MovieChat Forums > Father Ted (1995) Discussion > NOT a British sitcom.

NOT a British sitcom.

posted 15 years ago by Island_Of_Ireland
76 replies | jump to latest

I'm fed up with you *beep* Brits stealing all of our stuff, first you tried to steal our country, then our boxers and sportsmen, now our TV shows. (recently deceased Dublin boxer Darren Sutherland was called a "bright British prospect" in the English tabloids.... Yeah, and the Mona Lisa was Spanish.)

I read this garbage on one of the comments:

"Now this comedy just agrees with what I always think, that British comedies wipe the floor with American ones.

Now I consider myself to be very patriotic, so maybe my view is bias towards the UK, but comedies such as this one (which was made by the UK and Ireland, but Ireland might as well be part of the UK) are just so funny. The pure randomness is hilarious, espeicially Father Dougal.

This is classic British humour, which is right up there in the top 20 or even 10 best comedies of all time. I reguarly crack up histerically at every show and should be more well known and appreciated."

Errrr no, this is Irish humour, written by Irish writers, in Ireland, performed by Irish actors. You call youself patriotic yet say "Ireland may as well be part of the UK". well let me give you some advice, NEVER say that to a patriotic Irishman if you want to stay alive.

You Brits need a reality check, Ireland and Britain are TWO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Island_Of_Ireland 15 years ago

Erm "Irishman" did you read what I said? As a successful actor myself, what makes a good show? The acting? The actors in Fathr Ted were Irish. The writing? The writers were Irish (listen to their accents in the commentary for one thing). A British production? Know what that means? It means they receivd a tape and agreed to air it, if that makes the show British, then you are not Irish.

"Who cares?" I care, and many others still care, its ok for the Brits and the Yanks to be patriotic, but when we do it its "offensive". Remember we had to change our National Anthem in rugby in case it offended the Brits?

LOL

Easy to forget when you don't know *beep*

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Island_Of_Ireland 15 years ago

lighten the *beep* up/

[–] ZestyMordant 15 years ago

As the show was made by a British production company for a British television network, it's a British sitcom. Because it was created written and performed by Irish people means it's also Irish.

"Who cares?" I care, and many others still care, its ok for the Brits and the Yanks to be patriotic, but when we do it its "offensive". Remember we had to change our National Anthem in rugby in case it offended the Brits?

We didn't have to change our national anthem in rugby because it offended the Brits. We chose to adopt another song seeing as Amhran na Bhfiann is the anthem of the republic, not the whole island which the team represents. I don't know why people feel so threatened by it, but it's not patriotic, it's just anti-British.

[–] Dogbert-Is-King 15 years ago

I'm British, and can assure you that I've never once in my life tried to steal Ireland. I have neither the time nor the money.
I would if I could, though, Dublin's a lovely place.

Anyway, I agree that the English tabloids have a habit of calling anything from England 'English', and anything else in the vicinity 'British'. I'm Scottish, and this annoys me a bit. Obviously not nearly as much as it annoys you, though.

I and 95% of Father Ted-loving Brits would say it is Irish comedy. It's never crossed my mind that it was a British production. So don't worry, we won't be stealing Guiness, Dara O' Briain or county Cork anytime soon.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Dogbert-Is-King 15 years ago

Um...no, it isn't.
You might want to double-check your facts before you start insulting people. I look forward to your apology. :D

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Island_Of_Ireland 15 years ago

I guess you get my point now thanks to that moron huh?

[–] Dogbert-Is-King 15 years ago

Yeah, it was as clear a demonstration as I could've hoped for.
He doesn't speak for all of Britain, though, honest.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Now I'm really curious about what he said.

[–] Island_Of_Ireland 15 years ago

If yoy're jokin, its funny...

But if you're serious, you just completely and ironicly proved my point. either way...well done :).

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] ZestyMordant 15 years ago

No it's not.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] superstar004 15 years ago

wrong

though there is no way you're being serious...i mean come on?

[–] TopGunSGA 15 years ago

Dublin is actually in Britain, Ireland is apart of the united kingdom, dumbass.

Reality Killed the Video Star.

Only Northern Ireland is part of the UK

The full title of the UK is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

---We will rule over all this land and we will call it... This Land.---

[–] Island_Of_Ireland 15 years ago

Its not in Britain and Northern Ireland is NOT a country, lol are you *beep* jokin me ffs, itsa puny 6 county slab smaller than Ulster. The unionists here call it "norn irn" and "our wee country under her magesty". LOL those so called "people who want to be British" are ancestors of those planted here centuries ago, illegally.. Plantations are ethnic clensing, a war crime and heinous act.

But that is a needle in the Irish history stack.

[–] TopGunSGA 15 years ago

I never said that Northern Ireland was a country, only that it's part of the UK.

