Worst ever sitcom

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:05 pm

Miranda. Shockingly bad.

That Shakespeare thingy with that unfunny David Mitchell in it. Shame really as Liza Tarbuck is in it and she's BALL BOUNCINGLY funny.

Are we allowed to say Citizen Khan is awful?

jrgbfc · Post by **jrgbfc** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:05 pm

Wile E Coyote wrote:tons of really bad ones over the years, some mothers do ave em was dreadful, as was to the manor born. saw one recently repeated called green green grass, a lame spin off from only fools. Jesus it was dire.
agree with mrs browns boys, anyone I have met that likes is without fail thick as pig ****.
Allo Allo was similarly crap.
Dinnerladies likewise.

Even if some mothers do ave em wasn't your cup of tea you have to say Michael Crawfords acting in it was superb, the way he played Frank Spencer was genius.

claret59 · Post by **claret59** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:07 pm

Rising Damp deserves a mention as one of the best. (Freeview has many repeats of previous comedies but to watch them is a bit painful and sad as they have not 'aged' well. I watched a repeat of a couple of 'Fawlty Towers' episodes only yesterday and was surprised how I no longer found them even mildly humorous where as I thought them really good when first shown.)

Flying Without Ings · Post by **Flying Without Ings** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:13 pm

Best:

Phoenix Nights
Max and Paddy
Peep Show
The Inbetweeners

Not usually a Ricky Gervais fan, but I thought that After Life programme he recently did was brilliant.

Worst:

Mrs Brown Boys by an absolute mile - would rather watch Blackburn (at least they might provide some comedy).

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:38 pm

jrgbfc wrote:Even if some mothers do ave em wasn't your cup of tea you have to say Michael Crawfords acting in it was superb, the way he played Frank Spencer was genius.

no i don't, virtually all the programmes mentioned had actors who could act well, so to single one out is irrelevant.

keith1879 · Post by **keith1879** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:40 pm

Wile E Coyote wrote:no i don't, virtually all the programmes mentioned had actors who could act well, so to single one out is irrelevant.

I know nobody else agrees with me but I absolutely detest "Friends". In fact any US show where there is a burst of canned laughter every 30 seconds has much the same effect.

jrgbfc · Post by **jrgbfc** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:40 pm

Wile E Coyote wrote:no i don't, virtually all the programmes mentioned had actors who could act well, so to single one out is irrelevant.

You'd struggle to find much good acting in Mrs Browns Boys, Miranda, Citizen Khan etc.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:43 pm

keith1879 wrote:I know nobody else agrees with me but I absolutely detest "Friends". In fact any US show where there is a burst of canned laughter every 30 seconds has much the same effect.

I agree with you.

I've never understood its popularity.

Svenster · Post by **Svenster** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:58 pm

I'm surprised the 'best of' lists don't include The Larry Sanders Show. Garry Shandling broke the rules of sitcom and paved the way for Seinfeld CYE The Office etc.

....and Mrs Brown's Boys.

dermotdermot · Post by **dermotdermot** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:06 pm

George and Mildred and On the Buses.

GodIsADeeJay81 · Post by **GodIsADeeJay81** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:13 pm

keith1879 wrote:I know nobody else agrees with me but I absolutely detest "Friends". In fact any US show where there is a burst of canned laughter every 30 seconds has much the same effect.

The main cast currently make $20 million per year each from it when the rights are sold etc, 2% of the syndication.

That's not bad going considering it ended back in 2004.

icu81b4 · Post by **icu81b4** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:00 pm

Till death us do part, it was a long time ago yet 'Alf Garnet clones' still haunts our lives

SammyBoy · Post by **SammyBoy** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:19 pm

I very rarely get past one episode if something isn't making me laugh, though I saw enough to realise Mrs Brown's Boys is utter dirge.

morpheus2 · Post by **morpheus2** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:36 pm

Fawlty Towers
Only Fools and Horses
Father Ted
Blackadder I, II, III, Goes forth
The Office

All AWFUL, simply awful.

tim_noone · Post by **tim_noone** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:39 pm

morpheus2 wrote:Fawlty Towers
Only Fools and Horses
Father Ted
Blackadder I, II, III, Goes forth
The Office

All AWFUL, simply awful.

I guess it's an age thing with the first two...maybe? Though fully agree with mrs jones Boys. Only ever saw brief ads for it...terrible viewing.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:49 pm

morpheus2 wrote:Fawlty Towers
Only Fools and Horses
Father Ted
Blackadder I, II, III, Goes forth
The Office

All AWFUL, simply awful.

You sound like the epitome of a 'Last of the summer wine' man.

gtclaret · Post by **gtclaret** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:53 pm

Terry and June

scrambledclaret · Post by **scrambledclaret** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:55 pm

bobinho wrote:

Are we allowed to say Citizen Khan is awful?

Yep, you are (and I'm one of those lefty extremists that reads the guardian). It's Tripe.

