The Blackadder (1983-1989)
Now, most people know Rowan Atkinson mainly for his portrayal of the one and only Mr. Bean, which came to life way back in 1990, from the combined minds of Atkinson and Richard Curtis (who went on to write some of the most beloved British romantic comedies like Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Love Actually). However, before that, the duo rose to the top with what some believe to be greatest British comedy of all times – The Blackadder. The main protagonist (or even an anti-hero) of the show was Edmund Blackadder and his offsprings in various time periods. So, in the first series set in the Medieval England, Rowan plays Prince Edmund, a conniving little pretender to the throne who reimagines himself as The Black Adder. In the Elizabethan period, his descendant is a much wiser Lord Blackadder; during the regency period, Blackadder is just a servant to king George, while in the final series, he is a captain in World War One. A brilliant cast and sharp wit of the main character easily made Blackadder one of the most popular shows of the time and has aged quite well.
Men Behaving Badly (1992-2014)
Of course, the ’90s brought their own thing and one of the most memorable shows during that period was, beyond any doubt, Men Behaving Badly. It first aired in 1992 and revolved around the lives of two roommates Gary and Tony (in the first couple of episodes it’s Dermot), Gary’s girlfriend Dorothy and the upstairs neighbor, Deborah. The show’s main focus is on Gary and Tony’s frequently deep conversations about not-so-deep things and everyday activities. Of course, being stereotypical men, the two tend to behave quite improperly and disgustingly at times, which is in accordance with the show’s name. After a couple of seasons, though, the show started to drag on unnecessarily, but you have our permission (or let’s say blessing) to ignore those later episodes altogether and enjoy the amazing early ones.
Coupling (2000-2004)
It would be extremely rude to say that Coupling is just a British version of the Friends because it’s much much more than that. Yes, the premise of three men and three women being friends sounds similar, but that’s where all the similarity stops. Since the creator and the writer of the show was Steven Moffat, a man behind a number of Doctor Who episodes and the amazing new rendition of Sherlock, you know that the show can’t be as simple as it looks. In fact, pretty much all of the episodes in this short (only 4 seasons) little show are unique in a way and offer something quite innovative in sitcoms. For example, in one of the episodes, we see a split screen with two hours of difference. In one, Steve is coming home drunk; in the other, his girlfriend is seeing the consequences. It is a brilliant show with intelligent writing that you simply mustn’t miss. Of course, make sure you’re watching the original UK version and not the forced, and absolutely horrible US remake.
The Office (UK) (2001-2003)
In 2001 appeared one fairly strange show called the Office. Created by the sharp-tongued Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the show played like a mockumentary, criticizing the regular office jobs and some of its stereotypical characters. Now, one of the most memorable characters from the show is, certainly, the sleazy and extremely awkward David Brent, whom Gervais plays perfectly. The beauty of the show lies, not in laugh-out-loud jokes, but its subtle nature and rich, flawed characters. There is no laughing track and no punchlines, but an aura of awkwardness that is absolutely superb. What’s also true about most British comedies is that they are not afraid to include serious elements when necessary that only improve the show’s quality and offer a richer experience. You might be familiar with the US version of it, which is somewhat more popular, but the original is still superior to many people.
Mighty Boosh (2003-2007)
Finally, there’s the Mighty Boosh. It is simply impossible to enjoy this surreal and outright ridiculous, but fantastic show without being familiar with British weird humor and Pythonesque writing. The protagonists of the Mighty Boosh (you won’t be able to say these words without singing the theme song right away) are Vince and Howard, two friends who encounter a number of crazy characters and beings. The stories don’t always make sense and the costumes look extremely bad most of the time, but that’s the whole charm of the show. Characters like the Cockney Hitcher or Tony Harrison are simply too good to be ignored. Perhaps the most important aspect of the show is its casual nature. They know that you know it’s just a show, so why wouldn’t you all just have fun in the most ridiculous of ways. You should really give it a chance.
Have you watched any of these British comedy shows? Which one would you say is the best?
