Class in comedy

An interesting topic brought up by Lee which I think deserves a bit of extra discussion.

Class in comedy, particularly sitcom.

Does it matter to you what class a sitcom is based in? Do you feel that you have to be able to relate to the characters, but can't because they're out of your class? If so, do you wish it was otherwise? Blah blah blah etc.

I'll start off by saying that it really doesn't matter to me in the slightest, I don't think. Personally, I'm middle-class, but am just as happy watching something centred on more high-class characters (To The Manor Born, for example), as I am lower class (Two Pints, Birds of a Feather (or maybe that's middle class?), Only Fools and Horses etc), and similarly middle class (My Family, After You've Gone etc). I'm not looking to identify with anything particularly in any character - just for it to be funny to me - but now that I'm thinking about it, maybe there are aspects of characters from each of those 'classes' of shows that I can relate to. I dunno. Basically, I don't think it really matters to me. I'm happy watching whatever, as long as I find it funny. I think.

Anyone else have any thoughts? Does it really matter what class of society something is set in? Discuss!

I think i'm the same I like alot of different classes of comedy. I do like alot of footlights comedy that has been made, alot of that is sketch related as well.

I've been thinking about this a bit lately.
Most tv shows seem to centre on the 'gritty' working classes, and I can get really bored of that (Shameless, etc).
Outnumbered is very middle class, and I do identify with that. But there's also a lot to identify with in The Royle Family, even though on the surface I have nothing in common with them.
Funny is funny though.
Where are the posh sitcoms nowadays? I miss Margot.

Good question. Maybe we need to write one ourselves! Hmmmmmm.....

Anyway. Last real sitcom anything near to posh was Keeping Up Appearances, and that of course was just about one woman's wish to be of a higher social status, not actually about people of a 'higher class', as t'were.

Oh wait, Sensitive Skin was a bit posh. But really still upper middle class I suppose.
Still, she lived on a boat! That's practically a gypsy. Or summink. What was David Essex again?

David Essex? A boat? Do you mean The River?

Ah. Oh, I dunno. It was in the 80s...

Maybe. I think he lived on a canal boat and wore a bandanna round his neck. To me as a 3 year old, that apparently equalled a gypsy.

Ok, you're confusing me now.

But yes, Sensitive Skin. That was still middle-class, but kind of delusions-of-grandeur type thing. I think?

I'm not too bothered about class, although I can't deny I'm sometimes put off by it. But I also know class is a great comedy topic and has tons of potential.

I'll try and give an example of why I made that comment and sparked this discussion.

I'm sometimes put off by the fact that their problems can seem trivial to me. Which is class snobbery and I know in real life not true.

I gave the example of Del Boy in the other thread, as someone I could care for and sympathize with. Whereas I see a middle class family who's biggest problem is trying to impress their boss at a dinner party, something at this point in my life I cannot relate to at all. Whereas with Del Boy, I've been there, scraping up the goods for money, I can relate to that dilemma, that amuses me, I know a few Del Boys as well.

^^ This isn't actually what I meant either but it's still another point.

Well it's a simple fact; It's snobbery, it must be. Just some of the references they used in the first episode of Outnumbered... i don't know, I can't explain it. should've gone to private school.

Not to do with class, but they mentioned a walking bus. And the fact that they mentioned a walking bus was then mentioned in a review of the show.

What the feck is a walking bus??

I think its where a group of children walk to school together witha parent rota thing.

I'm guessing it's a collection of kids walking together to school, to save on the use of cars?

Ohhhh. Like car pooling, but good for the environment.

Basically, a school bus. But rather than a big thing on wheels, with a roof and an engine and shit, you walk. So you meet at a pre-arranged 'walking bus' stop - or some will come door-to-door - and then the kids go off, walking to school, being supervised by adults.

Oh, and they often wear flourescent vest things so they're easily identifiable.

Why was it mentioned in a review? What did they say?

It's linked to off this site. On the news page about Outnumbered's ratings.
I think it was one of the things they were saying were too middle class about it.