitely cannot do, however amusingly executed, cannot be compared to the orchestration and inspired genius of the breakfast sketch. They're just in totally different leagues.
A belated happy 40th birthday to On The Buses. In celebration I have written a book about On The Buses and am currently contacting potential publishers.
Such a classic sitcom deserves at least one book dedicated to it.
This book sounds interesting. If it doesn't get published, please send me a copy.
Since the start of this thread, I've got out my (new) On The Buses box set and have been watching it, for the first time ever. And I have to say I've been shocked by how witty, and how consistently funny it is. Michael Robbins as Arthur is a particular delight. Su-poib.
The bit where that French womans shirt nonsensically falls off in Holiday on the Buses is a particularly witty high point.
From the bits I have seen of the TV series and the movies Arthur does seem to be the best character.
He seems the only non cartoonish character.
Quote: Aaron @ March 4 2009, 7:07 PM GMTSince the start of this thread, I've got out my (new) On The Buses box set and have been watching it, for the first time ever. And I have to say I've been shocked by how witty, and how consistently funny it is. Michael Robbins as Arthur is a particular delight. Su-poib.
Yes, I hope you like it. The first series is great, so is the second, the third sees the sitcom at its very peak, the fourth and fifth are to magical, but come the sixth and seventh series where script-writers Ronnie Wolfe and Chesney stopped writing the scripts, the show wasn't anyway near as good as the first five series. Hope you enjoy the rest of the series Aaron.
Speaking of the show it got me into hot water on Sunday. There's this friend of mine who goes into the same pub as me and he works for the labour party, so he is very left wing. When he heard I liked this show, he made me feel ashamed of myself. He said it's sexist and thank goodness are gone of the days 'People smack women's arses on television' To which point, I swiftly finished my pint and said my Sunday dinners ready.
Quote: Spagett @ March 5 2009, 2:34 AM GMTThe bit where that French womans shirt nonsensically falls off in Holiday on the Buses is a particularly witty high point.
From the bits I have seen of the TV series and the movies Arthur does seem to be the best character.
He seems the only non cartoonish character.
I not a big fan of the movies, though I did like Holiday on the Buses, but wasn't too keen on the first two. But I think the films have been over-shown. Show the TV series more, they're a hundred times funnier.
Quote: Jack Massey @ March 5 2009, 8:07 PM GMTThere's this friend of mine who goes into the same pub as me and he works for the labour party
Kill him.
Quote: Jack Massey @ March 5 2009, 8:07 PM GMTWhen he heard I liked this show, he made me feel ashamed of myself. He said it's sexist and thank goodness are gone of the days 'People smack women's arses on television' To which point, I swiftly finished my pint and said my Sunday dinners ready.
Why did that make you feel ashamed of yourself? Don't be so weak-willed, man! Being a fan of a TV show doesn't mean you condone or in any way support everything in it. I really enjoy Open All Hours, but I'm not going to employ a family member in slave-like conditions. He should love On The Buses, what with the shop stewards and striking and suchforth. Bloody wooly liberal types. 
Yeah, but even despite him being a Manchester City fan, he's a good lad really, just slightly eccentric in his beliefs. He went on a rant and he left me breathless and I did feel guilty, I know I shouldn't but it was really awkward. Somebody had apparently told him of my DVD collection, so I bumped into him and he said: 'So Jack, I hear you're into politically incorrect DVDs.' 'Well not really' I replied to which he said 'I hear you're into that Love My Neighbour.' I realised he got the title wrong anyway, so I replied 'No I'm not into that, I think you're getting mixed up with On the Buses' He said 'Yes but that's sexist' to which point I said 'Yes but...' '...Oh, so sexism's allright then' and he went on a rant. It was uncomfortable.
Well said Aaron.
Honestly these people who say its sexist and degrading to women really need to get a f**king life.
Why these days does everything have to be made into a major issue, just sit back and enjoy the comedy of the show.
Quote: Jack Massey @ March 5 2009, 8:44 PM GMTYeah, but even despite him being a Manchester City fan, he's a good lad really, just slightly eccentric in his beliefs. He went on a rant and he left me breathless and I did feel guilty, I know I shouldn't but it was really awkward. Somebody had apparently told him of my DVD collection, so I bumped into him and he said: 'So Jack, I hear you're into politically incorrect DVDs.' 'Well not really' I replied to which he said 'I hear you're into that Love My Neighbour.' I realised he got the title wrong anyway, so I replied 'No I'm not into that, I think you're getting mixed up with On the Buses' He said 'Yes but that's sexist' to which point I said 'Yes but...' '...Oh, so sexism's alright then' and he went on a rant. It was uncomfortable.
The guy is quite clearly an idiot. I'm willing to be that he's never seen a single episode of either programme, and was just running off the pre-prepared spiel from his employer. I would have just stood/sat there staring at him blankly whilst he went on, then turned away without a word and carried on the rest of my business. Give his rant the respect it deserves!