Today is Penelope Keith’s 80th birthday. With a long public television history dating back to the days of Good Neighbors and To the Manor Born to her efforts serving as host for PBS’ The Funny Ladies of British Comedy and More Funny Ladies of British Comedy and right through to her more recent presenting efforts in the numerous […]
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See the clip where Margot shows her disdain for a delivery person who has brought an 8 1/2-foot Christmas tree when she obviously ordered a 9-foot one.
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Is there no end to the brilliant comedy news coming out the UK? Already this week, in conjunction with their Landmark Sitcom Season which will celebrate 60 years of British Comedy on the Beeb in 2016, came the announcement concerning 21st century remakes of several classic British comedies including Porridge, Up Pompeii, Are You Being Served?, Good […]
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On the heels of yesterdays announcement that the BBC is looking into reviving several classic British sitcoms, including the Ronnie Barker classic, Porridge, and the Michael Crawford’s Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, as part of their forthcoming Landmark Sitcom Season. Officials at the BBC announced that the series would mark 60 years since Hancock’s Half Hour transferred from radio […]
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A blue plaque honoring British comedy legend, Richard Briers, is to be put up at his childhood home. The actor, whose TV credits included Good Life (Good Neighbors in the U.S.), Ever Decreasing Circles, Monarch of the Glen and If You See God, Tell Him, died on 17 February 2013 at the age of 79. We had the great good […]
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Forty years ago this month, in a scene reminiscent of the Beatles’ first trip to America, four members of the Monty Python comedy troupe landed at Dallas’ Love Field and were mobbed by adoring fans. The troupe had just flown in from LA where Monty Python and the Holy Grail had just been screened for the first time to […]
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It’s quite possible that Death Comes to Pemberley just might take your mind off the fact that when it premieres on PBS in the States this Fall, the new season of Downton Abbey will be airing in the UK. Possible, but not likely. Starring Matthew Rhys (The Americans), Anna Maxwell Martin (Bletchley Circle), Trevor Eve […]
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Another day, another ‘Masterpiece’ on PBS. This time, it’s Death Comes to Pemberley, starring Matthew Rhys (The Americans), Anna Maxwell Martin (Bletchley Circle), Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who) and Matthew Goode (The Good Wife). Based on the book by P.D. James, which is a murder mystery continuation of the events of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, […]
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These are getting harder and harder to write with each passing but they seem to come more frequently these days than any of us would like. The British comedy world, actually, the comedy world, lost a good friend this past week when Bob Larbey passed away. While you may not be familiar with the name, […]
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With Richard Briers’ untimely passing last month, I’ve been thinking more and more about the brilliance of The Good Life or The Good Neighbors as it was broadcast in the U.S. The 1970’s (gulp!) British situation comedy, which was written by Bob Larbey and John Esmonde, centered around Tom Good (Briers) and his wife/partner-in-crime Barbara […]
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