(Video by BBC)
This has to be one of the funniest sitcoms to ever grace the small screen.
Fawlty Towers premiered in 1975. It had 6 episodes in it’s first “season”.
The series returned in 1979 with 6 additional episodes for it’s “second” season.
And that was it. This classic British Comedy, hailed as one of the greatest sitcoms in Television history, had a total of 12 episodes. But what classics they were!
The series starred:
John Cleese – Basil Fawlty
Prunella Scales – Sybil Fawlty
Connie Booth – Polly Sherman
Andrew Sachs – Manuel “from Barcelona”
John Cleese came up with the idea for the series as he and his Monty Python cast mates were staying at a small hotel in 1970. Cleese became fascinated with the rude and eccentric behavior of the Owner/Manager of the Hotel. This included the manager throwing a time card at a guest after being asked for a bus schedule and the manager hiding Eric Idle’s suitcase outside behind a wall because he was convinced it contained a bomb.
John Cleese and Connie Booth wrote the scripts for the series. They were married in real life at the time of the first season in 1975 but had divorced by the time of the 2nd season in 1979.
Connie Booth “Polly” is American in real life, and Andrew Sachs, who’s Spanish Character “Manuel”, spends the entire series butchering the English language, is British in real life.
The series was a huge critical and ratings success but Cleese and Booth decided to end the series after 12 episodes to maintain its integrity.
It has been a staple on many American PBS stations for decades.
The British Film Institute voted “Fawlty Towers” as the greatest British Television series of All-Time.
I know there is a real Love/Hate relationship with British Comedy. If you love British humor, then this show is as funny as it gets. Even if you do not like British Humor, I would bet you will find yourself laughing hysterically if you give this great series a try.
John Cleese continues to enjoy a long and successful career as an Academy Award nominated Actor, Producer, Writer, Director, and Comedian.
Connie Booth ended her acting careerin 1995 and is now a Psychotherapist in London.
Prunella Scales is still active in British Theater, Television, and Films.
Andrew Sachs is still active in British Theater, Television, and Radio.
