It’s difficult to believe that Fawlty Towers is 50 years old this year. Probably, the greatest comedy sitcom series. It was voted the best UK TV series of all time – no less – at the British Film Institute in 2000.
Hard to believe too that it’s first series in 1975 had just six episodes, ending with the infamous Don’t Mention the War (German) one in October 1975.
The second series – of six episodes also – was broadcast four years later, in 1979. And that was it. Sic transit gloria mundi (So passeth the glory of the world ... well, of British TV!)
For those too young to have seen Fawlty Towers, no explanation is possible. For those “of an age” but have not seen it; “ ... really. Really?”
RM Block
I envy such “deprived” humanity. It would be exhilarating to see Fawlty Towers for the first time, again, (so to speak).
At its centre is proprietor Basil Fawlty, an incompetent cynic, a snob, with prejudices for every occasion and a hapless ambition to attract “quality” guests. Those prejudices inevitably include a predictably (in the context) disastrous Irish builder, O’Reilly.
Basil’s playing to stereotypes is a reason why Fawlty Towers has recently attracted the wrath of a more recent, humourless, “righteous” generation.
Such as the young journalist who wrote in one of the UK papers a few years ago, after he had watched Fawlty Towers for the first time. He was disgusted at how offensive it was. The series was “laden with outdated, racist and sexist remarks,” he said.
“I understand it was a really, really, really long time ago, but as a woke 27-year-old it’s hard not to call it out. Either way, I won’t be checking back into Fawlty Towers,” he said.
“A really, really long time ago ...” Really! Then, when you’re 27 anything beyond 30 years probably qualifies as “a really, really long time ago.” (I was 27 once ... a really, really long time ago!).
It can’t be easy, as you try to set the world to rights, to see people laugh uproariously at a bigot, a snob, a racist, a coward who beats up an innocent Austin Martin car and serves a rat to the health inspector, but it’s so healthy.
More of it please!
Long live Fawlty Towers.
Comedy, from Latin comoedia and Greek kōmōidia, for “amusing spectacle”.
