Old Guys find home on PBS stations

On: December 7, 2009,  By: Bill Young

Clive Swift (Richard from Keeping Up Appearances) and Roger Lloyd Pack (Owen in Vicar of Dibley) have teamed up for a new British comedy, The Old Guys, coming to public televison stations in 2010. Jane Asher plays Sally, the neighbor that definitely recognizes that both Roy and Tom are attracted to her and tends to use it to her advantage. Asher is known to PBS audiences for roles in both Agatha Christie’s Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries in addition to roles in Brideshead Revisited and Rumpole of the Bailey. Series one has completed and was recently broadcast on BBC One and series two has been commissioned for production and broadcast next Fall.

Not so Grumpy Old Men

Having seen several of the episodes, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Grumpy Old Men with Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Ann-Margaret. That said, The Old Guys is definitely much more of a show about friendship and “life after 60” as opposed to the lifelong feud between Lemmon and Matthau that only got worse when Ann-Margaret moves in across the street. It’s great to see both Swift and Pack together.  Look for The Old Guys in early 2010 on many public television stations.

In: Actors/Actresses,Comedy

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  • Michael Starling

    This is the best of the British comedies aired on my local PBS station. I noticed last week that it is no longer playing here and I miss it.

    • Michael: Not sure which station your local PBS station is, but FYI, there is only one season and six episodes that exist currently for OLD GUYS. They just finished taping season two for broadcast early next year. Doesn’t help now, but might explain why it came and went so quick.

  • melliss k. swenson

    I am a huge fan of Britcom. The Vicar of Dibley and Doc Martin being high on my list, along with To the Manor Born, As Time Goes By, THe Nanny, Butterflies, Allo, Allo.

    THe British have a knack for gathering fine, crazy character actors who can act anything. I think Old Guys has a good chance to make it. Katherine Parkinson over from a good turn in Doc Martin is a delightful addition.

    Hope it makes it.

    • sally Wambeke

      Watched Old Guys for the first time tonight. I haven’t laughed that hard for a long time. It is terrific.

  • Patricia Strong

    Melliss, Merci for reminding me of some of the Britcom greats. To the Manor Born was terrific. I still enjoy Time goes By.

  • S.bell

    Does anyone remember when we had britcoms on every night on PBS?it was something we looked forward to.

    • @S.bell: What PBS station are you referring to (what city are you in) and I’ll see what I can find out.

      • C. Hunt

        Since you change to ucf we don’t get the brit comedies anymore so I guess I will not be supporting or watching PBS in Fl anymore

        • @C.Hunt: where exactly are you located in FL? Hope you come back to Tellyspotting to keep up on what’s going on from a British comedy standpoint. Feel free to ask about anything and we’ll track it down.

  • What happened to the daily britcoms we used to have?

  • I already sent comment.

  • Annette Cloutier

    I want to laugh again. Please PBS restore British comedy, especially “The Old Guys.” Thank You.