I recently came across a comment on another forum which made my teeth itch. It went as follows: "The '70's were a time when 'Are You Being Served: The Movie' was considered the ultimate in side-splitting hilarity.'. I wanted to throttle the twit who made it. Nobody thought it the ultimate in anything, most people of my generation were more interested in seeing the latest Mel Brooks or Monty Python picture.
I have to say that I was not a big fan of 'Are You Being Served?' when it first aired. I did not dislike it, it was just that there were far better shows around then, such as 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', 'Dad's Army', 'The Goodies' and 'Porridge'. It is only in recent years that I have come to fully appreciate its charms ( compared to Miranda Hart's appalling show, its 'Porridge'! )
Set in the clothing department of the London department store of Grace Brothers, the staff are a right bunch of eccentrics such as bewigged harridan Mrs.Slocombe ( Mollie Sugden ), her sexy assistant Miss Brahms ( Wendy Richard ), effeminate Mr.Humphries ( John Inman ), grumpy Mr.Grainger ( Arthur Borough ), and ladies' man Mr.Lucas ( Trevor Bannister ). Presiding over this crack team was floorwalker Captain Peacock ( Frank Thornton ), and jug-eared Mr.Rumbold ( Nicholas Smith ). One of the store's owners was Young Mr.Grace ( Harold Bennett ), who despite being older than Methuselah was a randy old goat ( I hope I'm like that when I reach his age ). The plots were basically an excuse to get the cast into silly costumes. Mrs.Slocombe's frequent references to her 'pussy' made the studio audience hysterical with laughter, as did Mr.Humphries' oblique references to his homosexuality.
Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft's scripts trod a careful line between family entertainment and 'Carry On' style smut. It was only rude if you wanted it to be. Among the numerous catchphrases spawned were: "Men's Wear!" ( spoken by Mr.Humphries in a butch voice ), "And I am unanimous in this!", "You've all done very well!" ( delivered by Young Mr.Grace ), and, of course, the classic "I'm free!". The show was a massive hit, leading to the aforementioned infamous film in 1977, and running well into the alternative comedy '80's.
It was good-natured fun, but not for everyone. The L.W.T. sketch show 'End Of Part One' did an excellent spoof called 'Are You Being Stereotyped?' which subverted the show's theme tune, turning it into a critique. Yes, the characters were stereotypes, no-one will deny that, but they were strong stereotypes, instantly recognisable from one another. And performed by a more than competent cast.
When John Inman passed away a few years ago, Stuart Jefferies wrote a article in 'The Guardian', the thrust of which was that 'A.Y.B.S.' was representative of a style of humour that was ( in his view ) thankfully gone. Well, gone it certainly has, but I do not find that something to be cheer about. We have now reached the stage where bullying can pass for comedy. Pushing the boundaries of comedy? As Sid James used to say: "Knickers!". The comedy boundaries have been pushed far enough as it is. When John Cleese and Connie Booth created 'Fawlty Towers', they could not give two hoots about redefining comedy, they just wanted to make a funny show. And did. I'm sure Lloyd and Croft felt the same way when they wrote 'A.Y.B.S'. The real comedy geniuses are not the people who push boundaries, but those who work well within them.
Like Benny Hill, 'A.Y.B.S.' was a hit in America. I suppose the Americans liked the very Britishness of the thing. It was McGill seaside postcard stuff really. John Inman was spot on when he said: "Don't say rude words, let the audience think them!".
I have to say that I was not a big fan of 'Are You Being Served?' when it first aired. I did not dislike it, it was just that there were far better shows around then, such as 'Monty Python's Flying Circus', 'Dad's Army', 'The Goodies' and 'Porridge'. It is only in recent years that I have come to fully appreciate its charms ( compared to Miranda Hart's appalling show, its 'Porridge'! )
Set in the clothing department of the London department store of Grace Brothers, the staff are a right bunch of eccentrics such as bewigged harridan Mrs.Slocombe ( Mollie Sugden ), her sexy assistant Miss Brahms ( Wendy Richard ), effeminate Mr.Humphries ( John Inman ), grumpy Mr.Grainger ( Arthur Borough ), and ladies' man Mr.Lucas ( Trevor Bannister ). Presiding over this crack team was floorwalker Captain Peacock ( Frank Thornton ), and jug-eared Mr.Rumbold ( Nicholas Smith ). One of the store's owners was Young Mr.Grace ( Harold Bennett ), who despite being older than Methuselah was a randy old goat ( I hope I'm like that when I reach his age ). The plots were basically an excuse to get the cast into silly costumes. Mrs.Slocombe's frequent references to her 'pussy' made the studio audience hysterical with laughter, as did Mr.Humphries' oblique references to his homosexuality.
Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft's scripts trod a careful line between family entertainment and 'Carry On' style smut. It was only rude if you wanted it to be. Among the numerous catchphrases spawned were: "Men's Wear!" ( spoken by Mr.Humphries in a butch voice ), "And I am unanimous in this!", "You've all done very well!" ( delivered by Young Mr.Grace ), and, of course, the classic "I'm free!". The show was a massive hit, leading to the aforementioned infamous film in 1977, and running well into the alternative comedy '80's.
It was good-natured fun, but not for everyone. The L.W.T. sketch show 'End Of Part One' did an excellent spoof called 'Are You Being Stereotyped?' which subverted the show's theme tune, turning it into a critique. Yes, the characters were stereotypes, no-one will deny that, but they were strong stereotypes, instantly recognisable from one another. And performed by a more than competent cast.
When John Inman passed away a few years ago, Stuart Jefferies wrote a article in 'The Guardian', the thrust of which was that 'A.Y.B.S.' was representative of a style of humour that was ( in his view ) thankfully gone. Well, gone it certainly has, but I do not find that something to be cheer about. We have now reached the stage where bullying can pass for comedy. Pushing the boundaries of comedy? As Sid James used to say: "Knickers!". The comedy boundaries have been pushed far enough as it is. When John Cleese and Connie Booth created 'Fawlty Towers', they could not give two hoots about redefining comedy, they just wanted to make a funny show. And did. I'm sure Lloyd and Croft felt the same way when they wrote 'A.Y.B.S'. The real comedy geniuses are not the people who push boundaries, but those who work well within them.
Like Benny Hill, 'A.Y.B.S.' was a hit in America. I suppose the Americans liked the very Britishness of the thing. It was McGill seaside postcard stuff really. John Inman was spot on when he said: "Don't say rude words, let the audience think them!".