/* MOBILE FIX: stop forcing desktop min-width */ @media screen and (max-width: 800px) { body { min-width: 0 !important; } .content-outer, .content-fauxcolumn-outer, .region-inner { min-width: 0 !important; max-width: 100% !important; width: auto !important; } .main-inner .columns { padding-left: 0 !important; padding-right: 0 !important; } } .date-header { background: #000 !important; display: block !important; width: 100% !important; padding: 8px 12px !important; box-sizing: border-box !important; } .date-header span { background: transparent !important; } .post-header-line-1 { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; background: #000 !important; padding: 8px 12px !important; box-sizing: border-box !important; } .post-header-line-1 * { background: transparent !important; } /* --- XMastime fixes: titles + date bars + mobile --- */ /* Post titles: stop random centering */ h3.post-title, h2.post-title, .post-title { text-align: left !important; } /* Date header: make the black bar extend full width */ .post-header-line-1 { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; background: #000 !important; padding: 8px 12px !important; box-sizing: border-box !important; } .post-header-line-1 * { background: transparent !important; text-align: left !important; } /* Mobile: stop forcing huge desktop width */ @media screen and (max-width: 800px) { body { min-width: 0 !important; } .content-outer, .content-fauxcolumn-outer, .region-inner { min-width: 0 !important; max-width: 100% !important; width: auto !important; } .main-inner .columns { padding-left: 0 !important; padding-right: 0 !important; } } /* FORCE post titles consistent */ .post-title, .post-title a, h2.post-title, h3.post-title { text-align: left !important; } /* FORCE full-width date bar across common Blogger structures */ .date-header, .date-header span, .post-header, .post-header-line-1, .post-header-line-1 span, .post-outer .post-header-line-1, .post-outer .post-header, .blog-posts .post-header-line-1 { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; background: #000 !important; box-sizing: border-box !important; padding: 8px 12px !important; margin: 0 !important; } /* prevent inner bits from “breaking” the bar */ .date-header *, .post-header *, .post-header-line-1 * { background: transparent !important; text-align: left !important; } /* MOBILE: stop the fixed 1218px width behavior */ @media screen and (max-width: 800px) { body, .content-outer, .content-fauxcolumn-outer, .region-inner { min-width: 0 !important; max-width: 100% !important; width: auto !important; } .main-inner .columns { padding-left: 0 !important; padding-right: 0 !important; } } /* DATE HEADER: make the black bar go full width */ .date-outer, /* FORCE FULL WIDTH DATE BAR NO MATTER WHAT */ .date-outer, .date-posts, .date-posts h2, .date-posts h3, .date-header, h2.date-header, h3.date-header { display: block !important; width: 100% !important; background: #000 !important; padding: 10px 12px !important; box-sizing: border-box !important; margin: 0 0 18px 0 !important; } /* force the TEXT itself orange and remove any weird inner box */ .date-posts span, .date-header span, .date-posts h2 span, .date-posts h3 span { background: transparent !important; color: #ff6600 !important; display: block !important; width: 100% !important; } -->

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Britain's Best Sitcom

In  2004 the BBC held a nation-wide contest for Brits to decide their favorite sitcom of all time (spoiler alert: Only Fools and Horses won!) Each episode featured a celebrity championing a sitcom and making its case to be chosen; I've desperately tried to find the episodes online, with some luck thanks to YouTube. SO I thought while I kept looking I'd give you a brief rundown on my thoughts for each one. You're welcome.

Blackadder
Fantastic showcase for Rowan Atkinson and an early peek at the brilliance of Richard Curtis (and, later, Ben Elton.) May be the only sitcom in which the last season is also its greatest; the final scene may be the greatest final scene of any sitcom ever.

Fawlty Towers
Relentless in its comedy. The blueprint for future sitcoms who saw the upside to ending after only 12 episodes. John Cleese at his most John Cleeseiest.

The Good Life
Fantastic show in the prime of the “Golden Age” of British sitcom; one of the first to have side characters who actually outshone the leads. Margo and Jerry would go on to star in sitcoms such as To the Manor Born and Yes, Minister, one of which is on this list and one which should be.

Yes, Minister
The show that gave birth to all the shows we now love such as The Thick of It and Veep. Perfect comedy vehicle for The Good Life’s Paul Eddington, and serves up another great character in Humphrey.

One Foot in the Grave
Haven’t seen it yet.

Porridge
Ronnie Barker’s signature show in an amazing career (also starred in Open All Hours with David Jason of Only Fools and Horses.) Amazing writing, and any scene of his with Richard Beckinsale is a must-watch. This in the pantheon for sure.

Only Fools and Horses
I’ve been breathlessly panting about this show for years on this blog so I will stop here: The Greatest.

Open All Hours
Davids Jason and Ronnie Barker are the perfect combination. The genius of having such a simple setting works because of the two of them, and it’s great to see the very DNA of British comedy culminate in one frame.

Vicar of Dibley
Typically cozy-but-hilarious BBC sitcom of the 90’s. Geraldine Granger is an all-time character and each and every suppotting character could be a lead themselves. And giving Roger Lloyd-Pack from Only Fools and Horses another character to shine in is priceless.

Dad’s Army
Haven’t seen it yet.  (Got the dvds!)




at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)