MovieChat Forums > One Foot in the Grave (1990) Discussion > re: In your opinion was this the best si...

re: In your opinion was this the best sitcom to come out of the UK?

posted 16 years ago by carl170
45 replies | jump to latest

Hi all,

I am a huge One foot in the grave fan. I loved the whole series and I have recently got all the showS and christmas specials of this wonderful comedy show on Dvd.

In 2004, "One Foot in the Grave" was voted by the Uk public as being the 10th most loved comedy show that has ever come out of the Uk?

I totally disagree with that. In my opinion think that the only show that equaled to "One foot in the Grave" was Blackadder; and deserved either number or number 2 position

One the funniest episodes that I have ever seen was when a old lady was being put back into her home from the ambulance taking her there. But the ambulance staff who are responsible for directed her into her home. Have got it wrong, and put her into the wrong home. In fact Victors home and bed eventually.

When his wife(Margaret Meldrew) goes upstairs to get undressed for bed; and the same goes with Victor, the look on his face and his wife was something else.When they see her there in the bed was priceless. You knew it was funny as even the studio audience roared more loudly then I ever heard a studio audience roar before. There have been so many classic situations like that - the wig in the loaf of bread is just another small sample of how funny the situations that Victor seemed to get himself in.

I think that if ever this show was given a full run on USA TV. A proper full run. Even now. It would gain cult status like the "Benny Hill show" did all those years ago.

One foot in the grave is probably the greatest sit com to have ever come out of the Uk. The reason - everyone of us either knows some one like him, or has known someone like him in the past. Where ever you may live on this earth.

Please add your comments to this list if you want. Would love to see your views on this.

Carl Brown
Ipswich, England

[–] Another_Face 16 years ago

I think it's super Mr Meldrew.

Although I am partial to a bit of Fawlty Towers.

Anyway, must go and change mothers colostomy bag now...

**

[–] pgreenfi 16 years ago

For me its the best even surpassing Fawlty Towers. Its a very different type of comedy, it really pushes the boundaries a bit what with pets dying and plenty of people dying and even the main character dying in the last episode.
One Foot in the grave is very funny and really unique, there will never be another like it and I believe its the greatest comedy show of alltime.

[–] puggly-1 16 years ago

I think it is by far the best, as the script, as far fetched as it can be at times, speaks the truth. It talks about death, sucide, murder, theft and general misfortune. There is an equal balance of happyness and sadness.
It mocks the modern day society where no one cares and how good people such as Victor and Margret are always the victims.
It's based in the modern world in a nice suburb near London. Many of us can relate to the Meldrews and their way of life. This is one of the reasons it worked.
Although it might be sad in places, it is laugh out loud funny!
Such as the time when Victor goes to bed with that old lady,
when he puts his foot in a rotton Hegehog,
the classic Trial episode,
when he gets a glass glued to his head,
when a car is put in his skip.
Just to name a few classic moments!

[–] carl170 16 years ago

All those instances mentioned above are so funny. I really mean that. In my opinion the only comedy show out of the Uk that can match "One foot in the Grave" is still Blackadder.

Those two I would use to put forward Britain's contribution to outstanding comedy shows!

Both of these shows were that good.

Carl Brown
Ipswich, England

[–] thecrazymongoose 16 years ago

Alan Partridge I think is the best sitcom, followed by the office. But both of these only ran for 2 seasons, so it was easy to keep the quality high. One Foot is definately the best long running sitcom - It didn't lose quality at all. Father Ted is the only series close to it in terms of quality and length

[–] tegyeven 16 years ago

I enjoy this show very much and would easily rate it up there in the top ten. I also loved Fawlty Towers, when they ran it in the USA. Keeping Up Appearances and Are You Being Served were shown on the BBCA and I really liked them.

Years ago they had a run of Good Neighbors, also a wonderful show, it was shown on public television. But I found One Foot In The Grave through the Cosby connection. Cosby's interpretation is a very mild one as opposed to OFING. OFING, I believe, (my personal opinion), would be shocking for some Americans. Victor is not a 'nice' guy, (thank goodness for that). Even Margaret did some pretty edgy stuff. I love the episode with she brings the flowers to the wrong address. Shocking ending!

As of yet I have only seen two seasons. What American comedy shows do the English enjoy watching?

[–] carl170 16 years ago

I know this is years old but I still loved - Bilko. Its still so funny. I which they could do re-runs again.

Carl Brown
Ipswich, England

[–] tegyeven 16 years ago

I would have never guessed Sgt. Bilko. I've seen Phil Silvers in movies but never watched his show. It hasn't been run on television in years.

On the message board for Bilko they mention "Only Fools and Horses" and "Minder".

All three shows sound very interesting. Thanks for the info.