Belial · Post by **Belial** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 9:57 pm

Mrs Brown's boys.... what pile of sh1ite

I don't watch owt funny these days (is there anything funny?) but used to like a bit of Bottom (not literally) and when I was a young lad, Hale and Pace used to crack me up because I'd be sat with parents trying my best not to laugh which inevitably ended up with me almost crying at it

EarbyClaret · Post by **EarbyClaret** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:27 pm

My opinions were formed as a little kid in the 70s when your mum and dad used to let you watch all sorts of stuff that would be considered totally unsuitable by today's standards

Porridge, The Likely Lads and Steptoe and Son (which started in the 1960s) are timeless classics which still make me laugh however it was a decade also responsible for Bottle Boys, Mind Your Language and Rosie plus anything featuring Donald Sinden along with much much more which should never have seen the light of day.

Claretmatt4 · Post by **Claretmatt4** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:38 pm

Peep show is the best. Get high all the time.

mill hill claret · Post by **mill hill claret** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:39 pm

good
only fools and horses
fawlty towers
never the twain (repeats now on forces tv )
blackadder
still game
not going out
porridge
car share (Peter Kay)
bread

bad
Gavin and Stacey
Miranda?
Mrs Brown's boys
Scarborough ( even though I still watch it )
dad's army
on the buses

timshorts · Post by **timshorts** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 11:18 pm

It sounds as if the heading now ought to be "second worst sitcom" as there is a clear winner.
For second worst I'll give a second vote to birds of a fevver and that thing with alf garnett in. Lots on this list I agree are just awful although friends escapes relegation as it had Helen baxendale in it for a bit.
Gavin and Stacey I liked, but I suspect it is much like football - you only get full enjoyment if you want one side to win - and we got Stacey on our team not James cordon. That said there are jokes in it that you are a lot more likely to get if you are Welsh, and presumably there are some put in for the Essex team that go over my head.

In the good category I'd have upstart crow from those listed, give a mention for fleabag and my favourite - trailer park Boys.

UpTheClaretsFCBK · Post by **UpTheClaretsFCBK** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 1:31 am

bobinho wrote:Miranda. Shockingly bad.

That Shakespeare thingy with that unfunny David Mitchell in it. Shame really as Liza Tarbuck is in it and she's BALL BOUNCINGLY funny.

Are we allowed to say Citizen Khan is awful?

David Mitchell, unfunny? You've clearly never seen Peep Show, generally considered by millennials as the best sitcom of our generation.

AfloatinClaret · Post by **AfloatinClaret** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 6:51 am

One Sitcom that's been best and worst: Shameless.

One of the reasons Fawlty Towers was so good was that there were only ever about a dozen of them made; I just wish they'd done the same with Shameless, the first couple of series were hilarious after which it became increasingly dire; going from being the one programme that I'd make a point of watching, to turn it off before the opening credits had finished.

bobinho · Post by **bobinho** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 7:41 am

UpTheClaretsFCBK wrote:David Mitchell, unfunny? You've clearly never seen Peep Show, generally considered by millennials as the best sitcom of our generation.

Yes. Maybe it’s the programme. Just sat there for the whole first series staring at the tv waiting for something amusing to happen.

Maybe peep show is better. I’ll try it.

Tribesmen · Post by **Tribesmen** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 7:53 am

Love thy neighbour , close the thread we have a winner .

claretonthecoast1882 · Post by **claretonthecoast1882** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 8:16 am

Citizen Khan has reminded me off another "comedy" too add to the steaming turd list

The Kumars at no 42

Heathclaret · Post by **Heathclaret** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 8:23 am

Enjoyed the Young Ones, Guest House Paradiso and The New Statesman.

Thought the Royle Family was crap.

Jambounchained · Post by **Jambounchained** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 8:23 am

How has nobody mentioned Mad About Alice? Starring Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston, absolute dross that!

Best:
The Office (UK!)
Peep Show
Seinfeld
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Partridge

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 8:24 am

Best is a lot easier than worst

- Spaced
- Seinfeld (all episodes available on Amazon Prime btw)
- Blackadder
- Peep Show

Plus loads more,

But Spaced tops it for me, because they only made two series, and every episode is just fantastic.

TVC15 · Post by **TVC15** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 8:30 am

Forgot about Spaced - loved that. One of the first things Nick Frost was ever in.

Also forgot about Rik Mayall who was one of my comedy heroes. Filthy, Rich and Catflap was brilliant - as was of course The Young Ones, Bottom and The New Statesman.
More recently he was in Man Down which was very funny.

Lancasterclaret · Post by **Lancasterclaret** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 8:42 am

Worth mentioning that Spaced is available for free on More 4 as a box set.

