Terry and June and other sitcoms in similar genre

[Charley1988]

I used to love this program and felt that this was the template for sitcoms if it's time and everything else was a variation on a theme - anyone remember the sitcom with Judi Dench playing opposite her real life husband - i think she sang the theme tune (before this became a joke in Littelt Britain) . Am I BU in being nostalgic for the days of this kind of TV - do you think these kind of progs would seem a bit dated now?

George and Mildred!
The Front Line
Up the Elephant and Round the Castle

Anyone remember Gems? Not a sit com but about a fashion designer in the 80s? Was afternoon viewing I think.

I love the old comedies too. Particularly Are you being served?, dad's army, porridge, good life, George and mildred etc.

I'm surprised (but very glad) there's been no complaints about them and Gold/ITV etc been forced to stop them (or edit them further to the point they don't make sense anymore like BBC used to) due to some of their content and todays society. The most recent dad's army ep I saw was the blood drive ep where there was a competition between the home guards and the arp for the most donors and they won by getting the Italian prisoners of war and the nuns caring for them. Theres a lot of terms in it that wouldn't be allowed today (against the Italians/nuns etc.)

Then there's fawlty towers that had basil just hate everyone indiscriminately

I think the sitcom couples do still exist in the background, Pam and Mick in Gavin and Stacey springs to mind.

My mum had a teasmade in the 70s! Think she was trying to keep up appearances in our suburban middle class household when in reality...( that's another story but my dad was an arse)

Don't think City Lights was available outside Scotland.
But I also enjoyed
May to December
Waiting for God
Only Fools and Horses
Man about the House.
George and Mildred
Are you being Served

Some just wouldn't stand the Test of time now such as Love thy Neighbour.
Although some mentioned above could be quite racist/sexist/homophobic. Although we didn't really give it a thought back then, but looking back, quite cringeworthy as to what we thought was acceptable viewing.

They don't seem to make just good comedies now on the whole. They seem too 'clever' rather than wholesome and/or of the current satire moments. (little Britain etc, Catherine tate show etc)

There's been the odd one or two but imo nothing at the level of those from the 70s - 80s that are still being aired regularly

DH and I were discussing old comedy/sit coms the other day and saying that the only thing we've found funny and on a par with the oldies in recent years is Outnumbered.
Loved Butterflies but also Bread and Liver Birds (but that might just be my Scouse heritage - although DH likes Bread too and he's a Southerner)

Used to love Brush Strokes, also In Loving Memory, The Likely Lads and I remember That's my Boy on a Friday evening just before Dynasty was on !

I used to like two up two down, and one with Nicholas Lyndhurst about a couple who lived together (the two of us?). Porridge was brilliant I thought and still do. To the manor born, and I loved Just good friends.

Oh and Citizen Smith.

Full House

I'm showing my age here, but does anyone remember one called IIRC 'All Gas and Gaiters'. It was about a curate and a vicar or a bishop I think having various standard sitcom mishaps. I thought it was hilarious as a child.

I also remember at primary school our headmaster talking to us about Dad's Army and saying that although one of the characters (Probably Private Walker) once said 'bloody' , it was still a very funny programme and OK for us to watch as long as we didn't repeat the word

In Loving Memory

Some of them were rather "of their time" and now politically unacceptable like Rising Damp, the Fall and Rise of Reggie Perrin, Man abut the House etc. The Good Life, A Fine Romance (Judi Dench/Michael Williams), Waiting for God ...

I used to love 'On The Buses' - still do. I can't see comedies in a similar genre being acceptable in today's PC age.

There was one called 'Love Thy Neighbour' (which I didn't particularly like) which if it was shown today would need to come with a public health warning.

As Time Goes by - Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer.

Agree Butterflies, also one set on a male hospital ward, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads, To the Manor Born

As Time Goes By Judy Dench and Geoffrey Palmer I think so chilling to watch

Ooh yes, I loved To The Manor Born.

Dear John

Only When I Laugh was the one on a hospital ward

I loved Dear John, Brushstrokes and Me and My Girl

My Favs at that time

Man about the House
George and Mildred
Mind your Language (think it was called that)
Butterflies (I really like that, had a young Rodders in it)

Non funny
Bouquet of Barbed Wire (the original)
Barriers (was on a Sunday tea time with the handsome (to me) Benedict Taylor as the star)

LIZS...Only When I Laugh? It was set in a hospital ward and had James Bolam and that bloke from To The Manor Born in it (I think)

Kurri yes. I cant remember watching 'All Gas and Gaiters' but I remember it had the great Derek Nimmo

So many of these sitcoms I remember - also Shelley