---We will rule over all this land and we will call it... This Land.---

[–] Island_Of_Ireland 15 years ago

Its part of Ireland and the UK... that's the dilemma, seeing as anyone from NI cna claim Irish or British citizenship yet Ireland and Britain are two seperate countries, that kind of highlights how *beep* stupid it is doesn't it? Why should the invading and losing force have the right to claim what part belongs to who? But hey, because they're the Brits and we're the "terrorists", they must be obeyed eh? ;)

[–] jagheterjack00 15 years ago

Incase it has yet to be mentioned:

Father Ted was 95% filmed in London. Only the outdoor scenes were shot in Ireland.

Who cares, if its English or Irish.. Ca't we just except it as the brilliant show it truly is?

[–] TopGunSGA 15 years ago

I think it would be easier if Ireland was re-unified. I'm British btw, but have Irish ancestry

---We will rule over all this land and we will call it... This Land.---

[–] JojoShabadoo 15 years ago

Problem with that is, now we have people from scotland and england living here and they want to keep their connections with the british monarch, although i can choose to be either Irish or English/British i still prefer Irish because we are much closer to them than the English, unfortunately i did not get the chance to learn Irish :(

Like strawberries and cream
It's the only way to be =P

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] JojoShabadoo 15 years ago

I'm in northern ireland and we never get anywhere >:|

Like strawberries and cream
It's the only way to be =P

[–] b_imdb-199 15 years ago

Hello lovely Irish people from the North and South!

Love from your Celtic cousins in Scotland! xx Apart from the English who does actually consider themselves British?

[–] Sensimilla 13 years ago

Just thought Id throw my 2 cents in since your goin mad, Britain isnt a country, its a group of 3 countries, so maybe you should check your facts before ya start mouthin off at others over stupid little things

[–] chris-1826 13 years ago

Really? Great Britain is the mainland and it does indeed consist of three countries. The UK includes Northern Ireland. The word "Britain" is used as a handy shorthand for the UK and has long been used to describe the island or part thereof. It's a bit picky to suggest that Britain isn't a country. It's like saying that America isn't for similar reasons.

Cake or death? Cake please.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Descendants, not ancestors.

[–] Mymessages74 15 years ago

Oh dear. Perhaps a lesson in geography wouldn't go amiss.

It's not too difficult, is it? Dublin is in not in Britain.

[–] Tenniskettle 15 years ago

''I and 95% of Father Ted-loving Brits would say it is Irish comedy. It's never crossed my mind that it was a British production. So don't worry, we won't be stealing Guiness, Dara O' Briain or county Cork anytime soon.''

Ah dogbert, well dara o brien is slowly converting to being british on his own so thats fine, but if you want county cork, please do take it,....please!

[–] oneinchwalrus 13 years ago

Produced by Channel 4, which is a British organisation, ergo it is a British show. Just with Irish writers, cast, crew etc.

[–] chris-1826 15 years ago

I agree with so much of what you say, it's indisputably Irish humour with mainly Irish actors and quite clearly Irish writers, so in that sense it's not a British comedy. But when it comes to deciding the country of origin of a film or TV show it depends as much on who produced it as on the content. A lot of what many people would consider are British films were made with American money and by American companies, and hence are joint productions. Father Ted was made by Channel 4 (it's a myth that it was offered to and turned down by RTE) so it's technically a UK/Irish production.

Don't get me wrong, I've never considered it to be anything other than Irish, but you can see why some people get confused about it. Especially Americans.

We've got lumps of it round the back

[–] Doris_Wildthyme 15 years ago

Are you actually Irish, or are you one of those tedious Americans who have a few Irish ancestors and likes to go around shouting (in a very American accent) "I'm IRISH", even though you're not really Irish?

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] px54 15 years ago

@OP
Don't assume that just because there's a few dumb sh!tz around that everyone is the same.
I know the Britain is made up of ONLY England, Scotland and Wales. Also that the UK is Britain and NORTHERN Ireland.
I also know that Father Ted was written by Irish comedy writers.
I do also know that Father Ted was 'green lit' by Channel 4 for the UK

[–] megArnold 15 years ago

Last time I checked, Ireland was part of the British Isles.

So... even if it's Irish, it's British, too.

+

[–] px54 15 years ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles_naming_dispute

[–] Jfk78 15 years ago

Its definately not British humour. Anyone can see that. It was a product of Ireland partly filmed in Ireland financed by British money and shot in British studios. Still I dont care who actually produced the show in reality..it is a product of Ireland because it is the result of Irish talent. Many Irish comedians went to Britain in the late 80s and 90s because young Irish comedians here could only showcase their brand of humour in comedy clubs. RTE was a closed shop. The only way a comedian had any real hope of succeeding was to go to britain. It is true RTE may have produced a one off mockumentory that was the genesis of the idea for Father Ted but that idea emigrated along with its writers. One only has to see sitcoms produced by RTE such as Leave It To Mrs O Brien to understand why a mockumentory about the priesthood was not an attractive proposition to Irish state funded programme execs at that time and also see why modern Irish comedians felt the need to produce their material in a more open venue. Still thats neither here nor there. RTE were never offered the actual Father Ted show. Thanks to the rampant nepotism and small village conservative mentality of the national broadcaster all the talent emigrated leaving the channel with an extremely shallow talent pool while British broadcasters such as Channel 4 reaped the rewards. Its a pity for the island of Ireland that yet another example of self interest and bad decisionmaking pushed the cream of the crop to find other places to explore their talent but Father Ted is a lot more representative of Irish humour as it is used in our everyday culture than anything that was produced by Irish programming during the same period.

[–] Mymessages74 14 years ago

Ireland may (according to the British) be in the British Isles but it is NOT part of Great Britain or the UK. The Irish government do not recognise or use the term "The British Isles". Just because the Brits (i.e. Protestant Scots) are occupying the northern part of Ireland does not give them right to imply the whole of Ireland is somehow British.

The term "British" refers to someone or something from England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland but NOT from the Republic of Ireland. If something or someone is from the Republic of Ireland it or they are exclusively Irish. They can't be Irish AND British because Ireland isn't part of Britain - in the same way France is not part of Britain. It is a SEPARATE country.

[–] nomadski 14 years ago

Ireland isn't part of Great Britain, but it IS in the British Isles. Wether your government holds its hands over its ears and shouts FECK a lot doesnt matter. Geographically the area the island of Ireland occupies is the British Isles.

Anyway, OT UK funded the show, its a UK show. End of. Don't like it? Don't take our money, or make our show.

I find that ducks opinion of me is very much influenced over whether or not i have bread.

[–] AStreetwalkingCheetah 14 years ago

If the writers of Father Ted had of been relying on Irish TV to get their show made it never would have happened and you know this,therefore, because the show was made by Channel 4,it is a British show,no matter of cast or location.When RTE or subsequent Irish TV channels develop the courage to create good comedy shows that are a little left-field,maybe a little insulting to certain institutions or aren't an attempt to pigeon hole all types of "funny" shows into a general audience setting,like they do everything else,maybe this country will have a good,internationally respected comedy series we can be proud of as our own.Until then Father Ted,and it's mongrel heritage will have to do,if this hurts your misinformed nationalistic sensibilities,so be it,I on the other hand,as an otherwise proud Irish man will just have to wait for a brighter future where comedic talents like Ardal O'Hanlon,Dylan Moran,Dara,O'Brien,Tommy Tiernan et al don't have to jump ship to "The Great Evil Colonialist Power Next Door" to get recognition,or slum it on second rate kids shows to get a start.

[–] Miarse 14 years ago

and around and around it goes....

[–] bakinbeans 14 years ago

Really couldn't give a feck who it was made by, where it was made or any other trivial matter. I am just glad that it was made.

[–] TopGunSGA 14 years ago

Really couldn't give a feck who it was made by, where it was made or any other trivial matter. I am just glad that it was made.

Hear hear

---We will rule over all this land and we will call it... This Land.---

[–] Ginnn 14 years ago

driiink, arse!, feck!!

[–] nomadski 14 years ago

Trivial to you, decades of political unrest and social upheaval would suggest its not trivial to others.

I find that ducks opinion of me is very much influenced over whether or not i have bread.

[–] TopGunSGA 14 years ago

Trivial to you, decades of political unrest and social upheaval would suggest its not trivial to others.

I see your point.

BTW I know that you were replying to the other poster

---We will rule over all this land and we will call it... This Land.---

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] MoeHartman 13 years ago

Several people have mentioned that the show is "distinctly Irish." Is that simply because the cast, crew, and characters are of Irish heritage or is there actually some fundamental difference between Father Ted and something like Fawlty Towers that I'm not picking up on?

[–] chris-1826 13 years ago

I think the irreverence towards the church and the clergy wouldn't work half as well if it wasn't set in Ireland.

Cake or death? Cake please.

[–] Ahdar 13 years ago

I wouldn't consider it an Irish sitcom at all. The rule of thumb is you go by the country of origin of the production company and Hat Trick is a British company.

[–] pablo-taylor 12 years ago

Made by Hat Trick for Channel 4 but I really don't think Matthews & Linehan give a *beep* about this sort of thing.

And to the OP; WE didn't take YOUR country; it was given to us by the fecking Vatican, yet you still continue to lick Rome's arse after 1000 years and blame Britain for all your ills.