Worst ever sitcom

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:43 pm

I always thought 'Last of the summer wine' couldn't be beaten for this award, but I recently stumbled across an eighties sitcom called 'Bottle Boys' starring Robin Askwith, which was toe curlingly bad.

Any more nominations?

jrgbfc · Post by **jrgbfc** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:46 pm

Mrs Browns Boys. How it pulls in such good viewing figures is one of the worlds greatest mysteries. It's about as funny as genital warts.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 3:54 pm

jrgbfc wrote:Mrs Browns Boys. How it pulls in such good viewing figures is one of the worlds greatest mysteries. It's about as funny as genital warts.

I can only assume its time slot is the reason for its high viewing figures, but yes, not at all funny, and the audience only ever seem to laugh when the 'F' word is uttered.

Stalbansclaret · Post by **Stalbansclaret** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:05 pm

Another vote for Mrs Brown's Boys.....surely only found funny by half-wits who think a man dressed as a woman and using the F word in a cod Irish accent is unendingly funny. Absolutely dire.

claretonthecoast1882 · Post by **claretonthecoast1882** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:05 pm

Mrs Browns Boys
Gavin & Stacey

2 great steaming turds

gandhisflipflop · Post by **gandhisflipflop** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:07 pm

Miranda. Close thread

UpTheClaretsFCBK · Post by **UpTheClaretsFCBK** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:09 pm

Another one for Mrs Browns Boys

Best UK:
Peep Show
The Office
I'm Alan Partridge

Best US:
Seinfeld
Fraisier
Spin City (Until Michael J Fox left).

jrgbfc · Post by **jrgbfc** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:10 pm

I can't believe theres anything worse than Mrs Browns Boys. Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps was pretty bad as well I recall.

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:16 pm

Tried watching Shelley after it was referenced on TFTM podcast but couldnt abide it

ŽižkovClaret · Post by **ŽižkovClaret** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:16 pm

jrgbfc wrote:I can't believe theres anything worse than Mrs Browns Boys. Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps was pretty bad as well I recall.

Sheridan smith being chavvy fit helped, mind

claret2018 · Post by **claret2018** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:36 pm

Gavin & Stacey was pretty good. Mrs Browns boys is the worst I’ve seen.

Guller Bull · Post by **Guller Bull** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:42 pm

Pretty much anything with Ronnie Corbett in. Was it called "Sorry" ? or something - that was particularly shoite

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:45 pm

Gavin & Stacey, but it would be awful, it had James Cordon in it.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:46 pm

Mrs Brown's boys, aye.

Horrendous.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:50 pm

Stalbansclaret wrote:Another vote for Mrs Brown's Boys.....surely only found funny by half-wits who think a man dressed as a woman and using the F word in a cod Irish accent is unendingly funny. Absolutely dire.

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?

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:53 pm

UpTheClaretsFCBK wrote:Another one for Mrs Browns Boys

Best UK:
Peep Show
The Office
I'm Alan Partridge

Best US:
Seinfeld
Fraisier
Spin City (Until Michael J Fox left).

No accounting for taste. I like Mrs Brown's boys but can't stand 2 of the 3 you've mentioned (never seen Peep Show). The Office I find pretty damned dire personally and I have great difficulty in liking anything with Ricky Gervais in it.

groove · Post by **groove** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:54 pm

Birds of a feather

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:54 pm

ZizkovClaret wrote:Sheridan smith being chavvy fit helped, mind

Mmmmmm!!!

groove · Post by **groove** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:55 pm

UpTheClaretsFCBK wrote:Another one for Mrs Browns Boys

Best UK:
Peep Show
The Office
I'm Alan Partridge

Best US:
Seinfeld
Fraisier
Spin City (Until Michael J Fox left).

Talking of Seinfeld what do you think of Curb your enthusiasm? I think it's brilliant.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:57 pm

houseboy wrote:I have great difficulty in liking anything with Ricky Gervais in it.

Me too. Any sighting of him and I just switch off.

houseboy · Post by **houseboy** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 4:58 pm

It seems as though we are going to have mass disagreements as with music - it's all down to taste.

