- Joined
- Apr 26, 2004
- Posts
- 785
All right, let's sort out the rules:
1) All types of comedy are acceptable, but please list what it is (sketch, sitcom, animated series, etc.)
2) Please list the country and the approximate time it ran so people not familiar with it can learn a bit more. Let's share the laughs, baby!
3) Give your reasons why you think it deserves this title.
Mine:
1) Monty Python's Flying Circus, British sketch, 1969-1974: The bizarre creation of six madmen (Terry Jones, the late Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin and American-born Terry Gilliam) set the bar so high for sketch comedy and nonsensical, yet subtlely intelligent humour that many of its jokes and phrases are now commonplace. Few television shows have been as referenced as this. Key moments: Spanish Inquisition, Dead Parrot, Ministry of Silly Walks, Upper Class Twit of the Year, Spam and Homicidal Barber/Lumberjack Song.
2) The Simpsons, American animated, 1989-1999: I do not accept the last few seasons as The Simpsons, but the first 10 years are some of the finest written comedy on television. The longest running animated show, it's pop culture references are second-to-none and the nearly endless stream of characters adds depth to Springfield's First Family. Key moments: Burns sells the power plant, Mr. Plow, Burns runs over Bart, The Thompsons and Itchy & Scratchyland.
3) Kids in the Hall, Canadian sketch, 1989-1994: Canada's answer to Flying Circus? Perhaps yes, perhaps no, but this is one of the most diverse and odd shows to ever scar our television screens. Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Scott Thompson, Kevin McDonald and Mark McKinney are invading the U.S. right now and are probably rubbing people down there the same way the Pythons did before them. Key moments: Headcrusher, Chicken Lady, Buddy Cole and Cabbagehead.
4) Mr. Bean, British sitcom, 1989-1995: Who doesn't love it when an annoying, arrogrant, pompous, bull-headed jerk gets to push people around, only to find himself the butt of the joke at the end? This is the premise of Mr. Bean, the lovable prick played by British everyman Rowan Atkinson. Ignore the movie, ignore the animated series - this is where it's at. Key moments: Bean goes swimming, Bean goes to a fancy restaurant, Bean makes a sandwich on a park bench and Bean goes shopping.
5) The Red Green Show, Canadian variety, 1989 to present: The show is part sketch, part sitcom and is only funny to Canadians, as it shows our country for what it is - a bunch of laid-back goof-offs who love to have more fun with our friends than be serious. Starring Steve Smith and written by Rick Green, the two created Red Green based on a character they were toying with and was partially used on Smith's old variety series with his wife, Smith and Smith. The show was better when Patrick McKenna (Harold) was on it. Key moments: Adventures with Bill, Handyman's Corner, The Experts, "Keep your stick on the ice" and "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."
1) All types of comedy are acceptable, but please list what it is (sketch, sitcom, animated series, etc.)
2) Please list the country and the approximate time it ran so people not familiar with it can learn a bit more. Let's share the laughs, baby!
3) Give your reasons why you think it deserves this title.
Mine:
1) Monty Python's Flying Circus, British sketch, 1969-1974: The bizarre creation of six madmen (Terry Jones, the late Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin and American-born Terry Gilliam) set the bar so high for sketch comedy and nonsensical, yet subtlely intelligent humour that many of its jokes and phrases are now commonplace. Few television shows have been as referenced as this. Key moments: Spanish Inquisition, Dead Parrot, Ministry of Silly Walks, Upper Class Twit of the Year, Spam and Homicidal Barber/Lumberjack Song.
2) The Simpsons, American animated, 1989-1999: I do not accept the last few seasons as The Simpsons, but the first 10 years are some of the finest written comedy on television. The longest running animated show, it's pop culture references are second-to-none and the nearly endless stream of characters adds depth to Springfield's First Family. Key moments: Burns sells the power plant, Mr. Plow, Burns runs over Bart, The Thompsons and Itchy & Scratchyland.
3) Kids in the Hall, Canadian sketch, 1989-1994: Canada's answer to Flying Circus? Perhaps yes, perhaps no, but this is one of the most diverse and odd shows to ever scar our television screens. Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Scott Thompson, Kevin McDonald and Mark McKinney are invading the U.S. right now and are probably rubbing people down there the same way the Pythons did before them. Key moments: Headcrusher, Chicken Lady, Buddy Cole and Cabbagehead.
4) Mr. Bean, British sitcom, 1989-1995: Who doesn't love it when an annoying, arrogrant, pompous, bull-headed jerk gets to push people around, only to find himself the butt of the joke at the end? This is the premise of Mr. Bean, the lovable prick played by British everyman Rowan Atkinson. Ignore the movie, ignore the animated series - this is where it's at. Key moments: Bean goes swimming, Bean goes to a fancy restaurant, Bean makes a sandwich on a park bench and Bean goes shopping.
5) The Red Green Show, Canadian variety, 1989 to present: The show is part sketch, part sitcom and is only funny to Canadians, as it shows our country for what it is - a bunch of laid-back goof-offs who love to have more fun with our friends than be serious. Starring Steve Smith and written by Rick Green, the two created Red Green based on a character they were toying with and was partially used on Smith's old variety series with his wife, Smith and Smith. The show was better when Patrick McKenna (Harold) was on it. Key moments: Adventures with Bill, Handyman's Corner, The Experts, "Keep your stick on the ice" and "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."
wow, one more person in the world miss this series, too... I never saw it again here in Brazil.
