(Video by BBC)
This has to be one of the funniest sitcoms to ever grace the small screen.
Fawlty Towers premiered in 1975. It had 6 episodes in it’s first “season”.
The series returned in 1979 with 6 additional episodes for it’s “second” season.
And that was it. This classic British Comedy, hailed as one of the greatest sitcoms in Television history, had a total of 12 episodes. But what classics they were!
The series starred:
John Cleese – Basil Fawlty
Prunella Scales – Sybil Fawlty
Connie Booth – Polly Sherman
Andrew Sachs – Manuel “from Barcelona”
John Cleese came up with the idea for the series as he and his Monty Python cast mates were staying at a small hotel in 1970. Cleese became fascinated with the rude and eccentric behavior of the Owner/Manager of the Hotel. This included the manager throwing a time card at a guest after being asked for a bus schedule and the manager hiding Eric Idle’s suitcase outside behind a wall because he was convinced it contained a bomb.
John Cleese and Connie Booth wrote the scripts for the series. They were married in real life at the time of the first season in 1975 but had divorced by the time of the 2nd season in 1979.
Connie Booth, “Polly”, is American in real life, and Andrew Sachs, who’s Spanish Character “Manuel”, spends the entire series butchering the English language, is British in real life.
The series was a huge critical and ratings success but Cleese and Booth decided to end the series after 12 episodes to maintain its integrity.
It has been a staple on many American PBS stations for decades.
The British Film Institute voted “Fawlty Towers” as the greatest British Television series of All-Time.
I know there is a real Love/Hate relationship with British Comedy. If you love British humor, then this show is as funny as it gets. Even if you do not like British Humor, I would bet you will find yourself laughing hysterically if you give this great series a try.
John Cleese continues to enjoy a long and successful career as an Academy Award nominated Actor, Producer, Writer, Director, and Comedian.
Connie Booth ended her acting careerin 1995 and is now a Psychotherapist in London.
Prunella Scales is still active in British Theater, Television, and Films.
Andrew Sachs is still active in British Theater, Television, and Radio.
“Fawlty Towers” and “Are You Being Served?” – two of the best of “Britcoms”. The episode with the German guests is absolutely legendary, and kept we re-enactors in giggles around the campfire.
I really miss “Fawlty Towers”, as our Columbus PBS station doesn’t carry it. I REALLY miss Dave Allen – ever catch him? Sunday night on Chicago PBS was always Python at 10, Dave Allen or The Two Ronnies at 10:30, and Doctor Who at 11. Lordie, Monday mornings at school were always rough!
By: John Erickson on September 16, 2011
at 12:46 pm
No-Hio – Thankfully…our DFW PBS station has a Sunday Night marathon of the classic Brit comedies…….. I get BBC America on satellite but they are really missing the boat by not showing all these great classics…… Did you ever watch Alo Alo? It was a Brit sitcom set in France during WWII and was a riot as well….
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 16, 2011
at 12:48 pm
Never managed to cross paths with “Allo Allo”, but would love to. I think BBC America could lock up a week night with nothing but Britcom classics. I mean, they already have me on Monday nights for Top Gear (the REAL one, not that American piece of sh….er … showmanship). I’d also love to see them bring out classic Doctor Who, back in the 1st through 4th Doctors. Maybe that could raise enough interest so I could sell my old life-size working replica of K-9!
By: John Erickson on September 16, 2011
at 1:53 pm
I love John Cleese and his quirky humor. I wondered why there were so few episodes!
By: Bridgesburning Chris King on September 16, 2011
at 1:57 pm
Chris – When I lived in England, I kept wondering why they played the same episodes over and over…… I had no clue they only made 12 episodes….
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 16, 2011
at 1:58 pm
I absolutely LOVE Fawlty Towers! I had do buy the DVD so I could watch any time I want.
Never could get into Are You Being Served? but I’m not sure why. Have you seen Black Adder? Freakin’ hysterical.
By: dragonfae on September 16, 2011
at 6:02 pm
Geeze … apparently I can’t type today. *eyeroll*
By: dragonfae on September 16, 2011
at 6:03 pm
Fae- I Loooooveeee Blackadder! All the series! I swore if I ever got another dog, I would name it “Baldrick”……. Great show!!
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 16, 2011
at 7:27 pm
I got one for both of you, Mark and Fae. A few years ago, I was watching something about trench warfare in World War One. The talking heads are discussing the uninspired leadership, whereupon the cut away to a clip from “BlackAdder Goes Forth” where the general is ordering BlackAdder to do a frontal attack for the 20th time, because “since we’ve done it 19 times before, they won’t expect it!” BlackAdder as historical reference? Whodda thunk it?