Mine are (not in any order and not exclusive)
The Office
Gavin and Stacy
The Royal Family (overrated to hell)
Are you being Served (going back a bit)
Miranda (who told that woman she was funny)

I could go on but that'll do for now.

TVC15 · Post by **TVC15** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:06 pm

houseboy wrote:No accounting for taste. I like Mrs Brown's boys but can't stand 2 of the 3 you've mentioned (never seen Peep Show). The Office I find pretty damned dire personally and I have great difficulty in liking anything with Ricky Gervais in it.

Wow - each to his own and all that.

Mrs Browns Boys is one of the worst things I have ever seen on TV.
Best sitcoms / comedies for me include
I’m Alan Partridge
The Office
Phoenix Nights
The Royal Family
Still Game
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Frasier
Everybody loves Raymond
Cheers
Soap
Only Fools & Horses
Gavin & Stacey
Two Doors Down
Mum
Fawlty Towers
Toast of London

Loads of others too that I’ve probably forgotten

Tricky Trevor · Post by **Tricky Trevor** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:07 pm

houseboy wrote:I have great difficulty in liking anything with Ricky Gervais in it.

I’m with you on his sit-coms but think his stand up is excellent.

TVC15 · Post by **TVC15** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:14 pm

groove wrote:Talking of Seinfeld what do you think of Curb your enthusiasm? I think it's brilliant.

Curb your enthusiasm is one of the funniest things ever written in the history of TV.
It’s brilliant and I wish one of the main channels would show it or even Netflix.

UpTheClaretsFCBK · Post by **UpTheClaretsFCBK** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:14 pm

groove wrote:Talking of Seinfeld what do you think of Curb your enthusiasm? I think it's brilliant.

It's really good. I think Richard Lewis is genius, and the cameos always keep you guessing.

UpTheClaretsFCBK · Post by **UpTheClaretsFCBK** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:15 pm

TVC15 wrote:Wow - each to his own and all that.

Mrs Browns Boys is one of the worst things I have ever seen on TV.
Best sitcoms / comedies for me include
I’m Alan Partridge
The Office
Phoenix Nights
The Royal Family
Still Game
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Frasier
Everybody loves Raymond
Cheers
Soap
Only Fools & Horses
Gavin & Stacey
Two Doors Down
Mum
Fawlty Towers
Toast of London

Loads of others too that I’ve probably forgotten

Curb, but no Seinfeld seems weird.

Marney&Mee · Post by **Marney&Mee** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:17 pm

I'm not sure you can classify Mrs Brown's Boys as a comedy. I have tried, but failed to find anything amusing in it.

Peep Show is absolute quality. Early Harry Enfield. Early Fast Shows. Early Little Britains...all tremendous. As was that Come Fly with Me (?) with the Lucas and Walliams.

TVC15 · Post by **TVC15** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:17 pm

UpTheClaretsFCBK wrote:Curb, but no Seinfeld seems weird.

Yep - just never got round to watching it. I am pretty sure I would love it.

UpTheClaretsFCBK · Post by **UpTheClaretsFCBK** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:18 pm

houseboy wrote:No accounting for taste. I like Mrs Brown's boys but can't stand 2 of the 3 you've mentioned (never seen Peep Show). The Office I find pretty damned dire personally and I have great difficulty in liking anything with Ricky Gervais in it.

The three I've mentioned are generally considered to be some of the most successful British sitcoms of all time. I don't know if you've ever seen Extras, probably not if you don't like Gervais, but Mrs Brown's Boys is almost identical to the fictional awful sitcom his character writes and stars in. Lowest common denominator stuff, catch phrases, costumes. It's almost like he predicted the future.

UpTheClaretsFCBK · Post by **UpTheClaretsFCBK** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:20 pm

TVC15 wrote:Yep - just never got round to watching it. I am pretty sure I would love it.

Stick it on your list to watch next. I've seen in countless times and it never gets boring. Ridiculously clever and way before it's time.

slw · Post by **slw** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:24 pm

Home to Roost had 2 good actors in john thaw and Reece Dinsdale but just wasnt funny.

bfcjg · Post by **bfcjg** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:24 pm

Mrs Browns Boys is a turd that even a professional polisher couldn't buff.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:25 pm

As for the best, a couple that come to mind are Only Fools and Horses and Yes Prime Minister. For more modern ones, liked Not Going Out in the earlier series when Tim Vine helped produce.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:34 pm

Some surprising choices for worst, I have to say.

