The Mass (sitcom) Debate!

I'm going to suggest two sitcoms and you're going to "politely discuss" why one is better than the other.

Comedy or art may be subjective but putting that aside, what makes your favourite better than the other? Is it the writing, acting, direction? Is one outdated, is the other timeless? What was it about the writing, what did it say and will it always be relevant?

If anyone starts getting personal I will void your comment and if it becomes too much will close the thread and push poo through your letterbox.

We'll start off with a classic blood boiler:

Fawlty Towers VS The Office.

Both were groundbreaking at the time, but I prefer Fawlty Towers. I've got the scripts for both, and Fawlty Towers is a lot more complex than The Office - which perhaps isn't a good thing.

Fawlty Towers is probably the greatest british sitcom ever made

It's got some tiny tiny flaws

But it's the best IMO

This is a total mismatch

Although I really like The Office , I think it's like comparing Real Madrid with West Brom

No contest

Fawlty Towers is crammed with beautifully written lines and clever plots and hilarious physical comedy

The Office relies more on shock tactics and the use of words like 'cock' and 'f**king' to get laughs

Although the Major is a foul mouthed old c*nt

Quote: lofthouse @ 15th February 2014, 11:28 AM GMT

This is a total mismatch

View original

I agree, I just wanted to get the ball rolling. What would you suggest would be a better match?

Oh no offence meant

Only my opinion

I'm sure plenty of people prefer the office

Fools....

Ricky Gervais and Mackenzie Crook do, Martin Freeman's not sure.

Quote: lofthouse @ 15th February 2014, 12:24 PM GMT

Oh no offence meant

Only my opinion

I'm sure plenty of people prefer the office

Fools....

View original

None taken! What would be a good polar opposite to either of the sitcoms?

Eh?

Umm

Oh I don't know

errrrr

Hey it's Saturday I don't need this pressure

*runs off*

Are You Being Served v On The Buses?

Quote: beaky @ 15th February 2014, 1:49 PM GMT

Are You Being Served v On The Buses?

View original

Enjoyed both as a kid, though as a 10 yr old through to around 14, I was much more into ITV's output, which seemed, at the time, fresher, livelier, and younger - Please, Sir; Man About The House; Father Dear Father; Bless This House. I'd watch some BBC comedies, but they seemed slower and more ponderous, apart from Monty Python (huge fan) and The Liver Birds. (Fawlty Towers arrived a bit later, and Some Mothers was only just starting its run.)

Ironically, those ITV comedies probably seem more dated now as they were so period specific in a way that the Beeb ones weren't.

If I'd been forced to pick as a 12 year old, I'd've probably gone for On The Buses.

Not revisited either show since then.

On The Buses was one of the few sitcoms with exclusively working class characters. Why was this, I wonder?

Because poor people are ugly?

That makes it funnier, surely?

Quote: beaky @ 15th February 2014, 6:01 PM GMT

On The Buses was one of the few sitcoms with exclusively working class characters. Why was this, I wonder?

View original

Cos only working class people work on/use buses??

Don't be cheeky, lofthouse. I mean why aren't there other working class sitcoms?