Quote: Ronnie Anderson @ September 9 2009, 12:42 AM BSTI think it was the acting more than the script that maybe it appear 'Ee chuck'.
Fair enough point. But it all starts with the script. It weren't that bad though. It certainly wasn't as bad as that bingo sitcom.
I agree with you. My main point was and my reason for contributing to this thread was I believed that Dinnerladies was a good sitcom but with quite a bit of tweaking could have been a classic, and was interested to know whether other people agreed with me.
You argued your corner well.
Quote: Ronnie Anderson @ September 9 2009, 12:50 AM BSTI agree with you. My main point was and my reason for contributing to this thread was I believed that Dinnerladies was a good sitcom but with quite a bit of tweaking could have been a classic, and was interested to know whether other people agreed with me.
I'm sure there are plenty who will agree with you. You've made me think I should probably actually have a good look at this show when I get a chance. 
Good. I would be interested to know what you think, however I do think it helps to imagine what it would be like if it was single camera when deciding whether it is of classic potential.
OK. 
Personally I don't think it was the trad studio sitcom format that made it look old hat, for me it was the whole scenario - the setting and the writing that was at fault. A generic looking works canteen was hardly any advance on settings from the early 1970s such as with the menswear department in Are You Being Served?. This was the show I was constantly thinking of when I did sit through a couple of Dinnerladies eps. I still don't think the trad studio format is an inherent problem or a drawback for a modern era or contemporary looking sitcom; it's the other trendy new formats that'll go out of fashion long before this gold standard one does. IMO.
Quote: Ronnie Anderson @ September 9 2009, 12:31 AM BSTYes I agree now it isn't. However there are lines in dinnerladies that are as good as any Ricky Gervais has ever written and also there is a lot of good drama like they had in The Office and if dinnerladies was on single camera and written for that and also if Victoria Wood took longer to write it (I think she said she wrote a series in six weeks), I reckon it could have been as good as The Office.
Blimey. Talk about convoluted.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 9 2009, 12:27 AM BSTNot even anywhere near being in the same league as The Office.
No, indeed; dinnerladies is miles ahead.
Quote: Ronnie Anderson @ September 9 2009, 1:04 AM BSTGood. I would be interested to know what you think
He'll tell you whether you're interested or not! 
I can't believe people are even making comparisons as they are two completely different sitcoms.
With that said though, give me Dinnerladies any day.
One of my favourite sitcoms ever.
Quote: Richard Wells @ September 9 2009, 6:27 PM BSTI can't believe people are even making comparisons as they are two completely different sitcoms.
With that said though, give me Dinnerladies any day.
One of my favourite sitcoms ever.
Hear! Hear! Dinnerladies is a classic.
I've been watching Series 1 this afternoon. Really enjoyable.
Quote: Aaron @ September 9 2009, 6:34 PM BSTI've been watching Series 1 this afternoon. Really enjoyable.
I'm going to watch the complete series sometime next week. I'm re-watching all of Victoria Wood's output starting with As Seen On TV.
Quote: Richard Wells @ September 9 2009, 6:27 PM BSTI can't believe people are even making comparisons as they are two completely different sitcoms.
To be fair, it was the defenders (not the critics) of dinnerladies that first raised the names of the other shows in support of their arguments.
Wood by name, wood by nature.
Hey Tim, where you going?
