Job Discussion Forums

mjed9 · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 242

Kidz in the Hall - anyone? Canadian, alternative and had some very good moments (I crush your head Smile

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Captain Yossarian · Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 385 Location: Dongbei

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

You mentioned John Major. For some reason that reminded me of Spitting Image. That was breaking ground comedy. (Remember the Grey John Major and his peas, Reagan's brain going missing,etc)?

Ludwig · Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 2:59 pm Post subject:

Yes, indeed. Spitting Image was surely a seminal comedy. I would also nominate both Dad's Army and Hi-De-Hi.

Talking of off-beat comedies, has anyone else ever caught an episode (I think only a few were ever made) of the controversial 'Britcom' based around the (rather unlikely) story of Adolf Hitler and his wife Eva living somewhere in 1930s American suburbia, next door to a Jewish couple? It was called Heil honey I'm home (honestly!)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/h/heilhoneyimhome__1299003509.shtml

Those Brits certainly come up with some novel comedy forms!

spidey · Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2004 6:38 am Post subject:

Did anyone mention...?

Flinstones (original cartoon)

Looney Tunes (di-do)

Gilligan's Island

valley_girl · Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 3:06 pm Post subject:

Ludwig · Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2004 3:17 pm Post subject:

Are you aware of an (excellent) Zappa song titled 'Valley Girl', 'Valley Girl'? It was sung by his daughter, Moon Unit, and appeared on the album, 'Ship arriving too late to save a drowning witch'. If so, then it is a good choice of name!

4nic8r · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 68

Valley_girl.. I agree.. Trailer Park Boys is hilarious.. one of the best shows of the last few years..

Has anyone watched the show "Entourage" on HBO? It's a pretty good show in my opinion...

Choice 3 has to be Frasier..

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 1:47 pm Post subject:

Definitly Dave Chappelle for #1, then Seinfield, then Curb Your Enthusiam. But Dave Chappelle is the best! Very Happy

valley_girl · Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 6:26 pm Post subject:

valley_girl · Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 6:28 pm Post subject:

atomic_donut · Joined: 21 Sep 2004 Posts: 34 Location: Melbourne

My three favourites are:

1) The Simpsons
2) Ali G Show
3) Men Behaving Badly

Just missed out: The Young Ones, Seinfeld, Married With Children, The Paul Hogan Show (he was funny before he went into the movie scene)

How many people remember Love Thy Neighbour? Can anyone clarify where was that located...Newcastle-Upon-Tyne? I suppose that, like Mind Your Language, would not be shown on free-to-air TV these days because of its portrayal of different ethnicities and races.

Sadken · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 341

Chris_Crossley · Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2004 12:32 pm Post subject: TEFL comedy on the air?

I haven't been able to watch British TV for "a while", but I do remember seeing (years ago) episodes from "Mind Your Language".

It would be interesting to have a kind of sitcom dealing with the world of TEFL that could be cross between "Mind Your Language" and "Fawlty Towers". It could be set in a fictional country whose customs and habits, both good and bad, can reflect the mix of peoples and cultures within the countries. These can include ones with which expats teaching abroad are only too familiar like spitting (in class!), having a runny nose (in class!), being totally nonplussed at being told to use a tissue when one never uses one at home, and boasting about how one's dad is a government minister who'll have you put in front of a wall and shot for even the remotest criticism of his behaviour (in class), including talking, inattention, drumming one's pen on a graffiti-covered text book, covering the desk and/or the wall with graffiti (including "Go home, foreigner!"), and, of course, sleeping.

Such a comedy could be considered (by non-anglophones, anyway) as offensive at first, but then maybe it will take off, be a hit, and then be repeated ad nauseam on all the cable and satellite channels both at home and abroad for donkey's years. In the meantime, the writers can retire, knowing that they have made piles of cash from such a simple idea. Who needs to teach EFL, anyway?!

atomic_donut · Joined: 21 Sep 2004 Posts: 34 Location: Melbourne

Gees, how could I have forgotten Fawlty Towers? Imagine a Manuel-esque character running around the classroom...."is fire, is fire, is fire"...."no Manuel, it's only bell." (The Germans episode)

Sadken, it looks like that type of humour portrayed on Love Thy Neighbour had its place in the 1970s when it was possible to have got away with it.

Any Australians out there remember the D-Generation comedy shows, such as D-Genocide and The Late Show? Great sketch comedies, especially Graham and the Colonel and Shitscared, as well as the Oz Brothers.