Battle of the Sitcoms - Round One (Heat 5)

[SUFC_Al]

Big fan of Father Ted but I'm a walking Red Dwarf encyclopedia.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Seperated at birth?

Adam Barrett

Kryten

 

[seany t]

Father Ted for me. Red Dwarf is another one that relied too heavily on a few comic devices (e.g. the "I'm more (quality) than an (unexpected thing)" set-up that Blackadder did better than anybody). Plus the people who decided seasons 7 and 8 were up to release standard really need a good slapping; those were embarassingly bad. Father Ted, although itself restricted by its exaggerated characterisation, stand up a lot better. And I'll see anyone's 'smeg', and raise them a "DRINK! ARSE! GIRLS! FECK!"

Series 7. The one where they spent all the money on FX and forgot the jokes. I didn't even know there had been a series 8.

Did they ever make that american version in the end?

 

[loz]

not sure about the subtitles here, but.... Ted talks perspective with Dougal

 

[seany t]

Classic Ted moments:

My lovely horse:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ATQdUK1gS4

Chirpy burpy cheep sheep:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgBjPNShc2Q

Speed 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MUz0rhBews

Best father Jack moments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX50TwIIBPs

First ever episode:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbkz_QE38pw

Lingerie escape from the Christmas Special:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foFXj7pEj4g

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Series 7. The one where they spent all the money on FX and forgot the jokes. I didn't even know there had been a series 8.

Did they ever make that american version in the end?

Yes series 7 & 8 were poor, but let's not forget 6 fantastic series eh.

There was a pilot for the american version, but that's it (i believe you can find it on youtube), it's since been shown on bbc america or some other channel and has quite a cult following over there by all accounts.

Father Ted was a great series but relied on catchphrases and recurring scenarios just as much as Red Dwarf or any other comedy.

 

[SUFC_Al]

Series 7. The one where they spent all the money on FX and forgot the jokes. I didn't even know there had been a series 8.

Did they ever make that american version in the end?

they tried but it never got off the ground, have seen some of the pilot on the series 5 DVD and it's poor. Robert LLewellyn was in it but Lister was a strapping 6 foot, overtanned American with big muscles. Not quite what Lister should be.
They wanted Chris Barrie as Rimmer but he said no way, you can't have Rimmer without Chris Barrie.

 

[seany t]

Boo to You Sir!

It's very easy to remain good over 3 series, but red dwarf lasted 8 series, of course it's tough to maintain the standard over that time, especially when the last two series only had one of the original writers. And i think you'll find Father Ted is just as quoted as Red Dwarf!

Though, series 1 & 2 were rubbish. In fact, it followed the same pattern as MBBadly from what I remember?

Series 1 - terrible
2 - average to poor
3 - good but could be better
4 - great
5 - great episodes but not as good as 4
6 - weaker but fun
everything else - rather forget

 

[Mrs P]

Red Dwarf for me... Used to love this show!! Accept that it isnt to everyones taste but the Smeg Heads all the way for me!!!

 

[seany t]

Father Ted was a great series but relied on catchphrases and recurring scenarios just as much as Red Dwarf or any other comedy.

It did mate agreed, but I liked the way that the first series of Father Ted was almost just quirky situations, which elaborated into a second series of more scathing attacks on the church and silly coincidences, finished off with a third series that verged on surreal and aware of its own flaws, adapting its humour accordingly.

Sadly, Linehan kind of just repeated the formula again for Black Books (3 people in an unlikely scenario, one stupid, one clever, one straight) which was still good, and then again in the IT Crowd (3 people in an unlikely scenario, one stupid, one clever, one straight) which has its moments, but looks a little tired I think already...

 

[Napster]

Red Dwarf all the way. Father Ted was cliched hackneyed over-the top Oirish nonsense, while RD appealed to the inner geek.

Rimmer: I'm telling you, things are better this way. It's our universe that's the wrong way round.
Kryten: Take war. War is a wonderful thing here. In 50 years time the second World War will start. Backwards.
Cat: And that's a good thing?
Kryten: Millions of people will come to life. Hitler will retreat across Europe, liberate France and Poland, disband the Third Reich and bog off back to Austria.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Though, series 1 & 2 were rubbish. In fact, it followed the same pattern as MBBadly from what I remember?

Series 1 - terrible
2 - average to poor
3 - good but could be better
4 - great
5 - great episodes but not as good as 4
6 - weaker but fun
everything else - rather forget

while of course you're entitled to your opinion, I'd say Series 1 & 2 were good, they were on a very cheap budget and were finding their feet. series 3 - 6 were excellent following the introduction of Kryten they realised the possibilites sci-fi allowed them, and series 7 - 8 suffered from the loss of one of the two main writers in Grant, and as you said a far higher budget to blow on sfx. There were still good moments but suffered from comparisons to the earlier series.

 

[SUFC_Al]

when fighting the original Polymorph.

Rimmer (having no anger):...i think we're all losing sight of the real issue here and that is what we're gonna call ourselves and I think it comes down to two choices "The League Against Salivating Monsters" or my personal favourite which is the "Committee of Liberation and Integration Of Terrifying Organisms and their Rehabilitation Into Society", one drawback with that the abbreviation spells clitoris.

 

[Napster]

Kryten: Pub, ah yes. A meeting place where people attempt to achieve advanced states of mental incompetence by the repeated consumption of fermented vegetable drinks.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

It did mate agreed, but I liked the way that the first series of Father Ted was almost just quirky situations, which elaborated into a second series of more scathing attacks on the church and silly coincidences, finished off with a third series that verged on surreal and aware of its own flaws, adapting its humour accordingly.

Exactly, i really like Father Ted, and didn't want to be drawn into slating it but it's main targets are religion (something red dwarf managed to do well in just one episode as opposed to a whole series) and running around in irish stereotypes. Red Dwarf explored everything from religion to quantum physics, the ethics of cloning (way ahead of their time), etc

 

[SUFC_Al]

Rimmer: That's the metaphorical equivalent of flopping your wedding tackle in to a lions mouth and flicking his love spuds with a wet towel...total insanity!

 

[seany t]

Exactly, i really like Father Ted, and didn't want to be drawn into slating it but it's main targets are religion (something red dwarf managed to do well in just one episode as opposed to a whole series) and running around in irish stereotypes. Red Dwarf explored everything from religion to quantum physics, the ethics of cloning (way ahead of their time), etc

Yeah, fair point mate. I wasn't trying to slag off Red Dwarf overly, I actually would put it though in most of these rounds, but I genuinely think Father Ted is my favourite comedy of all time. Barring maybe Partridge and Spaced. I just like a good argument! And have nothing to do at work...

Neck and neck now!

 

[Greenelk]

The eurovision song contest episode of Father Ted alone swung it for me. Red Dwarf started off well, but I remember the last few series being painful to watch!

 

[Uncle Leo]

The eurovision song contest episode of Father Ted alone swung it for me. Red Dwarf started off well, but I remember the last few series being painful to watch!

...and it's being reminded of that which swung it for me. Another vote for the Craggy Island collective.

 

[Stats]

My lovely horse,
Running through the fields,
Where are you going,
With your fetlocks blowing in the wind,
I want to shower you with sugarlumps,
And ride you over fences,
Polish your hoofs every single day,
And take you to the horse dentist.