FOR OUR UK/AUS FANS--What Do People Think Of AYBS?

[Tiddles]

I addressed this on The Old Board. My best friend is Irish and I am friends with her sisters and her best friend. They ALL look at me like I am NUTS when I say I love AYBS? :lol: They do this..."Oh gah.....she loves AYBS? :roll: " I am nearly ashamed to admit to British/Irish/Scottish people I love this show! So....how do people in the UK view AYBS? Do they show re-runs there?? Are people there just sick of it? Is it viewed a "cult" show? Outdated? What are your thoughts?

[Lucas Bird]

I suppose the thing is it's not "cool". The biggest comedy programme here at the moment is a sketch show called Little Britain, and the style is completely different. Sitcoms from the 70s like AYBS are seen more as something for the older generation, and it's only shown periodically on satellite TV, not terresterial. If you were to ask someone English about it, they'd probably say "Oh, that's the woman with the funny hair and the cat, and that gay one," and leave it at that. There isn't any real love for it, and I was really surprised to see what a big thing it seems to be for the US. Maybe we've just to know different characters?

[minki]

I have a friend who was stationed in England for a couple of years, and we were chatting and somehow or another the subject of AYBS came up (I never told her what I do on the web). She said that many people over there consider AYBS and a lot of the other older shows exported out to the US as being "junk". Hmm. Maybe it's because everyone over there is used to such comedy and/or has grown out of it while it still remains a novel show here in the U.S. That's one theory anyway.

Little Britian started airing here on BBC America. We're currently seeing the 2nd season/series. I can't really get into it except for the sketches with Daffyd--I think they're hysterical.

[Jug Ears]

So far only series 1 & 2 of AYBS has been released on DVD here in britain, this is not good enough. :cry:

[Pamela]

So far only series 1 & 2 of AYBS has been released on DVD here in britain, this is not good enough. :cry:

Don't worry mate! Three is on it's way, with 4 coming very soon behind it!

http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=677404&p=57&g=72&pa=sr

[Pamela]

I suppose the thing is it's not "cool". The biggest comedy programme here at the moment is a sketch show called Little Britain, and the style is completely different. Sitcoms from the 70s like AYBS are seen more as something for the older generation, and it's only shown periodically on satellite TV, not terresterial. If you were to ask someone English about it, they'd probably say "Oh, that's the woman with the funny hair and the cat, and that gay one," and leave it at that. There isn't any real love for it, and I was really surprised to see what a big thing it seems to be for the US. Maybe we've just to know different characters?

That's about it really. I think here it's treated as "cult" tv too much-as are many other shows-like Doctor Who (the real series) and The Avengers.
If it isn't from this year, people don't seem to want to know-unless they're like me :lol:

[British_Fan]

I'm 24 and a became a fan of AYBS after watching them on UK Gold (as was). AYBS became "popular" again when the BBC repeated all the episodes (except the pilot - had to wait for the DVD to see that) at prime time.

Never seen Grace and Favour though - no-one's shown it :cry:

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I'm 24 and a became a fan of AYBS after watching them on UK Gold (as was). AYBS became "popular" again when the BBC repeated all the episodes (except the pilot - had to wait for the DVD to see that) at prime time.

Never seen Grace and Favour though - no-one's shown it :cry:

UK Gold sounds like our equivalent of TVland.
I say "Bring back the old show because the newer ones suck !!!"

[frankdicer]

That's about it really. I think here it's treated as "cult" tv too much-as are many other shows-like Doctor Who (the real series) and The Avengers.
If it isn't from this year, people don't seem to want to know-unless they're like me :lol:

Let's face it, its passe, its 30+ years old and most people here or there
are't interested, its not funny to them anymore.

Whereas I still like Andy Griffith, AYBS, etc. all the more now because I
can actually get my mitts on the DVDs and watch what I want when I want.

[spoonme]

Hey there all, I just registered so I could join in this thread! I don't usually do forums anymore as I get way into them far too much as everyone is always so nice but just wanted to add me two pennies worth...

I'm 31 and from the UK and am having a great time reading this message board! Although should be working but that's another story...

Anyway, I have loved AYBS since it originally aired. I'm of course too young to of seen the earlier seasons but was obsessed with it as a kid I used to audio tape episodes and listen to them over and over! (we didn't have a VCR until a few years later)

(you'll have to excuse the few Americanisms there - I watch way too much American TV! or I used to anyway)

I guess I was lucky that I always had friends that loved the show too but I can understand that most UK people either don't know what it is or have vague memories but that is more due to BBC not repeating it for many many years although it used to be on BSKYB in the late eighties back when it was a HUGE deal to have satellite TV so most people didn't!

Oh and to British_Fan - BBC did repeat the pilot episode - at least twice as I had it on video from the first time it was repeated in the nineties and then it was on again a few years back.

