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<blockquote data-quote="Crimson" data-source="post: 438435" data-attributes="member: 5079">And here I am, in a thread I&#039;ve never so much as peeked in.&nbsp; I started with what I presume is regarded as the greatest of British sitcoms: FAWLTY TOWERS.I have mixed opinions of Cleese&#039;s other work.&nbsp; Nothing I have seen of Monty Python has ever resonated with me; that famed dead parrot sketch is awkwardly unfunny to me.&nbsp; On the other hand, A FISH CALLED WANDA is possibly my favorite comedy film.&nbsp; My reaction to the first episode of FAWLTY was muted positive.&nbsp; I found the episode funny, but hardly hilarious.&nbsp; That wouldn&#039;t normally concern me.&nbsp; Some of my favorite American shows don&#039;t hit their groove until well into the first season or beyond; but when an entire series is only 12 episodes, there&#039;s not much luxury of a slow build.Experiencing something with a legendary reputation can inevitably be disappointing.&nbsp; It&#039;s like when someone watches CITIZEN KANE and expect a life altering experience from the &quot;greatest&quot; movie; when, in fact, it&#039;s just a well crafted, influential film.&nbsp; I can&#039;t speak for British TV, but FAWLTY would have been revolutionary for American TV in the mid-70s.&nbsp; There hadn&#039;t been anything like it.&nbsp; But now, 50 years later, I can see the influence of FAWLTY in dozens of shows since. That undercuts its impact on watching the show itself.What cast the show in a better light for me was jumping over to Youtube and watching the first two American remakes: the unsold pilot CHATEAU SNAVELY and the short-lived AMANDA&#039;S.&nbsp; Despite the presence of old pros Harvey Korman and Betty White, SNAVELY was awful -- FAWLTY TOWERS by way of MAMA&#039;S FAMILY.&nbsp; AMANDA&#039;S, with Bea Arthur, was marginally better, but not much more than a mediocre Maude-running-a-hotel with a weak supporting cast.&nbsp; (I wonder if White and Arthur ever chatted about their failed FAWLTY versions while co-starring on THE GOLDEN GIRLS?)Watching those two failed American versions put the original in much sharper context and I find myself looking forward to watching more.&nbsp; With only 12 episodes, I will probably watch them at a leisurely pace.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Crimson, post: 438435, member: 5079"] And here I am, in a thread I've never so much as peeked in. I started with what I presume is regarded as the greatest of British sitcoms: FAWLTY TOWERS. I have mixed opinions of Cleese's other work. Nothing I have seen of Monty Python has ever resonated with me; that famed dead parrot sketch is awkwardly unfunny to me. On the other hand, A FISH CALLED WANDA is possibly my favorite comedy film. My reaction to the first episode of FAWLTY was muted positive. I found the episode funny, but hardly hilarious. That wouldn't normally concern me. Some of my favorite American shows don't hit their groove until well into the first season or beyond; but when an entire series is only 12 episodes, there's not much luxury of a slow build. Experiencing something with a legendary reputation can inevitably be disappointing. It's like when someone watches CITIZEN KANE and expect a life altering experience from the "greatest" movie; when, in fact, it's just a well crafted, influential film. I can't speak for British TV, but FAWLTY would have been revolutionary for American TV in the mid-70s. There hadn't been anything like it. But now, 50 years later, I can see the influence of FAWLTY in dozens of shows since. That undercuts its impact on watching the show itself. What cast the show in a better light for me was jumping over to Youtube and watching the first two American remakes: the unsold pilot CHATEAU SNAVELY and the short-lived AMANDA'S. Despite the presence of old pros Harvey Korman and Betty White, SNAVELY was awful -- FAWLTY TOWERS by way of MAMA'S FAMILY. AMANDA'S, with Bea Arthur, was marginally better, but not much more than a mediocre Maude-running-a-hotel with a weak supporting cast. (I wonder if White and Arthur ever chatted about their failed FAWLTY versions while co-starring on THE GOLDEN GIRLS?) Watching those two failed American versions put the original in much sharper context and I find myself looking forward to watching more. With only 12 episodes, I will probably watch them at a leisurely pace. [/QUOTE]

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