Coupling

Many people have drawn comparisons between "Coupling" and "Friends". I'll admit there are similarities. Six friends in the city living out their lives. But what Moffat has created is a comedy with multiple levels, superb plots and fantastic comedy. The performances from the six main actors are superb. Mention must be made of Richard Mylan (Oliver Morris Series 4 -)who had the difficult job of stepping into the shoes of Richard Coyle (Jeff Series 1-3), while Jeff is holidaying in Lesbos (cue many Lesbian jokes). Mylan does this successfully and , with the help of Moffat, has created a Jeff-like character but a character who is distinctly not Jeff. The Programme is quite simply the best sitcom on British TV.

I came across "Coupling" quite by accident one evening on BBC America. I have always been a fan of most Britcoms, and watched the remainder of the episode that was being aired, and then the next episode that followed immediately thereafter.

I discovered something very interesting. Somehow this show could present just about anything and not only get away with it, but made it extremely funny at the same time. Subjects that would come across as crude, rude, and in poor taste in American sitcoms are presented here with surprisingly funny results. The cast's ensemble is just about perfect, and all are very likable in their own quirky way.

It's been a very long time since I have laughed so hard watching a television show. I believe the last time was watching "The Vicar of Dibley" -- surprise! -- another Britcom.

One of the best sitcoms for many years. Clever comedy that doesn't cross the pond well. Each episode is an absolute gem, written to tease and tantalise you towards its climax which usually isn't quite what you thought it was going to be. It's Friends with intelligent humour. Overblown as the characters are you can relate to each and every one of them and the two straight characters offset the other four so perfectly you're never quite sure which you'd rather be. Jeff who is so cringe-worthy but lands himself in the most incredible positions, Patrick with his suave naivety and ignorance but with the image, the job and the reputation. Then Steve the calm centre who is anything but calm, full of doubt and fear and so like you that it's uncanny. Facing off against these three we have the panic-ridden self-obsessive Sally, the utterly ditzy but so desireable Jane and the seemingly composed Susan with her devilish streak.

The episode about Jeff and the prosthetic leg without doubt made me laugh more than anything I have ever watched - except perhaps the first viewing of Del Boy keeling over in that Wine Bar in Fools 'n' Horses but where that was one moment this is half an hour of gut-aching laughter.

I totally disagree with the previous reviewer's comments. I found "Coupling" to be hilarious. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. This person seemed to be totally confused as to the origins of the show. First it is said to be a copy of an American show, then it is stated that it is unbelievable that America wants to make their own version. It is originally a British show. It will tell you that on the special features of the DVD. The special features also include a lovely story about how the concept of the show came about. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and mine is that "Coupling", while different, is brilliant and should be given a chance by all to form their own opinions of it. By the way, here's an example of the hilarity:

Sally: Mary Kelly thinks you're a complete idiot.

Patrick: Then why does she keep looking at my arse when we're talking?

Sally: She's lip-reading.

I'm a Yank who is only now catching the show on local PBS, courtesy of BBC America. I never saw the (aborted) NBC attempt and, having seen about a half dozen episodes, I'm glad I *didn't* As someone old enough to remember "Monty Python" from it's original run, I must agree with other posters that I feared that truly hysterical "Brit wit" was a thing of the past. I never really cared much for "Fawlty Towers" (as much as I love Mr. Cleese), and only the medieval episodes of Black Adder really tickled me fancy.

But "Coupling" -- hoo hah! Anyone who compares this to "Friends" has clearly never watched more than an episode. At the height of its mild amusement, "Friends" never equaled the least of this absolutely *brilliant* series. For all the stereotypes of Brits as dry, stuck-up and stodgy, I've found that, humour-wise, we across the pond can't hold a candle...

"Coupling" is the height of "cultured rudeness" in the vein of "Absolutely Fabulous" -- one of the most adult Brit-coms I've ever seen. Every episode is consistently ROTFLMAO funny. I couldn't even begin to pick a fave character.

Patrick plays the "stud" character in an amusingly original manner: he has his way with the chicks, and yet is dim enough to not *totally* emasculate us lesser males. The episode where one of the gals has him bring out the "big guns" in the loo, to intimidate a bloke, is something you'd NEVER see on American TV.

Jeff is.... well, the most creatively addled loon since Seinfeld's Kramer, albeit *nothing* like him. Almost a child-man, he reminds me of the Frasier line in "Cheers" - "What color is the sky in *your* world?" Jane is so annoyingly self-absorbed and yet, like Jeff, also such a waif that you don't totally despise her. It amazes how the series' creators walk the edge, crafting characters that *ought* to pluck your last nerve but, unlike George and Kramer from Seinfeld, could actually be tolerable in real life.

The other three characters are brilliantly crafted as well, but these three stand out after the limited viewing I've been exposed to. I have never even considered purchasing a TV series on DVD but, in addition to wanting to see at least the entire first three seasons (I have read here that Jeff is not in the fourth season, and I don't think I could warm up to a substitute), I really must turn on many of my close friends to this marvelous show.

For those of you Yanks out there who only know of this show from NBC's feeble attempt to import it, you *must* catch this on your local PBS station if and when it airs, or pester them incessantly until it does. You'll not only understand why the attempt at translation failed, but you'll finally get to see what the fuss was all about.

If *anything* on the American telly was this consistently funny, we wouldn't have to suffer the endless rot of "reality" TV, and the "dead in half a season" warmed over '70s-era situation (non)comedies. Twelve out of ten... a *MUST SEE*!!!