I believe AYBS is the best TV Show to come from here and the BBC were so wrong to of cancelled GAF when the ratings were high, I used to watch that with my Dad and taped every episode!

In terms of exporting UK shows to the US it seems most of our shows turn up in the states on one channel or another and vice versa so I guess those people must think all UK shows are JUNK (Little Britain is shown stateside) although I am still shocked we never got Family Matters as we did get Perfect Strangers for a while until BBC stopped showing it but don't get me started down that road...

Funny that the AYB movie was always on TV when I was a kid!

I saw John Inman in panto in Mother Goose when I was kid! And saw Trevor Bannister in panto a few years ago in Windsor - he was very very funny - My Mum got me the ticket as it had "thingy from AYBS in it"!!! Still have the 7" single of 'Come Outside' by Wendy & Mike!!! Classy. Oh and the 'AYBS Sir' single by John. I really keep some junk!!!

Anyway, rambling there. I love that Americans have taken this show into their hearts seeing as the Brits have nearly forgotten about it! But there are many fans here as I always seem to have friends who love it - maybe it's like gaydar - just home on into a fellow fan!

One time (not at band camp) I was in America I had a lengthy chat with a girl in a bookstore about the show and it was great to see such enthusiam for it! It deserves it.

[Tiddles]

Welcome spoonme!

I hope you'll stick around and add more observations from "across the pond." I am flattered you joined the board just to respond to my thread, too. Nice work! :calling:

used to audio tape episodes and listen to them over and over!

I used to do that as a teenager with with "Carol Burnett" and "All In The Family" and "Mary Tyler Moore" here in the US when I was a teen. Quite normal! Like you said....audio cassettes were all we had!!

[spoonme]

Thank you Tiddles for the welcome.

I hope I can stick around also!

[Very Young Mr Grace]

Hey Spoonme, that was an excellent post!

Welcome and have fun.

[spoonme]

Thank you!!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

maybe it's like gaydar - just home on into a fellow fan!
One time (not at band camp) I was in America

ROTFLMFAO !!!! :lol2: :lol2:
Welcome spoonme and great ovservation !!! Thank you very much for the chuckle so early in the morning !!!

[spoonme]

You are welcome Greg and thank you for my welcome message!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

You are welcome Greg and thank you for my welcome message!

Anytime spoonme, anytime !!!

[matthewrose]

Hi there, i'm new to this thing but it's great to know that there are masses of active fans out there, not just me!

I agree with Are you being served? not being considered cool but i think there is possibly a secret love of are you being served with at least some of today's teenagers. i can say this with great authority because i am one! I'm currently 16 and started watching when i must have been about 10 and what's fantastic about that is that i watched it then, not getting half of the jokes, and still having a great time! Nowadays i can watch them again and pick up on the jokes i missed out the first time round.

The reason for my argument is that the other day a few of my fellow boarders at school and i were having a conversation about AYBS? and at least 7 out of the 10 or so people in there had watched it and thought it was hilarious. I know that my best friend and I have had many a conversation on it, sparked by the uncanny resemblance to a young Mr. Humphries my friend has. I am about to order series 1-3 on DVD and now plan to go on a personal mission to initiate the unfortunates that haven't seen AYBS?. I won't stop until Are you free? is as common as I'm the only gay in the village. It might take some work... :P

Oh and AYBS is on every lunchtime in the UK on UKGold and immediately after on UKDrama. I've had the flu recently so i've been catching up on my episodes.

Well enough rambling for now!

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

Hello Matthew !!!

and now plan to go on a personal mission to initiate the unfortunates that haven't seen AYBS?. I won't stop until Are you free? is as common as I'm the only gay in the village. It might take some work...

I say "You go brothah Matthew !!!!!" Spread the gospel of "Serverdom" to any and all that will hear !!!! And Welcome to the board !!!!

[Jeff Humphries]

Yeah, what Wib said ! :wink:

[Very Young Mr Grace]

Great post Matthew! Welcome to the boards.... :D

[Dean]

I'm in New Zealand where the show is still regularly repeated - I don't think there's any doubt the show is seen as old-fashioned and with the sort of silly humour that probably wouldn't be made today. though then again, how politically incorrect is South Park for example.

I think the appeal of the show in a way is its age. I remember Mollie Sugden saying once that it was out of date when it was made so for thet reason it doesn't age.

And even if there are no longer department stores quite as formal as Grace Brothers these days, the basic tension of most of the plots - the way people at different levels of management/worker interrelate - is something that is still very real to most people. Most of us know someone vaguely like Mr Rumbold or Captain Peacock - we know someone young and bored and therefore playful like Mr Lucas or Miss Brahms. Most of us have staff meetings that are just as pointless as the ones at Grace Brothers. The basic situations in the better shows - although exaggerated to the level of farce obviously - remain believable. That helps.