@misc{ title = {Series: Empire Road}, publisher = {BBC2}, pages = {30 minutes}, note = {15 eps X 30mins}, abstract = {Represented a racially mixed community of West Indians and Asians living in a suburban street in Birmingham, and focused on the life of West Indian landlord Everton Bennett: his humorous relationship with brother-in-law Walter and the romantic relationship between Bennett’s son Marcus and his Asian girlfriend Panjanaa. It was the first TV programme conceived and written by a black writer for a black cast.}, year = {1978} } @misc{ title = {Series: Yes Minister}, publisher = {BBC1}, abstract = {Hilarious comedy series featuring the Rt. Hon. James Hacker MP, a newly appointed Minister for Administrative Affairs, and Permanent Under-Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby, following their respective struggles to gain and hold on to the levers of power.}, year = {1980} } @misc{ title = {The Comic Strip Presents}, publisher = {Channel 4; BBC2}, pages = {25 - 52 minutes}, month = {2 November 1982}, note = {TV comedy: Channel 4, 2/11/1982-20/3/1988, 12/4/1998 & 4/1/2000; BBC2, 1/2/1990-27/5/1993, 37 films of 25-52 mins each, colour/black & white}, abstract = {A series of genre parodies 'for the 1980s alternative comedy generation'. First was 2.11.82 'Five go mad in Dorset'; 20.2.88 'The Strike' -a parody of Miners' Strike (a Hollywood mogul casts a film).}, year = {1982} } @misc{ title = {Series: Blackadder}, publisher = {BBC1}, pages = {30 minutes}, month = {15 June 1983}, note = {15 June 1983-2 November 1989, 30mins, Series 4, Episodes 24 (plus 3 specials)}, abstract = {BBC-1 historical sitcom.}, year = {1983} } @misc{ title = {Series: Spitting Image}, publisher = {ITV}, abstract = {Topical comedy sketch show with cruel caricatures of important (or otherwise) personalities. The impertinent attacks on leading political figures, particularly the outrageously funny characterizations of British politicians, turned the skillfully crafted puppets into near mascots for their public profile targets.}, year = {1984} } @misc{ title = {Series: Only Fools and Horses}, publisher = {BBC1}, pages = {30 minutes}, abstract = {Sitcom}, year = {1985} } @misc{ title = {Series: Three Up, Two Down}, publisher = {BBC1}, note = {30mins  6 Episodes}, abstract = {Registered the character comedy clashes of the snobbish Daphne Trenchard and the easy-going cockney Sam Tyler; Daphne’s daughter Angie was happily married to Sam’s son, Nick and they had a baby. The grandparents together shared the downstairs flat in the young couple’s house as childminders.}, year = {1985} } @misc{ title = {Series: Bread}, publisher = {BBC1}, abstract = {Featured the sitcom stories of the Boswells, a Catholic, working-class Liverpool family who were unemployed (except for one initially) and who lived by their wits, and everything they could get out of the DHS.}, year = {1986} } @misc{ title = {Series: Help}, publisher = {BBC1}, abstract = {Was a roustabout comedy series following the exploits of three optimistic young Liverpudlians who were out of work and generally game for anything.}, year = {1986} } @misc{ title = {Series: Hot Metal}, publisher = {ITV}, abstract = {Was a pleasantly foolish comedy series centred on a low-life newspaper, the Daily Crucible, which was taken over by the tycoon owner of Rathhouse International and placed under the editorship of the mysterious “Russel Spam”.}, year = {1986} } @misc{ title = {Series: Yes, Prime Minister}, publisher = {BBC2}, abstract = {The comedy series continued the previous comedy series ‘Yes, Minister’. When Hacker later became Prime Minister the series returned with Sir Humphrey now promoted to Cabinet Secretary.}, year = {1986} } @misc{ title = {Series: The New Statesman}, publisher = {ITV}, pages = {30 minutes}, note = {Note: A review of the series was broadcast on ITV 2 December 2008 in the Comedy Classics series.}, abstract = {Political comedy series about Alan Beresford B’Stard, an unscrupulous politico who rode roughshod over everyone and everything to reach his personal objectives, usually of a financial and/or sexual nature.