Comedy is one of those genres of television that most, if not all people can get into and enjoy. But over the years comedy has adapted and grown with the times, from the classic slapstick to the now popular standup, people still love to watch entertainment designed to make them laugh.
One of the big British comedy sitcoms back in the 70s was Fawlty Towers. A comedy set in a fictional hotel in Torquay, run by husband and wife duo Basil and Sybil Fawlty alongside their other staff members Polly and Manuel. Weston actor John Cleese starred as Basil in the show but was also the brains behind the idea, taking his inspiration from personal experience.
Now after 44 years, Fawlty Towers is getting a revival and fans will be pleased to know that Cleese will be returning to his role as Basil Fawlty alongside his daughter Camilla.
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Having never watched the sitcom before and the revival of the 70s hit show recently being announced, I decided that I would watch an episode to see what all the hype was about. Now I can understand the show was a big hit of its time and was deemed to be hilarious with all the slapstick elements but I just didn’t find it funny, not one bit.
I watched the first episode of the first season, best to start at the beginning right? I found the acting and the camaraderie between the characters were played brilliantly and it was a really good watch. But the one thing that maybe let me down was, I just didn’t get the humour behind any of the jokes.
Whether it be because the jokes used haven’t aged too well or because I’m from a generation whose humour is very different to that played in the past, the funny nature of the show went straight over my head.
I think maybe the reason is the extreme way Basil Fawlty reacts to people and events just doesn’t make me laugh. And the way the “audience” laughs on screen at certain events can sometimes make things even less funny than they actually are. The only thing that did warrant a laugh at the same time as the “audience” is the interactions between Basil and Manuel - the inability to talk to each other did make me giggle.
I wish I could’ve understood the jokes but I guess time has just moved on and people now find humour in a whole new range of things.
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