Viewing Thread:
"Sitcoms are reborn in My Family.."

Practically every week in the Radio Times, I used to read about how British sitcoms are 'dead', and how the US imports like Friends and Fasier are the only sitcoms we watch. Then they go and on and on about the 'good old days' with shows such as Fawlty Towers and Only Fools and Horses. Recently this has stopped. Why? The brilliant show on BBC1, 8:30, Friday.

It's called My Family, and it is hilarious. It's set around this family called the Harpers, of which there are five:

Ben Harper: The dad. Pessimistic and cynical. Kind of like how I imagine Goatboy. Anyway, he is always having these woes, and he counters them in hilarious ways. Played by Robert Lindsay, who I first saw in Hornblower, Ben provides the witty humour, with the sharp one-liners.

Susan Harper: The mum. Has Ben twisted around her little finger. She is cheerful and believes the best of anyone,unless it's Ben. She provides the counter to Ben, making his lines even funnier. Zoe Wannamaker plays Susan, and her hairstyle is humour enough. I mean, look at it!

Nick Harper: The oldest son.Played by an unknown called Kris Marshall. He is by FAR the funniest in the show. His facial expression have to be seen to be believed. He provides the slapstick, but the sheer stupidity of some of his lines have me doubled up in laughter, for example:

' I'm moving in slow motion. Figure I'll live longer this way'.

'Nick, you do realise that the Naked Chef isn't really naked when he cooks?'

' Well, I'm willing to go that extra mile'.

Hehehe. So funny. He carrys the show, although it is focused around Ben. The lad will go far.

Janey Harper: The daughter. Played by Daniela Denby-Ashe. She is funny, occasionally. In my opinion, she's the weakest part of the show. But she does provide the butt of many joke, including her shallow nature, and thick boyfriend.

Michael Harper: The youngest son. He's a genius, and this is used well. For example, the guy is selling meat before he hits puberty! He's played by Gabriel Thompson, another actor who I think should go far. He's not as funny, as Nick, but then who is?

This show rules. Even it's timing is brilliant, right before Have I Got News For You. Two of the funniest things on TV right next to each other? Thank you, BBC!

It should put all the critics of British sitcoms to shame. It's better than Fasier, and at least the equal of Friends on the Make-Gaz-Fall-off-The-Sofa Scale. I'm not saying that the old British sitcoms are any less good, it's just that the critics should open their eyes and see what's in front of them. Then they should collapse in laughter.

I'm 16, so by rights I shouldn't be watching sitcoms. Instead I should be lounging in my room, listening to really loud music and not doing my homework. Well, I do that too, of course, but at 8:30's on a Friday night, I'm watching My Family. Damn straight, I say. So should you.

pb wrote:
> I liked Terry and June, but it must be my age...

aye :)

That or you hant watched it recently??

My Family is hilarous, I
> agree, but I personally can't wait for the (apparent) third season of Spaced,
> which, if it is getting made at all, will be the last one.

So Ive heard... Although, hopefully Channel Four will talk them into writing something new?

Though, at the moment, I'm waiting to see if there is to be another series of Black Books?

I liked Terry and June, but it must be my age...


My Family is hilarous, I agree, but I personally can't wait for the (apparent) third season of Spaced, which, if it is getting made at all, will be the last one. I've got the first one on DVD and it's got so many classic scenes that it really deserves being in anyone's collection.

Can't wait for the second series to come out on DVD as well.

i liked it when they went to leeds to see dead anuty margret!
and they all got caught by bens wife in bed!

"Luke 5:4"

"Nick 6"2"

Heh.

"What are we going to do with it?"

"If we bring it in we've accepted it!"

"But if we leave it out it'll spoil, maybe we should just keep it!"

"If this anyway to talk about your son?!"

RastaBillySkank wrote:
> Stryke wrote:
Nick:
> Rasta

Lol!

Hehe. I can imagine you making them damn funny facial expressions....

Stryke wrote:
Nick:
> Rasta

Lol!

If It was SR's Family...

Ben: Grix
Susan: Mystique ( so obviously)
Nick: Rasta
Janey: Iguana
Mickey: Reaper ;)

I agree My Family rules mightily, and Nick IS the funniest character.

My favourite episode was one in the last series. The one where they get a sercurity system and Ben goes downstairs but ends up setting the whole house alarm and does a James Bond scene avoiding the system, only to end up straddled on the banister. Hilarious stuff...

WÚÛkiee M¯nßðÄR wrote:
> and thick boyfriend.

Stupid Brian! They all call him Stu for
> short.

SB: "Why do you keep calling me Stu?"

Nick: "It's
> short for, umm, Stupid."

SB: "Oh. Oh, okay then."

Actually, Brian says: Yeah, cool.

:-P