Gary D.

Waiting for God keeps running and running here on our local PBS. Maybe we own the series? Anyway, last night, after finally getting Diana to the altar, Tom Ballard, when asked by the fumbling minister if he would take Diana as his wife, gave an adamant No!.

Did I miss the episode where they explain Basil Makepeace’s absence? Michael Bilton, who played Bayview’s aging Lothario, died before the series ended. I always enjoyed his lecherous ways.

Most of the actors, especially Stephanie Cole, were hardly enough for the rest home (she is still only 67 or so). When researching her, I learnd that she played a 90-year-old woman when she was 17! Amazing.

Dame Starry

Judging by IMDb, it looks as if he died during the series and it is possible that it was decided not to draw attention to it for some reason.

DS x.

Euryale

I didn't see this series, but found the following information on a website:

Biltons final role was that of Basil Makepeace in the BBC Sitcom Waiting For God, when filming began in 1990 he was already aged 71. Basil grew in importance throughout the first four series eventually becoming the main supporting character. His final appearance was in the last episode of Series 4. He died shortly after completing filming.

In the Christmas episode 1993, his absence was explained by his character having gone on an "Icelandic wife-swapping cruise" and he is not mentioned again. The character of Basil was "replaced" by Jamie Edwards, Jane's spirited Irish uncle, who was played by Paddy Ward.


Euryale.

Gary D.

Thanks, I missed this episode. They will probably start from the beginning. I would like to also see To The Manor Born--why don't the U.S. stations bring that back?

EllyMack

I love Diana Trent and I want to be just like her when I'm in my dotage. In fact, on another forum, I have one of her lines in my signature:

"I hate good taste. It´s so lacking in courage. It´s so ... tasteless!"

Marky B

Which Brit sitcoms do you watch,Gary,and which ones are very popular in the USA?
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Gary D.

Well, obviously, Waiting for God; then Keeping Up Appearances (really, anything with Patricia Routledge (I enjoyed her Hettie Wainthrope Mysteries); To the Manor Born (which I haven't seen in decades).

Actually, I don't always understand British humor. A case in point, The Last of the Early Wine, if I remember the title. I just couldn't get into it. Are You Being Served was funny, though.

There was a Brit sitcom (can't remember the name without checking on IMDb, which I don't like to do) some years ago with Elaine Stritch as the rather officious American and her equally officious British butler played by Peter Cook (I think). Now, that was funny, but I've always been a fan of Stritch. I would like to have caught her in Noel Coward's Sail Away--I do have a bit of it on tape. She was in Scottsdale about a year ago, but the ticket price was a bit too much and I couldn't convince my sister to do the driving--I hate traffic, particularly in Scottsdale (part of the greater Phoenix area). So I missed Stritch!

It's not a sitcom, but I don't care for Inspector Lynley, although my sister does. I like him well enough, but I don't much like his female sidekick. Too bad about John Thaw; I don't care for his successor.

I like British historical dramas, for the most part. You seem respectful of your history. I think I mentioned Cranford, which I saved in my collection for viewing again.

EHV_Emmetts

I think you mean Last Of The Summer Wine.

BBC - Comedy - Last of the Summer Wine

batman

That was called Two's Company and the butler was played by Donald Sinden. Peter Cook played the butler in a US remake called The Two of Us.

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

Steve Crook

That was Two's Company with Donald Sinden as the butler

Elaine is wonderful, and she's still going strong.

Steve

Gary D.

It must be five or six years ago that I recorded The Noel Coward Story. Interesting, it showed his home movies, some on-stage productions, etc. Also, Elaine Stritch singing Sail Away.

She did an on-camera interview, relating how Coward told her not to drink much at a party they were attending. She didn't (although I think she was a heavy drinker), and then he chewed her out later, using the 'F' word quite a bit. Can't remember the exact quote. Anyone who hasn't seen The Noel Coward Story should try to catch it, if it's ever available.

Husky

Nobody in this country understands Last of the Summer Wine, either, or how it has survived for 8000 episodes. I think Margaret Thatcher created it to punish us all in perpetuity.

EHV_Emmetts

LOTSW was whimsically amusing when it first appeared - however, as it's popularity increased () it quickly became an embarrassing pastiche.

These days it just seems to be a vehicle for venerable British character actors to be seen doing their turn on an early Sunday evening.