Men Behaving Badly

A classic example of great brit TV that didn't make the grade when translated into an American sitcom. (You may recall the "Men Behaving Badly" with Rob Schneider, Ron Eldard and Ken Marino which flopped despite a good cast, decent chemistry and desperate reformatting.) I wished it to survive due to my partiality to this original.

The formula is simple: Responsible guy with wacky roommate, relationship humor and sticky situations...but it works splendidly. It's comparable to Dennis' better known "Coupling", which is scripted just a bit tighter, and obviously more attractive. But "MbB" is just every bit as witty while being a little more down to earth and not confined to the sexual humor genre.

This is the only comedy series I have ever watched that whether you are male or female you can absolutely relate to.

Either you have done or experienced first hand everything that happens in each episode.

Series 1 with Harry Enfield was fantastic, but when Neil Morrisey replaced him in Series 2 things only got better!

If you have the DVD set (a great investment) then don't forget to check out the outtakes (via the Pub Quiz) - Very funny!

Having read comments from others and external reviews, decided to add a bit more to my comments...

Men Behaving Badly was interesting because it was a show that jumped channels. It started on ITV (only Series 1 I think) and then moved to the BBC. However it was still Pearson TV that were behind it so I'm not sure if the change of channel contributed to the fact that Series 2-6 and Last Orders were better (not only my opinion) than Series 1 or if it was purely better chemistry between the leads plus the public becoming more and more comfortable with them that gave this impression.

In any case, I am only happy that I have never been subjected to the US version of this and I can remember it in its original mode!

I wish it had carried on longer but all good things must come to an end sometime. Another classic Uk sitcom and going by the 90's standards of crappy comedy this definately is the best one of the decade (except maybe Bottom and Vicar of Dibley). Watch this show its worth it.

Brilliant, hilarious, crude, and did I say brilliant!!! Neil is great in these series, as is Martin, Caroline and Leslie. The look at their hum-drum lives couldn't be funnier and yet so close to the heart of so many of us out there!!! These two unlikely house-mates (Clunes and Morrisey) somehow make a fantastic coupling of characters which tug at the funny-bones, and even a little at the heartstrings, as they try to impress (but often insult) the patient and persevering Deborah and Dorothy. Not to mention their less than impressive career moves. Leaves a certain American series starring a certain American comedian for dead!!!

It still makes me mad that the lousy American version is called Men Behaving Badly and this version is called British Men Behaving Badly It should be reversed.