Programmes that have aged poorly and programmes that have aged well?

Are You Being Served is terrible for sexism and stereotypical homosexuality, but it was really a long time ago now, can't believe people found it funny (my granny loved it). The very early series of Midsomer Murders have aged badly as well.

I agree that Father Ted never gets old 😁

I watched Men Behaving Badly recently and that has aged horribly.

Agree that Dinner ladies and Father Ted are still fab. Blackadder and Mr Bean are very loved still in our house even with the kids.

Yes. I even thought it was a bit naive at the time there was still some decency and integrity in the White House then so it didn’t seem completely ridiculous.

Coupling was total shite when it first aired, let alone now. "The British Friends", my arse.

Love it, so well written, and amazing cast and I still laugh out loud after seeing it many times. Same with Vicar of Dibley

Dinnerladies is a comedy masterpiece.
It never got the recognition it deserved. I watch it regularly as a comfort show and I still laugh.

I agree with "Yes (Prime) Minister". The EU problem with British sausages being called something like "offal-filled tubes" still resonates today.

A bit OT, but someone mentioned Father Ted. Anyone know where/if I can watch it, please ?

Another vote for Yes Minister. There’s even a bit about a national database that could’ve been written word for word about ID cards and it’s around 45 years old lol!

Keeping Up Appearances has aged well imo. It’s still funny and it’s harmless.

Gimme Gimme Gimme had an awful episode I watched months ago when I was going through a nostalgic spell. They were trying to impress a black man so they dressed up in African attire. It was really grim.

I think Deanna’s outfits are modest in comparison to Leeta’s and Seven of Nine’s

Thank you! I hated it even at the time because of the character of Tom, and everyone said I wasn't understanding the show.

The Good Old Days - it was out of fashion years ago but it's still really good fun

Next Generation is worse. 2 female characters, one is a doctor and one a counsellor. And the counsellor mysteriously always has her tits out.

It was. My favourite comedy ever.

Yes Minister/Prime Minister hasn't aged a day - there's something about comedy based on clever wordplay (and a fairly cynical worldview) that just doesn't age as much.

I came on to see Little Britain but someone beat me to it!

I watched an episode last week. I agree that it’s very dated and un PC, but I still think it’s funny. I think Only Fools and Horses has aged well, and Benidorm, although it’s not nearly as old as some of the other programmes mentioned.

It breaks my heart into tiny pieces to say it, but The West Wing hasn't aged well. The early series have some very patronising attitudes, but the main thing is that - due to You Know Who - what once seemed aspirational and idealistic about government now seems horribly naive.

Keeping up appearances is very fondly remembered, and has mostly aged well. Just imagine if Hyacinth had been on Mumsnet, or Facebook, or had been a Covid marshal!

The Young Ones - l thought it was fab when l was a kid and it's beyond awful now. Totally agree about The Good Life, my Mum loved it and l'm Team Margo all the way! Barbara should have battered Tom with a shovel and buried him under the brassicas ... ( l think l was probably forced to watch the DVD more than was healthy )

Star Trek DS9 and Voyager- I thought they were rocking it at the time with female captains and black captains, lesbians etc.

But now rewatching all the lingering close ups of female characters breasts in super tight clingy outfits is very jarring.

We tried to watch Game On again recently. Unbearably sexist.

I think Buffy aged quite well, not perfectly, you view the characters differently with a modern eye (likely like Xander less and will raise an eyebrow more to Buffy and Angel than I remembered doing in 2003!) and I know Joss Wheden and the way he wrote for some female characters isn’t great, but when you compare it to shows like Friends it was far more progressive in how it displayed lesbian relationships. And Buffy just being an awesome strong female. It doesn’t make me flinch like some shows of that time. And I still enjoy it.

Little Britain has not aged well, although it was very popular when it was first on. Mocking weak stereotypes isn’t “acceptable humour” any more.

Most of Fawlty Towers is still very relevant: customer service, class snobbery, couples who hate each other, and is a masterclass in comic writing and timing. Certain practical things have dated: young viewers say “it’s weird to see them smoking indoors”, or Basil and Sybil in separate beds: there used to be strict rules about showing couples in the same bed on TV. There is of course the bumbling Major’s casual racism, and it has often been pointed out that the show is mocking the Major, not the people he refers to; and similarly, the Germans: the show does not mock the Germans, but Basil’s attitude to them.

Another vote for Porridge aging well. Reportedly, prisoners loved the show, because of how real it was. The video orderly would have the important duty of taping it.

Edited to add: with Fawlty Towers, there is a lot of physical violence: Basil to manuel, and Sybil to Basil, all played for laughs, but does that make uncomfortable viewing now?