This has to be the worst British television "comedy" imaginable. The female cast remind me of industrial era fishwives, and the male cast look like Korean war veterans who have returned hooked on drugs.
\And to add insult to injury nothing is even remotely humorous.
One thing has always annoyed me about the show (and MANY other comedy shows). It's how the men are treated. The women are bullying the men and hitting them and what ever else is going on the men are victims. Never a woman. No that would be wrong, oh so wrong. That would be sexist to have it happen to women in any amount. Wives abusing husbands is ok for comedy but not the other way round. I know it has been the other way round once or twice before. But as we all know it is 99% women abusing men in comedy. That sh!t was funny back in 1970, not now!.
This is Kolyma - a graveyard for the lost.
Wives abusing husbands is ok for comedy but not the other way round. I know it has been the other way round once or twice before. But as we all know it is 99% women abusing men in comedy. That sh!t was funny back in 1970, not now!.
For a worst Brit comedy its done well to be the longest running sit com in the world.
Its that man again!!
The show has long since ran out of steam and yet they will insist on continuing. The only reason this show gets ratings from some of the viewers is through fond memories of past glories the show had. It most certainly is not from the love of the show in it's form today. And those very people that still view the show because of a love for the episodes of yesteryear are in denial of how the show has long since fallen from grace.
"This is Kolyma - a graveyard for the lost."
"My Hero", "My Family", "Two Pints...", "Gavin & Whatsit"...
...There's lots of stuff worse than "LOTSW".
It's the telly version of warm milk!
"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else."
[deleted]
You can always change channels, or won't your family let you near the remote?
shareCan't agree it is the worst. This is the only sitcom we make a point to watch - we use the TV to watch DVDs otherwise as the rest of the over-the-air stuff is crap.
I'll commit the Ultimate Heresy here, rather than start a separate topic, but we liked the show better after Compo was gone. Yes, we have watched most of the earlier series, but both the wife and I thought Compo was a one-trick pony and got tired of his routine pretty quickly. Once Truly appeared, IMO, it started getting better.
The only thing I got ticked off was that some of the newer women got billing at the beginning, but Sarah Thomas (since 1985) was only recognized at the end.
We thoroughly enjoyed the latest band of oddballs, especially Russ Abbot, who reminded us of Brian Wilde on steroids.
Donning flame-retardant undies.
I suppose the office is a masterpiece in your opinion?
shareIn its day, this was one of the funniest comedies about.
As for Korean war veterans. Not true, more WW11 vets.
Its that man again!!
Tha' wud be because it's set in' north o' England. And not everybody in the northern part of the country are plastic facsimiles of themselves, as it seems to be in American shows. You know the ones, everybody is beautiful... unless you're geeky, then you can be 'plain'. What happened to all the normal ordinary people? Do they all get shipped off to the middle of nowhere???
Sorry, but I would much rather watch an episode of this over an entire series of Friends.
"The enemy is getting too close! Quickly! Inflate the toad!"
If they had stopped it after a few series it would be remembered as one of the best.
But they didn't.
I'm only half Troll....on my mothers side.
Foggy had the 1000 yard stare.
You know, Wobbles... I'm kinda mad at you.
Surely comedy is like beauty, 'in the eye of the beholder'.
One of the programmes attractions to we Brits born before about 1950, is because it reminds us of a more uncomplicated time when for many our 'roles' were cast in the cradle based on our locale. What is portrayed is a rather 'old fashioned' unsophisticated style of living with the characters being stereo types and having a sterotypical view of others.
I have lately been watching some of the early episodes from the 1970's most of which I didn't see first or second or even third time round. A lot of the amusement comes from recognition of a life that we experienced or knew people who did.
With the later episodes much pleasure is in seeing older British character actors and actresses, who we knew from earlier days but are now playing out small cameo roles.
To my mind it is far better than much other comedy that is shown in the UK especially some of the old style US family situation comedies, most of which I could rarely see through a single episode.
To say it is the worst British comedy series, the Thread starter must have avoided much comedy from years gone by, that was all that was on offer when we only had one or two TV channels.
Have you seen some of the rubbish ITV turned out 'On the Buses', 'George and Mildred' and such like? They treated the viewer as imbecilic!
Absolutely, Tolkny. If the OP thinks that LOTSW is the worst Britsh sitcom ever, then he clearly hasn't watched much British TV. It's a gently comedy, that's for sure, and the later series (understandably) ran out of steam, but the superior early episodes (1977-1987) are still hugely entertaining and occasionally very, very funny.
shareOh Tolkny-It's nice to see thoughts from our British friends who I believe the series was originally aimed at, age-wise. But. although it IS a different style of Brit_Com, I just have to say, as an American, that "George & Mildred" is my favorite sitcom ever-even including American sitcoms (which are pretty much awful). I love Brian Murphy and it's his appearances in "Summer Wine" that actually made me give the series a try.
"George & Mildred" only played here in the USA for one summer. I happened to be unemployed at the time and caught the show for the many 2 months it was on around 1982 or so. I never forgot it. When the internet hit and we could actually order DVD's from the UK, I quickly ordered the entire series. And for once it's every bit as fun as I remembered.
Just my thoughts.
All my best-
Oh Tolkny-It's nice to see thoughts from our British friends who I believe the series was originally aimed at, age-wise. But. although it IS a different style of Brit_Com, I just have to say, as an American, that "George & Mildred" is my favorite sitcom ever-even including American sitcoms (which are pretty much awful). I love Brian Murphy and it's his appearances in "Summer Wine" that actually made me give the series a try.
"George & Mildred" only played here in the USA for one summer. I happened to be unemployed at the time and caught the show for the maybe 2 months it was on around 1982 or so. I never forgot it. When the internet hit and we could actually order DVD's from the UK, I quickly ordered the entire series. And for once it's every bit as fun as I remembered.
Just my thoughts.
All my best-
I liked them!
shareThe OP has no clue of English culture (yes, English not British). I've watched American TV comedies where the audience are in fits of laughter but I found nothing funny in it at all. Unless you understand the culture it originates from then you'll never understand it - coupled with the fact that each region in England has it's own unique culture, dialects and accents, etc.
Humour, like most things that affect the senses, is an objective thing. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't good, or that others shouldn't like it or find it funny. It's called personal choice. I'm always amazed the number of people who can't grasp this concept. If you don't like it then don't watch it! I love watching it, yet the OP seems to think I'd be wrong in doing so. The ones who have commented to defend the show are no better - choosing to put forward shows that are more deserving of the 'worst comedy', such as 'On The Buses', George and Mildred, etc. In doing so you are no better than the OP. I find those shows just has funny as LOTSW, but for totally different reasons.
There have been a lot worse British comedy series than "Last of the Summer Wine" over the years; such as "In for a Penny", "Sir Yellow", "No Appointment Necessary", "Come Back Mrs. Noah", "Yus My Dear" and "Hope It Rains". I watched the Michael Bates episode "The Changing Face of Rural Blamire" the other night and thought it was hilarious.
shareWatch the Jasper Carrot politically correct series can't remember its name and then tell me it is the worse British comedy.
You know, Wobbles... I'm kinda mad at you.