Gender: Male
Age: 18-30
1. How often do you watch television?
-2-6 times a week
2. What time do you watch television?(can highlight more than one)
-Evening
-Weekends
3. How often do you watch British sitcoms?
-Once a week
4. Do you enjoy watching British sitcoms? Why?
I do enjoy watching British sitcoms, but not necessarily because they are British. I still enjoy Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Frasier, 30 Rock etc every now and then, but it's nice to be able to see a British sense of humour reflected in our comedy.
5. What is your favourite British sitcom of all time? Why?
My favourite sitcom of all time would be either Fawlty Towers or The Office. The former because of its 12 perfectly formed episodes based around misunderstandings, farce, and a monstrous main character; the latter because almost every scene is a minor gem - revealing so much about the workplace, relationships and popularity. And it's bloody funny.
6. What is your favourite British sitcom of the last 10 years? Why?
Although The Office might be my favourite of all time, the one that completely captivated and excited me when it first arrived was Green Wing. I just hadn't seen anything like it before. A sitcom...made up of sketches. Even if one scene didn't quite work, you knew that an absolute corker would shortly follow.
7. Do you think British sitcoms have changed much over the last 20years? How? Why?
(see answer to Q12)
8. Please mark these British sitcoms between 1-10 in the order of how much you like them, 1 being the least liked and 10 being the one you like the most:
10. Fawlty Towers
9. The Office
8. Peep Show
7. Spaced
6. The Inbetweeners
5. Only Fools and Horses
4. The Vicar of Dibley
3. My Family
2. Marion & Geoff
1. Hancock's Half Hour
9. Now mark the British sitcoms between 1-10 in order of what you believe to be the most popular programme, 1 being the least popular and 10 being the most popular.
10. Only Fools and Horses
9. Fawlty Towers
8. My Family
7. The Inbetweeners
6. The Vicar of Dibley
5. The Office
4. Peep Show
3. Spaced
2. Hancock's Half Hour
1. Marion & Geoff
This is a bit of a tricky one to judge. I mean, My Family has had God knows how many series and is a 'family' sitcom, but not necessarily a critical darling. Spaced, meanwhile, has a large-ish cult following but you wouldn't find many men-on-the-street who would have seen it. The Inbetweeners has quite a big 16-24 following, and The Office has had its fair share of success across the pond.
10. What is the first British sitcom you remember watching and how would you say they have changed/ are different from today's sitcoms?
The first real British sitcom I remember watching and loving was Only Fools And Horses, specifically Series 3. I've since bought it on DVD and still think that John Sullivan was a master of sitcom writing.
11. Do you believe that older generations enjoy modern British sitcoms less than younger generation's appreciating older British sitcoms? Why?
I would say it's probably about even. I mean, my parents are in their early 50s, but if I'm sitting down to watch a brand new episode of Peep Show, The Thick Of It or The Inbetweeners, they'll probably get up and leave (although that may be because they want to be tucked up in bed at 10 o'clock). I've only just started to watch Yes Minister, and have enjoyed it (and have watched it with my Dad), but I doubt I'd find many others of my age who would sit down and enjoy it. Maybe it's just me.
12. Would you agree that modern sitcoms are very different and if so why?
I think the free-er use of language and more frank subject matter is the main difference. Barely a week goes by where we don't hear a classic sitcom writer or actor from the 70s claiming that today's sitcoms are too sweary or filthy. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but a lot of sitcoms are variations of a theme - flatshare, workplace etc. The formula is pretty similar throughout the years but the language seems to be the key thing to separate modern from 'traditional'.
13. Do you think 'traditional' sitcoms (like Hancock's Half Hour) could survive nowadays?
By 'traditional', would you mean 'filmed in front of a studio audience'? Because Miranda, although it's had its share of critics, has been one of the biggest comedy sensations of recent times. It's a very classic set-up, even down to the end credits. My Family, meanwhile, is at the end of its run, and has attracted derision in the past for its 'safe' nature, despite its initial popularity. So, could 'traditional' sitcoms survive? Yes, some.
14. What do you think instigated a change in British sitcoms and how?
One could point to several factors, even several shows. The Young Ones signalled the advent of the 'alternative' sitcom. Men Behaving Badly became synonymous with 'lad culture' and suddenly sex became a talking topic in our comedy. This, in turn, meant that the language could become a lot bluer. The Thick Of It has probably become the standard-bearer for this.
15. Has the change in British television broadcasting had an effect on British sitcoms? How? Why?
The sheer number of channels that we now have at our disposal would be the main effect. Channels have their own identity - BBC3 prides itself as being the 'young person's channel', with Gavin and Stacey, Coming Of Age and Him And Her being some of their biggest names (with varying degrees of success). E4's biggest homegrown hit was The Inbetweeners. The Thick Of It has had stints on BBC4. Channel 4 churns out a fair amount of comedy-drama, with Green Wing and the recent Fresh Meat immediately springing to mind.
