Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Battle of the 70's Comedies

This is probably going to be a waste of time so I'm not going to insert a bunch of links and photo's.
I thought I'd let the readers of this, if there are any, vote for their favorite comedies from the 70's.
I would find the results interesting.

Of course, the first problem is many people haven't seen all the programs I'll nominate, but this is just a poll for the fun of it, so who cares? I've seen most of them but there are still some I haven't gotten to yet and quite a few of them I watched some years ago and they aren't fresh in my memory.

I'm going to leave out the sketch programs like The Two Ronnies, Monty Python's Flying Circus and the Dick Emery Show.

Another omission would be one of the most popular British programs here in the US at that time, All Creatures Great and Small. While there are many enjoyable amusing moments it was a comedy-drama and really doesn't fit in with the others on the list.

Others that actually began in 1979 but had the bulk of their run in the 80's will be left off the list too.
Shows such as To The Manor Born, Terry and June, Only When I Laugh, Potter, Agony, In Loving Memory, Open All Hours.

Some other programs began in the 70's and carried over into the 80's. Quite a few actually. Are You Being Served? Last of the Summer Wine, Citizen Smith, Bless Me Father, Robin's Nest, You're Only Young Twice, A Sharp Intake Of Breath, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Rosie all come to mind. Butterflies had half its eps in the 70's, half in the 80's. I'll include all those.

Others began in the late 60's, but if the bulk of the episodes were broadcast in the 70's I'll include them on the list.

Please consider what made the programs work. Was the writing even and consistent? Or did it get stale? Did the characters remain strong and were they well developed or just a cliche? Did the show have a good atmosphere or was it claustrophobic and confined to a couple of small dingy sets? Was the comedy clever with twists and turns or could you guess what was coming well before it happened?  

Make up a list of your favorite 10 in order of first to last and I'll award 1 point to a #10 and 10 points to a #1, etc.  E-mail them to me and around the end of the month I'll post the results along with some of your comments.

I'll nominate the following, but you can chose whatever you like so long as it fits the criteria.

A Sharp Intake Of Breath
And Mother Makes Three / Five
Are You Being Served?
Billy Liar
Bless Me Father
Bless This House
Butterflies
Carry On Laughing
Citizen Smith
Dad's Army
Doctor At Large-In Charge-At Sea-On The Go-Down Under
The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin
Father, Dear Father
Fawlty Towers
The Fenn Street Gang
For The Love Of Ada
Geroge & Mildred
Get Some In!
The Goodies
The Good Life
I Didn't Know You Cared
It Ain't Half Hot Mum
Last of the Summer Wine (only the first 37 eps were in the 70's)
The Liver Birds
Love Thy Neighbour
The Lovers
Man About The House
The Many Wives Of Patrick 
Mind Your Language
My Wife Next Door
Nearest And Dearest / Not On Your Nellie
No - Honestly!
Oh No It's Selwyn Froggit! / Selwyn
The Other One
Queenie's Castle
Ripping Yarns
Rising Damp
Robin's Nest
Rosie
Rutland Weekend Television
Some Mother Do 'ave 'em
Spring & Autumn
Sykes
Two's Company
Up Pompeii
The Upchat Line / Connection
You're Only Young Twice
Yus My Dear

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