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?

[Heartbrokenmum73]

I believe laughing is one of the best things anyone can do.

I agree with this.

Why is why I swerve Mrs Brown's Boys and watch things that are actually funny.

[WhereIsMyHat]

It's crap, I can't watch it. Both my and DH's parents love it though, cringe.

[JonSnowKnowsNothing]

I loathe Mrs Brown's Boys - I honestly don't get what's funny about it. I feel the same about Miranda. I'll stick to The Office.

[deirdrae]

I have to pinch myself to check it's not the 1980s.

Don't like it at all.

[deirdrae]

Miranda is completely awful!

[JimmyChooChoo]

No I guess I can't get my head around it.

[waterlego6064]

It is terrible- deeply unfunny IMO. One of our guests last night was trying to explain one of the 'funny' scenes to me last night- it seemed to revolve around someone mistakenly putting glue on their genitals which then had to be removed by someone else when suddenly someone's son walked in and thought they were in a compromising situation. Utterly cringeworthy, and not in a good way (I like a good cringe comedy- Alan Partridge or the Office for eg)

I agree with those who compared it to 'When the Whistle Blows'. It also reminded me of a sitcom spoof I saw elsewhere- might have been on 'The Young Ones'- which was called 'Oh Crikey' and involved a vicar and a dog getting into some sort of seemingly-filthy-but-actually-innocent compromising position (with hilarious consequences).

I'm afraid I do slightly judge people who find this kind of thing funny. Not that I would think them a bad person but it would genuinely make me feel we were not on the same wavelength at all and would make me want to keep a bit of a distance.

[Killinascullion]

Agree that BBC version of Mrs Browns Boys is tedious and the original RTE version was actually much better.

However, have any of you seen the film Agnes Browne starring Angelica Houston and Ray Winston? Although it's based on the original book 'The Mammy' by Brendan O'Carroll, it's nothing like the TV series and is pleasantly entertaining with a cameo by Tom Jones.

[Chigley1]

YANBU, utterly utterly awful.

[Mirage]

I can take or leave it.My mum and dad love it and sit there crying with laughter.I was very surprised because my mum wouldn't let us watch Benny Hill or,to be honest,anything on ITV when we were children,as it was 'vulgar'.I think it is because it is Irish and she grew up in a large,extended Irish family here means that she doesn't see it as rude.

I'd sooner watch Mrs Brown's boys than Count Arthur Strong though.

[ItsTrueLefou]

Yes Miranda is dreadful too. I used to like Miranda Hart but her arch manner got very wearing after a short while.

Just as Last of the Summer Winean be summed up as "Three Old Cunts Rolling Down A Hill In A Bath And Landing In A Heap Waving Their Legs In The Air", so Miranda can be summed up as "Tall Gurning Woman Falls Over, Pulls Faces At Camera And Wears Unflattering Dresses".

[Betty56]

Yanbu. I think it is awful.

[MissBetseyTrotwood]

Can't remember the main guys name-Brendan someone is it? He was unfunny this Xmas on QI too. Seemed out of his depth on there.

[aciddrops]

I quite like it but will only watch it if there is nothing else on so I don't watch it regularly. I used to when it was new but I'm a bit bored with it now.

Count Arthur Strong is dire. I don't get that at all.

[insummeritreinsdeer]

jimmy is your real name Brendan?

[JimmyChooChoo]

You're a right bunch of laughs ladies! Happy new year to you all

[Wevet]

The one thing my mother and I agree on is the incredible direness of Brendan O'Carroll and all his works.

[Luckystar1]

I love it! My parents and friends back in Ireland hate it. I think ex-pat Irish like it as we can identify things we don't see or hear now on a regular basis.

Genuinely have no idea why anyone else likes or even 'gets' it!

[AcheyFanny]

Add me to the boring list and also to the MAJORITY that think it is utter shite. My Mum loves it and raved about it so I gave it a go. I would rather put pins in my eyes.
My DH is Irish and he thinks it's a load if old bollocks.

[SirChenjin]

Awww, thanks Jimmy - and a Happy New Year to you

[BananaNotPeelingWell]

Omg I love Count Arthur Strong. On the radio too. I do realise I'm probably in a minority on that

[ComposHat]

Aw acid. I found Count Arthur touching and hilarious on equal measure, especially the last three episodes when they drew the sadness out.

It took a few episodes to bed in, but I loved it.

[KatOD]

I actually haven't met anyone in RL who will admit to finding it funny, I think it's bloody awful and actually makes me feel a bit embarrassed to watch it (like when you go cold watching friends in bad am dram productions).

If other people find it funny however, good for them! Can't get enough laughter in this life!

I think people are getting unnecessarily worked up about the IQ comment (3 figure IQ is not necessarily high as 100 is average btw), I think it was just a bit of a throwaway barb.

However, my current fave is Man Down which I find hilarious...

[BananaNotPeelingWell]

Lol Jimmy I've never seen anyone get in such a hump about people not finding the same stuff funny as they do. It's quite funny actually

[HoratiaDrelincourt]

I find it bafflingly unfunny. A few years ago we had a work night out to the live stage show and that was equally crap, but I was the only person in the theatre not hysterical with laughter. Whut?!

The reason all the actors are related is to do with "Mammy"'s being so notoriously difficult to work with that nobody else will

I mean honestly, even in the telly version you can see that he is playing to the audience, trying to put off the other actors, and corpsing left right and centre.