John Inman, 1935-2007

[n0jaa]

Apparently Mr. Inman passed away in March, but I am just now learning about it. #"Are You Being Served?" is probably my favorite British comedy show. #The local PBS station airs it every Saturday evening, and I hardly miss an episode of it, even if I've seen them many times. #It's something I never tire of watching. #Inman's character really made the show.


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John Inman, who has died in a London hospital aged 71, belonged to an era of comedy which shunned satire for broad slapstick and sexual innuendo.
But any criticism of Mr Humphries, the camp, sharp-tongued sales assistant in Are You Being Served? was overwhelmed by public popularity.

Inman won BBC TV personality of the year in 1976 and was voted funniest man on television by TV Times readers.

The show attracted up to 22 million viewers and his shrill "I'm free!" hardly faded from the public's imagination.

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You can view the rest of John Inman's obituary here: #http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6430147.stm

[G0GQK]

Yes that show was very popular in Britain.

A TV show which ought to be shown in the US is " 'Allo Allo." I doubt it will be shown because America is so damned politically correct it would'nt get permission to be shown.

The comedy series was about a cafe' owner named Rene' during the time of the German occupation of France. There are typically British sketches about German officers, RAF pilots trying to escape from France, and a continueing story about a stolen painting with a forged copy by a famous artist, and the painting is of The Madonna with the Big Boobies.

Very British, so most Americans probably wouldn't understand the very unsubtle comedy

G0GQK

[k4kyv]

Another one that I enjoy is "Keep up appearances". I have probably seen every one of the limited number of episodes at least half a dozen times.

[k7unz]

"'Allo 'Allo" is on, and has been on for a while, PBS.

In fact, I refer to Saturday nights as "British Comedy Night" on PBS.... #If you only want the comedies, PBS sure beats BBC America. #

Jim/k7unz

[KI4ITV]

That is sad news for my wife and I. To this day I answer any internal phone traffic to my office saying, "mens wear" when picking up the phone. Most of the other employees are in on the joke. Most, not all, and that's funny.
Allo Allo is a laugh riot. The story plot using the French Resistance was a good one and Rene' was a perfect strait man for the plot.
But, darling, we cannot forget Absolutly Fabulous as a trend setting truth for the likes of our celebs Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and their ilk. Funny stuff.


http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[n0jaa]

Quote[/b] (G0GQK @ May 05 2007,15:28)]Very British, so most Americans probably wouldn't understand the very unsubtle comedy

G0GQK
Yes, you Brits have a different idea of comedy than we do across the big pond, but British comedy grows on you after a while. Then again, some comedy is just naturally international.

[KC9ECI]

The show that they will never show here is 'Father Ted.'

[n6hcm]

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ May 05 2007,14:19)]The show that they will never show here is 'Father Ted.'
too late; it's been on BBC America for a while ...

[wv6z]

Quote[/b] (n6hcm @ May 05 2007,01:35)]Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ May 05 2007,14:19)]The show that they will never show here is 'Father Ted.'
too late; it's been on BBC America for a while ...
I think Tom meant 'never see on broadcast telly', and I would have agreed. If it weren't for BBC America, PBS, Animal Planet, The History Channel, TLC and The Discovery Channel, we wouldn't have bugger all on over here. American TV is uninspired crap. Like that Bruce Springsteen song says, "there was 57 channels and nothin' on...", only now, it's more like 300 channels and nothin' on. What a waste.

[n6hcm]

Quote[/b] (ku4my @ May 06 2007,10:53)]American TV is uninspired crap.
oh, there's some good tv still ... it's just harder to find among the "reality tv" and cop shows ...

some examples:

- brothers & sisters (abc) (http://abc.go.com/primetime/brothersandsisters/index.html)
- boston legal (abc) (http://abc.go.com/primetime/bostonlegal/index.html)
- the amazing race (cbs) (http://www.cbs.com/) ... although more recent amazing race seasons have had too much "fear factor" for my taste.

[kg6top]

I'm surprised nobody brought up Benny Hill

[ae4fa]

"Are You Being Served?" and "Keeping Up Appearances" are very enjoyable. Another is "Last Of The Summer Wine" about the misadventures of 3 pensioners and their neighbors.

[VO1GXG]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

He was the best guy on that show !! Great! another of my favorite actors/singers is dead sheesh! it all started when J.R Cash died http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif