Don't get it....

To be quite frank, very few do who don't understand Irish and/or small-town couldn't-write-real-life, absurdist humour.
Non-Irish people laugh because it's "LOL, stoopid Irish drunks!" and somewhat relevant to parts of England in the 1990's - where it was broadcast (it was NEVER offered to Irish channels..) . The Irish laugh because we know of situations and people like those portrayed, and remember how crap Ireland was in the early-mid 90's anywhere outside a big town.

Jack: Abusive, lecherous old drunk who probably in the modern age would have a few indecent assault charges against him. Old-school fire-and-brimstone priest.

Dougal: "One of God's special creatures." The person too stupid to live, but too lucky to not have been killed. If you have a friend who tries to pet dangerous animals and wonders why they bite, he's not that contrived...

Mrs. Doyle: If you didn't grow up here and/or have an aunt or grandmother constantly pressing cups of tea on you, I can't help. A mother-hen figure, who gets taken advantage of, but doesn't care as long as her "Fathers" have enough tea - and can't manage without her for too long..

Ted: Arrogant, flaky, greedy, opportunistic, cowardly, and quite unlucky. But his heart's in the right place, I suppose. Sees the other islanders as inferior beings, but still owes them some spiritual guidance between media appearances.



The lamp joke? Ted interprets the card as his television interview leading to fame and glory - hence his initial excitement-, but has to play it down because he hasn't told the rest of the Parochial House. So, a lamp for his bicycle is a change, right?

It's not meant to be an intellectual comedy so don't expect it to be. I felt similarly about Scott Pilgrim vs. The World for the first half-hour, but then I stopped analysing everything and thought it was quite good.
I grew up watching this show, starting at the age of six. I'm now 25, and tomorrow I'm going to a Ted-themed weekend with my friends in a Mrs Doyle-style outfit. We are gonna feckin' laugh our arses off (now I'm old enough to say feck! :D ).

>>Example: Father Ted's first death card must mean "a new lamp for his bike" - cue an extra-rolicking sample from the laugh track. Why is that funny?

It's funny because he initially gets excited because he is going to be on TV and he realizes that could be about that, but then he remembers that he is keeping that a secret from Dougal and has to say something else so he blurts out the first silly thing that pops into his head.

I do not have attention deficit disor...Ooh, look at the bunny! 

[deleted]

When I saw the 1st episode I wasn't impressed either. After a few episodes I was in love with it!

I like many U.K. television shows. However, I watched the first episode of "Father Ted" and thought it was terrible. My wife says we should give it a chance to develop, so I suppose I'll watch one or two more before I decide to quit or continue.

Down with this sort of post.