I agree with those who call this show a "dramedy" (though I wish there was a better word). But I don't see most of the characters as "insane", just very quirky, in varying degrees. In Doc Martin, for example, the only ones I see as clinically insane are Mrs Tishell, Danny Steel (the way he keeps getting more religiously obsessed and unable to see that Louisa doesn't love him at all), the park ranger who has the imaginary squirrel friend (THAT's truly nuts!), The Norman Bates' mom-type guy, Victor, (who plays both mum and dad to his two grown sons), Mr Strain (the teacher who goes nuts and kidnaps the kids on a field trip, then makes them scrub the rocks in the harbor), possibly the vet who thinks Buddy is talking to her--though that is probably temporary. This guy is borderline, I'd say, but too weird not to mention: Ruth Ellingham's neighbor, the hubcap-stealer, Michael Dunwich, whose mum thinks he is poisoning her.
Even the farmer's wife who kidnaps Doc isn't so much nuts as she is desperate not to lose her husband. Caroline, the diabetic alcoholic(?) radio host who got sectioned (so she IS nuts, then?), Carrie Wilson, the hotel owner who keeps hitting on Doc and has the dog who keeps escaping. "Marigold", who loves bringing home roadkill and cooking it (Ugh!), until it poisons her husband, The London couple of hippie-types who annoy Doc & Louisa, let their kid vandalise cars and barbecue badgers to "set their spirits free" (!).
This guy may be one of the "sort-of-nuts" ones, but the old man who holds Doc & Louisa at gunpoint on their honeymoon (severed carotid artery scene: one of the funniest anywhere!).
Marginally nuts (i.e., neurotic): Margaret Ellingham, Mrs Cronk (multi-phobic, (especially about her son) uncontrolled panic disorder, REALLY annoying!, Mike Pruddy (OCD), Actually...I think there are so many of these types that maybe this is what the OP meant by the villagers being "insane"?
As for the ones who ARE sane, I didn't see anyone mention Aunt Joan. She's got to be the sanest, most well-adjusted person in town, or at the top of the list.
I'm not sure about the ratio of sane to insane characters on American sitcoms, but there definitely more stupid ones, compared to British shows of any kind!
Don't get me wrong...
It might be unbelievable,
But let's not say so long
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mythbustfan
9 years ago
Don't forget PC Joe Pinhale, He's been one odd duck since he first appeared on the show
And what about Bert Large who thinks he's smarter than he really is?
Most American sit-coms, live and animated have had their own crazies of one sort or another, King of the Hill had Dale Gribble, Cotton Hill who was crazy and his wife Deedee who was a stereotypical "dumb blonde", Bill Deautreve, who was stupid, the Laotian neighbors Kahn and Min who were loud, boastful AND stupid
Simpsons are loaded with crazy people as well, too many to count
In fact, most sitcoms have their own crazies, I don't think I know of any which don't have at least one in them
name the movie or tv quote
This is something. The MEANS something.
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ShannonTriumphant
9 years ago
Joe is definitely weird, but I don't think in a "nuts" way. He does seem pretty stupid and clueless as to how many things work, especially between people. I mean, how could he keep thinking that he and Doc are "the Dynamic Duo"?!
Bert does like to sound off as if he's an expert, but I see that more as a defense mechanism, especially when Al moves out. He's sad that Al doesn't regard him as the knowledgeable dad anymore.
Heh-heh...King of the Hill! I agree that almost everyone on that show is nuts! For instance, is the appearance of Chuck Mangione, living in the toilet paper aisle at the Megalo Mart real or a collective hallucination?!
Same with the Simpsons, as you said, though I think their quirks are produced more by stupidity and ignorance (eg., Bart) than by insanity. Or just plain bizarreness:
Bart: Mom, why do you keep giving me potatoes? [after she hands him one for a school show-and-tell]
Marge: I don't know, I just think they're NEAT!
I'm not that familiar with British sitcoms, except for "Fortysomething", which DOES seem to focus on a guy, Hugh Laurie, who literally is going insane! But for me, the humor comes from his three self-involved sons and their sexual exploits, not the dad's craziness.
Another, older one is "Keeping Up Appearances" also seems to suggest that the main character, Hyacinth, is either senile, moronic or totally insane--or all three! She's hilarious.
Don't get me wrong...
It might be unbelievable,
But let's not say so long
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