Mind Your Language

Mind Your Language might not have been smart comedy, but it was good comedy – with the misunderstandings stemming from a valid observation of differing cultures. The idea was not dissimilar from other sitcoms of this time such as Robin's Nest: a small matter, concealed, becomes a major matter after 15 minutes. Throw in the xenophobia of Britain after it joined the EEC and what we had was a very fine comedy about the country's relationship with her former colonies and the new Johnny Foreigners across the channel.

If anything, the students got the last laugh – if it had not been the narrow-mindedness of characters such as stiff-upper-lip principal Miss Courtenay, or teacher Jeremy Brown finding himself out of his depth, then the joke wouldn't be on them.

It's a pity the political correctness brigade will probably prevent this show from being rerun. As a "minority", I never found the portrayal of my race offensive on this show when it aired in New Zealand. To the PC thugs, I say this: we minorities are OK without your defending us. The real insult is that you don't believe we are up to it.

This has to be the best comedy ever created on earth. It features everything descriptive of the world. Of the people that make it, of their relations with each other, and of their diversity, with English as their main component for unity. I remember having good laughs with this series when it was re-run on Malaysia's RTM Channel 2 for the umpteenth time between 1993-1994. It was also the programme that made me love the English language even more. No other comedy seem to catch the wit this one had.

Never a dull moment. The international students are hilarious in the way they express themselves in English! I am not a native English speaker, so I can identify with some of their difficulties.

Some racist jokes occasionally, but besides being funny, they make one realise how hostile a few English-speakers can be toward foreigners who are trying hard to master the language.

This may not be in the league of Monty Python or some other classic British TV series out there but it definitely has it's own cult following. I noticed one reviewer here mentioning of the shows popularity in India and that's really true. My friends from India, who had watched this back in the 80's, still claim it to be amongst the best TV shows ever. Some of them went so far as taping them all (to save it for some good laughs on a rainy day, I guess!).

If you are looking for some profound depth here then don't even bother with this. But if you think the mixing of folks from different cultures, in a British classroom, can be funny then you won't be disappointed. It's good, harmless humor, a little dated perhaps, but in situations that people may encounter in a foreign land due to language barriers mainly. Some bits may be exaggerated but is mostly hilarious and does not use any of the plots or characters as a pretext to demean any culture or race!!!

Wish it were available on DVD in the States!

This show is the show that really defines British Humor. It is a show that is so clean, yet at the same time it has some crude jokes. The plot of this outrageous story stars Barry Evans. He plays the young English Teacher who teaches even more outrageous foreign students. There are many races in this comedy including, Indians, Chinese, German, Italian (my favorite), and French. There are more, and more races joined to this remarkable school. Like I said, this show defines British Humor, it is the show that every person should watch, own, and cherish.

Buy the entire collection, I am sure it is available on Amazon. com