Britcoms FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Our Favorite Sophisticated Outrageous British Television Comedies - Softcover

Thompson, Dave

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1495018997 ISBN 13: 9781495018992

Publisher: Applause, 2016

Synopsis

Britcoms FAQ is a sweeping survey of the very best in British television comedy, from the early days of 1950s television, and the rise of Tony Hancock, through the golden age of Monty Python, Are You Being Served?, and Steptoe and Son – featuring the madcap comic geniuses of the 1980s – to the modern age of Absolutely Fabulous, Coupling, Red Dwarf, and more.

Written with both a deep love and cultural understanding of the shows, highlighting the finest performances and resurrecting the greatest jokes, Britcoms FAQ also visits the medium's transition from radio to television, its history on vinyl and compact disc, and its thematic shift from straight-forward humor to a sometimes biting force for political and social commentary.

Included are chapters spotlighting the sitcoms' fascination with dysfunctional families, their rebellion against conventional society, and the changing face of the media itself. The legacy of Monty Python is explored in depth, but so are such themes as class warfare, censorship, and even suicide. Britcoms long ago determined that very little is sacred when there's laughter to be had – and Britcoms FAQ proves it!

About this title

About the Author

Dave Thompson (Newark, DE'), 'ex-pat British writer, is the author of over 100 books on rock and pop culture, including FAQ titles on Doctor Who, The Twilight Zone, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, South Park, and Sherlock Holmes, along with biographies of David Bowie, Robert Plant, Kurt Cobain, and Roger Waters.

Review

Britcoms FAQ: All That's Left To Know About Our Favorite Sophisticated, Outrageous British Television Comedies is a survey of the finest in British television comedy shows, from the 1950's to modern times. Assembled with care and appreciation for British culture, Britcoms FAQ discusses how British comedy transitioned from radio to television, as well as its history on vinyl and compact disc, and how it shifted over time from simple humor to a force for political and social critique. Also showcased are common recurring themes in British sitcoms, such as dysfunctional families, rebellion against conventional society, class warfare, censorship, and the legacy of Monty Python. An exhaustive appendix (including episode lists) and an index round out this "must-have" for connoisseurs of the genre! --Midwest Book Review

Edition details

• Publisher: Applause
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1495018997
• ISBN 13: 9781495018992
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 392