Any
assessment of what constitutes the “best” of anything must involve some degree
of subjectivity, and this is certainly true in terms of television sitcoms.
Those chosen for discussion here were personal favourites of the current
writer, but he is unlikely to be alone in his opinion!
The 1990s
were not dominated, as were the 1980s, by sitcoms that stood head and shoulders
above all the rest. At least a dozen probably deserve mention, but, as space
does not allow this, here are four that may perhaps be regarded as the best of
the bunch (in alphabetical order):
Absolutely
Fabulous
Known more
generally as “Ab Fab”, three series were broadcast in the early 1990s, with a
gap from 1996 to 2001 after which two more series were made. This was a vehicle
for Jennifer Saunders when she and her comedy partner Dawn French were seeking
separate careers. It is unusual for being one of the few successful British
sitcoms to feature a nearly 100% female cast.
Saunders
plays Eddy Monsoon, a reasonably prosperous London woman in her 40s who still
lives as though the seventies were in full swing, doing hardly any work
(including housework), claiming to know all the most fashionable people in town,
and addicted to cigarettes and alcohol, among other things.
Eddy is kept
in line by her straight-laced daughter Saffron (Saffy) who is played by Julia
Salwalha, and out of line by her even more disreputable friend Patsy Stone
(Joanna Lumley). Much of the comedy comes from the triangular relationships
between these characters and the loathing that Patsy and Saffy have for each
other. A fourth main character is Eddy’s mother, played by June Whitfield, a
sitcom actress from a much earlier era.
Although the
comedy often degenerates into farce, and the acting of Saunders and Lumley is sometimes
embarrassingly “over the top”, Ab Fab did much to cement the acting reputation
of Julia Salwalha, who played a character much younger than her actual age,
Saunders being only ten years older than Salwalha. However, this helped greatly
in making the character of Saffy convincing as being by far the most mature
person in the sitcom.
As Time Goes
By
Nine series
were made between 1992 and 2002. Written by Bob Larbey, this was a highly
intelligent comedy series starring two of Britain’s best actors, namely Dame
Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer. Palmer plays retired coffee planter Lionel
Hardcastle, who has spent nearly 40 years in Kenya
but has now come back to London
As they have
both been married and are now either widowed or divorced, they decide to renew
their relationship, but are always faced with the reality of having changed in
some ways but not others.
Much of the
comedy comes from the clash between Lionel’s laid-back approach to life and
Jean’s determination to help those around her and solve their problems. These
include Jean’s divorced daughter Judith (played by Moira Brooker) and Judith’s
friend and Jean’s secretary Sandy (Jenny Funnell). Another main character is
Lionel’s would-be publisher Alistair Deacon (Philip Bretherton) who is determined
to promote Lionel’s interests even though Lionel is quite happy to let things
lie.
This is a
very “British” sitcom that is somewhat old-fashioned in its total lack of
malice, with the humour coming from misunderstandings that arise when
characters act from the best of motives. The combination of excellent writing
and underplayed acting make it a lasting favourite.
Red Dwarf
Eight series
were made between 1988 and 1999, from scripts written by Rob Grant and Doug
Naylor. It was a science fiction parody based on a situation that allowed the
writers’ imaginations to run riot and produce comedy that combined sci-fi with
the social mores of the main character and elements of late 20th
century popular culture.
Red Dwarf is
an enormous spaceship, drifting in the depths of space with no crew. That is
not entirely true, because one character has survived the radiation disaster
that wiped out the rest of the crew. This is Dave Lister (Craig Charles) a
Liverpudlian who was the lowest-ranking member of the crew and who had been
sentenced to “stasis” for smuggling his pregnant cat on board. Three million
years later he emerges, exactly the same as he was before, but completely
alone.
Well, not
quite! For one thing, his cat survived and her offspring have evolved to
produce “The Cat” (Danny John-Jules) a humanoid with distinctly feline
characteristics. The ship’s computer has decided that Dave needs a human
companion and produces a hologram of his former room-mate Arnold Rimmer (Chris
Barrie). However, the two could not stand each other originally, and the relationship
is no better after the passing of three million years!
The fourth
main character is Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) a highly advanced robot who is
programmed to serve and to have no feelings of his own. Also prominent is the
ship’s computer Holly (with the voice and face of Norman Lovett in some of the
series and Hattie Hayridge in others). Dave’s former girlfriend Kristine Kochanski
(Clare Grogan / Chloë) also appears in later series.
The theme that runs through all
the series is the personality clash between Lister and Rimmer, with Lister
being generally messy, rebellious and laid-back, whereas Rimmer is absurdly
hidebound, neurotic and self-centred with a massively overblown belief in his
own abilities.
Given the whole Universe of
strange places and creatures to explore, plus the possibilities offered by
different dimensions, it is no surprise that the fertile imaginations of the
writers went berserk, aided by some excellent special effects. That said, much
of the humour is reassuringly down to earth and often downright earthy.
The Vicar of
Dibley
Series One
(1994) comprised six episodes and there were a further four in Series Two
(1997-98). However, various “specials” were also made between 1996 and 2007,
bringing the total number of episodes, some being very short, to 24. Although
each episode stood alone there were a few underlying plots that provided a
connection throughout the series.
Much as “Absolutely
Fabulous” was a vehicle for Jennifer Saunders, this was the chance for Dawn
French to prove herself in playing the dominant character in a comedy series.
The role, which was written with her in mind by Richard Curtis and Paul
Mayhew-Archer, might at first sight seem surprising, as she had not previously
been noted for playing religious characters. However, she proved to be
absolutely right for this part.
The idea for
the sitcom came from the change in 1992 that allowed women to be ordained in
the Church of England. The Reverend Geraldine Granger (French’s character) was
not based on any particular female vicar, although French and the writers did
carry out a lot of research into how women had been received when they first
appeared as country vicars.
Playing a
religious subject for laughs is always dangerous, as audiences can easily take
offence if they believe that Christianity is being mocked. Indeed, there were
certain aspects of The Vicar of Dibley that pushed the boundaries, such as
Geraldine’s greed for chocolate (matching French’s well-known large physical
size) and her desperate search for a husband. Sexual innuendo was present in
many of the episodes.
However,
Geraldine has the proverbial “heart of gold” and will do anything to protect
her parishioners and avoid letting them down, even at her own expense. She has
a well-developed sense of right and wrong, and religion is never itself the
target of mockery.
Most of the
rest of the cast comprise the Dibley Parish Council, with many episodes
featuring a meeting of its highly eccentric members. The Vicar has a female
verger to assist her, namely Alice Tinker (Emma Chambers) whose stupidities
provide much of the comedy and whose love affair with Hugo Horton (James
Fleet), the son of Parish Council chairman David Horton (Gary Waldhorn) offers
a continuous storyline.
Although the
exaggerations of this comedy often turn it into farce, and a number of the
characters are too ridiculous to be believed, there are elements that are very
appealing, and the writing is always paced entirely correctly.
The Best of
the Rest
One Foot in
the Grave (1990-2000). Richard Wilson starred as Victor Meldrew, a pensioner
who unwittingly allows utterly bizarre situations to develop.
Keeping up
Appearances (1990-95). Patricia Routledge starred as the middle-class snob
Hyacinth Bucket, which she insists is pronounced “bouquet”.
Men Behaving
Badly (1992-98). Martin Clunes and Neil Morrissey starred as two extremely
immature young men.
Birds of a
Feather (1989-98). Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson starred as sisters whose
husbands were in prison.
© John Welford
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