AlargeClaret · Post by **AlargeClaret** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 9:10 am

Worst
“Big Top “with Amanda Holden defied belief
Somat with Jasper Carton and an Asian disabled family was just beyond parody

Best- in no order
Blackadder
Peep Show
Fawtly Towers
Toast
The Office
Phoenix Nights
Alan Partridge

Honourable mentions
Inbetweeners ( not the films)
Family Guy
American Dad
Likely Lads

UpTheClaretsFCBK · Post by **UpTheClaretsFCBK** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:01 am

bobinho wrote:Yes. Maybe it’s the programme. Just sat there for the whole first series staring at the tv waiting for something amusing to happen.

Maybe peep show is better. I’ll try it.

Yeah, upstart crow is poor. Peep Show is brilliant.

fatboy47 · Post by **fatboy47** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:16 am

mrs brown..
it's hard to look beyond that bunch of paddy gobsh1tes to be fair....my dog could write more complex and witty scripts than that....repetetive pointless witless bilge.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:21 am

Heathclaret wrote:Thought the Royle Family was crap.

I thought it was brilliant so I suppose this thread can never have a result one way or the other because it is always opinion.

I don't have a worst because if I don't like something I soon stop watching it but I have a few for the best category (in no particular order)

Royle Family
Dad's Army
Only Fools and Horses
Phoenix Nights
Fawlty Towers

Jeffbfc · Post by **Jeffbfc** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:31 am

Citizen Khan.
The King of Queens
Both absolutely rubbish.

Lord Beamish · Post by **Lord Beamish** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:44 am

Mrs. Brown’s Boys is about as funny as Cot Death.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:54 am

tim_noone wrote:I guess it's an age thing with the first two...maybe? Though fully agree with mrs jones Boys. Only ever saw brief ads for it...terrible viewing.

You won't meet many who don't like Only Fools and don't see it would be an age thing. It"s just extremely well written, brilliant actors, and seem to remember it being voted the best sitcom of all time.

Even when you know what's coming as you've seen it 30 times, it"s still funny.

Stalbansclaret · Post by **Stalbansclaret** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 10:55 am

houseboy wrote:Bit strong to say someone is a halfwit because they like something you don't. And he IS Irish. Perhaps you could tell us what you think is funny?

Yes he's Irish but Irish people don't generally go round speaking in an exaggerated parody of their accent in the seeming belief that that alone makes the inane amusing.

Off the top of my head I think the following sitcoms are very funny..no doubt amongst others :
Frasier
The Office
Fawlty Towers
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads
Alan Partridge..particularly the Linton Travel Tavern years

MrMeeseeks · Post by **MrMeeseeks** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:07 am

Not seen any mention of the absolutely horrendous Big Bang Theory yet. Mrs Brown’s Boys I find about as funny as SARS.

Some of my favourites, although probably forgetting plenty.

The Office
Green Wing
Peep Show
Black Books
Arrested Development
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Brooklyn 99
First couple of seasons of Community

Chuck in Rick and Morty and BoJack Horseman as cartoon options.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:05 pm

Thought The Royle Family a bit meh.

It seemed mainly like a vehicle for Ricky Tomlinson to say "bloody" as
many times as possible.

My top ones:
Fawlty Towers
The Office
Reggie Perrin
Only Fools....
Filthy Rich and Catflap
The New Statesman

BurnleyFC · Post by **BurnleyFC** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:23 pm

Mrs Brown's Boys is a really, really **** reincarnation of Father Ted, which was actually brilliant.

I'm Alan Partridge is genius too.

SammyBoy · Post by **SammyBoy** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:55 pm

bobinho wrote:Yes. Maybe it’s the programme. Just sat there for the whole first series staring at the tv waiting for something amusing to happen.

Maybe peep show is better. I’ll try it.

Peep Show is the best sitcom I've ever watched. The first few episodes are a bit of a slow burn until you get familiar with it (the POV camera can take some getting used to), but ultimately it's 9 seasons of pure gold.

Rubstuds · Post by **Rubstuds** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 3:06 pm

Surprised nobody's mentioned Count Arthur Strong.......obviously forgettable.

nil_desperandum · Post by **nil_desperandum** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 5:27 pm

claretonthecoast1882 wrote:Citizen Khan has reminded me off another "comedy" too add to the steaming turd list

The Kumars at no 42

The Kumars, though not something I enjoyed or watched regularly, was a work of genius compared to Citizen Khan.
I suspect that anyone who hasn't nominated Citizen Khan as the winner never watched it.

Goobs · Post by **Goobs** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 6:04 pm

It's quite clear from reading the posts on here that nobody else was unfortunate enough to ever see "big bad world" with Seann Walsh.

That bad even comedy central canned it.

Blackrod · Post by **Blackrod** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 7:35 pm

Birds of a feather is up there. I despise Pauline Quirke but I still think James Corden is worse.

yTib · Post by **yTib** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 7:40 pm

the two of us (nicholas lyndhurst) and my hero (ardal o'hanlon) were another two shockers.

also three up, two down (michael elphick) was unbearable.