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

[ComposHat]

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?

Spaced was great though! I like everything on runes' list except Miranda, My Family and MBB though. And actually I have laughed a couple of times at Miranda.

Have we actually moved from the dire Mrs Browns Boys to trying to say Simon Pegg is in the same league? Seriously?

Big Train? Spaced?

I'm vair disappointed. Vair

Frasier is a whole other level of greatness though. For physical comedy, look no further than Niles Crane hyperventilating or collapsing - that's how you do it!

Spaced is one of the best TV comedies ever.

Admittedly I don't like anything of Simon Pegg's post Shaun of the Dead but he is a talented writer.

You just cannot put him in the same category as the desperately awful Brendan O'Carroll.

Agree Heart. Frasier is my favourite sitcom of all time.

There's an episode featuring just Niles where he is getting ready for a date and it all (predictably) turns to pure farce. Genius genius telly.

Mrs Browns Boys is AWFUL.. Spaced was brilliant!! How can you even compare the two?!

Didn't it get the highest viewings on Xmas day as well?

Bunny - I can honestly say I avoided Frasier for a long time because I wasn't that crazy about Cheers (still a bit 'meh') and because I misguidedly thought that the actual show was snobby.

There are far too many episodes that I haven't seen. I'd like to get them all on DVD - may start buying the box sets actually!

Too many that I have seen that I could say 'I love the one where...' about.

But Niles is definitely my favourite - his mooning over Daphne always gets to me. That and the ever-absent Maris.

I can't even bear watching the trailers if Mrs Brown's Boys. It's awful.

So because something gets high ratings, that automatically makes it quality, does it?

Soap operas? Big Brother? Dancing on Ice? TOWIE/Made in Chelsea?

Highly regarded shows (such as The Wire) generally have low ratings over here and get put on at stupid o'clock, where barely anyone sees them. Does that make them rubbish?

Ratings have no bearings on quality.

TOWIE, big brother and Made in Chelsea get very low ratings.

I wasnt saying it made it high quality. I was just saying that obviously lots of people do fine it hilarious (which I find baffling because I think it's mostly pretty shite).

So because something gets high ratings, that automatically makes it quality, does it?

What it means is that a large number of the population aren't that fussy and will watch literally anything and everything. And because they see so much dross, I can only assume their expectations become lower!

*find not fine

Do they? I'm actually quite glad about that! Means not as many people are watching them as I thought.

There is some hope for the human race then?

Why do they keep making so many copycat shows though, if that's the case?

I wonder if the people watching it are finding it hilarious the way my Dad does when he watches Allo Allo and Are You Being Served (he has them set to series record ).

He tells me how funny they are, but watches them with the straightest face you can imagine!

I LOVE a bit of seventies comedy, but DH and I have tried to watch this a few times and we just don't get it. We, possibly a bit ignorantly, thought it because we don't really know anything about irish stereotypes. I guess in the same way DH always found Desmond's hilarious and my family cries with laughter at Friday Night Dinner?

Although Mrs Browns Boys is forever topping the amazon DVD charts or sitting in the top 10 so I don't think it can be the irish connection alone.

reality shows are v. cheap to make

I love Friday Night Dinner, despite it bearing it no resemblance whatsoever to my upbringing or experiences.

Two words: Tamsin Grieg.

Two more words: I'm boiling.

Well Birds of a Feather is returning to our screens tomorrow.

How bad will that be?

Make MBB's look like Shakespeare.

Oh no MrsDavidBowie :( (Great taste in husbands you have though :))

I've never heard of Friday Night Dinner but I really like Tamsin Grieg so will check that out.

Which reminds me, Green Wing was another great comedy, IMO.

Whaaaat? Birds of a Feather was hilarious the first time round! Ok tracey was a bit shit, but the insults traded between sharon and dorian were brilliant. I really hope it will be as good in its new incarnation.

Oh dear lord - really? Who was it who decided that the script of BOAF or the actors involved were any good? Another 'comedy' wedged firmly in the early 80s.

Bloody hell Birds of a Feather - what next?

Love Thy Neighbour?

Only When I Laugh?

Keep it in the Family?

BOAF and only fools and horses, absolute tripe.
'allo 'allo is very funny if you are delirious with fever(really)