While Robert Caldwell is proud to call Erie, Pennsylvania home, his favorite television shows have always been the classics from across the pond. British comedies have a long lineage of producing some of the greatest comedy shows in the history of the medium. For many, the golden era ended with Monty Python in 1974, but Robert Caldwell notes that Monty Python only inspired the next generation of comedic actors to launch their own shows.
As streaming services have grown in popularity, and people are always sharing different suggestions of new shows to watch, Robert Caldwell finds himself returning to British classic comedies like The Vicar of Dibley and Are You Being Served? Today, Robert Caldwell will share information on a few of the top British comedies of all-time in hopes that more people can enjoy the laughs that these incredible programs have brought to him and his family over the years.
1. Mr. Bean
For those unfamilair with Rowan Atkinson, he is way more than just the voice of the bird in Disney’s the Lion King. For many, he will always be the titular character, Mr. Bean. Mr. Bean debuted in 1990 and ran for five years. It was created by Atkinson and his sitcom writing partner, Richard Curtis.
Robert Caldwell can tell anyone who hasn’t seen Mr. Bean that Atkinson is a master of physical comedy. Mr. Bean consistently finds himself in situations where he is looking to resolve a problem but somehow makes things much worse. One of Robert Caldwell’s favorite Mr. Bean episodes is when Mr. Bean heads to the local swim club and proudly climbs to the top of the high dive only to find himself paralyzed in terror as children implore him to jump so they can have a turn. The faces that Atkison makes are why Mr. Bean rarely says much at all. It’s hilarious and well-worth a YouTube search.
2. Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses ran for over a decade and remained consistently funny throughout. The premise of two brothers looking to get rich started with episodes that were contained to singular stories. As the audience grew over the years, the show started to run more connective storylines throughout the seasons. In a 2004 BBC poll, it was voted as Britain’s best sitcom. While Robert Caldwell would put a few different shows ahead of this one, it is yet another British sitcom well-worth a viewer’s time.
3. The Office
Robert Caldwell believes it is a true shame that many American Office fans have no idea that the British version not only exists, but is the originator of the concept. With Ricky Gervais in the Steve Carrell role, there’s much more similarities to the first season of the American office where cringe comedy is king. Despite saying awful things and being misguided throughout the short series, Gervais is able to make his character lovable. Of course, there’s a Pam and Jim love story and a Dwight Schrute character that helps elevate The Office to one of the greatest British comedies of all time.
#4. The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley brings the viewer to a time where the Church of England just introduced female vicars. Combining a fish out of water story with women empowerment and plenty of laughs along the way, The Vicar of Dibley shows how a vicar by the name of Geraldine changes the perception of the small village and helps bring the community into the modern age. It ran for three seasons and has a number of Christmas episodes that are a must watch during the holidays.
#5. Are You Being Served?
For thirteen years Are You Being Served delighted British television audiences. The show was one of the first to poke fun at the British class system and show what makes us all alike as well as the ways in which wealth can dictate a person’s behavior. Some of the best slapstick comedy in history came in episodes of Are You Being Served. The show almost completely takes place within a department store and may have the most double entendres of any show in history. Robert Caldwell can watch any episode from any season and know that his day is about to get a lot better.
