British Comedy Guide

Working class sitcoms... Page 5

There's a particularly gross bit in that episode where Jim Royle insists on sniffing his armpits several times Errr

No. The most disgusting moment was when before the wedding party the permanently-on-diet girlfriend (Cheryl?) told Denise she fancied Twiggy and hoped something could come out of it. I don't remember the exact words but that was the gist of it.
I just sat there and could not stop shivering.

So no one found scraping dog muck off a shoe over the kitchen sink with a dinner knife disgusting?

Or wiping urine spilt from an overfilled colestomy bagy with a tea towel?

They were probably trying to block it out.

Quote: Tim Walker @ August 15 2008, 1:04 PM BST

True, like Touch Me I'm Karen Taylor:

Demographic: Men who like big tits
Chapman

Surprisingly that is not actually the case.

Quote: David Chapman @ August 17 2008, 6:33 PM BST

Surprisingly that is not actually the case.

I did actually differentiate you as a demographic of your own, Dave, not as Men Who Like Big Tits. :)

I'm quite keen on Chaffinches and Jays.

fookin ell, these posts never stay on topic do they. they're a nightmare to follow. So if threse have been posted apologies. I gave up reading when it someone started talking about Brecht. Anyway...

I don't think there's that many at the moment. There seemed to be a bit of a trend for 'aspirational' stuff recently ... whatever.

I guess Ideal, Phoenix Nights, The Visit, Early Doors, 15 Storeys High are all what you'd call blue collar. Some more recent than others though... obviously.

I'm not sure if sitcoms are really ever targeted at any class in particular. I think they are aimed more at particular age groups. Yes Two pints I guess is working class but it is aimed more at a youth audience than a class.

There are definitely sitcoms that are based on socialist views, or at least contain characters who hold socialist views e.g. Early Doors, Phoenix Nights. This doesn't mean that any politics are actually discussed though, it is just apparent by how the characters live their lives. Even these examples though can be enjoyed, I would presume, by anyone from any class though probably appeal more to people from the North of England as that is where they are based. I would even suggest that Spaced is built on socialist principles as the characters could be considered to be working class. They do not have high flying jobs, they are creative people and gain money from either claiming benefit or through temporary/part time shop floor jobs

There is a real if subtle difference between a sitcom having a working class subject and its being AIMED at the working class, which is what the OP asked.

I can imagine people of all classes being interested in and entertained by e.g. TDUDP.

Similarly, people of all backgrounds could find entertainment in the toff Bertie Wooster which I raised recently.

Subject matter and 'aiming' are separate issues, surely.

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