[Arfa Daily]

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
.com...
On 9/17/2010 6:42 PM Arfa Daily spake thus:

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
.com...

Ackshooly, I've been saying for years that there are two types of
Americans distinguishable by their taste for Brit humor. One one
side we have the PBS-type humor, exemplified by "Are You Being
Served?" (which I despise); on the other are those who like Benny
Hill. I'm in the latter camp myself. (Hey, what's better than total
slapstick? Worked for Chaplin
...)

You really shouldn't dis 'Are You Being Served ?' It was an absolute
classic up there with the likes of Fawlty Towers ... The double entendre
with things like Mrs Slocombe's pussy, were really quite risque for
British TV at the time. Although I used to really enjoy Benny Hill for
its pure slapstick, the humour was much cruder than that of AYBS.

Well, not to belabor the point *too* much, but Fawlty Towers was
absolutely sublime compared to either one of those other two shows.

And I have to hand it to your Brits: there has never been *anything* on
television to equal "The Prisoner", and I doubt there will be in my
lifetime.


--

Again, the actual humour in Fawlty Towers was not that 'classic'. It worked
so well because it was written by Cleese himself, in conjunction with Connie
Booth, with whom I understand he was having a relationship. The 'supporting'
actors were chosen carefully to 'fit in', and did so admirably well. Much of
the individual episodes were also ad-lib'd at the time of shooting, and
according to a documentary I saw about the making of it, most scenes were
little - if any at all - rehearsed. Cleese said that the episodes were
basically written on a week by week basis, and took on average no more than
10 minutes to conceive and structure, and produce the scripted dialogue for.
So what was actually produced, is a testament to the writing, acting, and
creativity skills of the main characters.

Interestingly, there was only ever 12 episodes. Everyone always thinks that
there was a lot more. Prunella Scales was actually amused by it all. She
said that over a very long career, she has played many many parts in TV,
film and theatre, including some really 'heavyweight' parts. And yet the one
thing that she is always remembered for, is her part as the long suffering
wife of Basil ...

Arfa