The Doctor is Out, Lennon is In

I remember when word surfaced back in 2005 that Doctor Who was going to be revamped by the great Russell T. Davies. Unfortunately, naming an actor to play the Doctor and then who would be cast as his companion pretty much stops not only the UK, but fans around the world, about as much as […]

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The genius of Peter Cook & Dudley Moore

Yesterday’s post re: the lost garage tapes of Morecambe and Wise got me thinking about another group that played a big role in the early days of British comedy more than setting the stage for today’s stars. The comedy duo of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, along with the likes of Alan Bennett and Jonathan […]

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John Cleese rants on the state of television

Now, more than ever, former Monty Python great, John Cleese, would love to utter the words, “And Now For Something Completely Different” and have it relate to television in the 21st century. Still recuperating in his Santa Barbara home from recent knee surgery and planning his upcoming Alimony Tour across the UK, John Cleese, has […]

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It's confirmed. Summer's over.

As originally reported here not too long ago (as an evil, unconfirmed, rumor), the longest running sitcom in television history, Last of the Summer Wine, is shutting the doors on Sid’s Cafe. That evil, unconfirmed rumor is now confirmed by the BBC. The series will not be renewed for a 32nd season and will end […]

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Stars would align for Vicar of Dibley return

The stars definitely would align, but, in this case, so must the writer. In a recent interview, James Fleet (Hugo Horton) revealed he would return to Vicar of Dibley should the opportunity arise. Fleet mentioned the same sentiment earlier this Spring when we interviewed both he and Trevor Peacock for the upcoming PBS special on […]

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Memorial Day – A Blackadder tribute

What would a British comedy salute to Memorial Day be without the likes of Captain Blackadder, Private Baldrick, Lieutenant George and General Melchett. We step back and pay tribute, British comedy style, with a salute to World War I, courtesy of Blackadder. The fourth and final series of the classic British comedy is set in […]

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War as seen through the eyes of British comedy

Though not a central focus of many British comedies over the years, World War II was as much a part of some of the classic comedies of the 60’s and 70’s as it was a very real part of life for many people in Great Britain. In many cases, the BBC tread very lightly as […]

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Keeping Up Appearances takes to the stage

Sweeping it’s way across the UK faster than Hyacinth can chase down the postman to make sure they stop the mail while they holiday on the QE2, Keeping Up Appearances, Roy Clarke’s classic British comedy, takes to the stage across the UK beginning this summer. Speaking of, David Janson, the postman from the original KUA […]

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Forget Lost & 24 – Think Ashes to Ashes

With all the talk centered around the final episode of Lost, Simon’s not on American Idol anymore, 24 is done after 9 seasons, you’d think television, as we know it, will cease to exist with the beginning of the 2010-2011 season. A couple of years ago, it was the end of The Sopranos and we […]

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British comedy going downhill according to some

According to John Sullivan, creator and writer of the most popular British comedy of all-time, Only Fools and Horses, feels that today’s Britcoms rely on bad language for cheap laughs instead of quality writing. In this interview with the Telegraph, Sullivan says today’s comedies couldn’t hold a candle to the classics of yesteryear such as […]

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