Growing old disgracefully...
Now, I love British comedy. It's the best in the world in my humble opinion. Most British sit-coms are written by one, maybe two, people. There are usually that person/people's view of the world. A really good comedy should also be able to balance a bit of tragedy along with the laughs. Look at the scene in Only Fools and Horses where Del's son Damian is born. You are howling laughing one minute and bawling your eyes out the next when Del take his son to the window and starts talking to his dead mother. It's powerful stuff.
A good few years ago, I came home one night and, being slightly worse for wear, I decided to watch a bit of TV before I went to bed. I have vague memories of watching some old aged pensioners attempting to decorate and decimating the room. I did chuckle. Years later, I was looking for something new to watch. Something I had never seen before. A friend from work pointed me in the direction of a Scottish programme called Still Game. I was always a big fan of Naked Video (a sketch programme) and the wonderful Rab C. Nesbitt. So, I went out got the boxset and never looked back. This wasn't as quaint and as fuzzy as The Last of the Summer Wine.
Still Game was based in characters who had first appeared in the sketch show, Chewing The Fat. Written by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, it follows the adventures in and around Craiglang of Victor McDade and Mr Jack Jarvis Esquire and their equally aged friends. Most of main characters are portrayed by actors over 40 years younger than their characters.
Jack and Victor are two widowed friends who spend most of their days together. Each day brings them into contact with bookie loving Winston, tight-fisted Tam, busy body Isa, Pete the Jakie, barman Boabby, shopkeeper Navid, Eric and big eared Shug. I have lost count in the last 3 years as to how many times I have watched it. Starting at episode one and running the way through to the recently aired series seven. Every time I watch it, I laugh and it never gets old. The writing is brilliant, the cast are excellent and play their roles with relish. It has also attracted some well known names in guest roles. Robbie Coltrane, Sylvester McCoy and Celia Imrie to name a few.
The themes explored of aging and the importance of friendship in old age, especially when your family lives abroad, will eventually ring true with everyone. We are getting older and we all hold our friendships to our hearts. It's hard not to love these characters as we follow them on dates, trips to Canada and dining in fine restaurants they can ill afford.
I highly recommend you search this out. It is currently on Netflix and my whole family loves it.
People forget the importance of comedy in their lives. We all need to laugh and we all need that special release.
A good few years ago, I came home one night and, being slightly worse for wear, I decided to watch a bit of TV before I went to bed. I have vague memories of watching some old aged pensioners attempting to decorate and decimating the room. I did chuckle. Years later, I was looking for something new to watch. Something I had never seen before. A friend from work pointed me in the direction of a Scottish programme called Still Game. I was always a big fan of Naked Video (a sketch programme) and the wonderful Rab C. Nesbitt. So, I went out got the boxset and never looked back. This wasn't as quaint and as fuzzy as The Last of the Summer Wine.
Still Game was based in characters who had first appeared in the sketch show, Chewing The Fat. Written by Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, it follows the adventures in and around Craiglang of Victor McDade and Mr Jack Jarvis Esquire and their equally aged friends. Most of main characters are portrayed by actors over 40 years younger than their characters.
Jack and Victor are two widowed friends who spend most of their days together. Each day brings them into contact with bookie loving Winston, tight-fisted Tam, busy body Isa, Pete the Jakie, barman Boabby, shopkeeper Navid, Eric and big eared Shug. I have lost count in the last 3 years as to how many times I have watched it. Starting at episode one and running the way through to the recently aired series seven. Every time I watch it, I laugh and it never gets old. The writing is brilliant, the cast are excellent and play their roles with relish. It has also attracted some well known names in guest roles. Robbie Coltrane, Sylvester McCoy and Celia Imrie to name a few.
The themes explored of aging and the importance of friendship in old age, especially when your family lives abroad, will eventually ring true with everyone. We are getting older and we all hold our friendships to our hearts. It's hard not to love these characters as we follow them on dates, trips to Canada and dining in fine restaurants they can ill afford.
I highly recommend you search this out. It is currently on Netflix and my whole family loves it.
People forget the importance of comedy in their lives. We all need to laugh and we all need that special release.
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