Films/DVD Asylum

Are you not put off by Basil Fawlty's lack of charm?

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In Reply to: RE: I think the British show "Coupling" comes reasonably close... posted by David S. on August 19, 2012 at 10:39:18

There's a theory (subscribed to by US sitcom writers) that the main sitcom characters have to be lovable, or at least liked. Basil Fawlty does not fit into that category (neither does Edmund Blackadder).

Fawlty Towers is my definition of sitcom perfection. Even though Basil Fawlty is unlikeable, the audience sympathises with him because he's henpecked, runs the world's crappiest hotel, and has to work with a moron like Manuel. There's a wonderful sense of schadenfreude watching him get into a hole and then start digging. Plus, it's actually got jokes in it.

Follow Ups:

Perhaps that is why US sitcom writers will never achieve perfection... - David S. 11:26:42 08/20/12 (0)