[–] carl170 16 years ago

Yeah check out Bilko. The original tv comedy series. It really is something.
Probably on the greatest tv comedy series to come out of the Usa.

However, One foot in the grave and blackadder are my personal choice from the Uk in regards to tv series. Alot of people from out the Uk state - Benny Hill, Mr Bean, Monty Python and Only fools and Horses.

But for me One Foot in the Grave and Blackadder are the tops.

Carl Brown
Ipswich, England

[–] samanthaseaotter 16 years ago

I would NEVER consider "Sgt Bilko" to be the best US sitcom ever. Most people under age 30 have probably never heard of it. I've never heard anyone call "One Foot in the Grave" the best UK sitcom ever. I had always read that "Fawlty Towers" topped the UK list and "Seinfeld" or "M*A*S*H" at the top of the US list.

However, we all have our own personal favorites.

Samantha
"We're here. We're dead. Get used to it."

[–] Paparazzo-1 16 years ago

Bilko is Marmite.

[–] CrystallineBlue 13 years ago

I agree the Cosby interpretation of OFITG is very tamed-down. I only saw the 1st 2 episodes of Cosby... despite losing the raw edge of OFITG it was quite amusing.

[–] eronavbj-1 16 years ago

I've a great respect for British TV, since I think they concentrate on quality, whereas our USA producers seem to concentrate on bathroom and trailer park humor, tending toward superficiality, with an impact of suggestive or even overt sexual content. This applies to British drama (e.g. Upstairs Downstairs) as well as comedy (Fawlty Towers).

I enjoy "One Foot," but I still don't rate it as high as (in no particular order) Fawlty Towers, Black Adder, Ripping Yarns (I suppose we can call this a sitcom), and Vicar of Dibley.

It's like asking who was the better tenor–Caruso, Pavarotti, Lanza...
Subjectivity cannot be ignored in such ratings.

Overall, I just wish American TV would emulate the Britcoms and the British dramas a little more. Once in a while we hit the mark here, as with "Band of Brothers" for drama or “Taxi” for a sitcom. But all in all, I believe American commercial TV is geared to a far less sophisticated audience.

[–] CrystallineBlue 13 years ago

I agree in most cases British sitcoms adapted for American TV are usually not as good... but one notable exception - "All In The Family" was (imo) funnier and the main characters more iikeable than "Till Death Us Do Part".

In the case of "Man About the House" and "Three's Company" - tough call! they are both hilarious and much loved in their respective countries.

[–] carl170 16 years ago

Hi Def,

Like you said "What makes one person cry with laughter can leave another person cold".

I agree whole heartedly with you on that. I have to say I disagree with you in regards to "One foot in the grave". I think it should be within the top 3 of comedy shows from the Uk ever. Its ability to show how mis-understanding or silly mistakes that prove disasterous, and give us a laugh at the same time.

Everyone of us watching One foot in the grave can see these mistakes happening in daily life. Or we do meet people( Or have done in the past) who are like Victor.

Another show that feel that could be even better than One foot in the Grave was Blackadder.

The last series in which they called one of there Army Officers "Darling" was classic. The amount of jokes or innuedo's built from that office called Darling was just brilliant.

Please watch this: Just Brilliant! - Please, please, please watch this below (I have put out for you the whole of Episode 2 on here for you. Please watch this!):

Blackadder Goes Forth Episode 2 Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax0Pv5FOmdk&feature=related

Blackadder Goes Forth Episode 2 Part 2:

Just watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGbRQNJTl00&feature=PlayList&p=2003419199D72A50&playnext=1&index=14

Blackadder Goes Forth Episode 2 Part 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8cH_eEG9QI&feature=related

This and One foot in the Grave are the greatest comedy shows to come out of the Uk in my opinion.

I just wish that One foot and the Grave and Blackadder could come back.

Please leave your coments here in any reply about this, or after watching the version of Blackadder that I have posted up here.

Thanks

Carl Brown
Ipswich, England

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dave_smith1984 16 years ago

I remember when that poll was done I felt Only Fools & Horses probably was a deserved number 1 but now I'm slightly older I can't help but feel that One Foot is better. I was just rewatching "The Trial" earlier, it's absolutely brilliant and I'm fairly certain it's unparalleled in my lifetime (25 years) as a 30 minute monologue within a sitcom (Talking Heads, although excellent & very funny, doesn't count.)

Actually, thinking about it, I can't think of a single sitcom writer or comic actor who could pull it off other than David Renwick & Richard Wilson. Sadly most sitcoms written nowadays seem to be exactly the opposite, along "Friends" lines, with short, pacy scenes and lots of characters. While that's not a bad thing in itself, to witness a sitcom episode in one location with one character is a very welcome change.