}, year = {1987} } @misc{ title = {French and Saunders}, publisher = {BBC2}, note = {Various follow ups and spin offs see Vahimagi p.310. Including Absolutely Fabulous BBC2 1992}, abstract = {'The original press release announced this wonderfully wacko comedy-sketch series as a "spectacular full of spectacularness, dangerousness, star-guestness, and good old fashioned family fun. A must" And that about said it all' Vahimagi p.310}, year = {1987-8;1990; 1993} } @misc{ title = {Series: Desmond's}, publisher = {Channel 4}, pages = {30 minutes}, month = {5 January 1989}, note = {5/1/1989-19/12/1994 6 series of 30 min episodes (70 in total) plus final 60-minute episode}, abstract = {Comedy series. The varied lives of Peckham barber shop proprietor Desmond Ambrose, his wife Sheila, three children and assorted locals and regulars.}, year = {1988} } @misc{ title = {Series: Brush Strokes}, publisher = {BBC1}, pages = {30 minutes}, abstract = {The threat of competition from Jacko’s new decorating business starts to worry Lionel-especially when his staff begin to defect. Suddenly, however, he appears to have the upper hand-or does he?}, year = {1989} } @misc{ title = {Series: Surgical Spirit}, publisher = {ITV}, pages = {30 minutes}, note = {See International movie database: for notes and comments}, abstract = {Comedy series around a busy hospital and featuring an excellent performance by Nichola McAuliffe as Sheila Sabatin, a sharp-tongued female surgeon renowned for acerbic putdowns.Sheila Sabatini (Nichola McAuliffe) is a brilliant surgeon, but her sharp tongue gets her into trouble with fellow consultant surgeons George Hope-Wynne (David Conville) and Neil Copeland (Emlyn Price). They think she's a "ghastly woman", mainly because she likes to unearth their lazy and hypocritical behaviour at every opportunity. However, her best friend Joyce (Marji Campi) and her anaesthetist Jonathan Haslam (Duncan Preston) thinks she's marvellous. Can she make it in the hospital's old boy network, keep her relationship with her teenage son at least semi-functional at the same time as sorting out how she feels about Jonathan?  (info from internet movie database)}, year = {1989-1995} } @misc{ title = {Series: Drop the Dead Donkey}, publisher = {Channel 4}, pages = {30 minutes}, month = {9 August 1990}, note = {9/8/1990-9/12/1998 65 X 30 min episodes in six series}, abstract = {Sharp newsroom satire with a topical edge. Behind the scenes in the hectic newsroom of Globelink News TV, recently acquired by media tycoon Sir Roysten Merchant, who operates a determinedly 'hands-off' policy - he leaves manager Gus to do his interfering for him...}, year = {1990} } @misc{ title = {Series: Health and Efficiency}, publisher = {BBC1}, month = {1 December 1993}, note = {1 December 1993-1 February 1995}, abstract = {Health & Efficiency is a pre-watershed comedy concerning the day-to-day medical and personal problems of a group of doctors in the fictitious General and Surgical "B" Unit at St. James's Hospital.}, year = {1993} } @misc{ author = {Amiel, Jon}, title = {Series: Tandoori Nights}, publisher = {Channel 4}, pages = {30 minutes}, month = {4 July 1985}, note = {4/7/1985-13/11/1987 12 x 30 min episodes in 2 series}, abstract = {Sitcom set in an Indian restaurant in East London's Brick Lane}, year = {1985} } @misc{ author = {Bamford, Roger}, title = {Series: Blott on the Landscape}, publisher = {BBC2}, pages = {50 minutes}, month = {6 February 1985}, note = {6 esp X 50 mins 6/2-13/3/85}, abstract = {Farcical black comedy of how Sir Giles Lynchwood, a landowning MP for South Worfordshire, attempted to have a motorway built through his wife’s ancestral home, Hardyman Hall.}, year = {1985} } @misc{ author = {Gwenlan, Gareth}, title = {Series: To the Manor Born}, publisher = {BBC1}, abstract = {A very popular sitcom series built around class snobbery. Audrey Hamilton was an upper-class lady who was forced to move out of her stately home and reluctantly sell the property to nouveau millionaire businessman Richard DeVere. Marjory was her patient friend.}, year = {1979} } @misc{ author = {Hamp, John and Hamilton, Ian (1992)}, title = {Series: The Comedians}, pages = {30 minutes}, note = {Granada TV (the quickfire stand-up comedy show returned in 1992 under the producer-director Ian Hamilton for a short time).}, abstract = {A non-stop session of British stand-up comics battering the studio audience with wall-to-wall gags (the cleaned-up versions, of course) from the working men’s club circuit.}, year = {1971} } @misc{ author = {Lawrence, Vernon}, title = {Series: Only when I laugh}, publisher = {ITV}, pages = {30mins}, month = {29 October 1979}, note = {Re-run on ITV3 in 2007. Shown several times in Sweden. Ref International movie database: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077057/. Four seasons: 1. 6 Episodes Oct-Dec 1979; 2. 7 Episodes April-June 1980; 3. 8 Episodes Sept-Oct 1981 + Xmas specail on 24 Dec; 4. Nov-Dec 1982. DVD available}, abstract = {Sitcom set in the ward of an NHS hospital. Quoted from International movie database: Only When I Laugh' was a screamingly funny show from 'Rising Damp' author Eric Chappell. Three patients from differing social backgrounds - trouble making lorry driver Roy Figgis ( James Bolam ), naive Norman Binns ( Christopher Strauli ), and rich hypochondriac Archie Glover ( Peter Bowles ) - share a hospital ward. Their 'nemesis' is the pompous Dr.Gordon Thorpe ( Richard Wilson in what was his best television role before 'One Foot In The Grave' ). The Indian male nurse Gupte ( Derrick Branche ) was well-meaning but incompetent, and this led to the series being branded 'racist' in some quarters. Gupte mysteriously vanished from the later episodes. Bolam's 'Figgis' wasn't far removed from 'Terry Collier' of 'Likely Lads' fame, while Bowles' 'Glover' was a try-out for his later series 'The Bounder'. Although it stretched credibility somewhat that all three men should be confined to hospital for such an incredibly long time, this was one of ITV's best sitcoms of the late '70's/early '80's. Great theme tune, too (based on the children's song "I'm H.A.P.P.Y")!}, year = {1979-1982} } @misc{ author = {Lloyd, John and Hardie, Sean}, title = {Series: Not the Nine o’ Clock News}, publisher = {BBC2}, pages = {25 - 30 minutes}, note = {18 eps X 30/25 mins}, abstract = {A group effort comedy series full of strange sketches and pretty much anything and everything of a questionable taste.}, year = {1979} } @misc{ author = {Lotterby, Sydney}, title = {Series: Open All Hours}, publisher = {BB2; BBC1}, note = {1981-82 (BBC-2), 1985 (BBC-1)}, abstract = {Ronnie Barker was the mean, bullying corner-shop keeper named Arkwright. Between cheating his customers and counting his money he found time to intimidate his youthful assistant, Granville and make passes at buxom Nurse Gladys Emmanuel}, year = {1976} } @misc{ author = {Miles, Geoff}, title = {Series: Carrott Confidential}, publisher = {BBC1}, pages = {35 minutes}, abstract = {Jasper Carrot returns for another series of shows from BBC Television Centre. As usual, the humour is fast and furious. Steve and Hugh are his regular guests, and there are some surprise visits too.}, year = {1989} } @misc{ author = {Podmore, Bill and Robson, Mark (Channel 4)}, title = {Series: Brass}, publisher = {ITV}, pages = {30 minutes}, month = {1983; 23 April to 28 May 1990 (Channel 4)}, abstract = {Comedy (when not parody) series that followed the interwining lives of two families, the wealthy, business-owning Hardacres and their employees, the Fairchilds.}, year = {1983} } @misc{ author = {Posner, Geoff}, title = {Series: The Lenny Henry Show}, publisher = {BBC1}, pages = {30 minutes}, month = {Thursday 20.30}, abstract = {Gave comedian Henry the chance to show his comedy talents in his own series, presenting an assortment of caricatures such as Delbert Wilkins, PC Ganga, the nostalgic elderly Jamaican Deakus, Fred Dread and Theophilus P. Wilderbeeste. Lenny Henry Tonite (BBC-1, 1986) written again by Ben Elton, presented a short-run series with a new character and situation each week in a change from 2-minute per character sketch established earlier series.}, year = {1984} } @misc{ author = {Snoad, Harold}, title = {Series: Don't Wait Up}, publisher = {BBC1}, abstract = {Family-based sitcom series featuring the highs and lows in the muddled lives of father and son doctors Toby and Tom Latimer. Tom had come through an expensive divorce and now lived in a flat while his ex-wife, Helen had their house. Adding insult to injury, he also had to pay her rent to use his surgery.}, year = {1983} } @misc{ author = {Wilson, Dennis Main (3 series) and Butt, Ray (final series)}, title = {Series: Citizen Smith}, publisher = {BBC1}, pages = {30 minutes}, note = {28 eps X 30 mins}, abstract = {Wolfie Smith was the self-elected Che Guevara of the Tooting Popular Front, a small-change political movement.}, year = {1977} }