I personally think 'The Office' was a work of genius, and it was the fact we' ve all worked with someone like David Brent that made it work. Perhaps it's a generation thing, but it crosses me that those of a certain age don't appreciate what is, or at least was, alternative comedy.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:42 pm

34 posts and no mention of Citizen Khan? I'm shocked.

Oh, and the new Scarborough one was terrible too.

Wile E Coyote · Post by **Wile E Coyote** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:43 pm

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.

Cleveleys_claret · Post by **Cleveleys_claret** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:47 pm

Loved Seinfeld and watched them all when they were on. But only found out last week that Julia Louis-Dreyfuss is due to inherit over 2 billion from her father

Cleveleys_claret · Post by **Cleveleys_claret** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:50 pm

An unknown TV comedy that when I tell people about it they have never heard of it. One of my favourites would have to be Operation Good Guys....anyone else ever ha e the pleasure of watching this BBC show

claret2018 · Post by **claret2018** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:56 pm

The US Office is the best for me, just pips Seinfeld

TVC15 · Post by **TVC15** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 5:59 pm

Cleveleys_claret wrote:An unknown TV comedy that when I tell people about it they have never heard of it. One of my favourites would have to be Operation Good Guys....anyone else ever ha e the pleasure of watching this BBC show

Yep - I watched that. Thought it was very funny.
Just realised I have forgotten Blackadder - which other than first series was absolutely brilliant.

Petersa · Post by **Petersa** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:02 pm

Anyone remember Yus My Dear from the late 70s? Arthur Mullard. Now that was excruciating

Dark Cloud · Post by **Dark Cloud** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:14 pm

Totally agree that Blackadder was very funny (AFTER the first series) and Fawlty Towers was also very funny. As was Porridge and Whatever happened to the Likely lads. What you have to bear in mind with all things like this is what was funny "at the time", as it may (or may not) have aged well. Some things were (are) utter garbage right from the outset. Citizen Khan for example. Totally unfunny and actually excruciating.

Blackrod · Post by **Blackrod** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:17 pm

I dislike sitcoms generally.
I saw a few minutes of Mrs Browns Boys once and it was intolerable. As for Gavin and Stacey I’ve never seen it but I loathe James Corden with a passion and will just turn over if he’s on anything.

gc14 · Post by **gc14** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:37 pm

Think the problem with a lot of the shows mentioned the 1st series were usually good and get good ratings
Gavin an Stacey,Shameless,Mrs Brown's were very good but they over do them and they either become boring,
unfunny or downright stupid in Shameless' case ...
A mention for Blackadder every series different era's and brilliantly written ..

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:47 pm

Dark Cloud wrote:Whatever happened to the Likely lads.

I liked that, and George and Mildred. Repeats obviously as before my time.

jrgbfc · Post by **jrgbfc** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:47 pm

TVC15 wrote:Curb your enthusiasm is one of the funniest things ever written in the history of TV.
It’s brilliant and I wish one of the main channels would show it or even Netflix.

Was great but I felt it went on a series or two too long. He seemed to be running out of ideas a bit the last series and it became a bit forced.

Steve1956 · Post by **Steve1956** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:49 pm

It's currently on on Friday nights...."Scarborough" absolutely shite.

yTib · Post by **yTib** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:51 pm

on the buses. the most puerile pile of crap i've ever seen in any genre.

Billy Balfour · Post by **Billy Balfour** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:54 pm

Mrs Browns Boys is a 'comedy' made for single-celled organisms.

For best: I nominate Father Ted along with the first two series of The League of Gentlemen.

exilecanada · Post by **exilecanada** » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:01 pm

I have to agree with you guys about ‘Mrs Browns Boys’, truly pitiful! ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ isn’t too far behind. As for ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Fraser’, both were brilliant, both are regularly available for viewing on a couple of our, what seems like zillion, cable channels. ‘MASH’ was also a classic, not sure it can be classed as a sitcom though, some episodes were quite poignant. Brit version of ‘The Office’ was excellent, US version bordered on pitiful, let’s say the humour didn’t translate very well.