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AIBU?

To be nonplussed why people rave over Mrs Brown's Boys

454 replies

ComposHat · 01/01/2014 12:41

I've tried watching it twice twice and haven't got past the first five minutes it was so awful.

It seemed like an artless parody of a shite 70s sitcom (like something Frankie Howerd forgot to make) Don't get me wrong I'm not a comedy snob and quite enjoy a broad knockabout comedy like Vicious, yet I am utterly bemused by Mrs Brown's Boys, it looks dated, absurd and utterly free from laughs.

Yet it has a massive following, especially amongst people of my parents' generation. Normally when there's a TV programme I dislike I can see why other people (Top Gear for example) may enjoy it. But Mrs Brown seems to be without any redeaming features.

There must be some fans out there who can explain its appeal?

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Islenka · 01/01/2014 12:43

I really, really, really hate it.

We have one English TV programme where I live (abroad). What does it show? Re-runs of Mrs Brown's Boys (and occasionally some news or a repeat of Doctor Who from decades ago or whatever). Hell.

SetPhasersTaeMalkie · 01/01/2014 12:43

Well I'm with you. I don't get it at all and I have tried. Find it massively unfunny.

SarahAndFuckTheResolutions · 01/01/2014 12:43

I don't get it either, but my mother loves it.

HowGoodIsThat · 01/01/2014 12:44

YA so NBU

BunnyLebowski · 01/01/2014 12:44

It is fucking abysmal.

And it makes me embarrassed to be Irish.

It's popularity proves that there are way more stupid people in the U.K. than I ever realised.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 01/01/2014 12:46

I don't get it either, but I know a lot of people who do.

And they're all either Irish or Irish descent. All of exe's family love it and so does my old friend from school and all of her family.

I think they see things they recognise in it - I keep getting crappy memes with quotes from in on Facebook and people saying how true it all is.

It seems very 70s to me too Compos and makes me cringe.

And the nepotism! Look at the cast list - it's mostly his family members.

AnnBryce · 01/01/2014 12:47

It's like a dreadful farce in a village hall, which I think is where it all started.

issey6cats · 01/01/2014 12:47

i love mrs browns boys its pure idiocy but so funny based on pantomime, farce, slapstick i find vicious boring ,its the fact that you know mrs brown is really a bloke, but then again i like father ted, red dwarf, gimme gimme gimme, citizen kahn so i like this silly type of comedy

DianaOfThemyscira · 01/01/2014 12:47

It's AWFUL, I really can't understand why anyone wold watch it, much less rave about it on FB or talk about going to see it live!
I suffered through a few minutes of it, thinking "I'll give it one more 'joke', it MUST get better" but I just found it to be crude and puerile and TOTALLY unfunny.

littlewhitechristmasbag · 01/01/2014 12:48

I hate it too and funnily enough my mum also loves it despite being a bit prudish.

Skinheadmermaid · 01/01/2014 12:50

I thought it was just me, it leaves me cold. And why is it necessary for the main character to be a man in drag? Does that somehow make it automatically hilarious?
Why not use an actress? Its so old fashioned and such a 70s throwback.

Blueuggboots · 01/01/2014 12:50

My exH introduced me to it, he sat crying with laughter, and I just sat.
His family are Irish and think its hilarious. I can't see it myself.

Heartbrokenmum73 · 01/01/2014 12:50

Please don't compare Father Ted and Red Dwarf to Mrs Browns Boys!

They are wonderful comedies written by fantastic, intelligent, witty writers.

Mrs Brown's Boys is more Are You Being Served or Allo Allo.

UsedToBeNDP · 01/01/2014 12:51

I really hate it too. It is cringingly abysmal.

MyMILisfromHELL · 01/01/2014 12:52

Yanbu. It's a load of crap. Hate it. Poor acting & poor story lines.

Justforlaughs · 01/01/2014 12:52

I can take it or leave it. I've watched it while reading a book and it's not so bad I'd turn it off, but it's definitely not at the top of my "must watch" list.

Clawdy · 01/01/2014 12:53

Hate it,reminds me of the Ricky Gervais send-up of a dire but bizarrely popular sitcom with canned laughter where he wore a curly black wig...

Edendance · 01/01/2014 12:54

Awful. My mum loves it

BunnyLebowski · 01/01/2014 12:55

Clawdy the Ricky Gervais one is a parody of such shows within his show Extras.

Not the same at all.

ComposHat · 01/01/2014 12:55

But

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DziezkoDisco · 01/01/2014 12:57

It makes 'allo 'allo look like comedy genius. To equate it to the wondrful Father Ted or Red dwarf is criminal.

ComposHat · 01/01/2014 12:58

But I still reckon that the sitcom parody in Extras 'when the whistle blows'? is funnier than Mrs Brown's Boys.

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lylasmam2012 · 01/01/2014 12:58

I'm Irish and I hate it!

aquashiv · 01/01/2014 12:58

My Irish family think it's a disgrace.
My English family think it's wonderful although I did have to point out she is actually he.

noblegiraffe · 01/01/2014 12:59

Offensively awful. Couldn't believe it when it won the Christmas ratings.

And my mum's Irish, so not all Irish people love it.

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