Apart from their soft sell advertising and, of course, humour as opposed to humor, British television shows set forth a notably intelligent set of themes. They also tend to be shorter running, and thus complete thoughts as opposed to mindless run-ons. Big budget, observational slap-stick...ahem - American...humor has its appeal, but after years and years of growing up with it, it's nice to have a look across the pond.
Fawlty Towers is the British cousin of All in the Family. It's set is confined and minimal, it's characters reliably consistent, and situations are always hilarious despite the consistency. The Hotel Inspectors from series 1 jaunts in and around the regulars of Basil's (John Cleese) establishment and invites in the usual, ridiculous outsider in for a room. This episode combines ineptness of Basil, as well as most of his staff, and a hilarious ending. Episode 6 of this series, entitled The Germans, lays on the foreigner-bashing thick and spawns the saying "Don't mention the war!"
Blue collar humour, that is, simply being average also checks in on I'm Alan Partridge. Steve Coogan plays a radio DJ who, at the beginning of each episode, is ending his show at 6 a.m. He then proceeds to go about his meager life as the former host of Knowing Me, Knowing You... on BBC 1 (which is actually a real show). Partridge's social and professional mishaps and awkward, unruly exchanges happen very quickly, and at times are 'inside jokes' for Great Britain, but with ears pricked up it can be hilarious. To fall in love with this show, and swallow a gateway drug to Brit humour, watch Armando Iannucci's In the Loop from 2009.
Of course all political portrayals are not intended to be funny, but they can be shots at establishment all the same. For that Our Friends in the North can provide a quick political science lesson. Each of the 9 episodes is a watershed year between '64 and '95, centering on 4 friends. The group's various combinations as a whole, triple, double, or singular entities serve themes like fast tracks to greatness, political awareness, love and marriage, small town lifestyles and local government. Because of the vast time span the episodic leaps keep viewers catching up, but its all part of the discovery of the past and awe for the contemporary. For some in England the last half of the 20th Century was hell...love your friends.
And finally, the history buff will certainly be at home on QI, which is a haven for anoraks. Stephen Fry hosts a contingent of guests who try and answer ridiculous, difficult trivia. For wrong answers they loose points and for correct or interesting answers they gain. Permanent panelist Alan Davies is a la schoolboy to headmaster Fry's and both employ unrelenting wit. Still on-going, the show's best and most frequent guests include Rich Hall, Rob Brydon, and Bill Bailey. Each new series is assigned a letter, which serves as an axis for Fry to revolve around in every aspect, topic and quip. The best part? When someone answers an obvious question, much like you were thinking on the couch, they get humiliated with flashing Helvetica and Fry's tongue.
Of course the beauty of today is we can have both American and British TV very easily. And we can get older programs, made to look better on new formats. Choice yours!
