MovieChat Forums > As Time Goes By (1992) Discussion > My favorite Britcom: As Time Goes By

My favorite Britcom: As Time Goes By


I know this isn't a current show but I think it's timeless. I came across this series about a year ago, although I don't remember how. It's my favorite Britcom, hands down. The writing is wonderful, the dialog is believable, the casting is great and I believe it really IS a situation comedy. It doesn't rely on insults for laughs like so many American shows do. The comedy comes from the situations the characters find themselves in, how they handle it, and the sometimes quirky characters surrounding them.

I'll admit that when I saw the first few minutes of the first episode I thought Lionel, one of the main characters, was kind of annoying - too negative and quite sarcastic - but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and kept watching and I'm glad I did. It got better and I came to understand him better. It can take time for a series to find its footing and in my opinion, series 3-6 are the best. I like the pace of it, too. They didn't rush things, which may not sit well with some viewers. But I like it and in my book it'll be difficult to beat.

reply

While my favorite British "comedy" of all time is Monty Python's Flying Circus, ATGB is my favorite "situation comedy." It's been running on my local PBS station on Saturday night for years, and I still miss it those weeks when they're doing a pledge drive (even though I own the whole series on DVD). The only weeks I don't watch it are those weeks when BBC America programs Graham Norton at the same time.

reply