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I see John Cleese is reported to be making a sequel to “Fawlty Towers”. The reaction has been overwhelmingly negative.
It is probably not a good idea but it at least deserves a fair hearing. And I bet all the people who have been criticising it online will still watch it!
Why do thing needs to be remade or have sequels?
Is all artistic creativity now extinguished?
Are there no more ideas to be had?
Three appalling remakes off the top of my head – Get Carter, Planet Of The Apes and, for the child in me never far below the surface, Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory!
Insults to Michael Caine, Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowell and, most of all, the late Gene Wilder.
I don’t actually think the original Fawlty Towers – which I loved at the time – has dated that well, actually, though that will no doubt be heresy to many.
And I don’t much like John Cleese – he suffers from that common affliction of his profession in thinking great success in his field makes him an expert on world affairs.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"“I don’t actually think the original Fawlty Towers – which I loved at the time – has dated that well.”
I know what you mean, ID. I was obsessed with it when I was younger. I think it is still funny but the relentless frantic tone does become a bit tiresome at times. I think there are several better sitcoms.
All the best programmes had only 12 episodes – Fawlty Towers, The Young Ones and Early Doors. They spoilt Bagpuss by making 13.
Oliver Postgate was a genius and Bagpuss was good, but I’d have it behind: Pogle’s Wood, Noggin The Nog and The Clangers in my pecking order – no one will be surprised to hear I own copies of the first two on VHS.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"It’ll be shite , the original won’t be spoiled by it though
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
Grace And Favour the embarrassing sequel to Are You Being Served ran for just two series and was a complete flop.
Don’t know what David Croft and Jeremy Lloyd were thinking but the top brass at the Beeb never did want Are You Being Served and at one point were only going to screen it if they dropped John Inmans character..
So what do they know.It will be a disaster and quickly forgotten…
Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Ian Botham is a very large guy
Nothing at all wrong with that, and he may have let himself go in some fascinating way – nothing wrong with that : it’s a free worldRicky Lake was quite agile in his younger days – it all changed during that P&O cruise to Perth and back when he was missing for dinner and someone shouted out – dinners ready WHERE’S THE HIPPO ?
I can’t wait to see the big blockbuster
WHO’S BIGGER ?
Did someone say Are you being served , excellent then I have an excuse to put this up , I make no apology for low brow humour
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
As for towers I doubt there,s ever been a better comedy use of the word b#stard
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
A strange decision. Are there many examples of either remakes or sequels made long after the original with almost none of the original cast that were actually well received?
I agree with Cork’s assessment that it’s still funny but there are/were better comedies.
I suspect he won’t be remaking the scene where the Major gives us a detailed rundown of the exact meaning of various racial slurs! Although even back then I think we were supposed to be laughing at his outdated ways.
I am however sure that the episode where Basil tries to get some money on a horse without Sybil finding out remains as relevant today as it’s always been.
On the scene where the Major makes racial slurs: I think we are meant to laugh at him not just because he is a racist but a pedantic racist. He corrects his companion and explains to her what the “correct” racial insult is for each sort of people and seems most put out when she continues to use the wrong word.
I am not totally convinced the audience at the time was laughing at the Major. I can still remember those terms being widely used when I was growing up.
I am generally opposed to a writer’s words being censored. But the terms used in that scene are recognised as being offensive and hurtful now, so I can understand the BBC beeping them out.
A similar thing happens in an episode of “Dad’s Army” where Pike uses the n word. Whenever the episode is shown now, the scene is rather awkwardly edited. But the dialogue is still there on the DVD.
The That’s TV channel has recently shown episodes of “Till Death Us Do Part”, which is liberally sprinkled with racist words. There is an on screen warning over the opening credits. Even then, the n and p words are beeped out but – rather strangely – the c word that rhymes with moon is broadcast uncut.
“Are there many examples of either remakes or sequels made long after the original with almost none of the original cast that were actually well received?”
I can’t think of one. There was a remake of “Yes Prime Minister” on Sky a few years ago with the same characters but different actors, given how most of the original cast were dead. It was dire.
“Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads” was made about a decade after the original series and actually surpassed it – but that still had the same cast.
Really good one from CAS.
I was too young to remember the original The Likely Lads, but loved the sequel.
In later years I saw a repeat of the original and was disappointed as it was not a patch on the sequel.
James Bollam and Rodney Bewes were outstanding in “Whatever.”
The episode where they’re trying to avoid being told the score of the England game all day so they could watch the highlights as live on Sportsnight was a Classic.
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
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It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"It is appropriate to mention James Bolam today. Back in 1992, his horse King Credo won what is now the Betfair Hurdle.
I agree the original “Likely Lads” looks dated now. However, the sequel is on my list of contenders for the best sitcom ever made.
It was a pity how Bolam and Rodney Bewes fell out afterwards. There was always a bit of tension in their relationship (note how in the opening titles, they take it in turns to have top billing). Then Bewes foolishly revealed some details about Bolam’s private life to the press.
Bewes milked the story about their subsequent falling out, claiming that Bolam refused to speak to him and even spitefully blocked repeats of the series to deny him fees. It was all nonsense:
https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/comedy_chronicles/strained-relationships-bewes-and-bolam/
James Bolam went on to show the world what a truly great and emotive actor he really was in “When The Boat Comes In.”
What did Rodney Bewes – who looked a bit like my Dad actually with his 70s haircut and affable screen manner – ever do afterwards?
I am "The Horse Racing Punter" on Facebook
https://mobile.twitter.com/Ian_Davies_
https://www.facebook.com/ThePointtoPointNHandFlatracingpunter/
It's the "Millwall FC" of Point broadcasts: "No One Likes Us - We Don't Care"
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