By: John Erickson on September 16, 2011
at 7:54 pm
No-Hio – I remember that episode….. that was hilarious!
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 16, 2011
at 7:59 pm
Idiot, good post, and I dig Brit humor. I’m sure you have a unique perspective on it given your personal history. I love Monty P, but to be honest I’ve struggled with Faulty Towers and Allo Allo. Can you recommend a 12 step program for me??
Help!! I just want to be way cooler than John!!!
By: brainrants on September 16, 2011
at 8:55 pm
Brainrants – Well…..you profess to love Monty Python…. so that alone will save you from the electric chair……. and I won’t count Allo Allo against ya because 99% of people here have never heard of the show…… But as far as Fawlty Towers….. I prescribe watching each episode at least 3x each at some point in the future…..preferrably with a fair amount of alcohol in your system…..and let me know if that helps with your appreciation for the show…… Otherwise…. things may get ugly if you don’t truly love the show by that point………. Also…..watch Blackadder! another great show!
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on September 16, 2011
at 9:08 pm
John, I remember that episode too … laughed my butt off! Of course, most of them made me laugh.
By: dragonfae on September 16, 2011
at 9:12 pm
There were only 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers because John Cleese and Connie Booth both decided they had done every funny scenario worth doing for a hotel.
In fact, John Cleese has said several times in interview that he believed Monty Python should have quit much earlier as in later episodes they were simply rehashing previous ideas.
I guess it’s a curiously British thing to not over “milk the cow”, although we do have some notable exceptions!
If you’re a fan of British comedy, why not try your hand at my quiz: http://thebozzman.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/british-tv-comedy-gold-quiz-round/
Good to know that some people over the pond are enjoying British comedy in its native format, rather than via poorly judged US versions!
Good blog!
By: thebozzman on October 6, 2011
at 12:58 pm
thebozzman – I think you have the best humor on Television. I hate when we import your shows, redo them, and then ruin them. I know we have tried to remake shows similiar to Fawlty Towers on many occasions, and all quickly failed, because none can ever match up to the genius of the original.
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on October 6, 2011
at 1:29 pm
Yeah, I don’t really understand the desire to remake them myself.
There have been several attempts at Fawlty Towers I believe, but the worst I’ve ever seen was Red Dwarf of which I’m a huge fan.
I would have thought the US has plenty enough sci-fi fans for it not to matter that they’re English space bums, but I suppose US networks have larger audiences to appease and are scared of taking risks.
I suppose now with the advent of the internet though, those that want to can get their fill elsewhere.
By: thebozzman on October 6, 2011
at 2:03 pm
thebozzman – I am a huge fan of Blackadder as well and am thankfully we never tried to screw that one up…..
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on October 6, 2011
at 2:05 pm
Ha! Ha! That would have been… “the worst plan since Abraham Lincoln said ‘Oh I’m sick of kicking around the house tonight, let’s go take in a show!’”
By: thebozzman on October 6, 2011
at 2:51 pm
thebozzman – That is so true! Good Lord…. I hope someone in Hollywood does not read these comments and get the idiotic idea to actually try Blackadder……. Nah…. I don’t think we have to worry. Not to bash US Audiences, but much of the actual humor in British Humor kind of goes right over our heads. I watch the Monty Python films, or films like a Fish called Wanda and others….and I laugh my head off. My wife and other family members just sit there stone-faced and say ” I don’t get it…”……. I actually lived in the UK for three years in the mid 80′s and totally fell in love with the great comedies on TV back then….
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on October 6, 2011
at 3:00 pm
Admittedly, as an avid Python fan, a lot of British people don’t get it either, particularly the younger ones who didn’t live through it.
I’ve been working on converting my wife for nearly 15 years, but apart from one drunken session where she learnt to recite the “Listen, strange women lying in ponds…” speech from Holy Grail, I’ve been mostly unsuccessful.
Keep on laughing!!
I’ve added you to my newly created blogroll.
By: thebozzman on October 6, 2011
at 5:28 pm
thebozzman – Thanks Bozzman! Now, if you will excuse me…I have to tell this person on the phone… “I don’t want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries”……. (I usually talk to my Father like this…)
By: TheIdiotSpeaketh on October 6, 2011
at 5:31 pm