It's probably impossible to define what would make a sitcom "best", but One Foot in the Grave is almost certainly the best written in my opinion.

[–] carl170 16 years ago

Hi Dave,

I have recently bought the whole box set and I remember the episode that you are referring to. It is just brilliant. He is on his own, and yet he still can't be happy. There's no one to bother him, or make him upset, and yet he still manages to find something wrong.

In years to come when ever another poll is written to find out what was the greatest sitcom from Britain. One foot in the grave will surely move up the polls, maybe to within the top 3!

"The trial" episode on "One foot in the grave" is an excellant example of the show.

Carl Brown
Ipswich, England

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] davewilliams1983-1 16 years ago

I do like One Foot in the Grave, but I do have a soft spot for Only Fools... and Fawlty Towers is probably the best sitcom ever, British or American. One Foot in the Grave is great and I can think of many funny moments, either Victor picking up the dog thinking it's the phone or him watching a rehearsal for a play Margaret is in and everything goes wrong (by accident not pre-planned).

[–] Paparazzo-1 16 years ago

One Foot in the Grave is brilliant and underated. It should be much higher than number 10, but Fawlty Towers will always be at number 1 because it is flawlessly written and performed, faultlessly timed to a millisecond and incomperably timeless.

[–] Mitchcraft 15 years ago

in my list of best British comedies in no order i would definitely have

One Foot In The Grave

Fawlty Towers

Keeping Up Appearances

Only Fools And Horses

Black Adder was good but i was pretty young when they aired them, i remembered liking the first three series of it but really had no interest in the series when they were at war, Boldrick was a class act in that show. "how many beans do we have ?" "Some beans my lord"

I Really wish that there were more great British comedies like this on TV, i find most USA comedies pretty lame compared to the British greats, i mean we do have other comedies but it takes alot to make me laugh at certain things so when i see shows like coming of age as a comedy its ok but has no match to the shows mentioned above. They say laughter is the best cure of all, well if so then please get rid of shows like casualty which is extremely depressing and get more great British comedy instead to list the spirits of the British population, no wonder there is so much depression in the UK.

Other good comedies, good but not what i would class as great are

Mr Bean

Men Behaving Badly

My Family

Alf Garnet

Rab C Nesbit

[–] carl170 15 years ago

I have every single episode of One foot in the grave and I have to say the only other Uk Comedy series to come close is Black Adder.

I still think that the American classic comedy show being "Married with Children" is close to being one of the best ever Comedy shows to come out of America.

If Married with Children and One foot in the grave came on at the same time I wouldn't know what to do. I would panic like anything. Great Writing for both shows and the timing and the delivery from both from all the actors on these shows are something else.

One foot in the grave is so English, and Married with Children is so American, and yet either nation can get their meanings.

The look on Victor's wife at some of the antics that Victor Meldrew put her through was priceless. It didn't need a script, the look on her face was priceless.

If I could get the whole box set of Married with Children that would be a trip for me.

Carl Brown
Ipswich, England

[–] ewgf 15 years ago

I'd say that One Foot in the Grave was maybe the best comedy series that I've ever seen, not just from the UK. Not just because of how hilarious it is, or how moving it can sometimes be, or how it can totally surprise you with things that you never saw coming, but how it portrays real life situations (albeit sometimes exaggerated for comic effect) unlike other comedies that have to create unrealistic events that you can't relate to.

And I love it when Victor gets his own back against some antisocial or dishonest person, as we all wish we could.

Definitely an absolute classic TV program, and fortunately it's quality never suffered towards the end of it's run, as so many other programs do.

[–] tgrrrsss 15 years ago

Only Fools at it's best is brilliant it's generally considered Number 1 iun the UK.
However the last 3 episodes that they did in 2001 were mostly sub par and out of kilter with before and the superb ending of 1996.

One Foot is a very different show with brilliant dark undertones - and quite often overtones.
I love it easily in my Top 20 if not 10.

[–] carl170 14 years ago

I have to agree with everything that contributor called EWGF has mentioned on this same subject. Within the Sitcom known s One foot in the Grave there are plain Laugh Out Loud parts to it as there are parts which you just never saw coming. EWGF also states as well that it really does highlight real life situtions very well indeed.

This will not go out of favour as a Stcom as all of us will all grow old one day ( if we are lucky) and then we may all understand Victor's grumpyness.

I also love Blackadder as well which in my opinion is the ony sitcom that could top One foot in the grave. I aslo like "Only when I laugh" as a Sitcom as well. This is has Richard Wilson in it and he, James Bolan and Peter Bowles are the stand out figures in this fine Sitcom.

Anyway those are my thoughts.

Please keep your thoughts and comments coming in regards to this thread. Some really great comments already have been added to this thread already.

Carl Brown
Ipswich, England