What do you think of when you hear the phrase '70's sit-com'? If you have to pigeon-hole the comedies of the decade you would probably come up with words like 'sexist, racist, homophobic, prejudice' and so on. You'd give examples such as 'Love Thy Neighbour', 'On the Buses', 'Rising Damp', 'Curry and Chips' and 'Man About the House'. Although it's a slightly sweeping statement to clump all the comedic output of one decade into this bracket, on the whole it's true.
That's not to say that's a criticism. That was how the country was in the 70's. TV programs merely reflected the thoughts of the average 'man on the street'. Of course they couldn't get away with that today, but as long as it's taken in context there were some classics coming out of that era. I've mentioned Rising Damp as one. Yes, Leonard Rossiter made constant references to Mr Smith's African background (10 wives, bone through the nose, make sure you smile in the dark so we can see you etc) but so was everyone back then. As another example 'On the Buses' referred to all girls as 'birds' and assumed all they wanted to do was settle down and have babies then stay at home. Sex equality was a new thing back then and the population was still getting accustomed to the change.
Every era has it's low and high points. The 80's sit-coms could be summed up as 'domestic'. All the ones that string to mind were some kind of family set up living at home. More recently, as we headed into a new millennium, we became swamped by US imports and the introduction of foul language as a comic tool. Is that any better than the sit-coms we classed as 'non-PC'?
So why am I rambling on about all this? It's supposed to act as an intro to the fact that I like a lot of sit-coms from this time, The 'PC or not PC' aspects are irrelevant. To me, those are just ordinary parts of the shows. I can appreciate when the show was made and take all content in context. I like them because they used to have strong characters, well acted and brilliantly scripted. Surely you can't think of a few of these and not instantly smile...
Penelope Kieth as Margot Leadbetter in the Good Life
Leonard Rossiter as Rigsby in Rising Damp
Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher in Porridge
John Inman as Mr Humphries in Are you Being Served
John Cleese as Basil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers
to name just 5.
So, as I move on to the point of this blog entry (good grief, you mean he hasn't even started yet!) I just wanted it made clear that I wasn't judging 'Don't Drink the Water' because it was non-PC, that element didn't enter the equation. I was judging it on it's comic merits.
Don't Drink the Water was a sequel to the long running 'On the Buses'. OTB had run it's course, some principal cast members had left by the end of it's run, the original creators had nothing to do with it anymore and the jokes were becoming tired and repetitive. It was time to lay it to rest...
..but no, the original creators of OTB (both called Ronald, but don't ask me to remember their surnames) came up with the idea of a spin-off starring Inspector Blake. Now he is retired and along with his sister, moving to a new life in Spain. Something a lot of people were doing in the 70's on a promise of blue skies, sandy beaches and cheap property. Of course, when they get there, not everything runs to plan.
Inspector Blake is once again played by Stephen Lewis (he's ALWAYS played Blakey. Even when he moved on to 'Oh Doctor Beeching' and 'Last of the Summer Wine' he was still playing the same character) Of course he had no use for his catchphrase 'I 'Ate you Butler' so instead substitute 'Don't drive me mad' and use it half a dozen times in each episode. Add in his sister played by Pat Coombs who would have preferred to move to Bognor (and mention that at least twice per episode) and you have the set-up for the show.
The other regular character is Carlos the porter played by Derek Griffiths (probably known to anyone in my generation as the voice of Superted and the singer on 'Look and Read') Carlos does provide a few genuine laughs, mainly because of Derek's comedy timing and bizarre eye movements. To say though that the funniest moments of a sit-com are because of someone's eyes, should tell you that this is not a classic.
The plumbing is faulty, the buildings are badly made, the electrics are dodgy, the food is greasy the water comes out of the taps a dark brown colour, the weather is either too hot or too wet and everyone in Spain hates the English. Now string that premise along for 13 episodes and you can see why it just isn't funny at all.
To make matters worse, there was no point in making it either. OTB really had died by the time it finished. The last series was nothing compared to the early black and white episodes. The two Ronalds should have used their talents to create a brand new comedy from scratch instead of dredging around in the bottom of an already empty barrel.
Sorry guys, my first thumbs down. Avoid if you can
p.s. If you DO end up watching it, look out for a cameo from Geoffrey Hughes (Onslo in 'Keeping Up Appearances' He was still playing a slob, even back then)
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