BBC to hold John Cleese’s sunset up for a 2nd series

Earlier this year, UK audiences welcomed back John Cleese in Hold the Sunset. While it had been 43 years since the comic genius last appeared in a BBC sitcom, his last one, Fawlty Towers, didn’t do too bad for itself given it will forever be recognized as perhaps the best sitcom of all-time. For those expecting to see […]

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Happy 63rd, Rowan Atkinson!

Rowan Atkinson, English actor, comedian, and screenwriter turned 63 on Saturday. While best known to audiences for his work on the sitcoms Blackadder and Mr. Bean, I first stumbled upon Atkinson’s brilliant talent in the BBC2 sketch comedy series, Not the Nine O’Clock News. Airing from 1979-1982, the series featured satirical sketches on current news stories and popular culture […]

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Eric Idle discusses the ‘Entire Universe’, Monty Python, PBS and more….

So, who’s up for a bit o’ science, Monty Python-style this Christmas? If you are, then Eric Idle’s Entire Universe will be the perfect PBS Christmas gift to unwrap this holiday season. International Man of Science, Professor Brian Cox, and the comedic greatness of Eric Idle will join forces in what appears to be, on the surface, a scientific […]

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John Cleese heads all-star dream cast in new BBC1 sitcom, “Edith”

John Cleese is back and the British sitcom world is all the better for it. Almost four decades removed from the world of sitcom, the former founding member of Monty Python will appear in his first BBC sitcom since Fawlty Towers ended in 1979. Edith will see Cleese head an all-star cast including Alison Steadman (Gavin & Stacey, […]

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Andrew Sachs dies at age 86 – R.I.P. Manuel from ‘Fawlty Towers’

As the news broke early Thursday evening that Andrew Sachs had passed away at the age of 86 on November 23, I am at this moment officially done with 2016. Diagnosed with vascular dementia four years ago, Andrew was, by far, best known for his spot on portrayal of Manuel, the constantly confused waiter from Barcelona with a limited grasp of the English language and customs. […]

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Did the German version of Fawlty Towers ever ‘mention the war’?

As we celebrated the 41st anniversary this past week of Fawlty Towers, I thought it would fun to take a look back at how the greatest situation comedy of all-time made the leap to German broadcaster RTL. The first ever non-English adaptation of the John Cleese/Connie Booth bit of brilliance occurred in 2001 with a pilot set […]

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At 41, ‘Fawlty Towers’ is still the greatest sitcom of all-time

September 19, 1975 — a day that will live on in history as the day one of the most brilliant situation comedies of all-time debuted on the BBC. Born out of a seemingly uneventful trip to the Torquay Gleneagles Hotel by the original members of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Fawlty Towers is comedy greatness that has not seen its […]

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Will John Cleese follow fellow Python, Eric Idle, back to the BBC?

It appears that the ‘perfect storm’ we all thought it would take to get another comedy vehicle for John Cleese might be on the horizon. First, earlier this week, it was revealed that John Cleese’s fellow Monty Python member Eric Idle is to return to the Beeb this Winter. He will star in a new Christmas comedy […]

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