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?

Quite an impressive list of stereotypical misogynistic comedies in this thread.

Here's my ha'path (notable by absence so far) ... Agony - written by real life agony aunt Anna Raeburn. Light years ahead of it's time ....

Absolutely love old sit-coms - they seems so much lovelier than modern ones. Ones we've watched recently include Hi-De-Hi, You Rang M'Lord, George and Mildred, Man About the House, Bless This House and Three's Company - which is the US version of Man About the House and is very good :)

OP I think a lot of of these programmes were set in the Home Counties because it created a safe, cosy, middle class background, with no poverty, drugs, unemployment and ethnic minorities. Wasn't that what the whole alternative scene in the 80s (for example The Young Ones) railed against?

To me, the funnier, classic sitcoms deviated from that particular world, and had more to them than flapping about holding a dinner party for the managing director. Thinking of Only Fools and Horses, Porridge, The Likely Lads, Rising Damp and Steptoe & Son.

Somebody asked which modern comedies would stand up, and I think, of all of them Gavin and Stacey - I watched this for the first time recently and it surprised me that, as well as being a bit cheeky, how much I loved Gavin's family. His mum and dad clearly adore each other and the whole loveliness of their bond was great! It's nice to see a couple who didn't spend all of their time arguing or being nasty about each other!

Ooh I was going to mention Agony. I think some of it was over my head but my mother loved it.

The Liver Birds

Loved so many of these, and we got a teasmaid as a wedding present in the 90’s!! We never did figure out how the damn thing worked it always seemed to produce awful lukewarm stewed tea!

I agree outnumbered and gavin and Stacey come closest to this type of cosy sitcom another new one that may hopefully become successful is Scarborough.

The Nicholas lyndhurst one “The two of us” is particularly interesting as the premise would seem ridiculous now but I think many have forgotten (certainly seems the case on threads on the subject on mn!) that co-habiting has only fairly recently become socially acceptable ESPECIALLY when having children is considered, i well remember going to 2 “shotgun” weddings in the 90’s!!

Only when I laugh - they were in hospital for YEARS! That wouldn’t happen now 😂😂

As time goes by I rewatched last year as it was on Drama and it was just as good as I remembered but then judi Dench rarely goes wrong!

“Did anyone understand 321 with Ted Rogers and Dusty Bin ???” I can still do the hand gesture!!

I remember watching one foot in the grave and having disbelieving discussions with my parents about Richard Wilson as I didn’t believe he was a Scot - I still say his accent isn’t particularly obvious.

LOVED me and my girl.

Bread I also rewatched some of but I HATE the “new” joey so struggle to watch after he comes in.

“I love the idea of a uni degree course called sitcom studies which would explore many themes including why on earth are these sitcoms always so Home Counties based” there were modules on my English course which certainly could have allowed students to study that.

I watched Porridge on iPlayer recently and there was a disclaimer before that ‘this is a classic comedy and reflects the attitudes of its time’ which I thought was interesting.

I feel that any sitcom which started after 1985 is too sophisticated for me - !!!! I like the very traditional, middle class , RP speaking , Home Counties , relaxed vibe going on. Another one I don't think that's mentioned is Yes Minister . My sitcom era is 1979 - 1985 inclusive.

Ps I haven't moved in from 1985. - still driving a mini metro, I do the football pools and the song that best sums up my era is Russ Abbotts 'Atmosphere '

haverhill thats interesting. - political correctness gone mad??!!!

In my world Madonna and Prince are still 27!

Does anyone else remember 'Home to Roost' with John Thaw. I loved that one. Oh and just remembered 'Nightingales' as well.

this is a classic comedy and reflects the attitudes of its time

There's a lot of 'casual' racism and homophobia in Porridge (and other comedies of the era). I think a disclaimer is a good approach - it avoids rewriting history to pretend attitudes were different back then. I like Porridge, but some of the jokes feel very uncomfortable now.

Richard Wilson to me will always be the doctor in Only When I Laugh and NOT Victor Meldrew
He speaks RP so I was surprised to learn he was Scottish
Also, Bill Maynard is always The Gaffer to me and not Claude Greengrass
Timothy West will ALWAYS be Hardacre in Brass!!
(his character scared me)

Any one remember Kit Curran with Denis Lawson?

Having a disclaimer before a show like Porridge sounds like a good compromise. There are some lines in the programme that reflect attitudes which were common at the time but which most people would now find offensive and which people belonging to the groups targeted could find both offensive and upsetting because of their sexism, racism or homophobia.

At the same time, these attitudes aren't central to what is otherwise a funny programme so there's no need for it not to be shown.

Nothing wrong with political correctness. It just means that we should respect other people, think before we speak and not make derogatory comments.

I absolutely love Ever Decreasing Circles, I’ve got it on DVD and if I could only watch one thing for the rest of my life it would be that. It just feels so safe and comfortable and old fashioned.

DH and I will often mutter “it’s Howard and Hilda” under our breath if we see couples in matching outfits or if Penelope Wilton is on TV we both say oh it’s Aaaaaannnn in Martins drawn out voice.

Dragonglass That was my absolute fav role of John Thaw, others I speak to disagree with me but this is the only humorous role I've seen him in

Babybel90

Babybel - I couldn't get over how patient Ann was with Martin's idiosyncrasies

I believe that was set in Sussex

Anyone remember the film version of Are You Being Served?

A Bit Of a Do was an absolute classic. I yearn for A Most Peculiar Practice too.

@Charley1988 it’s explained in one episode that when Ann met Martin she was in a bad relationship and a bad place and he picked her up and looked after her and took care of everything and she felt grateful to him for that. Otherwise it is hard to see how she didn’t just shakes him by the shoulders and shout get a bloody grip 😂

Exactly Babyvel thanks for filling me in on that I missed that episode.
The concept of ABit of a Do was Clever but it was a bit after my time!! I'm an early 80s bird!

I knew Peculiar Practice was set in doctors and starred Peter Davison but I didn't watch it

I loved 'Shine on Harvey Moon' but I don't actually think it was a comedy.