No idea who “they” are or whether their pronouns are correct, lol, but the shows were circa 1975-79(ish) and shown as reruns in the US well into the 90s on PBS.
Fawlty Towers Reboot? Nah, I Don't Think So.
- Thread starter mawnansmiff
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Gets my vote for the funniest ever on TV. Holds up better after all these years than most of the Monty Python stuff IMO.
I have the entire series on DVD...re-watched it all not too long ago. Cleese is a comic genius. In one of the special features/interviews sections he talks about how they almost made a FT movie. He describes the plot and I was laughing out loud just imagining it...I so wish they would have made it. In a nutshell, he's been invited to Barcelona to visit Manuel's family, and of course he gets more and more agitated trying to get there with all of the travel frustrations and ends up hijacking the plane LOL LOL.
I think it's difficult to reprise a show made long ago, partly because there is the expectation by the performers that the situation is innately funny. Humor relies on surprise and spontaneity, and that can get lost. Cleese and Reiner are heavyweights in comedy, so I'd be interested to see how this works. But it may be more difficult than just starting with a whole new premise.
I loved the old show. It was loud and gawky, but that made it work. If they'd asked me -- and for some reason they didn't call -- I'd have suggested they do a show with Rob and John sitting on a porch complaining about their health and the condition of the world and let it happen from there.
I like most of those old British situation comedies, "Are You Being Served," "Waiting for God," "As Time Goes By," others.
I loved the old show. It was loud and gawky, but that made it work. If they'd asked me -- and for some reason they didn't call -- I'd have suggested they do a show with Rob and John sitting on a porch complaining about their health and the condition of the world and let it happen from there.
I like most of those old British situation comedies, "Are You Being Served," "Waiting for God," "As Time Goes By," others.
I usually have doubts about reboots but the funny thing is when they work that becomes a side line. An oh by the way that's a reboot. I think the question is can you catch lightening in a jar? Can you do it twice in the same jar? The problem is they often forget what made the original great or if they do they forget that not only do things constantly move especially humor and that it's the spirit of the thing you want to hold on to.I saw this on the news last night and thought it a hopeless idea, now I've read more I'm even more convinced it would never work.
The original Fawlty Towers (a mere 12 episodes in total if memory serves me right) was an absolute comedy classic of its time and a shining star of what can be done with the right characters in any given situation.
I just cannot see the wonderful comedic chemistry twixt all those characters being revitalised and being anything other than a total flop today.
We shall have to see!
Fawlty Towers: John Cleese to revive series with daughter Camilla
John Cleese will write and star in the revival alongside his daughter Camilla Cleese.www.bbc.co.uk
Regards,
Jay.
And well Fawlty Towers in essence is a character study. A study of an oh my God these people exist and how do they function like that. And that's the thing you can't fake inspiration.
And by the way the original still holds up. You can get kids to enjoy it (kids to me 20 year olds).
I feel bad saying this but Cleese hasn't really been all that funny lately. It kind of blows my mind that he was according to legend the one that killed Python because he felt they had ceased to be fresh. He's hit the grumpy old man phase but is too serious about it to be funny. Life is strange.
true. I will say as long as nothing horrible comes out about him, we'll still love him. You murder, rape, large scale financial fraud of the sort that ruins lives. Why because he was just amazing for such a long time. Monty Python alone brings a lot of good will. How many nerds found that show and felt a little less strange? A little less alone and a like hey not only are there people with a sense of humor like mine but they're successes. Gary Larson was another life safer in that way too. Basically what a revelation to find out that us nerds and nerdoids could eventually be cool.
I was asking @bullet08 about his post that reads, "Didn't know they had show about the Leaning Tower of Pisa."
I could not find that possible show, so I asked him.
Ah, they. Nothing to do with current trend. I don't know.. BBC? Not the other BBC, but British Broadcasting Corp or something like that.
No clue. But the title is Fawlty Towers. Tower at Pisa's first thing that comes to my mind.
Perhaps, along with moose episode, the greatest of all. " don't mention the war...i think i did a moment ago but i got away with it" also: sybil " basil turn off that racket." Basil: " that's Brahms 3rd racket "....i identify with Basil Fawlty
It was a favorite of the Queen...if you watch it don't miss the opening of each episode as the hotel sign's letters always say something amusing.
I love the original. This I have zero faith in. I had a sliver of faith that it might be o.k.. But then I found out two things. One Rob Reiner who has done funny stuff... but it doesn't seem like the right pairing and then the other is that Cleese is working with his daughter who has no back ground in working with this kind of comedy. Which is not a good sign in a few ways. The obvious but one of the not quite as obvious ones... Why doesn't anyone else with the qualifications want to work on it? I would prefer to be proven wrong though.
Part of Cleese's brilliance was physical comedy, the awkward walks and odd body language, stuff that's harder to do when you are over 75. I wish him and the caste best of luck. We'll see.
Gosh, Fawlty Towers was simply classic television. I don't have faith in a London reboot and God forbid they try it in Hollywood.
Interesting possibility. Would require a major rethink. Cleese is too old to do the same physical shtick and he's likely to end up looking like just another grumpy old geezer.
I suppose if it doesn't work out Cleese could always become a 'Mod' over here on PM.
If there is an audience for such a reboot, there is money to be had. That's the determining factor. Money!
It's been years since I've watched Fawlty Towers. All twelve episodes are on YouTube. I'll be watching them this weekend.
As for a reboot, I don't think it will be as good. Reboots usually aren't.
As for a reboot, I don't think it will be as good. Reboots usually aren't.
it's worse then that. The director is doing it because of hero worship. Which doesn't make for a good director. Try telling one of your heros they're not really hitting their marks or maybe if they did it a little different or God forbidden it's not working! Then the people involved have almost no experience with doing such things and zero with doing them as comedy. My guess someone offered to put up the money to get it made, and nearly everyone worth their salt had the same reactions we all have.