TV Comedies that never made it

[railnerd]

Hi.
Having read The Simpsons thread, i thought id start a new thread that takes the comedy subject the other way.

Does any have any favoutite comedies or sitcoms that only lasted one season? Either because they were unpopular maybe or the public just didnt get them! Maybe they only lasted one season but in your eyes they were fantastic and perfect and a second series would ruin it.

They say the benchmark was Faulty Towers. 2 series, 12 episodes... done! Rik Mayall agreed with this when it came to The Young Ones.

Im sure someone will mentioned Hardwicke House on ITV in 1987, which was pulled halfway through its run. Despite an all star cast, the viewers just didnt get it.

For my money, a great forgotten comedy was Lazarus and Dingwall. It was made by the BBC and shown on BBC 2 in early 1991. Only 6 episodes were made and afaik its never been repeated. Luckily for me, i videoed the first episode, probably cos I was out, and cos i loved it i recorded the other 5 after.

It starred Stephen Frost and Mark Arden as two detectives, not dissimlar to Jasper Carrott and Robert Powells cops. I think it was our version of Police Squad (Leslie Nielsen). A lot of humour was hidden in the plots and scenery and i think thats why the average viewer couldnt keep up with it.

Over to you!

 

[90019]

Can we include radio programmes, or is it just TV?

 

[dgl]

Father Ted, I know it would have been impossible to make another series but a short that shows life when Ted is gone would have been interesting.
Also more episodes for the thin blue line would have been nice.

 

[telstarbox]

I enjoyed 'Roman's Empire' on the BBC a few years ago which was only one series.

 

[EM2]

I loved 'Brass' from the early '80s, and also 'Dear John' that came along a few years later. But my all-time favourite of the 'unsung' comedies is 'Early Doors', with 'The Smoking Room' a close second.

 

[asylumxl]

Father Ted, I know it would have been impossible to make another series but a short that shows life when Ted is gone would have been interesting.
Also more episodes for the thin blue line would have been nice.

That went on for three series.

 

[DaleCooper]

I loved 'Brass' from the early '80s, and also 'Dear John' that came along a few years later. But my all-time favourite of the 'unsung' comedies is 'Early Doors', with 'The Smoking Room' a close second.

There were two series of Early Doors so if that's allowed I nominate 15 Storeys High (Sean Lock).

 

[gazthomas]

Can you believe Sorry! Had 7 series from 1981 to 1988. It was terrible!

 

[DaleCooper]

Can you believe Sorry! Had 7 series from 1981 to 1988. It was terrible!

Terry and June beat that, 9 series from 1979 to 1987, and it was probably worse than Sorry!

 

[telstarbox]

Early Doors is absolutely excellent.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Terry and June beat that, 9 series from 1979 to 1987, and it was probably worse than Sorry!

I'd have to disagree on that. Terry & June was watchable, if mediocre.

Sorry was just rubbish.

I do think it was perceptive of the BBC to resist calls to bring back The Goodies; instead adding cars to the tried and tested "three blokes muck about" formula and call it Top Gear...

 

[EM2]

Can you believe Sorry! Had 7 series from 1981 to 1988. It was terrible!

It does allow me to say 'Language, Timothy!' every time someone swears at work, though

 

[IanD]

There were two series of Early Doors so if that's allowed I nominate 15 Storeys High (Sean Lock).

With you on that. Very underrated.

I'd nominate the Channel 4, Leytonstone-set 2 series of Small Potatoes starring Tommy Tiernan (Ed), Sanjeev Bhaskar (Rick), Emma Rydal (Juliet), Morgan Jones (Bennet), Omad Djalili (Hoss) and series 2 Fiona Allen (Eva).

Classic scene in the cafe when the 4 main characters walk in goes something like this:

Cafe owner Hoss: Hi Guys!
Juliet: Guys?? Can you not see I have breasts that give milk! I have ovaries that produce eggs!
Hoss: I hate it when people bring their own food in.

 

[TheEdge]

It lasted two season (but only 12 episodes in total) but I thought Hyperdrive was a brilliant series and had a lot of potential, both in story and in the characters but sadly not.

 

[DarloRich]

Pope Town?

 

[railnerd]

Hi.
Yes lets include radio comedy too. But lets try and set a few ground rules...

Lets try and mention progs that only lasted 2 series or 12 episodes. Father Ted was fantastic, also great was a Simon Nye creation called Is It Legal? But they had 3 series. Lets keep it to 2 eh?

And yes, Sorry and Terry and June were the 'safe' sitcoms!

Im awaiting to hear from a fan of The Queens Bodyguard (David Jason).

 

[IanD]

Im awaiting to hear from a fan of The Queens Bodyguard (David Jason).

It was quite amusing but I wouldn't call it a classic. More suited to Rowan Atkinson than David Jason.

 

[railnerd]

Hi.
I didnt like TQB. It was kids TV.

It wouldve been great in 1981 but not now. The same went for the rehashes of Minder and Open All Hours.

 

[Johnuk123]

Hi.
Im awaiting to hear from a fan of The Queens Bodyguard (David Jason).

Might have a long wait, I saw some of that I thought it was dire.

 

[DarloRich]

Might have a long wait, I saw some of that I thought it was dire.

agreed - it was awful!

 

[Seacook]

I enjoyed Hot Metal with Robert Hardy and Geoffrey Palmer. There were two series each of six episodes set in the offices of a tabloid newspaper.

 

[gazthomas]

On a railway theme Oh, Doctor Beeching! was pretty dire. As was the related Hi-De-Hi!

 

[railnerd]

Hi.
I think im right in saying that Hot Metal was a David Renwick and Andrew Marshall vehicle. It was what they did inbetween writing for Spike Milligans Theres a lot of it about and Alexei Sayles Stuff amougst others.

When they got divorced (Renwicks words in jest), DR did One foot in the Grave, nuff said... AM did 2 point 3 children, which in my opinion outstayed its welcome.

Renwicks OFITG is rare example of a comedy not losing any quality. Even Only Fools and Horses got naff after Rodney got married. And my current fave Not Going Out was naff after series 3.

 

[Zamracene749]

Whilst more of a detective comedy than a full sit com, I quite enjoyed 'Dirk Gently' from a few years back, only ran to four episodes though so maybe nobody else did......

 

[yorksrob]

On a railway theme Oh, Doctor Beeching! was pretty dire. As was the related Hi-De-Hi!

I used to love Hi-Di-Hi!. I think the class based 'You Rang M'Lud' was the best of the genre though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

When they got divorced (Renwicks words in jest), DR did One foot in the Grave, nuff said... AM did 2 point 3 children, which in my opinion outstayed its welcome.

Renwicks OFITG is rare example of a comedy not losing any quality. Even Only Fools and Horses got naff after Rodney got married. And my current fave Not Going Out was naff after series 3.

I thought it was '2.4 children' ? Which IMO was a decent enough little sitcom in its time. Agree regarding 'One Foot In The Grave' though.

For myself, I think 'The Day Today' was an absolute classic which only lasted two series at the most.

Also liked 'Ever Decreasing Circles' with Penelope Wilton and the late Richard Briers, although it may have been quite long lasting in its day.

 

[ComUtoR]

Spaced - 2 Series (19 episodes)
Never watched it personally but many people seemed to like it.

Going Straight - (6 episodes)
Not as good as Porridge by any means but technically can I count it as an independent series ?

Lenny Henry Show 2 Series (12 episodes) (2 specials ?)
Back when he was moderately funny...

 

[DaleCooper]

Spaced - 2 Series (19 episodes)
Never watched it personally but many people seemed to like it.

You should give Spaced a try.

Another couple of excellent comedies that only had two series were Green Wing (plus a special) and Nighty Night.

 

[90019]

Yes lets include radio comedy too.

In that case, I'll add one of my favorites - Whilst more of a detective comedy than a full sit com, I quite enjoyed 'Dirk Gently' from a few years back, only ran to four episodes though so maybe nobody else did......[/QUOTE]

It's a shame they never made any more, as I really liked it.

 

[railnerd]

Hi.

Yes Yorksrob i missssstyped!
I also agree with The Day Today. Also Brasseye of course.

Programmes like those i dont think would run to a second series.

Another one series wonder in 1992 was Me, You and Him. It starred Hugh Dennis, Steve Punt and Nick Hancock. It was about 2 flatmates and another friend who didnt kno why they were friends. Being an overspill of The Mary Whitehouse Experience it was a sitcom with satire. Very rare for a sitcom, it was recorded just a day or two before broadcast.

 

[90019]

Another couple of excellent comedies that only had two series were Green Wing

I loved the first series, but I always thought it went downhill in the second.